Synthesis of 2-alkylthio-N-(quinazolin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide derivatives: anticancer activity, QSAR studies, and metabolic stability

ABSTRACT: A new series of 2-alkylthio-N-(quinazolin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their antiproliferative activity by MTT assay against cancer cell lines HCT-116, MCF-7, and HeLa as well as the NCI-60 human tumor cell lines screen. In NCI screen, three compounds inhibited approximately 50% growth of RPMI-8226 and A549/ATCC cell lines. The mean of IC(50) calculated in MTT assays for three tested cell lines was about 45 μM for four compounds. The QSAR allowed finding statistically significant OPLS models for HeLa cell line. Metabolic stability in vitro studies indicated favorable and unfavorable structural elements. The good metabolic stability, with t(1/2) higher than 40 min, was observed for three derivatives, which together with their antiproliferative activity and good ADMET profile, makes them good leading structures for further research. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text]