4-(3-Phenyl-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-1 H-pyrrol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide, a Novel Carbonic Anhydrase and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway Dual-Targeting Inhibitor with Potent Activity against Multidrug Resistant Cancer Cells

J Med Chem. 2023 Nov 9;66(21):14824-14842. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01424. Epub 2023 Oct 30.

Abstract

We synthesized new pyrrole and indole derivatives as human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) inhibitors with the potential to inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The presence of both N1-(4-sulfonamidophenyl) and 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) substituents was essential for strong hCA inhibitors. The most potent hCA XII inhibitor 15 (Ki = 6.8 nM) suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and its target genes MYC, Fgf20, and Sall4 and exhibited the typical markers of apoptosis, cleaved poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase, and cleaved caspase-3. Compound 15 showed strong inhibition of viability in a panel of cancer cells, including colorectal cancer and triple-negative breast cancer cells, was effective against the NCI/ADR-RES DOX-resistant cell line, and restored the sensitivity to doxorubicin (DOX) in HT29/DX and MDCK/P-gp cells. Compound 15 is a novel dual-targeting compound with activity against hCA and Wnt/β-catenin. It thus has a broad targeting spectrum and is an anticancer agent with specific potential in P-glycoprotein overexpressing cell lines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Benzenesulfonamides
  • Carbonic Anhydrase IX
  • Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Carbonic Anhydrases* / metabolism
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasms*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway

Substances

  • Carbonic Anhydrases
  • Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors
  • Carbonic Anhydrase IX