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Synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of novel indole derivatives as anticancer agents is described. A bisindolylmaleimide template has been derived as a versatile pharmacophore with which to pursue chemical diversification. Starting from maleimide, the introduction of an oxygen to the headgroup (hydroxymaleimide) was initially investigated and the bioactivity assessed by screening of kinase inhibitory activity, identifying substituent derived selectivity. Extension of the hydroxymaleimide template to incorporate substitution of the indole nitrogens was next completed and assessed again by kinase inhibition identifying unique selectivity patterns with respect to GSK-3 and CDK kinases. Subsequently, the anticancer activity of bisindolylmaleimides were assessed using the NCI-60 cell screen, disclosing the discovery of growth inhibitory profiles towards a number of cell lines, such as SNB-75 CNS cancer, A498 and UO-31 renal, MDA MB435 melanoma and a panel of leukemia cell lines. The potential for selective kinase inhibition by modulation of this template is evident and will inform future selective clinical candidates.

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The synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of novel heterocyclic indole derivatives is described. The consolidation of the combretastatin and bisindolylmaleimide templates towards the inclusion of a novel heterocyclic ring proffered a versatile pharmacophore with which to pursue chemical diversification. Given literature precedent, maleimide was initially investigated in this role and the bioactivity assessed by measurement of NCI-60 cell panel growth. Subsequently, a range of 5-aminopyrazoles was designed and developed to explore the specific effect of heterocycle hydrogen bonding on cell growth. The unique electronic nature of the 5-aminopyrazole moiety allowed for regiospecific monosubstitution on different sites of the ring, such as thiourea substitution at the N(1) position for derivative 45 or trifluoroacetylation on the 5-amino position for 43. Further derivatisation led to the ultimate development of bicyclic pyrazolotriazinedione 41 and pyrimidine 42 systems. The antiproliferative activities of these 3,4-diaryl-5-aminopyrazoles were assessed using the NCI-60 cell screen, disclosing the discovery of distinct selectivity profiles towards a number of cell lines, such as SNB-75 CNS cancer, UO-31 and CAKI-1 renal cancer cells. A series of DNA topological assays discounted the interaction with topoisomerase II as a putative mechanism of action.

Synthesis and Identification of Novel Indolo[2,3-a]pyrimido[5,4-c]carbazoles as a New Class of AnticancerAgents. -An optimized photocyclization step leads to the novel azaindolo[2,3-a]pyrimido[5,4-c]carbazole (VIb) representing a new class of potential anticancer agents. A structurally related indolo[2,3-a]pyrimido[5,4-c]carbazole (VIb) is obtained using a similar strategy. Both compounds show significant in vitro growth inhibition against renal cancer, melanoma, and colon cancer cell lines. -(PIERCE, L. T.; CAHILL, M. M.; WINFIELD, H. J.; MCCARTHY*, F. O.; Eur. J. Med. Chem. 56 (2012) 292-300, http://dx.