Synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of certain pyrido[3,2-g]quinoline derivatives

The present report describes the synthesis and evaluation of tricyclic pyrido[3,2-g]quinoline derivatives in which an additional pyridine ring is linearly fused on the antibacterial quinoline-3-carboxylic acid. Among them, only diethyl 4,6-diamino-10-methylpyrido[3,2-g]quinoline-3,7-dicarboxylate (9a) and diethyl 4,6-bis-(3-dimethylaminopropylamino)-10-methylpyrido[3,2-g]quinoline-3,7-dicarboxylate (9d) were able to completely inhibit cell proliferation of MCF7 (Breast), NCI-H460 (Lung), and SF-268 (CNS) implying either amino or dimethylaminopropyl moiety at C-4 and C-6 positions is crucial for the antiproliferative activity of pyrido[3,2-g]quinoline derivatives. Compounds 9a-9d were further evaluated for their activity against the growth of MCF-7 and two prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP and PC-3. Results indicated the antiproliferative activity decreased in an order 9d9a9b and 9c. Compound 9d was the most cytotoxic with an IC50 value of 5.63 and 3.96 microM, respectively, against LNCaP and MCF-7. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that growth inhibition of LNCaP by 9d was due to cell cycle arrest in G1 phase, and followed by apoptosis.