Synthesis and anticancer activity of 2,4-disubstituted furo[3,2-b]indole derivatives.

We synthesized and evaluated a series of 2,4-disubstituted furo[3,2-b]indole derivatives for anticancer activity and established the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of these compounds. Among all tested compounds, we found (5-((2-(hydroxymethyl)-4H-furo[3,2-b]indol-4-yl)methyl)furan-2-yl)methanol (10a) to be the most promising agent. In screening against NCI-60 human tumor cell lines, 10a exhibited highly selective anticancer activity and significant inhibitory activity against A498 renal cancer cells. Our COMPARE analysis results suggest that the 10a fingerprint is similar to that of NSC-754549, which is an isostere of YC-1. We further confirmed the significant antitumor activity of compound 10a with tests in the A498 xenograft nude mice model. Therefore, compound 10a should be further developed as a new drug candidate for treating renal cancer.

Synthesis of 1-benzyl-3-(5-hydroxymethyl-2-furyl)selenolo[3,2-c]pyrazole derivatives as new anticancer agents.

As part of our continuing search for potential anticancer drug candidates among YC-1 analogs, 1, 3-disubstituted selenolo[3,2-c]pyrazole derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxicity against NCI-H226 non-small cell lung cancer and A-498 renal cancer cell lines. Significant cytotoxicity was observed in 3-(5-hydroxymethyl-2-furyl) derivatives (2, 33, 36 and 37). Among them, compound 2 was found to have the most potent activity. The mode of action of compound 2 seems to differ from those of the 175 anticancer agents listed in NCI's standard database and resembles that of YC-1. Thus, we recommend that compound 2 should be developed further as new drug candidate for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and renal cancer.