Synthesis, anti-cancer evaluation of benzenesulfonamide derivatives as potent tubulin-targeting agents

•A series of novel sulfonamide derivatives were synthesized.•The antiproliferative activities against four cancer cell lines were determined.•These compounds exert antitumor effect via tubulin depolymerization.•BA-3b was very potent against both drug-sensitive and MDR cancer cell lines.

A series of benzenesulfonamide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-proliferative activity and interaction with tubulin. These new derivatives showed significant activities against cellular proliferative and tubulin polymerization. Compound BA-3b proved to be the most potent compound with IC50 value ranging from 0.007 to 0.036 μM against seven cancer cell lines, and three drug-resistant cancer cell lines, which indicated a promising anti-cancer agent. The target tubulin was also verified by dynamic tubulin polymerization assay and tubulin intensity assay.

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