Cytotoxicity of aporphines in human colon cancer cell lines HCT-116 and Caco-2: an SAR study

A series of synthetic aporphine derivatives structurally related to domesticine and nantenine (ring A, N6 and ring C truncated analogs), was evaluated in MTS cytotoxicity assays against the human colon Cancer cell lines, HCT-116 and Caco-2. In general, the C1 position of ring A is tolerant of alkoxy substituents as well as a benzoyl ester functionality. Other modifications evaluated resulted in a decrease in cytotoxic activity. The most potent compounds identified had IC(50) values in the range 23-38 μM, comparable to the known cytotoxic agent, etoposide.