Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Cancer Agents) - Volume 23, Issue 2, 2023

Background: Amivantamab was approved on May 21st, 2021, by United States food and drug administration with the brand name Rybervant, used particularly for adult patients with exon20 insertion of epithelial growth factor receptor with locally advanced metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Objective: In this review, we explain the non-small cell lung cancer and molecular distinctions between non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. We also conclude numerous components of non-small cell lung cancer, which include signs and symptoms of Amivantamab in inhibiting the cancer cell growth, various clinical trials on Amivantamab, adverse effects, and the contraindications of Amivantamab. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the relevant databases like ScienceDirect, PubMed, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar to identify studies. Conclusion: Amivantamab is a new bispecific antibody that targets non-small cell lung cancer through two different pathways, i.e., by binding to epithelial growth factor receptor and mesenchymal epithelial transition factor. Amivantamab gets tightly bound to Fcγ3R, and thus, mediates the macrophage and NK-cell for the killing of cancer cells. Biological treatment of Amivantamab shows effectiveness against the epithelial growth factor receptor Exon20 insertions according to the preclinical data of the animal model.

Cancer is considered one of the leading causes of death globally, especially patients with lung, pancreatic, or brain tumors are most likely to die of cancer, and patients with prostate and breast cancer are at a high risk of noncancer death. As a result, there is ongoing research regarding developing new, safe, and efficient anticancer agents. Coumarin-based naturally occurring compounds possess a broad spectrum of activity in medicinal chemistry, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant agents, etc. Many researchers have synthesized coumarinbased novel therapeutic agents via molecular hybridization technique, which offers an excellent opportunity to develop novel compounds with improved biological activities by incorporating two or more pharmacophores. This review aims to shed light on the recent developments of coumarin-based anticancer hybrid derivatives and their Structure-Activity Relationships (SAR). This review serves as a medium that medicinal chemists could utilize to design and synthesize coumarin derivatives with significant pharmacological value as future anticancer agents.

Background: Cancer cases have escalated by approximately 12% since 1900 and the incidence rate has increased faster for females than males. The discovery of cisplatin in 1965 paved the way for metal-based compounds as cancer therapeutics. Unfortunately, cisplatin and other platinum-based medicines cause severe side effects. Therefore, non-platinum metal complexes have been developed as alternate cancer drugs. Among non-platinum metal complexes, organotins are the most effective candidates in oncology due to their wide range of anticancer activities with relatively minimal toxicities towards healthy cells, better excretion from the body, and fewer side effects than platinum drugs. Methods: Using DOI searching, advances made by organotin(IV) complexes coordinated with Sn–O, Sn–N and Sn–S as chemotherapeutic agents since 2018 are summarized in this article. Their chemical structure and in vitro antiproliferative activity in terms of IC50/EC50/LD50 are cumulated. Results: As reflected in this perspective, organotin(IV) complexes are found to induce high cell death via apoptosis, and also several complexes demonstrated anticancer activity even higher than standard drugs. Conclusion: Undoubtedly, the organotin(IV) complexes could bring hope to morbidity and mortality of human beings caused by fast-spreading cancer worldwide and can play an important role in drug discovery.

Background: Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide after heart disease. A vast number of studies indicated that selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors could be chemopreventive against different types of cancer because the expression of COX-2 is increased. Therefore, to develop new therapeutics for cancer, the design and synthesis of new COX-2 inhibitors with few side effects seem attractive as anti-cancer agents. Objective: Some of the well-known drugs that have been widely used for some time have been removed from the market due to the cardiac side effects they cause, so there is a need to introduce a scaffold that can inhibit COX-2 with high potency and low side effects. This study aimed to introduce a new COX-2 inhibitor structure. Methods: A new series of β-aryl-β-mercapto ketones possessing a methylsulfonyl pharmacophore was synthesized and evaluated as selective COX-2 inhibitors. In-vitro COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition effects of these compounds were evaluated, and molecular modeling was examined. Also, the antiplatelet aggregation activity of the synthesized compounds was tested. Results: In-vitro COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition assays indicated that almost all newly synthesized compounds showed selectivity for COX-2 with IC50 values in the 0.07-0.22 μM range and COX-2 selectivity indexes in the 170 to 703.7 range. Among the tested compounds 1-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)-3-phenyl-3-(phenylthio)propan-1-one (4a), 3-(3,4- dimethoxyphenyl)-1-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)-3-(phenylthio)propan-1-one (4g) and 3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(4-(methyl sulfonyl)phenyl)-3-(phenylthio)propan-1-one (4h) were the most potent COX-2 inhibitors and 3-(3,4- dimethoxyphenyl)-1-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)-3-(phenylthio)propan-1-one had the highest selectivity index for COX-2 enzyme inhibitory activity. The Anti-platelet aggregation activity results indicated that the compound 1-(4- (methylsulfonyl)phenyl)-3-(phenylthio)-3-(p-tolyl)propan-1-one (4b) possesses the strong anti-platelet activity. Our molecular modeling studies also indicated that the methylsulfonyl pharmacophore group is placed into the adjunct pocket in the COX-2 active site and forms hydrogen bond interactions with NH of Arg513 and NH of His90. Conclusion: In brief, all designed and synthesized compounds showed moderate to good COX-2 inhibitory effects and showed good anti-platelet activity. Therefore, these compounds have the potential for further research into developing anti-cancer agents.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of berbamine on pancreatic cancer as well as the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The pancreatic cancer cells were treated with different concentrations of berbamine and then subjected to cell viability assay, colony formation assay, cell cycle analysis, and apoptosis detection. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the biological effects of berbamine on the pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, the in vivo anti-pancreatic cancer effect of berbamine was examined using a mouse xenograft model. Results: Berbamine significantly inhibited the proliferation and colony-forming ability of BxPC3 and PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells while inducing a cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, berbamine decreased the expression of β- catenin and phosphorylation of GSK3β but increased the expression of γ-H2AX and 53BP1. Meanwhile, in vivo studies revealed that berbamine attenuated the growth of xenograft tumors derived from PANC-1 cells. Notably, berbamine treatment led to an increase in the expression of Cleaved Caspase 3 and γ-H2AX, as well as a decrease in the expression of Ki-67 and β-catenin in the tumor xenografts. Conclusion: Berbamine exerts an anti-pancreatic cancer effect, possibly by regulating Wnt and DNA damage-related pathways, suggestive of its therapeutic potential for pancreatic cancer.

Background: Glutamine is one of the primary nutrients utilized by cancer cells for energy production and biosynthesis. Hence, interfering with glutamine metabolism may impose anti-tumor effects. Objective: In this study, we assessed the anti-tumorigenic effects of glutaminase-1 enzyme (GLS1) inhibition in endometrial cancer in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The human endometrial cancer cell lines Ishikawa and HEC-1B were used. The effects of compound 968 on cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, cellular stress, and AKT/mTOR pathway inhibition were assessed. The synergistic effects of compound 968 and paclitaxel were also analyzed. The in vivo effect of compound 968 was evaluated using tumor xenografts. Results: We found that the GLS1-targeting compound 968 was able to reduce cancer cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Compound 968 combined with a low concentration of paclitaxel showed stronger inhibitory effects. Further analyses indicated that compound 968 induced cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, as well as increased the production of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and promoted cellular stress and cancer cell apoptosis. Additionally, the treatment of endometrial cancer with compound 968 downregulated the expression of GLS1 and cyclin D1 and upregulated the expression of P21 and E-cadherin. Moreover, the treatment of endometrial cancer cells with compound 968 significantly reduced the levels of phospho-S6 ribosomal protein and phospho-AKT (Ser473), indicative of AKT/mTOR/S6 signaling pathway inhibition. In xenograft mouse models of endometrial cancer, compound 968 significantly suppressed tumor growth. In addition, western blotting analysis indicated that GLS1 expression was upregulated in human endometrial cancer tissues. Conclusion: Compound 968 may be a promising approach for the management of human endometrial cancer.

Background: Xenografts of various human cancers in nude mice provide a helpful model in cancer research. This study aimed to develop a xenograft mouse model of MCF-7 breast cancer using injectable estradiol valerate. Methods: Thirty healthy female C57 nu/nu mice were engrafted with three protocols to establish an MCF-7 tumor. Injectable estradiol valerate (10 mg/ml) was used as a substitute for estradiol pellets. The development of tumors was recorded daily, and data were statistically analyzed. Histology of bladder, kidney, and tumors was used to estimate tumor establishment and probable urinary adverse effects. Results: According to the findings, the duration of MCF-7 tumor growth was the lowest for protocol B (tumor tissue). Also, this protocol had the highest xenograft yield within the shortest time duration (37 days for protocol B vs. 73 days for protocol A) without causing urinary adverse effects. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that estradiol valerate, which is way less expensive than estradiol pellets, can be used as a tumor proliferator to establish MCF-7 tumors with the highest yield when MCF-7 tumors have been used for xenograft.

Background: Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) exerts a significant inhibitory effect on various tumor cells since it induces cell apoptosis and affects the proliferation, differentiation, metastasis, and invasion of tumor cells. However, the mechanism underlying the antitumor activity of Tan IIA has not been totally elucidated. Objective: This study aimed to uncover the role of Tan IIA in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its potential mechanism of action. Methods: Cell proliferation was assessed using CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Western blot analysis was carried out to detect the expression of related proteins. Cell apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometry. Furthermore, tumor size and tumor weight of CRC xenograft mice were recorded before and after Tan IIA treatment. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by a ROS kit. Results: The results revealed that Tan IIA induced autophagy and apoptosis via activating the ROS/JNK signaling pathway in CRC cells, thus inhibiting the progression of CRC in vivo. Conclusion: The aforementioned findings indicated that Tan IIA exerted an antiproliferative effect on CRC by inducing cell autophagy and apoptosis via activating the ROS/JNK signaling pathway. Therefore, Tan IIA may be considered a potential therapeutic agent for treating CRC.

Aims: The aim of this study is to find the anticancer lead compounds or drug candidates from Chinese Traditional Plant Medicine of Ajuga decumbens Thunb. Background: Ajuga decumbens Thunb. has been used in clinical for a long time in China and was selected in “Chinses Pharmacopoeia” (part I in 1977) for its wide spectrum biological activities: such as anticancer, antioxidant, antifeedant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemic, anti-cholinesterase and cytotoxicity activities. However, there are relatively fewer studies of Ajuga decumbens Thunb. that have been carried out till now. For some years, our research group focused on the discovery of new anticancer agents, so we studied the chemical compositions of Ajuga decumbens Thunb., planted in Pingtan island of Fujian Province, to discover new anticancer lead compounds or candidates from this Chinese Traditional Plant Medicine. Methods: The dichloromethane (DCM) extract was obtained in this work, and then this extract was used for silica gel column chromatography to obtain different polar fractions. Several similar fractions were combined according to TLC or HPLC analysis. The combined fractions were isolated by preparative TLC or preparative HPLC to obtain the pure compounds and HPLC was used to detect the purity. All isolated compounds were determined by NMR (1HNMR, ¹³CNMR, DEPT, HMBC, HSQC, ¹H-1H COSY and NOESY), HRESIMS and single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The in vitro anticancer activity was evaluated using CCK8 method. Results: Seven compounds [three new compounds 1-3 and four known compounds (Ajugacumbins A, Ajugacumbin B, Ajugamarin A2 and Ajugamarin A1)] were isolated from Ajuga decumbens Thunb. in this work, and their structures were confirmed. The biological evaluation showed that 3 and Ajugamarin A1 exhibited potent in vitro anticancer activity both against A549 cell lines with IC50s=71.4 μM and 76.7 μM; and against Hela cell lines with IC50s=71.6 mM and 5.39×10^-7 μM, respectively. Conclusion: Compounds (3 and Ajugamarin A1) can be regarded as the lead compounds for the development of anticancer agents.