Synthesis and antitumor activity of novel 2, 3-didithiocarbamate substituted naphthoquinones as inhibitors of pyruvate kinase M2 isoform

摘要

Abstract The M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) is a potential antitumor therapeutic target. In this study, we designed and synthesised a series of 2, 3-didithiocarbamate substituted naphthoquinones as PKM2 inhibitors based on the lead compound 3k that we previously reported. Among them, compound 3f (IC₅₀?=?1.05?±?0.17?μM) and 3h (IC₅₀?=?0.96?±?0.18?μM) exhibited potent inhibition of PKM2, and their inhibitory activities are superior to compound 3k (IC₅₀?=?2.95?±?0.53?μM) and the known PKM2 inhibitor shikonin (IC₅₀?=?8.82?±?2.62?μM). In addition, we evaluated in vitro antiproliferative effects of target compounds using MTS assay. Most target compounds exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values in nanomolar concentrations against HCT116, MCF7, Hela, H1299 and B16 cells. These small molecule PKM2 inhibitors not only provide candidate compounds for cancer therapy, but also offer a tool to probe the biological effects of PKM2 inhibition on cancer cells.