Thienopyrimidine derivatives exert their anticancer efficacy via apoptosis induction, oxidative stress and mitotic catastrophe

摘要

Abstract In this study, a series of 13 structural variants of thieno[2,3 d ]pyrimidine derivatives (6a-6m) were synthesized and screened for cytotoxicity in a panel of colorectal, ovarian, and brain cancer cell lines. The selectivity of the compounds was assessed by determining the cytotoxicity in normal epithelial cell line (CHO). The most potent compound, 6j, was efficacious (with IC 50 range of 0.6–1.2?μM) in colon (HCT116 and HCT15), brain (LN-229 and GBM-10) and ovarian (A2780 and OV2008) cancer cell lines. In contrast, in the normal cell line (CHO), the IC 50 values for 6j were 14?±?1.3?μM. Compound 6j significantly inhibited the clonogenic potential of HCT116, OV2008 and A2780?cell lines in concentration – dependent (0.5–4?μM) manner. Also, 6j induced 1) formation of reactive oxygen species; 2) apoptosis and 3) mitotic catastrophe in HCT116 and OV2008?cells (IC 50 ?=?0.5–2?μM). Furthermore, apoptosis was the predominant mechanism of death in A2780?cells. The cytotoxicity of 6j in wild type HCT116?cells was similar to that in HCT116?cells lacking the apoptotic genes for Bax, Bak, or Bak and Bax, indicating that 6j induces mitotic catastrophe as alternative mechanism of death when when certain apoptotic proteins are absent. In summary, this study has identified a lead molecule, 6j , that selectively induces oxidative stress, apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe in specific cancer (colon and ovarian) cell lines. Graphical abstract The theinopyrimidine derivative (6j) exert its antiproliverative efficacy through G2 cell cycle arrest, inhibition of colonization, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the induction of apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe. Display Omitted Highlights ? Synthesis of 13 theinopyrimidine derivatives. ? 6j is highly potent and selective to ovarian cancer cells. ? 6j induces G2 cell cycle arrest in cancer cells. ? 6j induces cell death by apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe.