Biological Evaluation of a Series of Amine-Containing Mixed-Ligand Copper(II) Coordination Compounds with 2-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-N-(prop-2-en-1-yl)hydrazinecarbothioamide

Five compounds 2-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-N-(prop-2-en-1-yl)hydrazinecarbothioamide (H2L), bis[μ2-2-({2-[(prop-2-en-1-yl)carbamothioyl]hydrazinylidene}methyl)phenolato-S,N,O:O]diaquadicopper(II) nitrate (1), bis[μ2-2-({2-[(prop-2-en-1-yl)carbamothioyl]hydrazinylidene}methyl)phenolato-S,N,O:O]diimidazoldicopper(II) nitrate (2), bis[μ2-2-({2-[(prop-2-en-1-yl)carbamothioyl]-hydrazinylidene}methyl)phenolato-S,N,O:O]bis-(3,5-dibromopyridine)dicopper(II) nitrate (3), bis[μ2-2-({2-[(prop-2-en-1-yl)carbamothioyl]-hydrazinylidene}methyl)phenolato-S,N,O:O]bis(4-methylpyridine)dicopper(II) nitrate hexahydrate (4) were synthesized. The antiproliferative properties of these compounds toward cancer cell lines RD, HeLa, and normal cell line MDCK have been investigated. The tested complexes surpass Doxorubicin (DOXO) in the efficiency of anticancer activity as their IC50 values toward cancer cells are lower than the corresponding values of DOXO and the selectivity indexes exceed the corresponding SI value of DOXO. The tested compounds demonstrated a high antioxidant effect against ABTS•+ radical cations as well as low toxicity on Daphnia magna.

Antiproliferative Efficacy of N-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-6,7-dimethoxyquinazolin-4-amine, DW-8, in Colon Cancer Cells Is Mediated by Intrinsic Apoptosis

A novel series of 4-anilinoquinazoline analogues, DW (1–10), were evaluated for anticancer efficacy in human breast cancer (BT-20) and human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines (HCT116, HT29, and SW620). The compound, DW-8, had the highest anticancer efficacy and selectivity in the colorectal cancer cell lines, HCT116, HT29, and SW620, with IC₅₀ values of 8.50 ± 2.53 µM, 5.80 ± 0.92 µM, and 6.15 ± 0.37 µM, respectively, compared to the non-cancerous colon cell line, CRL1459, with an IC₅₀ of 14.05 ± 0.37 µM. The selectivity index of DW-8 was >2-fold in colon cancer cells incubated with vehicle. We further determined the mechanisms of cell death induced by DW-8 in SW620 CRC cancer cells. DW-8 (10 and 30 µM) induced apoptosis by (1) producing cell cycle arrest at the G2 phase; (2) activating the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, as indicated by the activation of caspase-9 and the executioner caspases-3 and 7; (3) nuclear fragmentation and (4) increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Overall, our results suggest that DW-8 may represent a suitable lead for developing novel compounds to treat CRC.

Pheophorbide a: State of the Art

Chlorophyll breakdown products are usually studied for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The chlorophyll derivative Pheophorbide a (PPBa) is a photosensitizer that can induce significant anti-proliferative effects in several human cancer cell lines. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for about 9.6 million deaths, in 2018 alone. Hence, it is crucial to monitor emergent compounds that show significant anticancer activity and advance them into clinical trials. In this review, we analyze the anticancer activity of PPBa with or without photodynamic therapy and also conjugated with or without other chemotherapic drugs, highlighting the capacity of PPBa to overcome multidrug resistance. We also report other activities of PPBa and different pathways that it can activate, showing its possible applications for the treatment of human pathologies.