Seleno-vs. thioether triazine derivatives in search for new anticancer agents overcoming multidrug resistance in lymphoma

Lymphomas are still difficult to treat even with modern therapies as, among others, multidrug resistance (MDR) is often counteracting a successful cancer therapy. P-gp/ABC-transporters are well-known for their crucial role in the main tumour MDR mechanism, eliminating drugs and cytotoxic substances from the cancer cell by efflux, and their modulators are promising for innovative therapy, but none has been approved in the pharmaceutical market yet. Herein, we have designed, synthesised and analysed 30 novel seleno- and thioether 1,3,5-triazine derivatives conducting comprehensive studies to evaluate their potential application in human JURKAT lymphoma cells. Among the new compounds, four ( 11 , 12, 13 and 23) were much more effective than the reference inhibitor verapamil, being potent ABCB1 inhibitors already at 2 μM, while 5 and 15 showed very potent ABCB1 inhibitory activity only at 20 μM. Results of P-gp ATPase assays, supported with docking studies, indicated the competitive substrate mode of modulating action for 15 , while ABCB1 , ABCC1 and ABCG2 genes expression induction by 15 with q-PCR was confirmed. All compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic and antiproliferative properties in both sensitive (PAR) and resistant (MDR) mouse T-lymphoma cell lines, and compound 15 , also considering its promising ABCB1 inhibition properties, was revealed to be the best compound in terms of its cytotoxic effect (IC 50 : 16.73 μM) as well as concerning the antiproliferative effect (IC 50 : 5.35 μM) in MDR cells. Regarding the mechanistic studies looking at the cell cycle, the thioether 15 and selenium derivatives 26 and 29 were significantly effective in the regulation of cell cycle-related genes alone or in co-treatment with doxorubicin counteracting Cyclin D1 and E1 expression and increasing p53 and p21 levels, shedding first light on their mechanism of action. In summary, we explored the chemical space of seleno- and thioether 1,3,5-triazine derivatives with interesting activity against lymphoma. Especially compound 15 is worthy of being studied deeper to evaluate its precise mode of action further as well it can be improved regarding its potency and drug-likeness. • Design and synthesis of seleno- and thioether 1,3,5-triazine derivatives. • ABCB1 efflux pump modulating assays in mouse T-lymphoma cancer cells. • Cytotoxic and anti-proliferative activity assays in sensitive and MDR cancer cells. • Analysis of effects on cell cycle regulators expression in JURKAT cancer cells. • In vitro - and MM-aided insight into probable mechanisms of ABC pump modulation.