Synthesis and evaluation of the tumor cell growth inhibitory potential of new putative HSP90 inhibitors

Ana Bizarro, Diana Sousa, Raquel T. Lima, Loana Musso, Raffaella Cincinelli, Vantina Zuco, Michelandrea De Cesare, Sabrina Dallavalle, M. Helena Vasconcelos*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is a well-known target for cancer therapy. In a previous work, some of us have reported a series of 3-aryl-naphtho[2,3-d]isoxazole-4,9-diones as inhibitors of HSP90. Methods: In the present work, various compounds with new chromenopyridinone and thiochromenopyridinone scaffolds were synthesized as potential HSP90 inhibitors. Their binding affinity to HSP90 was studied in vitro. Selected compounds (5 and 8) were further studied in various tumor cell lines regarding their potential to cause cell growth inhibition, alter the cell cycle profile, inhibit proliferation, and induce apoptosis. Their effect on HSP90 client protein levels was also confirmed in two cell lines. Finally, the antitumor activity of compound 8 was studied in A431 squamous cell carcinoma xenografts in nude mice. Results: Our results indicated that treatment with compounds 5 and 8 decreased the proliferation of tumor cell lines and compound 8 induced apoptosis. In addition, these two compounds were able to downregulate selected proteins known as “clients” of HSP90. Finally, treatment of xenografted mice with compound 5 resulted in a considerable dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth. Conclusions: Our results show that two new compounds with a chromenopyridinone and thiochromenopyridinone scaffold are promising putative HSP90 inhibitors causing tumor cell growth inhibition.

Original languageEnglish
Article number407
JournalMolecules
Volume23
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • (thio)chromenopyridinones
  • Antitumor
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell cycle
  • Cell proliferation
  • HSP90
  • Naphthoquinones
  • Tumor xenographs

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Synthesis and evaluation of the tumor cell growth inhibitory potential of new putative HSP90 inhibitors'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this