Development of 2-oindolin-3-ylidene-indole-3-carbohydrazide derivatives as novel apoptotic and anti-proliferative agents towards colorectal cancer cells.

Mitochondrial anti-apoptotic Bcl2 and BclxL proteins, are overexpressed in multiple tumour types, and has been involved in the progression and survival of malignant cells. Therefore, inhibition of such proteins has become a validated and attractive target for anticancer drug discovery. In this manner, the present studies developed a series of novel isatin-indole conjugates (7a-j and 9a-e) as potential anticancer Bcl2 and BclxL inhibitors. The progression of the two examined colorectal cancer cell lines was significantly inhibited by all of the prepared compounds with IC50 ranges132-611 nM compared to IC50 = 4.6 µM for 5FU, against HT-29 and IC50 ranges 37-468 nM compared to IC50 = 1.5 µM for 5FU, against SW-620. Thereafter, compounds 7c and 7g were selected for further investigations. Interestingly, both compounds exhibited selective cytotoxicity against both cell lines with high safety to normal fibroblast (HFF-1). In addition, both compounds 7c and 7g induced apoptosis and inhibited Bcl2 and BclxL expression in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, the high potency and selective cytotoxicity suggested that conjugates 7c and 7g could be a starting point for further optimisation to develop novel pro-apoptotic and antitumor agents towards colon cancer.