DNA-binding antitumor agents: from pyrimido[5,6,1-de]acridines to other intriguing classes of acridine derivatives.

In the field of antitumor DNA-binding agents, the class of acridine derivatives play an important role either as number of compounds or as importance of their anticancer properties. We have synthesized a number of acridine derivatives as potential antitumor drugs, in which the chromophore is fully or partially constituted by acridine or by 9-acridone ring systems: from the pyrimido[5,6,1-de]acridines, to the pyrimido[4,5,6-kl]acridines, the bis(amine-functionalized) 9-acridone-4-carboxamides, the bis(amine-functionalized) acridine-4-carboxamides, and the pyrazolo[3,4,5-kl]acridine-5-carboxamides. In the present revue we will describe the rational design, the synthesis, and the salient biological characteristics of these classes of acridine derivatives.