Discovery of 6-(7-Nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-ylthio)hexanol Derivatives as Glutathione Transferase Inhibitors with Favorable Selectivity and Tolerated Toxicity

J Med Chem. 2021 Feb 11;64(3):1701-1712. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02048. Epub 2021 Feb 2.

Abstract

Glutathione transferase (GST P1-1) is a potential target for anticancer drugs. In this work, a series of 6-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-ylthio)hexanol (NBDHEX) derivatives as GST P1-1 inhibitors were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their biological activity. Among the target compounds, 4n showed more selective inhibition toward GST P1-1 and GST M2-2, better water solubility, and more potent anticancer activities toward all the tested cancer cells (except for HOS) than its parent molecule. Detailed biological studies on the effect of 4n toward 143b cells revealed that 4n could arrest the cell cycle at the G2 phase and induced cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Like NBDHEX, 4n displayed good pharmacokinetic characteristics. An in vivo study on 143b xenograft models demonstrated that 4n could significantly reduce tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner, showing stronger antitumor activity than NBDHEX. Thus, 4n deserves to be further investigated as a potential antitumor agent for cancer therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / toxicity
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Discovery
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / toxicity
  • G2 Phase / drug effects
  • Glutathione Transferase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Oxadiazoles / chemistry*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Solubility
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • 6-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-ylthio)hexanol
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Oxadiazoles
  • Glutathione Transferase