Synthesis and biological evaluation of a cyclic ether fluorinated noscapine analog

We present here a novel semi-synthetic cyclic ether fluorinated noscapine analog (CEFNA) that shows potent antiproliferative and anticancer activity in both hormone-responsive (MCF-7) and hormone non-responsive (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. Interestingly, it is also effective against MCF-7/Adr, an adriamycin-resistant variant of MCF-7 cells. Immunofluorescence experiments showed numerous micronuclei, indicative of apoptotic cell death triggered by this novel analog. Mechanistically, CEFNA exerts a strong antimitotic effect as revealed by cell-cycle studies that show a dose-dependent increase in G2/M population preceding a rising sub-G1 population, suggesting apoptosis.