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Abstract: Obatoclax is a linear oligopyrrole compound which antagonizes the antiapoptotic effects of the Bcl-2 family. Herein we describe the synthesis of obatoclax derivatives by replacement of the pyrrole and indole ring of obatoclax with thiophene, furan and thiazolidinedione. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the newly synthesized compounds is evaluated against hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Pyrrole and indole substituents of obatoclax analogues exhibited potent inhibition of cell growth. Among the tested compounds, 5d and 5e were active at 6.3 and 13.2 μM against PLC5 cells. Further assays confirmed a correlation between cell death, and p-STAT3 inhibition and SHP-1 activation by these analogues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Previously, we demonstrated that the multiple kinase inhibitor sorafenib mediates the repression of phospho-STAT3 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In this study, we used this kinase-independent mechanism as a molecular basis to use sorafenib as scaffold to develop a novel class of SHP-1-activating agents. The proof of principle of this premise was provided by SC-1, which on replacement of N-methylpicolinamide by a phenylcyano group showed abolished kinase activity while retaining phospho-STAT3 repressive activity. Structural optimization of SC-1 led to compound 6, which repressed phospho-STAT3 through SHP-1 activation and inhibited PLC5 cell proliferation at sub-micromolar potency. In light of the pivotal role of phospho-STAT3 in promoting tumorigenesis and drug resistance, this novel SHP-1-activating agent may have therapeutic relevance in cancer therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]