A new class of inhibitors of 2-arachidonoylglycerol hydrolysis and invasion of prostate cancer cells

Endogenous 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) inhibits invasion of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. Blocking cellular hydrolysis of 2-AG to increase its endogenous concentration results in a decrease in cell invasion. A series of compounds containing a trifluoromethyl ketone (TFK) moiety or the methyl analog (known to inhibit carboxylesterases) were investigated for their ability to inhibit 2-AG hydrolysis and prostate cancer cell invasion. Compounds containing a thioether β to a TFK moiety inhibited 2-AG hydrolysis as well as cell invasion in a concentration-dependent manner. Inhibition of 2-AG hydrolysis increased concomitantly with inhibitor alkyl chain length from 4- to 12-carbons while inhibition of cell invasion exhibited a maximum at 8- to 10-carbons of the compounds. These results demonstrate a new series of 2-AG hydrolysis inhibitors as a potential therapeutic approach for prostate cancer.