Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel podophyllotoxin derivatives as tubulin-targeting anticancer agents

AbstractContext Podophyllotoxin (PPT) derivatives, used in cancer therapy, require development toward enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity.Objective This study synthesizes PPT derivatives to assess their anticancer activities.Materials and methods Compounds E1-E16 antiproliferative activity was te...

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Main Authors: Yujin Guo, Beibei Chen, Jinxiu Guo, Pei Jiang, Jianhua Wang, Wenxue Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Pharmaceutical Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/13880209.2024.2318350
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author Yujin Guo
Beibei Chen
Jinxiu Guo
Pei Jiang
Jianhua Wang
Wenxue Sun
author_facet Yujin Guo
Beibei Chen
Jinxiu Guo
Pei Jiang
Jianhua Wang
Wenxue Sun
author_sort Yujin Guo
collection DOAJ
description AbstractContext Podophyllotoxin (PPT) derivatives, used in cancer therapy, require development toward enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity.Objective This study synthesizes PPT derivatives to assess their anticancer activities.Materials and methods Compounds E1-E16 antiproliferative activity was tested against four human cancer cell lines (H446, MCF-7, HeLa, A549) and two normal cell lines (L02, BEAS-2B) using the CCK-8 assay. The effects of compound E5 on A549 cell growth were evaluated through molecular docking, in vitro assays (flow cytometry, wound healing, Transwell, colony formation, Western blot), and in vivo tests in female BALB/c nude mice treated with E5 (2 and 4 mg/kg). E5 (4 mg/kg) significantly reduced xenograft tumor growth compared to the DMSO control group.Results Among the 16 PPT derivatives tested for cytotoxicity, E5 exhibited potent effects against A549 cells (IC50: 0.35 ± 0.13 µM) and exceeded the reference drugs PPT and etoposide to inhibit the growth of xenograft tumours. E5-induced cell cycle arrest in the S and G2/M phases accelerated tubulin depolymerization and triggered apoptosis and mitochondrial depolarization while regulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and effectively inhibited cell migration and invasion, suggesting a potential to limit metastasis. Molecular docking showed binding of E5 to tubulin at the colchicine site and to Akt, with a consequent down-regulation of PI3K/Akt pathway proteins.Discussion and conclusions This research lays the groundwork for advancing cancer treatment through developing and using PPT derivatives. The encouraging results associated with E5 call for extended research and clinical validation, leading to novel and more effective cancer therapies.
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spelling doaj.art-91dd0963ce8d44339789af0fcf7f98c92024-02-23T16:09:05ZengTaylor & Francis GroupPharmaceutical Biology1388-02091744-51162024-12-0162123324910.1080/13880209.2024.2318350Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel podophyllotoxin derivatives as tubulin-targeting anticancer agentsYujin Guo0Beibei Chen1Jinxiu Guo2Pei Jiang3Jianhua Wang4Wenxue Sun5Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Jining First People′s Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, P.R. ChinaTranslational Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Jining First People′s Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, P.R. ChinaTranslational Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Jining First People′s Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, P.R. ChinaInstitute of Clinical Pharmacy, Jining First People′s Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, P.R. ChinaTranslational Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Jining First People′s Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, P.R. ChinaTranslational Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Jining First People′s Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, P.R. ChinaAbstractContext Podophyllotoxin (PPT) derivatives, used in cancer therapy, require development toward enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity.Objective This study synthesizes PPT derivatives to assess their anticancer activities.Materials and methods Compounds E1-E16 antiproliferative activity was tested against four human cancer cell lines (H446, MCF-7, HeLa, A549) and two normal cell lines (L02, BEAS-2B) using the CCK-8 assay. The effects of compound E5 on A549 cell growth were evaluated through molecular docking, in vitro assays (flow cytometry, wound healing, Transwell, colony formation, Western blot), and in vivo tests in female BALB/c nude mice treated with E5 (2 and 4 mg/kg). E5 (4 mg/kg) significantly reduced xenograft tumor growth compared to the DMSO control group.Results Among the 16 PPT derivatives tested for cytotoxicity, E5 exhibited potent effects against A549 cells (IC50: 0.35 ± 0.13 µM) and exceeded the reference drugs PPT and etoposide to inhibit the growth of xenograft tumours. E5-induced cell cycle arrest in the S and G2/M phases accelerated tubulin depolymerization and triggered apoptosis and mitochondrial depolarization while regulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and effectively inhibited cell migration and invasion, suggesting a potential to limit metastasis. Molecular docking showed binding of E5 to tubulin at the colchicine site and to Akt, with a consequent down-regulation of PI3K/Akt pathway proteins.Discussion and conclusions This research lays the groundwork for advancing cancer treatment through developing and using PPT derivatives. The encouraging results associated with E5 call for extended research and clinical validation, leading to novel and more effective cancer therapies.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/13880209.2024.2318350Tubulinapoptosislung adenocarcinoma epithelialPI3K/akt signalling pathwaycompound synthesis
spellingShingle Yujin Guo
Beibei Chen
Jinxiu Guo
Pei Jiang
Jianhua Wang
Wenxue Sun
Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel podophyllotoxin derivatives as tubulin-targeting anticancer agents
Pharmaceutical Biology
Tubulin
apoptosis
lung adenocarcinoma epithelial
PI3K/akt signalling pathway
compound synthesis
title Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel podophyllotoxin derivatives as tubulin-targeting anticancer agents
title_full Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel podophyllotoxin derivatives as tubulin-targeting anticancer agents
title_fullStr Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel podophyllotoxin derivatives as tubulin-targeting anticancer agents
title_full_unstemmed Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel podophyllotoxin derivatives as tubulin-targeting anticancer agents
title_short Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel podophyllotoxin derivatives as tubulin-targeting anticancer agents
title_sort design synthesis and biological evaluation of novel podophyllotoxin derivatives as tubulin targeting anticancer agents
topic Tubulin
apoptosis
lung adenocarcinoma epithelial
PI3K/akt signalling pathway
compound synthesis
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/13880209.2024.2318350
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