Simple di- and trivanillates exhibit cytostatic properties toward cancer cells resistant to pro-apoptotic stimuli

Bioorg Med Chem. 2010 Jun 1;18(11):3823-33. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2010.04.047. Epub 2010 Apr 21.

Abstract

A series of 33 novel divanillates and trivanillates were synthesized and found to possess promising cytostatic rather than cytotoxic properties. Several compounds under study decreased by >50% the activity of Aurora A, B, and C, and WEE1 kinase activity at concentrations <10% of their IC(50) growth inhibitory ones, accounting, at least partly, for their cytostatic effects in cancer cells and to a lesser extent in normal cells. Compounds 6b and 13c represent interesting starting points for the development of cytostatic agents to combat cancers, which are naturally resistant to pro-apoptotic stimuli, including metastatic malignancies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Aurora Kinases
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cytostatic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Cytostatic Agents / pharmacology
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Nuclear Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Vanillic Acid / chemical synthesis*
  • Vanillic Acid / pharmacology
  • Vanillic Acid / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cytostatic Agents
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • WEE1 protein, human
  • Aurora Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Vanillic Acid