Synthesis, in vitro and structural aspects of cap substituted Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid analogs as potential inducers of apoptosis in Glioblastoma cancer cells via HDAC /microRNA regulation.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a heterogeneous, aggressive brain cancer characterized by chemo-resistance and cancer stemness. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a group of enzymes that regulate chromatin epigenetics which were in turn found to be controlled by microRNAs (miRs). The drug employed in chemotherapy for the treatment of GBM is Temozolomide (TMZ). Unfortunately, many GBM patients exhibit chemo-resistance to this drug. Here we have synthesized various Suberoyl anilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) analogs with many substitutions at the cap site majority of which not yet studied. These SAHA analogs have exhibited profound cytotoxicity at 2 μM, and 4 μM concentrations in GBM cancer cell line U87MG, and 1 μM, and 2 μM concentrations in breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Surprisingly, these analogs have exhibited cytotoxic effects in chronic lymphoid leukemia cells (Raji) at 64 μM, and 128 μM concentrations due to mutated p53. Among all the synthesized analogs 3-Chloro-SAHA, 3-Chloro-4-fluoro SAHA have exhibited effective cytotoxicity in all cancer cells. These potent analogs inhibited HDAC-8 enzyme activity by 2-folds in U87MG, and MCF-7 cell lines and 7-folds decrease in HDAC-8 activity was observed in Raji cell line. These analogs decreased the expression of HDAC-2, HDAC-3 genes and enhanced the expression of p53 tumor suppressor. Interestingly, these compounds decreased the expression of Rictor, the main component of the mTORC2 complex involved cancer cell metabolism. Furthermore, these molecules have decreased oncogenic microRNA expression such as miR-21 and enhanced the expression of tumor suppressor microRNAs such as miR-143. The HDAC binding ability of these molecules was highly significant and have exhibited the ability to cross blood-brain barrier (BBB), and followed the Lipinski rule of five. Thus, these molecules need to be taken up further to clinics for better therapy against GBM either singly or combination therapy.