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Nineteen new phenanthrene-based tylophorine analogues with various functional groups on the piperidine moiety were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for in vitro anticancer activity against four human tumor cell lines. Analogues 15and 21showed approximately 2-fold enhanced inhibitory activity as compared with our prior lead compound (PBT-1). Analogues 23and 24with S-and R-configured substituents, respectively, at the piperidine 3′-position exhibited comparable cytotoxicity to that of PBT-1. Furthermore, mechanistic studies to investigate the effects of the new compounds on Akt protein in lung cancer cells and the NF-kB signaling pathway suggested that the compounds may exert their inhibitory activity on tumor cells through inhibition of activation of both Akt and NF-kB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a continuing study, we explored how the individual rings in neo-tanshinlactone (1) influence its potent and selective in vitro antibreast cancer activity. Accordingly, we discovered a novel class of antibreast cancer agents, 2-(furan-2-yl)naphthalen-1-ol derivatives, based on an active C-ring opened model compound 5. Further optimization led to 18and 21, which showed decreased cytotoxic potency but better selectivity than neo-tanshinlactone analogue 2. Interestingly, 20showed broad cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C9-Substituted phenanthrene-based tylophorine derivatives (PBTs) (13−36) were synthesized and evaluated as in vitro anticancer agents against the human A549 lung cancer cell line. Twelve active compounds were further examined against DU-145 (prostate), ZR-751 (breast), KB (nasopharyngeal), and KB-Vin (multidrug resistant KB subline) human cancer cell lines. They showed potent cytotoxic activity against both wild type and matched multidrug resistant KB cell lines, and displayed notable selectivity toward DU-145 (prostate) and ZR-751 (breast) cancer cell lines. The mode of action of this class may be distinctly different from that of other cancer chemotherapeutic compounds. Three PBT analogs were also evaluated in a murine model. Compound 24bshowed modest in vivo antitumor activity against human A549 xenograft in nude mice as well as potent in vitro cytotoxic activity, and thus, is a promising anticancer lead compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]