Design, synthesis and evaluation of Ospemifene analogs as anti-breast cancer agents

•Synthesis of few novel Ospemifene analogs.•Evaluation as anti-breast cancer agents.•Few of the synthesized compounds showed anti-breast cancer activities better than Ospemifene and Tamoxifen.•The experimental results are supported by docking against ERα and ERβ.

The synthesis of some novel Ospemifene derived analogs and their evaluation as anti-breast cancer agents against MCF-7 (ER-positive) and MDA-MB-231 (ER-negative) human breast cancer cell lines are described. Few of these analogs for instance, compounds 6, 7 and 8 are shown to be more effective than recent Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) i.e. Ospemifene and Tamoxifen, against these cell lines. Compound 8 was relatively more cytotoxic to MCF-7 cells similar to Ospemifene and Tamoxifen, while most potent compounds 6 and 7 were equally effective in inhibiting growth of both ER-positive and ER-negative cell lines. The observed activity profiles were further supported by the docking studies performed against estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ). Compounds 6, 7 and 8 exhibited stronger binding affinities with both ERα and ERβ compared to Ospemifene and Tamoxifen.

Graphical abstractThe synthesis and anti-breast cancer activities, supported by docking studies, of few novel Ospemifene analogs is described.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide