Thalidomide analogues demonstrate dual inhibition of both angiogenesis and prostate cancer

Bioorg Med Chem. 2004 Jan 15;12(2):327-36. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2003.11.007.

Abstract

The identification of agents with antiproliferative activity against endothelial cells has significant value for the treatment of many angiogenesis-dependent pathologies. Herein, we describe the discovery of a series of thalidomide analogues possessing inhibitory effects against both endothelial and prostate cancer cells. More specifically, several analogues exhibited low micromolar to mid-nanomolar potency in the inhibition of human microvascular endothelial cell (HMEC) proliferation, both in the presence and absence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), with the tetrafluorophthalimido class of compounds demonstrating the greatest potency. Additionally, all the compounds were screened against two different androgen independent prostate cancer cell lines (PC-3 and DU-145). Again, the tetrafluorophthalimido analogues exhibited the greatest effect with GI(50) values in the low micromolar range. Thalidomide was found to demonstrate selective inhibition of androgen receptor positive LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, we showed that, as an example, tetrafluorophthalimido analogue 19 was able to completely inhibit the prostate specific antigen (PSA) secretion by the LNCaP cell line, while thalidomide demonstrated a 70% inhibition. We have also demonstrated that a correlation exists between HMEC and prostate cancer cell proliferation for this structural class. Altogether, our study suggests that these analogues may serve as promising leads for the development of agents that target both androgen dependent and independent prostate cancer and blood vessel growth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Androgens / metabolism
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biochemistry / methods
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Male
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy
  • Phthalimides / chemistry
  • Phthalimides / pharmacology
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / drug effects
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Receptors, Androgen / drug effects
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Thalidomide / analogs & derivatives*
  • Thalidomide / chemistry
  • Thalidomide / pharmacology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology

Substances

  • Androgens
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Phthalimides
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Thalidomide
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen