Systematic screening of synthetic organochalcogen compounds with anticancer activity using human lung adenocarcinoma spheroids.

Lung adenocarcinoma stands as a leading global cause of cancer-related fatalities, with current therapeutic approaches remaining unsatisfactory. Given the association between elevated oxidative markers and the aggressive nature of cancer cells (including multidrug resistance and metastatic potential) that can predict poor outcome of lung adenocarcinoma patients, any compounds that interfere with their aberrant redox biology should be rationally explored as innovative intervention strategies. This study was designed to screen potential anticancer activities within nine newly synthesized organochalcogen - compounds characterized by the presence of oxygen, sulfur, or selenium elements in their structure and exhibiting antioxidant activity - and systematically evaluated their performance against cisplatin, the cornerstone therapeutic agent for lung adenocarcinoma. Our methodology involved the establishment of optimal conditions for generating single tumor spheroids using A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cell line. The initiation interval for spheroid formation was determined to be four days in vitro (DIV), and these single spheroids demonstrated sustained growth over a period of 20 DIV. Toxic dose-response curves were subsequently performed for each compound after 24 and 48 h of incubation at the 12th DIV. Our findings reveal that at least two of the synthetic organochalcogen compounds exhibited noteworthy anticancer activity, surpassing cisplatin in key parameters such as lower LD (Lethal Dose) 50, larger drug activity area, and maximum amplitude of effect, and are promising drugs for futures studies in the treatment of lung adenocarcinomas. Physicochemical descriptors and prediction ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) parameters of selected compounds were obtained using SwissADME computational tool; Molinspiration server was used to calculate a biological activity score, and possible molecule targets were evaluated by prediction with the SwissTargetPrediction server. This research not only sheds light on novel avenues for therapeutic exploration but also underscores the potential of synthetic organochalcogen compounds as agents with superior efficacy compared to established treatments.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new antioxidant and antiproliferative chalcogenobiotin derivatives for bladder carcinoma treatment.

Approximately 90% of bladder carcinomas are of the urothelial carcinoma type, which are characterized by high rates of recurrence and predisposition to progress to invasive tumors, representing one of the most costly neoplasms for health systems. Intravesical chemotherapy is a standard for the treatment of non-invasive bladder cancer. However, chemotherapy is usually aggressive and cytotoxic, which increases the death rates caused by cancer. Heterocyclic compounds which exhibit favorable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties may enhance drug affinity for a target protein by targeting the treatment. Thus, this work presents the synthesis, characterization, and in vitro biological evaluation of new antioxidant (inhibition of lipid peroxidation, scavenging of free radical DPPH, and thiol peroxidase-like activity) and antiproliferative chalcogenobiotin derivatives and tests them against bladder carcinoma 5637 cells. A prominent response was obtained for the selected compounds, with tellurium biotin derivatives displaying effective antioxidant and antiproliferative activity. The effective compounds also demonstrated no toxicity in in vitro or in vivo studies.

Antioxidant protection by ß-selenoamines against thioacetamide-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in mice.

Thioacetamide (TAA) is a hepatotoxin that rapidly triggers the necrotic process and oxidative stress in the liver. Nevertheless, organic selenium compounds, such as ß-selenoamines, can be used as pharmacological agents to diminish the oxidative damage. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of the antioxidant ß-selenoamines on TAA-induced oxidative stress in mice. Here, we observed that a single intraperitoneal injection of TAA (200 mg/kg) dramatically elevated some parameters of oxidative stress, such as lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as well as depleted cellular antioxidant defenses. In addition, TAA-induced edema and morphological changes in the liver, which correlate with high serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferase enzyme activities, and a decrease in cell viability. Conversely, a significant reduction in liver lipid peroxidation, ROS production, and edema was observed in animals that received an intraperitoneal injection of ß-selenoamines (15.6 mg/kg) 1 h after TAA administration.

Synthesis, antioxidant and antitumoral activities of 5'-arylchalcogeno-3-aminothymidine (ACAT) derivatives.

This article presents the preparation and in vitro biological activities of new 5'-arylchalcogeno-3-aminothymidine derivatives as antioxidants (inhibition of lipid peroxidation, scavenging of the free radical 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl and demonstration of a thiol peroxidase-like activity) as well as antitumoral agents against bladder carcinoma 5637. The chalcogeno-aminothymidines presented prominent activity in the tests for both biological properties, showing a direct relation with the chalcogenium atom.

New organochalcogen multitarget drug: synthesis and antioxidant and antitumoral activities of chalcogenozidovudine derivatives.

In this article we present the synthesis, characterization, and in vitro biological and biochemical activities of new chalcogenozidovudine derivatives as antioxidant (inhibition of TBARS in brain membranes and thiol peroxidase-like activity) as well as antitumoral agents in bladder carcinoma 5637. A prominent response was obtained for the selected chalcogenonucleosides, showing effective antioxidant and antitumoral activities.