Ring fusion strategy for the synthesis of anthra[2,3-d ]oxazole-2-thione-5,10-dione homologues as DNA topoisomerase inhibitors and as antitumor agents

The efficient synthesis of mono-substituted anthraquinones and ring fusion into anthra[2,3-d]oxazole-2-thione-5,10-dione derivatives were developed, and all the compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity against PC-3 cancer cell lines. Compounds 8, 14, 17 and 23 were selected by the NCI and 12, 17 and 19 were evaluated for topoisomerase I-mediated DNA relaxation. Among them, 17 appeared to be the most active compound of this series and not only showed higher inhibition when indicated from the low IC₅₀values against PC-3 cancer cell line but also attenuated the in vitro topoisomerase I-mediated DNA relaxation at low micromolar concentrations. All test compounds exhibited different cytostatic and cytotoxic activities for further developing potential anticancer drugs.