Pyrimido[4,5-c]quinolin-1(2H)-ones as a novel class of antimitotic agents: Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxic activity

Several 2-amino-pyrimido[4,5-c]quinolin-1(2H)-ones variously substituted at positions 3, 5, and 9 were prepared from their corresponding lactones. The target compounds were investigated for in vitro cytotoxic activity against a panel of human Cancer cell lines, namely, lung fibrosarcoma HT-1080, colon adenocarcinoma HT-29, and breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231. Analysis of data revealed that the presence of chloro at position 9 has a major positive impact on cytotoxic activity. Additional halogen substitution at the para position of the 3-phenyl group further enhances activity. Furthermore, compound (25) was found to dose-dependently inhibit tubulin polymerization. In accordance, flow cytometric analysis of the most potent compounds (23-26) indicated that the tested compounds induce cell cycle arrest in the G(2)/M phase. The obtained results introduce the rarely described pyrimido[4,5-c]quinolin-1(2H)-one ring system as a new scaffold for promising antimitotic agents.