2. Academic Validation
  3. Halting colorectal cancer metastasis via novel dual nanomolar MMP-9/MAO-A quinoxaline-based inhibitors; design, synthesis, and evaluation

Halting colorectal cancer metastasis via novel dual nanomolar MMP-9/MAO-A quinoxaline-based inhibitors; design, synthesis, and evaluation

  • Eur J Med Chem. 2021 Oct 15:222:113558. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113558.
Mohammed Salah Ayoup 1,  Marwa M Abu-Serie 2,  Laila F Awad 3,  Mohamed Teleb 4,  Hanan M Ragab 4,  Adel Amer 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, P.O. Box 426, Alexandria, 21321, Egypt. Electronic address: mohammedsalahayoup@gmail.com.
  • 2 Medical Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), Egypt.
  • 3 Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, P.O. Box 426, Alexandria, 21321, Egypt.
  • 4 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt.
  • 5 Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, P.O. Box 426, Alexandria, 21321, Egypt; Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: adel.amer@alex-sci.edu.eg.
PMID: 34116327 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113558
Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) are central signaling nodes in CRC and promotors of distant metastasis associated with high mortality rates. Novel series of quinoxaline-based dual MMP-9/MAO-A inhibitors were synthesized to suppress CRC progression. The design rationale combines the thematic pharmacophoric features of MMP-9 and MAO-A inhibitors in hybrid scaffolds. All derivatives were initially screened via MTT assay for cytotoxic effects on normal colonocytes to assess their safety profiles, then evaluated for their Anticancer potential on HCT116 cells overexpressing MMP-9 and MAO-A. The most promising derivatives 8, 16, 17, 19, and 28 exhibited single digit nanomolar IC50 against HCT116 cells within their safe doses (EC100) on normal colonocytes. They suppressed HCT116 cell migration by 73.32, 61.29, 21.27, 28.82, and 27.48%, respectively as detected by wound healing assay. Enzymatic assays revealed that the selected derivatives were superior to the reference MMP-9 and MAO-A inhibitors (quercetin and clorgyline, respectively). The nanomolar dual MMP-9/MAO-A Inhibitor 19 was identified as the most potent and balanced dual inhibitor among the evaluated series with considerable selectivity against MAO-A over MAO-B. Besides, qRT-PCR analysis was conducted to explore the hit compounds' potential to downregulate hypoxia-inducing factor (HIF-1α) in HCT116 cells being correlated with MAO-A mediated CRC migration and invasion. The five above-mentioned compounds significantly downregulated HIF-1α by more than 5 folds. Docking simulations predicted their possible binding modes with MMP-9 and MAO-A and highlighted their essential structural features. Finally, they recorded drug-like in silico physicochemical parameters and ADMET profiles.

Keywords

Colorectal cancer; MAO-A; MMP-9; Metastasis; Quinoxaline.

Figures