oxadiazoles and Lymphoma

A series of oxadiazole derivatives possessing morpholine 6a-l were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution reaction of key intermediates [1,3,4]-oxadiazole-2-thiol derivatives 5a-l with 4-(2-chloroethyl) morpholine. Compounds 6a-l were evaluated for their in vitro and in vivo antitumor potential in Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) tumor cells. Among 6a-l series, compound 6a with concentration ∼8.5μM have shown extensive cytotoxicity in vitro and 85% reduction in tumor volume in vivo, attributing an excellent anti-proliferative capability towards the cancer cells. Compound 6a has extensively inhibited the Microvessel Density (MVD) or tumoral neovasculature which was evident from the CD31 immuno staining and peritoneal H&E staining. The major reason for the antiproliferative activity of compound 6a was due to the repression of tumor vasculature.

Topics: Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Ascites; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Female; Lymphoma; Mice; Microvessels; Morpholines; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Oxadiazoles

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3, a member of a family of DNA-binding molecules mediating numerous physiological and oncogenic signaling pathways, is a novel target in cancer cells which show high phosphorylation of STAT3. Recently, we identified a novel small-molecule inhibitor of STAT3 dimerization, STX-0119, as a cancer therapeutic. We investigated the mechanisms responsible for the antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo through numerous biochemical and biological assays. Specifically, the effects of STX-0119 on target genes (c-myc, cyclin D1, survivin) and apoptosis induction were analyzed in tumors treated with STX-0119 in vivo. STX-0119 showed strong growth-inhibitory activity against a broad range of hematological cancer cell lines, particularly lymphomas. STX-0119 suppressed the growth of SCC3 cells, a human lymphoma cell line with highly activated STAT3, through apoptosis and down-regulation of STAT3 targets such as c-myc, cyclin D1, survivin and Bcl-xL. Notably, Tyr-705-phosphorylated STAT3 up-regulation was not significantly suppressed by STX-0119, as opposed to other STAT3 inhibitors. STX-0119 demonstrated potent antitumor effects in vivo in SCC3-bearing nude mice by way of the down-regulation of STAT3 target genes and induction of apoptosis in the tumors. Thus, STX-0119 may be a new type of STAT3 inhibitor exhibiting strong antitumor activity.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Humans; Lymphoma; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Oxadiazoles; Phosphorylation; Protein Multimerization; Quinolines; STAT3 Transcription Factor

The PI3K/AKT signaling is activated in various hematologic malignancies. We evaluated the effect of a novel, pan-AKT kinase inhibitor, GSK690693, on the proliferation of 112 cell lines representing different hematologic neoplasia. Fifty-five percent of all cell lines tested were sensitive to AKT inhibitor (EC(50)<1 microM), with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and Burkitt lymphoma showing 89%, 73%, and 67% sensitivity to GSK690693, respectively. The antiproliferative effect was selective for the malignant cells, as GSK690693 did not inhibit the proliferation of normal human CD4(+) peripheral T lymphocytes as well as mouse thymocytes. Phosphorylation of downstream substrates of AKT was reduced in both sensitive and insensitive cell lines on treatment with GSK690693, suggesting that the cause of resistance was not related to the lack of AKT kinase inhibition. Consistent with the role of AKT in cell survival, GSK690693 also induced apoptosis in sensitive ALL cell lines. Overall, our data provide direct evidence for the role of AKT signaling in various hematologic malignancies, especially ALL and some lymphomas.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; B-Lymphocytes; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cell Division; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Female; Humans; Leukemia, B-Cell; Lymphoma; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Oxadiazoles; Phosphorylation; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Signal Transduction

Carcinogenicity of eight 5-nitrofurans with heterocyclic substituents at the 2-position of the furan ring was investigated by feeding the chemicals to Sprague-Dawley female rats. N-[5-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]acetamide induced in 30 rats the highest incidence of tumors with the greatest number of tissues involved: forestomach squamous cell tumors (22), kidney pelvis transitional cell carcinomas (15), pulmonary alveolar cell carcinomas (16), hemangioendothelialsarcomas (20) of the intestine, mesentery, liver, lung, and pancreas, and a few tumors of other tissues. 2-Amino-5-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole, 2-amino-5-(5-nitro-2furyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole, and trans-2-[dimethylamino)methylimino]-5-[2-(5-nitro-2-furyl)vinyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole produced high incidences of mammary tumors. The other four 5-nitrofurans tested: N-[4-(5-NITRO-2-FURYL)-2-THIAZOLYL]ACETAMIDE;2,3,4-TRIFLUORO-N-[4-(5-NITRO-2-furyl)-2-thiazoly]acetamide;5-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-ol; and N-( [3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl]methyl)acetamide were associated with tumor incidences of 40-60%. Two other chemicals were also tested: 2-Amino-5-nitrothiazole caused a low incidence of breast and kidney pelvis tumors, and 2-amino-4-(p-nitrophenyl)thiazole induced a high incidence of breast and salivary gland adenocarcinomas and lymphomas.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar; Administration, Oral; Amines; Animals; Carcinogens; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell; Female; Hemangiosarcoma; Intestinal Neoplasms; Kidney Neoplasms; Liver Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Lymphoma; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental; Mesentery; Neoplasms, Experimental; Nitrofurans; Oxadiazoles; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Rats; Salivary Gland Neoplasms; Stomach Neoplasms; Thiadiazoles