Applying the designed multiple ligands approach to inhibit dihydrofolate reductase and thioredoxin reductase for anti-proliferative activity

The development of multi-targeting drugs is currently being explored as an attractive alternative to combination therapy, especially for the treatment of complex diseases such as cancer. Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) are enzymes belonging to two unrelated cellular pathways that are known to contribute towards cancer cell growth and survival. In order to evaluate whether simultaneous inhibition of DHFR and TrxR by dihydrotriazines (DHFR-targeting) and chalcones (TrxR-targeting) may be beneficial, breast MCF-7 and colorectal HCT116 carcinoma cells were treated with combinations of selected dihydrotriazines and chalcones at a 1:1 M ratio. Two combinations demonstrated synergy at low-to-moderate concentrations. Based on this result, four merged dihydrotriazine-chalcone compounds were designed and synthesized. Two compounds, 11a [DHFR IC50 = 56.4 μM, TrxR IC50 (60 min) = 12.6 μM] and 11b [DHFR IC50 = 2.4 μM, TrxR IC50 (60 min) = 10.1 μM], demonstrated in vitro inhibition of DHFR and TrxR. The compounds showed growth inhibitory activity against MCF-7 and HCT116 cells, but lacked cytotoxicity. Molecular docking experiments showed 11b to possess rational binding modes to both the enzymes. In conclusion, this study has not only identified the dihydrotriazine and chalcone scaffolds as good starting points for the development of dual inhibitors of DHFR and TrxR, but also demonstrated the synthetic feasibility of producing a chemical entity that could result in simultaneous inhibition of DHFR and TrxR. Future efforts to improve the antiproliferative profiles of such compounds will look at alternative ways of integrating the two pharmacophoric scaffolds. [Display omitted] •Dihydrotriazine and chalcone showed synergism in antiproliferative activity.•Pharmacophores of dihydrotriazine and chalcone were merged to give new compounds.•Two new compounds inhibited dihydrofolate reductase and thioredoxin reductase.•The new compounds also inhibited growth of MCF-7 and HCT116 cancer cells.