Synthesis and anticancer evaluation of novel triazole linked N-(pyrimidin-2-yl)benzo[d]thiazol-2-amine derivatives as inhibitors of cell survival proteins and inducers of apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

[Display omitted] •A series of novel triazole linked N-(pyrimidin-2yl)benzo[d]thiazol-2-amine derivatives were synthesized.•Synthesized compounds were evaluated for anticancer activity and cytotoxic effects were compared against normal breast epithelial cells.•Treatment of MCF-7 cells with these compounds resulted in G2/M cell cycle arrest.•Compounds inhibit the proteins responsible for cell proliferation (ERK1/2) and confer resistance to apoptotic induction.•These hybrids cause apoptosis through caspase-9 induction. A series of novel triazole linked N-(pyrimidin-2yl)benzo[d]thiazol-2-amine 5a–k were synthesized and evaluated for anticancer activity against breast (MCF-7), lung (A549) and skin (A375) cancer cell lines and their cytotoxic effects were compared against normal breast epithelial cells. The effect of compounds on cell cycle of MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was investigated by FACS. Result indicated G2/M cell cycle arrest of MCF-7 cells. Further promising compounds 5b, 5g, 5h and 5i were tested for their apoptosis inducing ability as well as inhibitory activity against key proteins NF-kB, Survivin, CYP1A1, and ERK1/2 which help in cancer cell survival and proliferation. The apoptotic aspect of these compounds is further evidenced by increase in the activity of caspase-9 in MCF-7 cells. Hence these small molecules have the potential to control both the cell proliferation as well as the invasion process in highly malignant breast cancers and can be selected for further biological studies.