Synthesis of new indeno[1,2-c]isoquinolines: Cytotoxic non-camptothecin topoisomerase I inhibitors

In an attempt to design and synthesize potential anticancer agents acting b y inhibition of topoisomerase I (top1), a new series of indenoisoquinolines was prepared and tested for cytotoxicity in human cancer cell cultures and for activity against top1. The synthesis relied on the condensation of sub stituted Schiff bases with homophthalic anhydrides to produce cis-3-aryl-4- carboxyisoquinolones that were cyclized to indenoisoquinolines in the prese nce of thionyl chloride, Both top1 inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity max imized in a single compound, 6-[3-(2-hydroxyethyl)aminopropyl]-5,6-dihydro- 2,3-dimethoxy-8,9-methylenedioxy-5,11-dioxo-11H-indeno[1,2-c]isoquinoline h ydrochloride (19a), which proved to be a very potent top1 inhibitor having a 110 nM mean graph midpoint (MGM) when tested for cytotoxicity in 55 human cancer cell cultures. A number of structurally related indenoisoquinolines were also obtained that had both potent cytotoxicity as well as top1 inhib itory activity. The key feature of the more potent compounds was the presen ce of an aminoalkyl side chain on the indenoisoquinoline nitrogen atom. The DNA cleavage patterns induced by top1 in the presence of the indenoisoquin olines were different from those-seen with camptothecin. Some of the cleava ge sites induced by the indenoisoquinolines were different from those seen with camptothecin, and conversely, camptothecin induced unique cleavage sit es not apparent with the indenoisoquinolines. However, both camptothecin an d the indenoisoquinolines also induced DNA cleavage sites that were the sam e in both series but varied in intensity. In addition, some of the DNA clea vages seen with the free base of 19a (compound 18c) in the presence of top 1 were inhibited at higher drug concentrations, suggesting either a direct inhibition of the enzyme or an alternative mechanism involving DNA intercal ation. Consistent with intercalation, compound 18c did unwind DNA.