Mechanisms of the Cytotoxic Action of Novel Cyclic Hydroxamic Acids

Cyclic hydroxamic acids (CHAs) based on quinazoline-4(3H)-one and dihydroquinazoline-4(1H)-one have been synthesized. The antioxidant and iron-chelating properties of these compounds, their effect on the activity of the histone deacetylase enzyme, and their cytotoxic effect on cells of various tumor lines have been investigated. Among the synthesized CHAs two compounds-hits exhibiting the multipharmacological type of the antineoplastic activity have been identified. Their cytotoxic effect on cells of human lung carcinoma A549 and breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 is obviously associated with their ability to modulate the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and to chelate Fe(II) ions, as well as to inhibit the metalloenzymes, histone deacetylases (HDACs), involved in the epigenetic regulation of tumor genesis. Thus, the synthesized CHAs may be considered as a promising basis for creating potential oncolytics.