New bis(hydroxymethyl) alkanoate curcuminoid derivatives exhibit activity against triple-negative breast cancer in vitro and in vivo

Eur J Med Chem. 2017 May 5:131:141-151. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.03.006. Epub 2017 Mar 8.

Abstract

Novel bis(hydroxymethyl) alkanoate curcuminoid derivatives were designed, synthesized and screened for in vitro antiproliferative and in vivo antitumor activity. Selected new compound 9a and curcumin were further evaluated for inhibitory activity against ER+/PR+ breast cancer (MCF-7, T47D), HER 2+ breast cancer (SKBR3, BT474, and MDA-MB-457) and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) (HS-578T, MDA-MB-157, and MDA-MB-468) cell lines. In addition, compound 9a was evaluated in the MDA-MB-231 xenograft nude mice model. Compound 9a exhibited greater inhibitory activity than curcumin against TNBC cells and also demonstrated significant inhibitory activity against doxorubicin-resistant MDA-MB-231 cells, with ten-fold higher potency than curcumin. Furthermore, when evaluated against the MDA-MB-231 xenograft nude mice model, compound 9a alone was ten-fold more potent than curcumin. Moreover, synergistic activity was observed when 9a was used in combination with doxorubicin against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Keywords: Antiproliferative agents; Antitumor agents; Bis(hydroxymethyl) alkanoate curcuminoids; Curcumin; Triple-negative breast cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Curcumin / chemical synthesis
  • Curcumin / chemistry
  • Curcumin / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Curcumin