Colchicine derivatives with potent anticancer activity and reduced P-glycoprotein induction liability

Org Biomol Chem. 2015 May 28;13(20):5674-89. doi: 10.1039/c5ob00406c. Epub 2015 Apr 21.

Abstract

Colchicine (1), a nature-derived microtubule polymerization inhibitor, develops multi-drug resistance in tumor cells due to its P-gp substrate and induction activity, which in turn leads to its rapid efflux from tumor cells. This auto-induction of the efflux of colchicine remains a major challenge to medicinal chemists. Based on structure-based molecular modeling, a series of new colchicine derivatives were designed and synthesized with a potential for reduced P-gp induction liability. Screening of the prepared derivatives for P-gp induction activity revealed that a number of derivatives possess remarkably lower P-gp-induction activity (>90% intracellular accumulation of rhodamine 123 in LS-180 cells) compared to the parent natural product colchicine (62% Rh123 accumulation in LS-180 cells). The reduced P-gp-induction activity of new derivatives may be due to their reduced ability to interact and change the conformation of P-gp. The synthesized derivatives were then screened for antiproliferative activity against two colon cancer cell lines including HCT-116 and Colo-205. The derivative 4o showed potent cytotoxicity in HCT-116 cells with IC50 of 0.04 μM with significantly reduced P-gp induction liability. Compound 4o also inhibited microtubule assembly and induced expression of pro-apoptotic protein p21. In an Ehrlich solid tumor mice model, compound 4o showed 38% TGI with no mortality at 2 mg kg(-1) dose (oral). Compound 4o, with potent in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity, significantly reduced P-gp induction activity and its excellent physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties open up new opportunities for the colchicine scaffold.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / chemistry
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / metabolism*
  • Acetamides / chemistry
  • Acetamides / pharmacokinetics
  • Acetamides / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / pathology*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Colchicine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Colchicine / chemistry
  • Colchicine / pharmacokinetics
  • Colchicine / pharmacology*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Protein Conformation
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Tubulin Modulators / chemistry
  • Tubulin Modulators / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
  • Acetamides
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • N-(1,2,3-trimethoxy-9-oxo-10-(3-(trifluoromethyl)-4-chlorophenylamino)-5,6,7,9-tetrahydrobenzo(a)heptalen-7-yl)acetamide
  • Tubulin Modulators
  • Colchicine