oxadiazoles and Prostatic-Neoplasms

In this review we present algorithms for classification and taxonomy based on information entropy, followed by structure-activity relationship (SAR) models for the inhibition of human prostate carcinoma cell line DU-145 by 26 derivatives of N-aryl-N-(3-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)amines (NNAs). The NNAs are classified using two characteristic chemical properties based on different regions of the molecules. A table of periodic properties of inhibitors of DU-145 human prostate carcinoma cell line is obtained based on structural features from the amine moiety and from the oxadiazole ring. Inhibitors in the same group and period of the periodic table are predicted to have highly similar properties, and those located only in the same group will present moderate similarity. The results of a virtual screening campaign are presented.

Topics: Algorithms; Amines; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Line, Tumor; Entropy; Humans; Male; Oxadiazoles; Prostate; Prostatic Neoplasms; Structure-Activity Relationship

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Humans; Male; Mice; Oxadiazoles; Prostatic Neoplasms; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1; Staurosporine; Structure-Activity Relationship

Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, exists as a homodimer and is aberrantly upregulated in a wide spectrum of cancers. It was thought to be an ideal target due to its lack of expression in most adult normal tissues and importance in cancer cell survival. However, it has been challenging to target survivin due to its "undruggable" nature. We previously attempted to target its dimerization domain with a hypothesis that inhibiting survivin dimerization would promote its degradation in proteasome, which led to identification of a lead small-molecule inhibitor, LQZ-7F. LQZ-7F consists of a flat tetracyclic aromatic core with labile hydrazone linking a 1,2,5-oxadiazole moiety. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that LQZ-7F could be developed as a prodrug because the labile hydrazone linker could be hydrolyzed, releasing the tetracyclic aromatic core. To this end, we synthesized the tetracyclic aromatic core (LQZ-7F1) using reported procedure and tested LQZ-7F1 for its biological activities. Here we show that LQZ-7F1 has a significantly improved potency with submicromolar IC

Topics: Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Dimerization; Docetaxel; Humans; Hydrazones; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; Male; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Oxadiazoles; Prodrugs; Prostatic Neoplasms; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Survivin

Various 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives have been synthesized and their antiproliferative properties have been studied. The in vitro screening was performed against androgen dependent (LNCaP) and androgen independent (PC-3) prostate cancer cell lines. Most of the compounds showed promising activity. Among them, compounds 2d (IC50=0.22 and 1.3μM) and 2a (IC50=8.34 and 2,5μM) have shown significant activities on PC-3 and LNCaP cell lines respectively. To investigate the mechanism of cell death we performed cell apoptosis staining and cell cycle arrest assay on more sensitive PC-3 cell lines on 2d. The results demonstrated that 2d induced apoptosis and shifted the cells to the sub G0/G1 and S phase. Our study evidently identified the potency of compound 2d as potential anti-prostate cancer agent.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Design; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Humans; Male; Models, Molecular; Molecular Structure; Oxadiazoles; Prostatic Neoplasms; Structure-Activity Relationship

The expression and activity of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is related to DNA repair status in the response of cells to exogenous and endogenous factors. Recent studies indicate that Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is involved in modulating DNA-PK. It has been shown that a compound 4-nitro-7-[(1-oxidopyridin-2-yl)sulfanyl]-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NSC), bearing a nitro-benzoxadiazole (NBD) scaffold, enhances tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR and triggers downstream signaling pathways. Here, we studied the behavior of DNA-PK and other DNA repair proteins in prostate cancer cells exposed to compound NSC. We showed that both the expression and activity of DNA-PKcs (catalytic subunit of DNA-PK) rapidly decreased upon exposure of cells to the compound. The decline in DNA-PKcs was associated with enhanced protein ubiquitination, indicating the activation of cellular proteasome. However, pretreatment of cells with thioglycerol abolished the action of compound NSC and restored the level of DNA-PKcs. Moreover, the decreased level of DNA-PKcs was associated with the production of intracellular hydrogen peroxide by stable dimeric forms of Cu/Zn SOD1 induced by NSC. Our findings indicate that reactive oxygen species and electrophilic intermediates, generated and accumulated during the redox transformation of NBD compounds, are primarily responsible for the rapid modulation of DNA-PKcs functions in cancer cells.

