An Orally Bioavailable, Indole-3-glyoxylamide Based Series of Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors Showing Tumor Growth Inhibition in a Mouse Xenograft Model of Head and Neck Cancer

J Med Chem. 2015 Dec 10;58(23):9309-33. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01312. Epub 2015 Dec 1.

Abstract

A number of indole-3-glyoxylamides have previously been reported as tubulin polymerization inhibitors, although none has yet been successfully developed clinically. We report here a new series of related compounds, modified according to a strategy of reducing aromatic ring count and introducing a greater degree of saturation, which retain potent tubulin polymerization activity but with a distinct SAR from previously documented libraries. A subset of active compounds from the reported series is shown to interact with tubulin at the colchicine binding site, disrupt the cellular microtubule network, and exert a cytotoxic effect against multiple cancer cell lines. Two compounds demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition in a mouse xenograft model of head and neck cancer, a type of the disease which often proves resistant to chemotherapy, supporting further development of the current series as potential new therapeutics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemistry*
  • Indoles / pharmacokinetics
  • Indoles / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Microtubules / drug effects
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Microtubules / pathology
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tubulin / metabolism
  • Tubulin / ultrastructure
  • Tubulin Modulators / chemistry*
  • Tubulin Modulators / pharmacokinetics
  • Tubulin Modulators / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Indoles
  • Tubulin
  • Tubulin Modulators