3-Vinylazetidin-2-Ones: Synthesis, Antiproliferative and Tubulin Destabilizing Activity in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells

Microtubule-targeted drugs are essential chemotherapeutic agents for various types of cancer. A series of 3-vinyl-β-lactams (2-azetidinones) were designed, synthesized and evaluated as potential tubulin polymerization inhibitors, and for their antiproliferative effects in breast cancer cells. These compounds showed potent activity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells with an IC50 value of 8 nM for compound 7s 4-[3-Hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl]-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-3-vinylazetidin-2-one) which was comparable to the activity of Combretastatin A-4. Compound 7s had minimal cytotoxicity against both non-tumorigenic HEK-293T cells and murine mammary epithelial cells. The compounds inhibited the polymerisation of tubulin in vitro with an 8.7-fold reduction in tubulin polymerization at 10 M for compound 7s and were shown to interact at the colchicine-binding site on tubulin, resulting in significant G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. Immunofluorescence staining of MCF-7 cells confirmed that β-lactam 7s is targeting tubulin and resulted in mitotic catastrophe. A docking simulation indicated potential binding conformations for the 3-vinyl-β-lactam 7s in the colchicine domain of tubulin. These compounds are promising candidates for development as antiproiferative microtubule-disrupting agents.

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Synthesis and Antiproliferative Evaluation of 3-Chloroazetidin-2-ones with Antimitotic Activity: Heterocyclic Bridged Analogues of Combretastatin A-4

Pharmaceuticals ◽

10.3390/ph14111119 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (11) ◽

pp. 1119

Author(s):

Azizah M. Malebari ◽

Shu Wang ◽

Thomas F. Greene ◽

Niamh M. O’Boyle ◽

Darren Fayne ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽

Mitotic Catastrophe ◽

Phase Cell ◽

Cancer Drug ◽

Clinical Activity ◽

Antimitotic Activity ◽

Mcf 7

Antimitotic drugs that target tubulin are among the most widely used chemotherapeutic agents; however, the development of multidrug resistance has limited their clinical activity. We report the synthesis and biological properties of a series of novel 3-chloro-β-lactams and 3,3-dichloro-β-lactams (2-azetidinones) that are structurally related to the tubulin polymerisation inhibitor and vascular targeting agent, Combretastatin A-4. These compounds were evaluated as potential tubulin polymerisation inhibitors and for their antiproliferative effects in breast cancer cells. A number of the compounds showed potent activity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, e.g., compound 10n (3-chloro-4-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-phenyl)-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)azetidin-2-one) and compound 11n (3,3-dichloro-4-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-azetidin-2-one), with IC50 values of 17 and 31 nM, respectively, and displayed comparable cellular effects to those of Combretastatin A-4. Compound 10n demonstrated minimal cytotoxicity against non-tumorigenic HEK-293T cells and inhibited the in vitro polymerisation of tubulin with significant G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. Immunofluorescence staining of MCF-7 cells confirmed that β-lactam 10n caused a mitotic catastrophe by targeting tubulin. In addition, compound 10n promoted apoptosis by regulating the expression of pro-apoptotic protein BAX and anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Mcl-1. Molecular docking was used to explore the potential molecular interactions between novel 3-chloro-β-lactams and the amino acid residues of the colchicine binding active site cavity of β-tubulin. Collectively, these results suggest that 3-chloro-2-azetidinones, such as compound 10n, could be promising lead compounds for further clinical anti-cancer drug development.

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Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 1-(Diarylmethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazoles and 1-(Diarylmethyl)-1H-imidazoles as a Novel Class of Anti-Mitotic Agent for Activity in Breast Cancer

Pharmaceuticals ◽

10.3390/ph14020169 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 169

Author(s):

Gloria Ana ◽

Patrick M. Kelly ◽

Azizah M. Malebari ◽

Sara Noorani ◽

Seema M. Nathwani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Docking Studies ◽

