Discovery of 4-substituted methoxybenzoyl-aryl-thiazole as novel anticancer agents: synthesis, biological evaluation, and structure-activity relationships.

A series of 4-substituted methoxybenzoyl-aryl-thiazoles (SMART) have been discovered and synthesized as a result of structural modifications of the lead compound 2-arylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid amides (ATCAA). The antiproliferative activity of the SMART agents against melanoma and prostate cancer cells was improved from muM to low nM range compared with the ATCAA series. The structure-activity relationship was discussed from modifications of "A", "B", and "C" rings and the linker. Preliminary mechanism of action studies indicated that these compounds exert their anticancer activity through inhibition of tubulin polymerization.