Synthesis and in vitro anticancer evaluation of 1,8-naphthalimide N(4) and S(4)-derivatives combining DNA intercalation and alkylation capabilities

Research on DNA binding antitumor agents has been classically steered by either non-covalent (DNA intercalation) or covalent (DNA alkylation) interactions. In this context bi-functional anticancer molecules are particularly attractive since they are capable of sequential DNA intercalation followed by DNA alkylation. Here we describe the synthesis and in vitro anticancer activity of bi-functional 1,8-naphthalimide N(4) and S(4)-derivatives. Cell viability assays indicate that our amonafide-N-mustard chimeras are selective, effective only on certain tumor cell lines, and less toxic toward non-malignant cells than the drug amonafide. The biological activities of the bi-functional derivatives presented here are encouraging and the compounds are suitable for further optimization and in vivo studies. Here we describe the synthesis and in vitro anticancer activity of three bi-functional 1,8-naphthalimide N(4) and S(4)-derivatives presenting both DNA intercalation and alkylation capabilities. Cell viability assays indicate that these amonafide-N-mustard chimeras are effective only on certain tumor cell lines and are less toxic towards non-malignant cells than their parent drug: amonafide. [GRAPHICS] .