Synthesis, Antiproliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of Nitrostyrenes and Related Compounds in Burkitt's Lymphoma

Background: Cancers of the lymphatic cells (lymphomas) account for approximately 12% of malignant diseases worldwide. The nitrostyrene scaffold is identified as a lead target structure for the development of particularly effective compounds targeting Burkitt's lymphoma (BL). Objectives: The aims of the curent study were to synthesise a panel of nitrostyrene compounds and to evaluate their activity in Burkitt's lymphoma (BL). Methods: A panel of structurally varied compounds were designed and synthesised using Henry Knoevenagel condensation reactions. Single crystal X-Ray analysis confirmed the E configuration for six examples of these novel structures. A number of nitrostyrene-related compounds were also investigated including 1,3-bis(aryl)-2-nitropropenes together with heterocyclic scaffolds containing the nitrovinyl pharmacophore such as 3-nitro-2-phenyl-2H-chromenes. The antiproliferative activities of the compounds were evaluated using the BL cell lines EBV- MUTU-1 and EBV+ DG-75 (chemoresistant) to establish preliminary structure-activity relationships. Results: Lead compounds with optimized nitrostyrene scaffolds and 3-nitro-2-phenyl-2H-chromene structures were successfully established with typical IC50 values of 0.45 mu M and 0.47 mu M in MUTU-1 cells and 1.41 mu M and 1.92 mu M, respectively, in DG-75 cells. The mechanism of cell death was identified as apoptotic and the lead compound was found to elicit comparable apoptotic effects to Taxol in Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines MUTU-1 and DG-75. Conclusion: This class of pharmaceutically active compounds with potential for the treatment of Burkitt's lymphoma suggest a potential role for nitrostyrene based agents in chemotherapy.