Synthesis and In Vitro Antiproliferative Activity of Novel Phenyl Ring-Substituted 5-Alkyl-12(H)-quino[3,4-b][1,4]benzothiazine Derivatives

A novel series of tetracyclic quinobenzothiazine derivatives was synthetized. Compounds containing a substituent (hydroxyl, methyl, phenyl, piperidyl, or piperazinyl) in positions 9 and 11 were obtained by cyclization of suitable 4-aminoquinolinium-3-thiolates. Quinobenzothiazine 10-O-substituted derivatives were obtained by alkylating the hydroxyl group in position 10 of the parent (quinobenzothiazine) system. Antiproliferative activity of the synthesized compounds was studied using cultured neoplastic cells (MDA-MB-231, SNB-19, and C-32 cell lines). Four selected compounds were investigated in more detail for cytotoxicity and antiproliferative effect. Transcriptional activity of genes regulating cell cycle (TP53), apoptosis (BAX, BCL-2), as well as proliferation (H3) were assessed. Finally, the ability of the selected compounds to bind DNA was checked in the presence of ethidium bromide.