Pyrrolo[2′,3′:3,4]cyclohepta[1,2-d][1,2]oxazoles, a New Class of Antimitotic Agents Active against Multiple Malignant Cell Types

[Image: see text] A new class of pyrrolo[2′,3′:3,4]cyclohepta[1,2-d][1,2]oxazoles was synthesized for the treatment of hyperproliferative pathologies, including neoplasms. The new compounds were screened in the 60 human cancer cell lines of the NCI drug screen and showed potent activity with GI(50) values reaching the nanomolar level, with mean graph midpoints of 0.08–0.41 μM. All compounds were further tested on six lymphoma cell lines, and eight showed potent growth inhibitory effects with IC(50) values lower than 500 nM. Mechanism of action studies showed the ability of the new [1,2]oxazoles to arrest cells in the G2/M phase in a concentration dependent manner and to induce apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. The most active compounds inhibited tubulin polymerization, with IC(50) values of 1.9–8.2 μM, and appeared to bind to the colchicine site. The G2/M arrest was accompanied by apoptosis, mitochondrial depolarization, generation of reactive oxygen species, and PARP cleavage.