Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of N-methyl-5,6,7-trimethoxylindoles as novel antimitotic and vascular disrupting agents

J Med Chem. 2013 Feb 28;56(4):1467-77. doi: 10.1021/jm3014663. Epub 2013 Feb 12.

Abstract

Several new series of 5,6,7-trimethoxyindole derivatives were synthesized and their structure-activity relationships (SARs) were studied. Some of these compounds exhibited strong antiproliferative activities in the submicromolar range. N-Methyl-5,6,7-trimethoxylindoles 21 and 31 displayed the highest antiproliferative activities, with IC50 values ranging from 22 to 125 nM in four human cancer cell lines and activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition to vascular disrupting activity verified by in vitro assays, compounds 21 and 31 displayed much higher selectivity for activated HUVECs versus quiescent HUVECs than those of colchicine and combretastatinA-4. The polymerization of cancer cell tubulin was inhibited and the cell cycle was arrested in the G2/M phase after treatment with 21 and 31. It was showed that 21 disrupted tumor vasculature by use of in vivo assay. Our results suggest that these two new compounds we synthesized may become the promising leads for the development of vascular disrupting agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / chemical synthesis*
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Female
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemical synthesis*
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Phenols / chemical synthesis*
  • Phenols / chemistry
  • Phenols / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tubulin Modulators / chemical synthesis*
  • Tubulin Modulators / chemistry
  • Tubulin Modulators / pharmacology

Substances

  • (3-(benzyloxy)-4-methoxyphenyl)(5,6,7-trimethoxy-1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)methanone
  • 2-methoxy-5-((5,6,7-trimethoxy-1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)methyl)phenol
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Indoles
  • Phenols
  • Tubulin Modulators