Combretastatin A-4 derivatives: synthesis and evaluation of 2,4,5-triaryl-1H-imidazoles as potential agents against H1299 (non-small cell lung cancer cell).

A number of 2,4,5-triaryl-1H-imidazole derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against the growth of five cell lines including three non-small cell lung cancers (H460, H1299, and A549), one breast cancer (MCF-7), and one normal diploid embryonic lung cell line (MRC-5). Preliminary results indicated that both 2-(5-bromofuran-2-yl)-4,5-bis{4-[3-(dimethylamino) propoxy] phenyl}-1H-imidazole (10f) and 4,5-bis{4-[3-(dimethylamino)propoxy]phenyl}-2-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)-1H -imidazole (10g) were selectively active against the growth of H1229 with an IC(50) of less than 0.1 μM, thus were more active than topotecan (IC(50) > 10.0 μ M). However, both 10f and 10g exhibited only marginal cytotoxicity against H460, A549, MCF-7, and MRC-5 requiring an IC (50) of at least 4.16 μM. Our results also indicated that 10f induced H1299 cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 through the inactivation of p38 MAPK, JNK, ERK, as well as the expression of SIRT1 and survivin. These results suggested that 10f might have therapeutic potential against H1299 (non-small cell lung cancer cell).