Topics: Cell Line, Tumor; DNA Repair; DNA-Activated Protein Kinase; Down-Regulation; Glycerol; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; Male; Oxadiazoles; Prostatic Neoplasms; Superoxide Dismutase; Ubiquitination

Phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) has recently been implicated as a proliferation-promoting factor in prostate cancer and is overexpressed in human prostate carcinoma. However, the effects of PDE4D inhibition using pharmacologic inhibitors have not been examined in prostate cancer. These studies examined the effects of selective PDE4D inhibitors, NVP-ABE171 and cilomilast, as anti-prostate cancer therapies in both in vitro and in vivo models. The effects of PDE4D inhibitors on pathways that are critical in prostate cancer and/or downstream of cyclic AMP (cAMP) were examined. Both NVP-ABE171 and cilomilast decreased cell growth. In vitro, PDE4D inhibitors lead to decreased signaling of the sonic hedgehog (SHH), androgen receptor (AR), and MAPK pathways, but growth inhibition was best correlated to the SHH pathway. PDE4D inhibition also reduced proliferation of epithelial cells induced by paracrine signaling from cocultured stromal cells that had activated hedgehog signaling. In addition, PDE4D inhibitors decreased the weight of the prostate in wild-type mice. Prostate cancer xenografts grown in nude mice that were treated with cilomilast or NVP-ABE171 had decreased wet weight and increased apoptosis compared with vehicle-treated controls. These studies suggest the pharmacologic inhibition of PDE4D using small-molecule inhibitors is an effective option for prostate cancer therapy.. PDE4D inhibitors decrease the growth of prostate cancer cells in vivo and in vitro, and PDE4D inhibition has therapeutic potential in prostate cancer.

Topics: Animals; Cell Proliferation; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; Hedgehog Proteins; Humans; Male; Mice; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; Naphthyridines; Nitriles; Oxadiazoles; Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors; Prostatic Neoplasms; Receptors, Androgen; Signal Transduction; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

We describe a noninvasive PET imaging method that monitors early therapeutic efficacy of BAY 87-2243, a novel small-molecule inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I as a function of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α) activity.. Four PET tracers [(18)F-FDG, (18)F-Fpp(RGD)2, (18)F-FLT, and (18)F-FAZA] were assessed for uptake into tumor xenografts of drug-responsive (H460, PC3) or drug-resistant (786-0) carcinoma cells. Mice were treated with BAY 87-2243 or vehicle. At each point, RNA from treated and vehicle H460 tumor xenografts (n = 3 each) was isolated and analyzed for target genes.. Significant changes in uptake of (18)F-FAZA, (18)F-FLT, and (18)F-Fpp(RGD)2 (P < 0.01) occurred with BAY 87-2243 treatment with (18)F-FAZA being the most prominent. (18)F-FDG uptake was unaffected. (18)F-FAZA tumor uptake declined by 55% to 70% (1.21% ± 0.10%ID/g to 0.35 ± 0.1%ID/g; n = 6, vehicle vs. treatment) in both H460 (P < 0.001) and PC3 (P < 0.05) xenografts 1 to 3 days after drug administration. (18)F-FAZA uptake in 786-0 xenografts was unaffected. Decline occurred before significant differences in tumor volume, thus suggesting (18)F-FAZA decrease reflected early changes in tumor metabolism. BAY 87-2243 reduced expression of hypoxia-regulated genes CA IX, ANGPTL4, and EGLN-3 by 99%, 93%, and 83%, respectively (P < 0.001 for all), which corresponds with reduced (18)F-FAZA uptake upon drug treatment. Heterogeneous expression of genes associated with glucose metabolism, vessel density, and proliferation was observed.. Our studies suggest suitability of (18)F-FAZA-PET as an early pharmacodynamic monitor on the efficacy of anticancer agents that target the mitochondrial complex I and intratumor oxygen levels (e.g., BAY 87-2243).

