Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of novel methylselenocarbamates

• Methylseleno group plus carbamate moiety result in hybrid antitumoral agents.
• Novel derivatives display high cytotoxicity against human cell lines.
• Lead compound induces a caspase-mediated process of cell death.
• Cell cycle arrest is also caused by the lead compound.

A series of new aliphatic, aromatic and heteroaromatic carbamate derivatives containing a methylseleno moiety were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxic activity against a panel of human cell lines including CCRF-CEM (lymphoblastic leukaemia), K-562 (lymphocytic leukaemia), HT-29 (colon carcinoma), HTB-54 (lung carcinoma), PC-3 (prostate carcinoma), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), 184B5 (non-malignant, mammary gland derived) and BEAS-2B (non-malignant, derived from bronchial epithelium). Most of the compounds are highly cytotoxic with GI50 values below 10 μM in every tested tumour cell line. Based on its cytotoxic parameters, selectivity index and ADME profile, the biological activity of compound 2, the propyl derivative, was further analysed in CCRF-CEM and HTB-54 cells. Results showed that this compound is able to induce apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Involvement of caspases in cell death induction by 2 was detected. Besides, compound 2 was also able to induce cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 in CCRF-CEM cells and at G2/M in HTB-54 cells.

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