Novel HDAC/Tubulin Dual Inhibitor: Design, Synthesis and Docking Studies of α-Phthalimido-Chalcone Hybrids as Potential Anticancer Agents with Apoptosis-Inducing Activity

Introduction: In order to develop novel anticancer HDAC/tubulin dual inhibitors, a novel series of alpha-phthalimido-substituted chalcones-based hybrids was synthesized and characterized by IR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, mass spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. Methods: All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity against MCF-7 and HepG2 human cancer cell lines using MTT assay. To explore the mechanism of action of the synthesized compounds, in vitro beta-tubulin polymerization and HDAC 1 and 2 inhibitory activity were measured for the most potent anticancer hybrids. Further, cell cycle analysis was also evaluated. Results: The trimethoxy derivative 7j showed the most potent anticancer activity, possessed the most potent beta-tubulin polymerase and HDAC 1 and 2 inhibitory activity and efficiently induced cell cycle arrest at both G2/M and preG1phases in the MCF-7 cell line.