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Hypoxia; Cell Line, Tumor; Dideoxynucleosides; Female; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Male; Mice, Nude; Nitroimidazoles; Oxadiazoles; Positron-Emission Tomography; Prostatic Neoplasms; Pyrazoles; Radiopharmaceuticals; Tumor Burden; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Increased expression of Chromosome Region Maintenance (CRM-1)/exportin-1 (XPO-1) has been correlated with poor prognosis in several aggressive tumors, making it an interesting therapeutic target. Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) compounds bind to XPO-1 and block its ability to export cargo proteins. Here, we investigated the effects of a new class of SINE compounds in models of prostate cancer.. We evaluated the expression of XPO-1 in human prostate cancer tissues and cell lines. Next, six SINE (KPT-127, KPT-185, KPT-205, KPT-225, KPT-251 and KPT-330) compounds having different potency with broad-spectrum, tumor-selective cytotoxicity, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profiles were tested in a panel of prostate cancer cells representing distinct differentiation/progression states of disease and genotypes. Two SINE candidates for clinical trials (KPT-251 and KPT-330) were also tested in vivo in three cell models of aggressive prostate cancer engrafted in male nude mice.. XPO-1 is overexpressed in prostate cancer compared to normal or hyperplastic tissues. Increased XPO-1 expression, mainly in the nuclear compartment, was associated with increased Gleason score and bone metastatic potential supporting the use of SINEs in advanced prostate cancer. SINE compounds inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of tumor cells, but did not affect immortalized non-transformed prostate epithelial cells. Nuclei from SINE treated cells showed increased protein localization of XPO-1, survivin and cyclin D1 followed by degradation of these proteins leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Oral administration of KPT-251 and KPT-330 in PC3, DU145 and 22rv1 tumor-bearing nude mice reduced tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis and induced apoptosis. Our results provide supportive evidence for the therapeutic use of SINE compounds in advanced/castration resistant prostate cancers and warrants further clinical investigation.

Topics: Adult; Analgesics; Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Cyclin D1; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Hydrazines; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; Male; Mice; Mice, Nude; Neoplasm Grading; Oxadiazoles; Prostatic Neoplasms; Survivin; Triazoles; Up-Regulation; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Sulfide and sulfonyl derivatives of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles were synthesized and screened by MTT assay on the prostate cancer cells, DU-145. Six compounds were identified as potential anti-prostate cancer agents with IC(50) values ranging from 0.5 to 5.1μM. These compounds exhibited good activity on the androgen independent cells PC-3, while the results were moderate on androgen dependent LNCaP cells, suggesting the possibility of a mechanism of action different from that of the bioisosteric bicalutamide. Also a very low cytotoxicity was observed on non-cancerous cells MCF-10A.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Humans; Male; Oxadiazoles; Prostate; Prostatic Neoplasms; Receptors, Androgen

New fluorinated amphiphilic copolymers based on a biocompatible polyaspartamide have been prepared in order to obtain polymeric micelles useful for delivering anticancer drugs. In particular, α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-d,l-aspartamide (PHEA) has been derivatized with polyethylene glycol (PEG(2000)) and ethylendiamine (EDA). Both these portions form the hydrophilic part of the copolymer, while the hydrophobic moiety is given by 1,2,4-oxadiazoles: 5-pentafluorophenyl-3-perfluoroheptyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole (PPOX) or 3-carboxyethyl-5-pentadecafluoroheptyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole (CPOX). Copolymers named PHEA-PEG(2000)-EDA-PPOX and PHEA-PEG(2000)-EDA-CPOX have been prepared with various degrees of derivatization and characterized by spectroscopic analyses. Size exclusion chromatography, pyrene colorimetric assay, light scattering analysis and scanning electron microscopy have evidenced the occurrence of a self-association process in aqueous medium. The ability of these aggregates to incorporate a hydrophobic drug and increase its solubility has been evaluated by using Flutamide, a fluorinated anticancer agent. Moreover, the activity of Flutamide-loaded micelles on proliferation of dihydrotestosterone stimulated LNCaP cells has been determined and compared to that of free drug.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Chromatography, Gel; Dihydrotestosterone; Drug Carriers; Drug Delivery Systems; Ethylenediamines; Flutamide; Humans; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Male; Micelles; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Oxadiazoles; Peptides; Polyethylene Glycols; Polymers; Prostatic Neoplasms; Solubility

