Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of 1-substituted -2-aryl imidazoles targeting tubulin polymerization as potential anticancer agents

A series of novel 1-substituted-2-aryl imidazoles (SAI) were designed and synthesized based on our previously reported ABI (2-Aryl-4-Benzoyl Imidazole) analogs and on the structure of combretastatin A-4 (CA-4). These compounds showed potent antiproliferative activities against six human Cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values in nano molar range. Among them, compound 3X exhibited the best Anticancer activity with an average IC₅₀ value of ∼100 nM. The compound maintains the mechanism of action by inhibiting tubulin polymerization, thus causing cell arrest at G2/M phase and Apoptosis. In vivo efficacy studies indicated that 3X was highly effective in suppressing tumor growth in a MDA-MB-468 xenograft model of nude mouse with a TGI (Tumor Growth Suppression) of 77% at 60 mg/kg without causing significant toxicity. In addition, 3X displayed significantly better water solubility (36.70 μg/mL) than CA-4 (2.83 μg/mL). Molecular modeling study indicated that 3X binds well to the colchicine binding site in tubulin. Our results suggest that the novel SAI analogs deserve further investigation as potential Anticancer agents.

1-substituted-2-aryl imidazoles (SAI); Anti-cancer; Colchicine; Combretastatin A-4 (CA-4); Tubulin inhibitors.