Discovery of Oral Anticancer 1,2-Bis(hydroxymethyl)benzo[g]pyrrolo[2,1-a]phthalazine Hybrids That Inhibit Angiogenesis and Induce DNA Cross-Links

Designing hybrid molecules with dual functions is one approach to improve the therapeutic efficacy of combination treatment. We have previously conjugated phthalazine and bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrole pharmacophores to form hybrids bearing antiangiogenesis and DNA interstrand cross-linking activities. To improve the bioavailability, we adopted a benzology approach to design and synthesize a new series of 1,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)benzo[g]pyrrolo[2,1-a]phthalazines. These new hybrids retained the dual functions and could be formulated into vehicles for intravenous and oral administration. Among them, we demonstrated that compound 19a with dimethylamine at the C6 position markedly suppressed the tumor growth of human small cell lung cancer cell line H526, squamous lung cancer cell line H520, and renal cancer cell line 786-O in nude mice, implying that compound 19a is a broad-spectrum anticancer agent. Our results implicated that the conjugation of antiangiogenic and DNA cross-linking is likely to be a helpful approach to improving the efficacy of combination therapy.