1-Alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)) inhibits proliferation of multiple cancer cell types including prostate cells and upregulates p21 and/or p27, while loss of Pten and PI3K/AKT activation stimulates survival and downregulates p21 and p27. We hypothesized that inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway synergizes with the antiproliferative signaling of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3).. Viability, cell cycle and senescence of cells were evaluated upon combinational treatment with 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and pharmacological PI3K/AKT inhibitors.. Pharmacological inhibitors of PI3K or Akt and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) synergistically inhibited growth of DU145, LNCaP, primary human prostate cancer cell strains and Pten null mouse prostatic epithelial cells (MPEC). The inhibitors used included API-2 (Triciribine) and GSK690693 which are currently in clinical trials for treatment of cancer. A novel mechanism for antiproliferative effects of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) in prostate cells, induction of senescence, was discovered. Combination of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and AKT inhibitor cooperated to induce G(1) arrest, senescence, and p21 levels in prostate cancer cells. As AKT is commonly activated by PTEN loss, we evaluated the role of Pten in responsiveness to 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) using shRNA knockdown and by in vitro knockout of Pten. MPEC that lost Pten expression remained sensitive to the antiproliferative action of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3), and showed higher degree of synergism between AKT inhibitor and 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) compared to Pten-expressing counterparts.. These findings provide the rationale for the development of therapies utilizing 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) or its analogs combined with inhibition of PI3K/AKT for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cellular Senescence; Chromones; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Synergism; Enzyme Inhibitors; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Immunoblotting; Male; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Morpholines; Oxadiazoles; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; Prostatic Neoplasms; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; PTEN Phosphohydrolase; Ribonucleosides; Vitamin D

A new series of nitrogen-containing heterocycles 4H-1,3,4-oxadiazin-5(6H)-ones derivatives with hydrophobic and long chains were designed and synthesized by direct cyclization reaction of N'-alkylation substituted aroylhydrazines with chloroacetyl chloride. The preliminary assays showed that some of the compounds displayed moderate to good inhibitory activities toward monoamine oxidase (MAO) at the concentration of 10(-5)-10(-3)M, and antitumor activities against human lung cancer A-549 and human prostate cancer PC-3 cell lines at muM level, which might provide new scaffold for anticancer agents. Furthermore, compounds 5i and 5m exhibited significant inhibitory activity on chitin biosynthesis, which might represent a novel class of highly potential inhibitors of chitin synthesis.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Line, Tumor; Chitin; Drug Design; Humans; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Monoamine Oxidase; Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; Oxadiazoles; Prostatic Neoplasms; Structure-Activity Relationship

Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) is a receptor for nitric oxide that generates cGMP. This second messenger molecule has established roles in cellular physiology; however, less is known about its effects in tumour cells.. The effects of 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) and 4H-8-bromo-1,2,4-oxadiazolo(3,4-d)benz(b)(1,4)oxazin-1-one (NS2028), both selective sGC inhibitors on proliferation, death and migration were determined in prostate cancer cell lines.. Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of alpha1 and beta1 subunits of sGC in LNCaP and PC-3 cells. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) increased cGMP accumulation in LNCaP and PC-3, but not DU-145 cells. SNP-stimulated cGMP production in LNCaP cells was dose-dependently reduced by ODQ, with more than 90% inhibition being observed at 0.1 microM. ODQ activated caspase-3 in all three cell lines, but not in normal prostate epithelial cells, at concentrations over 10 muM. High concentrations of ODQ also promoted DNA fragmentation and nucleosome accumulation in the cytosol of LNCaP cells. Interestingly, the chemically related inhibitor, NS2028 was without effect on caspase-3. In addition, ODQ inhibited LNCaP, Du145 and PC-3 cell growth. Finally, although fibroblast growth factor-2 did not enhance cGMP levels in LNCaP cells, its ability to stimulate LNCaP motility was abolished by ODQ.. These observations taken together suggest that the action of ODQ in LNCaP cells did not reflect sGC inhibition. We conclude that ODQ promotes cell death and inhibits growth and migration of prostate cancer cells and that these actions are independent of its effects on GMP levels.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Caspase 3; Cell Death; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Cyclic GMP; DNA Fragmentation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Activation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Guanylate Cyclase; Humans; Male; Nitroprusside; Oxadiazoles; Oxazines; Prostatic Neoplasms; RNA Interference; Solubility

