Quinolones in the Search for New Anticancer Agents

Abstract

Quinolones have a large bio-dynamicity. Although they are well known as antibacterials, another important activity has been investigated - quinolones are able to inhibit cancer cell proliferation. In view of the great versatility associated with the synthesis of quinolones, many researchers have spent time and resources on the development of new structurally diversified quinolone derivatives with the purpose of finding new possibilities for cancer treatment. In this review some of the most recent advances in the search for new quinolone anticancer agents are highlighted, with focus on naturally occurring substances, bioactive metal complexes, molecular hybrids, photosensitizers and heterocycle condensed quinolones.

Risk of Cancer after Lower Urinary Tract Infection: A Population-Based Cohort Study

“…However, a significant increase was observed in the incidence of bladder cancer in men after antibiotic treatment for more than 7 days (Table 6). These results are contrary to many research conclusions, and most antibiotics such as cephalosporins, quinolones, and ampicillins are considered as a kind of cancer treatment drug rather than a carcinogen [12,13,16]. However, no report has clarified whether beta-lactams, amoxicillin, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim are carcinogenic or have antitumor properties.…”

“…Males older than 65 years exhibited a negative association between UTI and lung cancer risk (Figure A1). In previous reports, cephalosporins and quinolones were associated with antitumor properties [12,13]. The incidence of lung cancer in middle-aged men with UTI may be reduced through antibiotic treatments, and this hypothesis requires more evidence before it can be confirmed.…”

Recent advances in isatin hybrids as potential anticancer agents

“…Quinoline moiety is a common pharmacophore in antimalarial (such as chloroquine and mefloquine) [ 63 ] and antibacterial (such as ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin) [ 64 ] agents and many quinoline‐containing compounds such as cabozantinib, voreloxin, and quarfloxin have already been used in clinics or under clinical trials for the treatment of various cancers, including drug‐resistant cancers. [ 65,66 ] Therefore, hybridization of isatin with quinoline may open a door to opportunities for the development of novel anticancer agents.…”

New 3‐(1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐yl)quinolin‐2(1H)‐one‐based triazole derivatives: Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation as antiproliferative and apoptosis‐inducing agents

“…Thus, many researchers, while working on the optimization of this scaffold, have reported on molecules leading to ROS generation, followed by apoptosis induction. [ 10–12 ] In a related finding, Han et al [ 13 ] reported exploration of the effects of substitutions on the benzimidazole moiety on the 2‐oxo‐quinoline scaffold, which showed potent VEGFR‐2 inhibition activity, the best molecule being the isonicotinamide derivative I (Figure 1). In a similar study, Kuang et al [ 10 ] reported antitumor agents based on the 3‐benzoimidazol‐2‐yl‐quinolin‐2‐one scaffold, among which compound II was the best, with antitumor activity exerted by apoptosis induction through ROS generation.…”