Biological Evaluation ◽

Mitotic Catastrophe ◽

Phase Cell ◽

Computational Docking ◽

Er Positive ◽

Mcf 7

We report the synthesis and biochemical evaluation of compounds that are designed as hybrids of the microtubule targeting benzophenone phenstatin and the aromatase inhibitor letrozole. A preliminary screening in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells identified 5-((2H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methyl)-2-methoxyphenol 24 as a potent antiproliferative compound with an IC50 value of 52 nM in MCF-7 breast cancer cells (ER+/PR+) and 74 nM in triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The compounds demonstrated significant G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in the MCF-7 cell line, inhibited tubulin polymerisation, and were selective for cancer cells when evaluated in non-tumorigenic MCF-10A breast cells. The immunofluorescence staining of MCF-7 cells confirmed that the compounds targeted tubulin and induced multinucleation, which is a recognised sign of mitotic catastrophe. Computational docking studies of compounds 19e, 21l, and 24 in the colchicine binding site of tubulin indicated potential binding conformations for the compounds. Compounds 19e and 21l were also shown to selectively inhibit aromatase. These compounds are promising candidates for development as antiproliferative, aromatase inhibitory, and microtubule-disrupting agents for breast cancer.

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A Combination of an Antimitotic and a Bromodomain 4 Inhibitor Synergistically Inhibits the Metastatic MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cell Line

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2019/1850462 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Thandi Mqoco ◽

André Stander ◽

Anna-Mart Engelbrecht ◽

Anna M Joubert

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Line ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Breast Cancer Cell ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽

Breast Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Mcf 7

Current chemotherapeutic agents have many side effects and are toxic to normal cells, providing impetus to identify agents that can effectively eliminate tumorigenic cells without damaging healthy cells. The aim of this study was to examine whether combining a novel BRD4 inhibitor, ITH-47, with the antimitotic estradiol analogue, ESE-15-ol, would have a synergistic effect on inhibiting the growth of two different breast cancer cell lines in vitro. Our docking and molecular dynamics studies showed that compared to JQ1, ITH-47 showed a similar binding mode with hydrogen bonds forming between the ligand nitrogens of the pyrazole, ASN99, and water of the BRD4 protein. Data from cell growth studies revealed that the GI50 of ITH-47 and ESE-15-ol after 48 hours of exposure was determined to be 15 μM and 70 nM, respectively, in metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. In tumorigenic MCF-7 breast cancer cells, the GI50 of ITH-47 and ESE-15-ol was 75 μM and 60 nM, respectively, after 48 hours of exposure. Furthermore, the combination of 7.5 μM and 14 nM of ITH-47 and ESE-15-ol, respectively, resulted in 50% growth inhibition of MDA-MB-231 cells resulting in a synergistic combination index (CI) of 0.7. Flow cytometry studies revealed that, compared to the control, combination-treated MDA-MB-231 cells had significantly more cells present in the sub-G1 phase and the combination treatment induced apoptosis in the MDA-MB-231 cells. Compared to vehicle-treated cells, the combination-treated cells showed decreased levels of the BRD4, as well as c-Myc protein after 48 hours of exposure. In combination, the selective BRD4 inhibitor, ITH-47, and ESE-15-ol synergistically inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, but not of the MCF-7 cell line. This study provides evidence that resistance to BRD4 inhibitors may be overcome by combining inhibitors with other compounds, which may have treatment potential for hormone-independent breast cancers.

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Anticancer Potential of Calli Versus Seedling Extracts Derived from Rosmarinus officinalis and Coleus hybridus

Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology ◽

10.2174/1389201021666200318114817 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (14) ◽

pp. 1528-1538

Author(s):

Sarah Albogami ◽

Hadeer Darwish ◽

Hala M. Abdelmigid ◽

Saqer Alotaibi ◽

Ahmed Nour El-Deen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Transcriptional Profiling ◽

