Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Selenium-Containing Isocombretastatins and Phenstatins as Antitumor Agents

Two series of structurally related organoselenium compounds designed by fusing the anticancer agent methyl(phenyl)selane into the tubulin polymerization inhibitors isocombretastatins or phenstatins were synthesized and evaluated for antiproliferative activity. Most of these selenium containing hybrids exhibited potent cytotoxicity against a panel of cancel cell lines, with IC₅₀ values in the submicromolar concentration range. Among them, 11a, the 3-methylseleno derivative of isocombretastatin A-4 (isoCA-4) represented the most active compound with IC₅₀ values of 2-34 nM against 12 cancer cell lines, including two drug-resistant cell lines. Importantly, its phosphate salt, 11ab, inhibited tumor growth in xenograft mice models with inhibitory rate of 72.9% without apparent toxicity, which was better than the reference compounds isoCA-4P (inhibitory rate 52.2%) and CA-4P (inhibitory rate 47.6%). Mechanistic studies revealed that 11a is a potent tubulin polymerization inhibitor, which could arrest cell cycle at G₂/M phase and induce apoptosis along with the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential. In summary, 11a could serve as a promising lead for the development of highly efficient anticancer agents.