Coumarin sulfonamides derivatives as potent and selective COX-2 inhibitors with efficacy in suppressing cancer proliferation and metastasis

Cyclooxygenase-2 is frequently overexpression in malignant tumors and the product PGE2 promotes cancer cell progression and metastasis. We designed novel series of coumarin sulfonamides derivatives to improve biological activities of COX-2 inhibition and anticancer. Among them, compound 7t showed most powerful selective inhibitory and antiproliferative activity (IC50 = 0.09 μM for COX-2, IC50 = 48.20 μM for COX-1, IC50 = 0.36 μM against HeLa cells), comparable to the control positive compound Celecoxib (0.31 μM, 43.37 μM, 7.79 μM). Cancer cell apoptosis assay were performed and results indicated that compound 7t effectively fuels HeLa cells apoptosis in a dose and time-dependent manner. Moreover, 7t could significantly suppress cancer cell adhesion, migration and invasion which were essential process of cancer metastasis. Docking simulations results was further indicated that compound 7t could bind well to the COX-2 active site and guided a reasonable design of selective COX-2 inhibitor with anticancer activities in future.

Graphical abstractNovel coumarin sulfonamides derivatives have been synthesized. Among them, compound 7t showed most powerful selective inhibitory and antiproliferative activity. 7t could effectively causing HeLa cells apoptosis in a dose and time-dependent manner and significantly suppress cancer cell adhesion, migration and invasion.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide