Thioaryl naphthylmethanone oxime ether analogs as novel anticancer agents

J Med Chem. 2014 Oct 9;57(19):8010-25. doi: 10.1021/jm500873e. Epub 2014 Sep 22.

Abstract

Employing a rational design of thioaryl naphthylmethanone oxime ether analogs containing functional properties of various anticancer drugs, a series of compounds were identified that displayed potent cytotoxicity toward various cancer cells, out of which 4-(methylthio)phenyl)(naphthalen-1-yl)methanone O-2-(diethylamino)ethyl oxime (MND) exhibited the best safety profile. MND induced apoptosis, inhibited migration and invasion, strongly inhibited cancer stem cell population on a par with salinomycin, and demonstrated orally potent tumor regression in mouse MCF-7 xenografts. Mechanistic studies revealed that MND strongly abrogated EGF-induced proliferation, migration, and tyrosine kinase (TK) signaling in breast cancer cells. However, MND failed to directly inhibit EGFR or other related receptor TKs in a cell-free system. Systematic investigation of a putative target upstream of EGFR revealed that the biological effects of MND could be abrogated by pertussis toxin. Together, MND represents a new nonquinazoline potential drug candidate having promising antiproliferative activity with good safety index.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Benzhydryl Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Benzhydryl Compounds / pharmacology
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • ErbB Receptors / physiology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Oximes / chemical synthesis*
  • Oximes / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • 4-(methylthio)phenyl)(naphthalen-1-yl)methanone O-2-(diethylamino)ethyl oxime
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzhydryl Compounds
  • Oximes
  • ErbB Receptors