To investigate the inhibitory effect of a new compound of GLB on tumor metastasis in vivo and analyze its actions on tumor cell adhesion to clarify its mechanism.. The effect of GLB on tumor metastasis was analyzed by Lewis lung carcinoma model. The pathological morphology of lung alveolar was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The effect of GLB on the proliferation of human prostate cancer cell (PC-3M, with a high metastatic characteristic) was studied using the MTT method, and its actions on PC-3M cell adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and laminin were analyzed in vitro.. GLB (100 mg/kg/d for 28 d, ig) reduced the number of lung colonies of Lewis lung carcinoma metastasis significantly (P<0.05). Simultaneously, GLB could mitigate the damage of lung alveolar caused by metastasic tumor deposits. In vitro, GLB inhibited dramatically the adhesion of PC-3M cells to HUVEC (P< 0.01) and laminin (P<0.05), without cytotoxic or anti-proliferative action on PC-3M cells.. GLB has anti-tumor metastatic activity, which partly depends on its inhibition of tumor adhesion.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Lewis Lung; Cell Adhesion; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Endothelial Cells; Female; Humans; Laminin; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Molecular Structure; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Transplantation; Oxadiazoles; Prostatic Neoplasms; Pyrans; Spiro Compounds; Umbilical Veins

Androgen-independent growth leads to progressive prostate cancer after androgen-ablation therapy. This may be caused by altered specificity of the androgen receptor (AR), by ligand-independent stimulation of the AR, or by paracrine growth modulation by neuropeptides secreted by neuroendocrine (NE) cells.. We established and characterized the androgen-independent FGC-DCC from the androgen-dependent LNCaP fast growing colony (FGC) cell line. The androgen-independent DU-145, FGC-DCC, and PC-3, and the androgen-dependent LNCaP and PC-346C cell lines were used to study growth modulation of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), calcitonin (CT), serotonin (5-HT), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) by (3)H-thymidine incorporation. Specificity of the growth-modulating effects was tested with the anti-GRP monoclonal antibody 2A11 and induction of cAMP by neuropeptides.. Androgen-independent growth stimulation by neuropeptides was shown in DU-145 and PC-346C. 2A11 inhibited GRP-induced (3)H-thymidine incorporation in DU-145 and PC-346C and inhibited proliferation of the FGC-DCC and PC-3 cell lines. With some exceptions, cAMP induction paralleled growth stimulation. Dideoxyadenosine (DDA) inhibited the GRP-induced growth effect in DU-145 and PC-346C, whereas oxadiazoloquinoxaline-1-one (ODQ) had no effect on (3)H-thymidine incorporation. None of the neuropeptides stimulated growth of LNCaP, FGC-DCC, or PC-3.. GRP-induced growth of DU-145 and PC-346C was specific and cAMP-mediated. Androgen-independent growth of FGC-DCC cells was mainly due to an induction of Bcl-2 expression and possibly through the activation of an autocrine and NE-like pathway, as has been shown also for the PC-3 cell line. Growth induction of non-NE cells by neuropeptides could be a possible role for NE cells in clinical prostate cancer.

Topics: Androgens; Cell Division; Cyclic AMP; Dideoxyadenosine; Enzyme Inhibitors; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; Humans; Male; Neuropeptides; Oxadiazoles; Prostatic Neoplasms; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Quinoxalines; Thymidine; Tumor Cells, Cultured