Significant Inhibition ◽

Rosmarinus Officinalis ◽

Crude Extracts ◽

Incidence And Mortality ◽

Mcf 7

Background: In Saudi Arabia, the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer are high. Although current treatments are effective, breast cancer cells develop resistance to these treatments. Numerous studies have demonstrated that active compounds in plant extracts, such as the phenolic compound Rosmarinic Acid (RA), exert anti-cancer effects. Objective: We investigated the anticancer properties of methanolic crude extracts of seedlings and calli of Rosmarinus officinalis and Coleus hybridus, two Lamiaceae species. Methods: MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were treated with methanolic crude extracts obtained from plant calli and seedlings generated in vitro, and cell proliferation was evaluated. Transcriptional profiling of the seedling and callus tissues was also conducted. Results: The mRNA expression levels of RA genes were higher in C. hybridus seedlings than in R. officinalis seedlings, as well as in C. hybridus calli than in R. officinalis calli, except for TAT and C4H. In addition, seedling and callus extracts of both R. officinalis and C. hybridus showed anti-proliferative effects against MCF-7 cells after 24 or 48 h of treatment. Discussion: At a low concentration of 10 μg/mL, C. hybridus calli and seedling extracts showed the most significant anti-proliferative effects after 24 and 48 h of exposure (p < 0.01); controls (doxorubicin) also showed significant inhibition, but lesser than that observed with C. hybridus (p < 0.05). Results with R. officinalis callus and seedling extracts did not significantly differ from those with untreated cells. Conclusion: Methanolic extracts of R. officinalis and C. hybridus are potentially valuable options for breast cancer treatment.

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In vitro evaluation of estrogenic, antiestrogenic and antitumor effects of amentoflavone

Human & Experimental Toxicology ◽

10.1177/0960327121999454 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 096032712199945

Author(s):

AT Aliyev ◽

S Ozcan-Sezer ◽

A Akdemir ◽

H Gurer-Orhan

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Antitumor Effects ◽

Antiestrogenic Activity ◽

Er Positive ◽

In Vivo Effects ◽

Mcf 7

Apigenin, a flavonoid, is reported to act as an estrogen receptor (ER) agonist and inhibit aromatase enzyme. However, amentoflavone, a biflavonoid bearing two apigenin molecules, has not been evaluated for its endocrine modulatory effects. Besides, it is highly consumed by young people to build muscles, enhance mood and lose weight. In the present study, apigenin was used as a reference molecule and ER mediated as well as ER-independent estrogenic/antiestrogenic activity of amentoflavone was investigated. Antitumor activity of amentoflavone was also investigated in both ER positive (MCF-7 BUS) and triple-negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells and its cytotoxicity was evaluated in human breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A). Our data confirmed ER agonist, aromatase inhibitory and cytotoxic effects of apigenin in breast cancer cells, where no ER mediated estrogenic effect and physiologically irrelevant, slight, aromatase inhibition was found for amentoflavone. Although selective cytotoxicity of amentoflavone was found in MCF-7 BUS cells, it does not seem to be an alternative to the present cytotoxic drugs. Therefore, neither an adverse effect, mediated by an estrogenic/antiestrogenic effect of amentoflavone nor a therapeutical benefit would be expected from amentoflavone. Further studies could be performed to investigate its in vivo effects.

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In-vitro anticancer activity of green synthesized silver nanoparticles on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Materials Science and Engineering C ◽

10.1016/j.msec.2016.03.101 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 68 ◽

pp. 430-435 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Suk Ju Jang ◽

In Jun Yang ◽

Clement O. Tettey ◽

Ki Mo Kim ◽

Heung Mook Shin

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Human Breast Cancer ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Human Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Human Breast ◽

Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Mcf 7

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Inhibition of MCF-7 breast cancer cell proliferation by 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone; a role for p21(Cip1/Waf1)

Journal of Molecular Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/jme.0.0320793 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 793-810 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

