Design, synthesis and antineoplastic activity of novel hybrids of podophyllotoxin and indirubin against human leukaemia cancer cells as multifunctional anti-MDR agents

To overcome Cancer Drug Resistance, in present study, a series of podophyllotoxin-indirubin hybrids were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for Anticancer efficacy against two human chronic myeloid leukemia cell cultures. Among them, compound Da-1 was the most potent in resistent K562/VCR cells with an IC₅₀ value of 0.076 ± 0.008 μM. Preliminary mechanism studies showed that Da-1 significantly induced Apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G2 phase. Decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, accompanied by activated PARP cleavage, was observed in K562/VCR cells after incubation with Da-1. Meanwhile, Da-1 caused the accumulation of intracellular ROS, regulated JNK and Akt signaling, and down-regulated the expression levels of P-gp and MRP1 proteins. Importantly, Western blotting revealed that Da-1 could induce K562/VCR cells Autophagy, by increasing the levels of Beclin1 and LC3-II. Finally, Da-1 could disrupt microtubule organization, and binding mode to tubulin was investigated by using molecular modeling. Together, Da-1 was a novel hybrid with potent antiproliferative activity and might be a promising agent for the treatment of drug-resistant leukemia Cancer.

Anti-MDR activity; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Hybridization; Indirubin; Podophyllotoxin.