Back to Search
Start Over
Pro-Apoptotic Antitumoral Effect of Novel Acridine-Core Naphthoquinone Compounds against Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
- Source :
-
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) [Molecules] 2022 Aug 12; Vol. 27 (16). Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Aug 12. - Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a global public health problem with high incidence and mortality. The chemotherapeutic agents used in the clinic, alone or in combination, usually lead to important side effects. Thus, the discovery and development of new antineoplastic drugs are essential to improve disease prognosis and reduce toxicity. In the present study, acridine-core naphthoquinone compounds were synthesized and evaluated for their antitumor activity in OSCC cells. The mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity parameters of the most promising compound was further analyzed using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo methods. Among the derivatives, compound 4e was highly cytotoxic (29.99 µM) and selective (SI 2.9) at levels comparable and generally superior to chemotherapeutic controls. Besides, compound 4e proved to be non-hemolytic, stable, and well tolerated in animals at all doses tested. Mechanistically, compound 4e promoted cell death by apoptosis in the OSCC cell, and molecular docking studies suggested this compound possibly targets enzymes important for tumor progression, such as RSK2, PKM2, and topoisomerase IIα. Importantly, compound 4e presented a pharmacological profile within desirable parameters for drug development, showing promise for future preclinical trials.
- Subjects :
- Acridines pharmacology
Animals
Apoptosis
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Proliferation
Molecular Docking Simulation
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck drug therapy
Antineoplastic Agents pharmacology
Antineoplastic Agents therapeutic use
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell drug therapy
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell pathology
Head and Neck Neoplasms drug therapy
Mouth Neoplasms drug therapy
Mouth Neoplasms pathology
Naphthoquinones pharmacology
Naphthoquinones therapeutic use
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1420-3049
- Volume :
- 27
- Issue :
- 16
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 36014389
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27165148