Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Licofelone Derivatives as Anticancer and Anti-inflammatory Agents

Two C5-substituted licofelone derivatives were developed and investigated for cytotoxicity against mammary (MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231) as well as colon carcinoma (HT-29) cancer cells. Both compounds were at least 2-fold more active than 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and licofelone against mammary carcinoma cells. At HT-29 cells, they were less active, but nevertheless distinctly as active as 5-FU and still 2-fold more active than licofelone. However, variation of the C5- carboxylic group results in an occasionally remarkable decrease of anti-inflammatory potency in in vitro and in vivo.