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Mcl-1 is an anti-apoptotic member of Bcl-2 family proteins. The development of inhibitors of Mcl-1 has been challenging. To develop metal-based Mcl-1inhibitors, twenty two copper(II) complexes 25 – 46 with 9-substituted β-carboline derivatives were reported. Complexes 38 and 39 showed higher cytotoxicity than the corresponding ligands or cisplatin. The most potent complex 39 presented higher selectivity to Mcl-1 than other Bcl-2 family proteins, and killed cancer cells via Bax/Bak mediated apoptosis. Complex 39 showed an excellent safety profile in mouse model, and significantly inhibited the tumor growth in NCI-H460 tumor bearing model, which is more potent than AZD5991 at the same dosage. Complex 39 prolonged the survival time of the tumor bearing mice. Complex 39 is the first metal-based Mcl-1 inhibitor acting as a potential anticancer agent. Image 1 • Complex 39 is a novel metal-based Mcl-1 inhibitor with strong antitumor activity. • Complex 39 induced Bax/Bak mediated apoptosis. • Complex 39 significantly inhibited tumor growth in mouse xenograft model. • Complex 39 increased the survival time in mouse xenograft model. • Complex 39 showed a good safety margin in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Three new copper(II) complexes of 5-pyridin-2-yl-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinoline (PYP), i.e. [Cu2(PYP)2Cl4] (1), [Cu4(PYP)4(ClO4)2(H2O)2](ClO4)2·2H2O (2), and [Cu2(PYP)2Cl4] n (3), were synthesized and fully characterized. In comparison to free PYP, complexes 1–3 exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity against tested human tumor cell lines BEL-7404, SK-OV-3, A549, A375, MGC-803 and NCI-H460, with IC50 values ranging from 0.31 to 30.76 μM. Complexes 1–3 exhibited lower cytotoxicity to HL-7702 than them to cancer cells. Complex 1 induced apoptotic death of BEL-7404, which involved mitochondria in the process. Caspase-3 activation assay indicated that 1 could be an efficient activator of caspase-3. DNA binding studies by UV–vis, DNA-melting, competitive binding, CD, viscosity measurement and agarose gel electrophoresis, revealed that intercalation might be the most likely binding mode of 1 with DNA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A series of hybrids of scopoletin and substituted cinnamic acid were designed, synthesized and evaluated in vitro and in vivo against five human tumor cell lines [MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, A549, HCT-116, and HeLa] with doxorubicin as the positive control. Compounds 17a , 17b , 17c and 17g exhibited potent cytotoxic activity. Especially, compound 17b displayed broad spectrum activity with IC 50 values ranging from 0.249 μM to 0.684 μM. Moreover, in a preliminary pharmacological study, 17b not only remarkably induced cellular apoptosis, but also clearly induced A549 cells cycle arrest at S phase. In vivo study showed that 17b significantly suppressed tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner without causing the loss of the mean body weight of mice, which was superior to doxorubicin. These preliminary results indicate that 17b is an optimal anti-cancer leading compound and merit further structural modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]