The Discovery of the Potent and Selective Antitumour Agent 2-(4-Amino-3-methylphenyl) benzothiazole (DF 203) and Related Compounds

The development of a series of potent and selective antitumour agents, the 2-(4-aminophenyl) benzothiazoles, is described. The original lead compound in this series, CJM 126, exhibits nanomolar in vitro activity against certain human breast cancer cell lines. Structure-activity relationship studies within this simple antitumour benzothiazole pharmacophore revealed that 2-(4-aminophenyl) benzothiazoles bearing a 3-methyl, 3-bromo, 3-iodo or 3-chloro substituent are especially potent, extending the spectrum of in vitro antitumour activity to ovarian, lung, renal and colon carcinoma cell lines with a remarkable selectivity profile (NCI analysis). Other interesting features of this series include the highly unusual transient biphasic dose response relationship and possible unique mechanism of action (NCI COMPARE analysis). 2-(4-Amino-3-methylphenyl)benzothiazole (DF 203) has been selected as the lead compound in this series on the basis of superior in vivo results.