MA Greeve ◽

RK Allan ◽

JM Harvey ◽

JM Bentel

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

S Phase ◽

Cyclin D3 ◽

P27 Kip1 ◽

Mcf 7

Androgens inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo by mechanisms that remain poorly defined. In this study, treatment of asynchronously growing MCF-7 breast cancer cells with the androgen, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), was shown to inhibit cell proliferation and induce moderate increases in the proportion of G1 phase cells. Consistent with targeting the G1-S phase transition, DHT pretreatment of MCF-7 cultures impeded the serum-induced progression of G1-arrested cells into S phase and reduced the kinase activities of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)4 and Cdk2 to less than 50% of controls within 3 days. DHT treatment was associated with greater than twofold increases in the levels of the Cdk inhibitor, p27(Kip1), while p21(Cip1/Waf1) protein levels remained unchanged. During the first 24 h of DHT treatment, levels of Cdk4-associated p21(Cip1/Waf1) and p27(Kip1) were reduced coinciding with decreased levels of Cdk4-associated cyclin D3. In contrast, DHT treatment caused increased accumulation of Cdk2-associated p21(Cip1/Waf1), with no significant alterations in levels of p27(Kip1) bound to Cdk2 complexes. These findings suggest that DHT reverses the Cdk4-mediated titration of p21(Cip1/Waf1) and p27(Kip1) away from Cdk2 complexes, and that the increased association of p21(Cip1/Waf1) with Cdk2 complexes in part mediates the androgen-induced growth inhibition of breast cancer cells.

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RPF101, a new capsaicin-like analogue, disrupts the microtubule network accompanied by arrest in the G2/M phase, inducing apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe in the MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology ◽

10.1016/j.taap.2012.11.029 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 266 (3) ◽

pp. 385-398 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Paulo Luiz de-Sá-Júnior ◽

Kerly Fernanda Mesquita Pasqualoto ◽

Adilson Kleber Ferreira ◽

Maurício Temotheo Tavares ◽

Mariana Celestina Frojuello Damião ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Mitotic Catastrophe ◽

Microtubule Network ◽

M Phase ◽

Mcf 7

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ARTEMISININ MODULATING EFFECT ON HUMAN BREAST CANCER CELL LINES WITH DIFFERENT SENSITIVITY TO CYTOSTATICS

Experimental Oncology ◽

10.31768/2312-8852.2017.39(1):25-29 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 25-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

V F Chekhun ◽

N Yu Lukianova ◽

T Borikun ◽

T Zadvornyi ◽

A Mokhir

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Drug Resistance ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Iron Homeostasis ◽

Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽

Fold Change ◽

Breast Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Cellular Iron ◽

Mcf 7

Aim: To explore effects of Artemisinin on a series of breast cancer cells with different sensitivity to typical cytotoxic drugs (doxorubicin — Dox; cisplatin — DDP) and to investigate possible artemisinin-induced modification of the mechanisms of drug resistance. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on wild-type breast cancer MCF-7 cell line (MCF-7/S) and its two sublines MCF-7/Dox and MCF-7/DDP resistant to Dox and DDP, respectively. The cells were treated with artemisinin and iron-containing magnetic fluid. The latter was added to modulate iron levels in the cells and explore its role in artemisinin-induced effects. The MTT assay was used to monitor cell viability, whereas changes of expression of selected proteins participating in regulation of cellular iron homeostasis were estimated using immunocytochemical methods. Finally, relative expression levels of miRNA-200b, -320a, and -34a were examined by using qRT-PCR. Results: Artemisinin affects mechanisms of the resistance of breast cancer cells towards both Dox and DDP at sub-toxic doses. The former drug induces changes of expression of iron-regulating proteins via different mechanisms, including epigenetic regulation. Particularly, the disturbances in ferritin heavy chain 1, lactoferrin, hepcidin (decrease) and ferroportin (increase) expression (р ≤ 0.05) were established. The most enhanced increase of miRNA expression under artemisinin influence were found for miRNA-200b in MCF-7/DDP cells (7.1 ± 0.98 fold change), miRNA-320a in MCF-7/Dox cells (2.9 ± 0.45 fold change) and miRNA-34a (1.7 ± 0.15 fold change) in MCF-7/S cells. It was observed that the sensitivity to artemisinin can be influenced by changing iron levels in cells. Conclusions: Artemisinin can modify iron metabolism of breast cancer cells by its cytotoxic effect, but also by inducing changes in expression of iron-regulating proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs), involved in their regulation. This modification affects the mechanisms that are implicated in drug-resistance, that makes artemisinin a perspective modulator of cell sensitivity towards chemotherapeutic agents in cancer treatment.

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