Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 1,2,3-triazole benzothiazole derivatives as tubulin polymerization inhibitors with potent anti-esophageal cancer activities

Abstract

In this work, we utilized the molecular hybridization strategy to design and synthesize novel 1,2,3-triazole benzothiazole derivatives K1-26. The antiproliferative activities against MGC-803, Kyse30 and HCT-116 cells were explored, and their structure-activity relationship were preliminarily conducted and summarized. Among them, compound K18, exhibited the strongest proliferation inhibitory activity, with esophageal cancer cells Kyse30 and EC-109 being the most sensitive to its effects (IC₅₀ values were 0.042 and 0.038 μM, respectively). Compound K18 effectively inhibited tubulin polymerization (IC₅₀ = 0.446 μM), thereby hindering tubulin polymerize into filamentous microtubules in Kyse30 and EC-109 cells. Additionally, compound K18 induced the degradation of oncogenic protein YAP via the UPS pathway. Based on these dual molecular-level effects, compound K18 could induce G2/M phase arrest and cell apoptosis in Kyse30 and EC-109 cells, as well as regulate the expression levels of cell cycle and apoptosis-related proteins. In summary, our findings highlight a novel 1,2,3-triazole benzothiazole derivative K18, which possesses significant potential for treating esophageal cancers.

Keywords: 1,2,3-Triazole; Antiproliferative activities; Benzothiazole; Esophageal cancer; Tubulin.