Design, Synthesis, and In Vitro/In Vivo Anti-Cancer Activities of Novel (20 S )-10,11-Methylenedioxy-Camptothecin Heterocyclic Derivatives

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2020-11, Vol.21 (22), p.8495
• Main Authors: Dai, Xiufen, Wu, Guanzhao, Zhang, Yixuan, Zhang, Xiaomin, Yin, Ruijuan, Qi, Xin, Li, Jing, Jiang, Tao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 12e; A549 Cells; Animals; anticancer agent; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antitumor activity; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Bcl-2 protein; Benzodioxoles - pharmacology; Biocompatibility; Camptothecin; Camptothecin derivatives; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Cell cycle; Cell Cycle Checkpoints - drug effects; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell proliferation; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Chemical compounds; Cytotoxicity; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA topoisomerase; Drug dosages; FDA approval; FL118; Glycine; Hep G2 Cells; HL-60 Cells; Humans; Indolizines - pharmacology; Irinotecan - chemistry; Irinotecan - pharmacology; K562 Cells; Lung cancer; Male; Mcl-1 protein; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; molecular design; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Pharmacology; Solid tumors; Solubility; Substitutes; Survivin; Transcription; Transcription, Genetic - drug effects; Tumor cell lines; XIAP protein
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228495

A novel camptothecin analogue, (20S)-10,11-methylenedioxy-camptothecin (FL118), has been proven to show significant antitumor efficacy for a wide variety of solid tumors. However, the further development of FL118 is severely hindered due to its extremely poor water solubility and adverse side effects. Here, two series of novel 20-substituted (20S)-10,11-methylenedioxy-camptothecin coupled with 5-substituted uracils and other heterocyclic rings through glycine were synthesized. All the derivatives showed superior cytotoxic activities in vitro with IC values in the nanomolar range. Among them, 12e displayed higher cytotoxic activities in several cancer cell lines with better water solubility than FL118. Our results further showed that, like FL118, 12e inhibited cell proliferation resulting from cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by blocking the anti-apoptotic gene transcription of survivin, Mcl-1, Bcl-2, and XIAP in both A549 cells and NCI-H446 cells. Furthermore, 12e did not show any inhibitory activity on Topo I, which is involved in hematopoietic toxicity. In vivo, 12e showed similar antitumor efficacy to FL118 but lower toxicity. Our findings indicate that 12e is a promising therapeutic agent for cancer treatment, and the core structure of FL118 represents a promising platform to generate novel FL118-based antitumor drugs.