Novel Acylselenourea Derivatives: Dual Molecules with Anticancer and Radical Scavenging Activity.

Oxidative stress surrounding cancer cells provides them with certain growth and survival advantages necessary for disease progression. In this context, Se-containing molecules have gained attention due to their anticancer and antioxidant activity. In our previous work, we synthesized a library of 39 selenoesters containing functional groups commonly present in natural products (NP), which showed potent anticancer activity, but did not demonstrate high radical scavenger activity. Thus, 20 novel Se derivatives resembling NP have been synthesized presenting acylselenourea functionality in their structures. Radical scavenger activity was tested using DPPH assay and in vitro protective effects against ROS-induced cell death caused by H2O2. Additionally, antiproliferative activity was evaluated in prostate, colon, lung, and breast cancer cell lines, along with their ability to induce apoptosis. Compounds 1.I and 5.I showed potent cytotoxicity against the tested cancer cell lines, along with high selectivity indexes and induction of caspase-mediated apoptosis. These compounds exhibited potent and concentration-dependent radical scavenging activity achieving DPPH inhibition similar to ascorbic acid and trolox. To conclude, we have demonstrated that the introduction of Se in the form of acylselenourea into small molecules provides strong radical scavengers in vitro and antiproliferative activity, which may lead to the development of promising dual compounds.

From Natural Sources to Synthetic Derivatives: The Allyl Motif as a Powerful Tool for Fragment-Based Design in Cancer Treatment.

Since the beginning of history, natural products have been an abundant source of bioactive molecules for the treatment of different diseases, including cancer. Many allyl derivatives, which have shown anticancer activity both in vitro and in vivo in a large number of cancers, are bioactive molecules found in garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg, or mustard. In addition, synthetic products containing allyl fragments have been developed showing potent anticancer properties. Of particular note is the allyl derivative 17-AAG, which has been evaluated in Phase I and Phase II/III clinical trials for the treatment of multiple myeloma, metastatic melanoma, renal cancer, and breast cancer. In this Perspective, we compile extensive literature evidence with descriptions and discussions of the most recent advances in different natural and synthetic allyl derivatives that could generate cancer drug candidates in the near future.

Selenium-analogs based on natural sources as cancer-associated carbonic anhydrase isoforms IX and XII inhibitors.

In the relentless search for new cancer treatments, organoselenium compounds, and carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors have emerged as promising drug candidates. CA isoforms IX and XII are overexpressed in many types of cancer, and their inhibition is associated with potent antitumor/antimetastatic effects. Selenium-containing compounds, particularly selenols, have been shown to inhibit tumour-associated CA isoforms in the nanomolar range since the properties of the selenium atom favour binding to the active site of the enzyme. In this work, two series of selenoesters (1a-19a and 1b-19b), which gathered NSAIDs, carbo/heterocycles, and fragments from natural products, were evaluated against hCA I, II, IX, and XII. Indomethacin (17b) and flufenamic acid (19b) analogs exhibited selectivity for tumour-associated isoform IX in the low micromolar range. In summary, selenoesters that combine NSAIDs with fragments derived from natural sources have been developed as promising nonclassical inhibitors of the tumour-associated CA isoforms.

Seleno-Analogs of Scaffolds Resembling Natural Products a Novel Warhead toward Dual Compounds.

Nowadays, oxidative cell damage is one of the common features of cancer and Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Se-containing molecules, such as ebselen, which has demonstrated strong antioxidant activity, have demonstrated well-established preventive effects against both diseases. In this study, a total of 39 Se-derivatives were synthesized, purified, and spectroscopically characterized by NMR. Antioxidant ability was tested using the DPPH assay, while antiproliferative activity was screened in breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer cell lines. In addition, as a first approach to evaluate their potential anti-Alzheimer activity, the in vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibition (AChEI) was tested. Regarding antioxidant properties, compound 13a showed concentration- and time-dependent radical scavenging activity. Additionally, compounds 14a and 17a showed high activity in the melanoma and ovarian cancer cell lines, with LD50 values below 9.2 µM. Interestingly, in the AChEI test, compound 14a showed almost identical inhibitory activity to galantamine along with a 3-fold higher in vitro BBB permeation (Pe = 36.92 × 10-6 cm/s). Molecular dynamics simulations of the aspirin derivatives (14a and 14b) confirm the importance of the allylic group instead of the propargyl one. Altogether, it is concluded that some of these newly synthesized Se-derivatives, such as 14a, might become very promising candidates to treat both cancer and AD.

New Amides and Phosphoramidates Containing Selenium: Studies on Their Cytotoxicity and Antioxidant Activities in Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer is a multifactor disease, and many drug combination therapies are applied for its treatment. Selenium derivatives represent a promising potential anti-breast cancer treatment. This study reports the cytotoxic activity of forty-one amides and phosphoramidates containing selenium against five cancer cell lines (MCF-7, CCRF-CEM, HT-29, HTB-54 and PC-3) and two nonmalignant cell lines (184B5 and BEAS-2B). MCF-7 cells were the most sensitive and the selenoamides I.1f and I.2f and the selenium phosphoramidate II.2d, with GI50 values ranging from 0.08 to 0.93 µM, were chosen for further studies. Additionally, radical scavenging activity for all the compounds was determined using DPPH and ABTS colorimetric assays. Phosphoramidates turned out to be inactive as radical scavengers. No correlation was observed for the antioxidant activity and the cytotoxic effect, except for compounds I.1e and I.2f, which showed dual antioxidant and antitumor activity. The type of programmed cell death and cell cycle arrest were determined, and the results provided evidence that I.1f and I.2f induced cell death via autophagy, while the derivative II.2d provoked apoptosis. In addition, Western blot analysis corroborated these mechanisms with an increase in Beclin1 and LC3-IIB and reduced SQSTM1/p62 levels for I.1f and I.2f, as well as an increase in BAX, p21 and p53 accompanied by a decrease in BCL-2 levels for derivative II.2d.