Design, synthesis and potent cytotoxic activity of novel 7-(N-[(substituted-sulfonyl)piperazinyl]-methyl)-camptothecin derivatives.

In an effort to discover potent camptothecin-derived antitumor agents, novel camptothecin analogues with sulfonylpiperazinyl motifs at position-7 were designed and synthesized. They were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity with the sulforhodamine-B (SRB) method in five types of human tumor cell lines, A-549, MDA-MB-231, KB, KB-VIN and MCF-7. With IC50 values in the low µM to nM level, most of the new analogues showed greater cytotoxicity activity than the reference compounds irinotecan and topotecan. Furthermore, compounds 12l (IC50, 1.2nM) and 12k (IC50, 20.2nM) displayed the highest cytotoxicity against the multidrug-resistant (MDR) KB-VIN cell line and merit further development as preclinical drug candidates for treating cancer, including MDR phenotype. Our study suggested that integration of sulfonylpiperazinyl motifs into position-7 of camptothecin is an effective strategy for discovering new potent cytotoxic camptothecin derivatives.

Perspectives on biologically active camptothecin derivatives.

Camptothecins (CPTs) are cytotoxic natural alkaloids that specifically target DNA topoisomerase I. Research on CPTs has undergone a significant evolution from the initial discovery of CPT in the late 1960s through the study of synthetic small-molecule derivatives to investigation of macromolecular constructs and formulations. Over the past years, intensive medicinal chemistry efforts have generated numerous CPT derivatives. Three derivatives, topotecan, irinotecan, and belotecan, are currently prescribed as anticancer drugs, and several related compounds are now in clinical trials. Interest in other biological effects, besides anticancer activity, of CPTs is also growing exponentially, as indicated by the large number of publications on the subject during the last decades. Therefore, the main focus of the present review is to provide an ample but condensed overview on various biological activities of CPT derivatives, in addition to continued up-to-date coverage of anticancer effects.

Design and synthesis of novel PEG-conjugated 20(S)-camptothecin sulfonylamidine derivatives with potent in vitro antitumor activity via Cu-catalyzed three-component reaction.

In our continuing search for camptothecin (CPT)-derived antitumor drugs, novel structurally diverse PEG-based 20(S)-CPT sulfonylamidine derivatives were designed, synthesized via a Cu-multicomponent reaction (MCR), and evaluated for cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines (A-549, MDA-MB-231, KB, and KBvin). All of the derivatives showed promising in vitro cytotoxic activity against the tested tumor cell lines, and were more potent than irinotecan. Significantly, these derivatives exhibited comparable cytotoxicity against KBvin, while irinotecan was less active against this cell line. With a concise efficient synthesis and potent cytotoxic profiles, especially significant activity towards KBvin, these compounds merit further development as a new generation of CPT-derived PEG-conjugated drug candidates.

Synthesis, biological activities, and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study of novel camptothecin analogues.

In continuation of our program aimed at the development of natural product-based pesticidal agents, three series of novel camptothecin derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their biological activities against T. Cinnabarinus, B. brassicae, and B. xylophilus. All of the derivatives showed good-to-excellent activity against three insect species tested, with LC50 values ranging from 0.00761 to 0.35496 mmol/L. Remarkably, all of the compounds were more potent than CPT against T. Cinnabarinus, and compounds 4d and 4c displayed superior activity (LC50 0.00761 mmol/L and 0.00942 mmol/L, respectively) compared with CPT (LC50 0.19719 mmol/L) against T. Cinnabarinus. Based on the observed bioactivities, preliminary structure-activity relationship (SAR) correlations were also discussed. Furthermore, a three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) model using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) was built. The model gave statistically significant results with the cross-validated q2 values of 0.580 and correlation coefficient r2 of 0.991 and  of 0.993. The QSAR analysis indicated that the size of the substituents play an important in the activity of 7-modified camptothecin derivatives. These findings will pave the way for further design, structural optimization, and development of camptothecin-derived compounds as pesticidal agents.

Design and synthesis of new 7-(N-substituted-methyl)-camptothecin derivatives as potent cytotoxic agents.

A series of novel 7-(N-substituted-methyl)-camptothecin derivatives was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines, A-549, MDA-MB-231, KB, and KBvin. All of the derivatives showed promising in vitro cytotoxic activity against the tested tumor cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 0.0023 to 1.11 µM, and were as or more potent than topotecan. Compounds 9d, 9e, and 9r exhibited the highest antiproliferative activity among all prepared derivatives. Furthermore, all of the compounds were more potent than paclitaxel against the multidrug-resistant (MDR) KBvin subline. With a concise efficient synthesis and potent cytotoxic profiles, especially significant activity towards KBvin, compounds 9d, 9e, and 9r merit further development as a new generation of camptothecin-derived anticancer clinical trial candidates.

Design and synthesis of novel spin-labeled camptothecin derivatives as potent cytotoxic agents.

In our continuing search for natural product-based spin-labeled antitumor drugs, 20 novel spin-labeled camptothecin derivatives were synthesized via a Cu-catalyzed one pot reaction and evaluated for cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines (A-549, MDA-MB-231, KB, and KBvin). Eighteen of the target compounds (9a, 9b, 9d-9k, 9m-9t) exhibited significant in vitro antiproliferative activity against these four tested tumor cell lines. Compounds 9e and 9j (IC50 0.057 and 0.072µM, respectively) displayed the greatest cytotoxicity against the multidrug-resistant (MDR) KBvin cell line and merit further development into preclinical and clinical drug candidates for treating cancer including MDR phenotype.

Design, synthesis, cytotoxic activity and molecular docking studies of new 20(S)-sulfonylamidine camptothecin derivatives.

In an ongoing investigation of 20-sulfonylamidine derivatives (9, YQL-9a) of camptothecin (1) as potential anticancer agents directly and selectively inhibiting topoisomerase (Topo) I, the sulfonylamidine pharmacophore was held constant, and a camptothecin derivatives with various substitution patterns were synthesized. The new compounds were evaluated for antiproliferative activity against three human tumor cell lines, A-549, KB, and multidrug resistant (MDR) KB subline (KBvin). Several analogs showed comparable or superior antiproliferative activity compared to the clinically prescribed 1 and irinotecan (3). Significantly, the 20-sulfonylamidine derivatives exhibited comparable cytotoxicity against KBvin, while 1 and 3 were less active against this cell line. Among them, compound 15c displayed much better cytotoxic activity than the controls 1, 3, and 9. Novel key structural features related to the antiproliferative activities were identified by structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis. In a molecular docking model, compounds 9 and 15c interacted with Topo I-DNA through a different binding mode from 1 and 3. The sulfonylamidine side chains of 9 and 15c could likely form direct hydrogen bonds with Topo I, while hydrophobic interaction with Topo I and π-π stacking with double strand DNA were also confirmed as binding driving forces. The results from docking models were consistent with the SAR conclusions. The introduction of bulky substituents at the 20-position contributed to the altered binding mode of the compound by allowing them to form new interactions with Topo I residues. The information obtained in this study will be helpful for the design of new derivatives of 1 with most promising anticancer activity.