Synthesis and biological evaluation of arylphosphonium-benzoxaborole conjugates as novel anticancer agents

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2020 Jul 15;30(14):127259. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127259. Epub 2020 May 12.

Abstract

Arylphosphonium-benzoxaborole conjugates have been synthesized as potential mitochondria targeting anticancer agents. The synthesized compounds have been tested for their effects on cell viability in various solid tumor cell lines including breast cancer 4T1 and MCF-7, pancreatic cancer MIAPaCa-2 and colorectal adenocarcinoma WiDr. Compound 6c is designated as a lead compound for further studies due to its enhanced effects on cell viability in the above-mentioned cell lines. Seahorse Xfe96 based metabolic assays reveal that the lead candidate 6c inhibits mitochondrial respiration in 4T1 and WiDr cell lines as evidenced by the reduction of mitochondrial ATP production and increase in proton leak. Epiflourescent microscopy experiments also illustrate that 6c causes significant mitochondrial fragmentation in 4T1 and WiDr cells, morphologically consistent with programmed cell death. Our current studies illustrate that arylphosphonium-benzoxaborole conjugates have potential to be further developed as anticancer agents.

Keywords: Benzoxaborole; Cell viability; Glycolysis stress test; Mitochondrial fragmentation; Mitochondrial stress test; Phosphonium salts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Boron Compounds / chemistry
  • Boron Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / chemistry
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Boron Compounds
  • Organophosphorus Compounds