Home Life Sciences Design and synthesis of 3-(azepan-1-ylsulfonyl)-N-aryl benzamide derivatives as potent carbonic anhydrase IX inhibitors with anticancer activities
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Design and synthesis of 3-(azepan-1-ylsulfonyl)-N-aryl benzamide derivatives as potent carbonic anhydrase IX inhibitors with anticancer activities

  • Mohammad A. Khanfar ORCID logo EMAIL logo and Mohammad Saleh
Published/Copyright: March 3, 2025

Abstract

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) is known to be overexpressed in various tumors and plays a significant role in tumor development and progression. A series of 3-sulfonamide benzoate derivatives with a 7-membered azepane ring were synthesized and evaluated for their CAIX inhibitory activities. Most of the synthesized compounds successfully inhibited CAIX activities, exhibiting IC50 values in the low nanomolar range. The most potent CAIX inhibitor was compound 26, with an IC50 of 19 nM. A structure-activity relationship analysis of the synthesized compounds was conducted, and molecular docking revealed strong coordination with the catalytic Zn2+ metal, hydrophobic interactions of the azepane ring with a hydrophobic pocket, and π-stacking interactions of the aryl ring with an aromatic surface. The three most active analogues (8, 16, and 26) were further tested for their antiproliferative activities in the NCI-60 human tumor cell lines screen. Notably, compound 16 (CAIX, IC50 = 310 nM) demonstrated potent growth inhibitory effects against several cancer cell lines.


Corresponding author: Mohammad A. Khanfar, College of Pharmacy, Alfaisal University, Al Takhassusi Rd, Riyadh 11533 P.O. Box 50927, Saudi Arabia, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

Authors thank the College of Pharmacy and Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) (grant # 23520) at Alfaisal University for their generous support and funds.

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: The author states no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: Alfaisal University, grant # 23520.

  7. Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.

References

1. Supuran, CT. Structure and function of carbonic anhydrases. Biochem J 2016;473:2023–32. https://doi.org/10.1042/bcj20160115.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

2. Imtaiyaz Hassan, M, Shajee, B, Waheed, A, Ahmad, F, Sly, WS. Structure, function and applications of carbonic anhydrase isozymes. Bioorg Med Chem 2013;21:1570–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2012.04.044.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

3. Supuran, CT. Advances in structure-based drug discovery of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Expet Opin Drug Discov 2017;12:61–88. https://doi.org/10.1080/17460441.2017.1253677.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

4. Waheed, A, Sly, WS. Carbonic anhydrase XII functions in health and disease. Gene 2017;623:33–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2017.04.027.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

5. Kciuk, M, Gielecińska, A, Mujwar, S, Mojzych, M, Marciniak, B, Drozda, R, et al.. Targeting carbonic anhydrase IX and XII isoforms with small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. J Enzym Inhib Med Chem 2022;37:1278–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/14756366.2022.2052868.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

6. Li, J, Zhang, G, Wang, X, Li, XF. Is carbonic anhydrase IX a validated target for molecular imaging of cancer and hypoxia? Future Oncol 2015;11:1531–41. https://doi.org/10.2217/fon.15.11.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

7. Pastorek, J, Pastorekova, S. Hypoxia-induced carbonic anhydrase IX as a target for cancer therapy: from biology to clinical use. Semin Cancer Biol 2015;31:52–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcancer.2014.08.002.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

8. Swietach, P, Patiar, S, Supuran, CT, Harris, AL, Vaughan-Jones, RD. The role of carbonic anhydrase 9 in regulating extracellular and intracellular ph in three-dimensional tumor cell growths. J Biol Chem 2009;284:20299–310. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m109.006478.Search in Google Scholar

9. Kalinin, S, Malkova, A, Sharonova, T, Sharoyko, V, Bunev, A, Supuran, CT, et al.. Carbonic anhydrase IX inhibitors as candidates for combination therapy of solid tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2021;22. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222413405.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

10. Campos, NSP, Souza, BS, Silva, GCP, Porto, VA, Chalbatani, GM, Lagreca, G, et al.. Carbonic anhydrase IX: a renewed target for cancer immunotherapy. Cancers 2022;14. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14061392.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

11. Gaspari, R, Rechlin, C, Heine, A, Bottegoni, G, Rocchia, W, Schwarz, D, et al.. Kinetic and structural insights into the mechanism of binding of sulfonamides to human carbonic anhydrase by computational and experimental studies. J Med Chem 2016;59:4245–56. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01643.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

12. Dudutiene, V, Matulienė, J, Smirnov, A, Timm, DD, Zubrienė, A, Baranauskienė, L, et al.. Discovery and characterization of novel selective inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase IX. J Med Chem 2014;57:9435–46. https://doi.org/10.1021/jm501003k.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

13. Khanfar, MA, Quinti, L, Wang, H, Choi, SH, Kazantsev, AG, Silverman, RB. Development and characterization of 3-(benzylsulfonamido)benzamides as potent and selective SIRT2 inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2014;76:414–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.02.003.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

14. Khanfar, MA, Quinti, L, Wang, H, Nobles, J, Kazantsev, AG, Silverman, RB. Design and evaluation of 3-(benzylthio)benzamide derivatives as potent and selective SIRT2 inhibitors. ACS Med Chem Lett 2015;6:607–11. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5b00075.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

15. Khanfar, MA, Salaas, N, Abumostafa, R. Discovery of natural-derived M(pro) inhibitors as therapeutic candidates for COVID-19: structure-based pharmacophore screening combined with QSAR analysis. Mol Inform 2023:e2200198. https://doi.org/10.1002/minf.202200198.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

16. Khanfar, MA, Banat, F, Alabed, S, Alqtaishat, S. Discovery of potent NEK2 inhibitors as potential anticancer agents using structure-based exploration of NEK2 pharmacophoric space coupled with QSAR analyses. Mol Divers 2017;21:187–200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11030-016-9696-5.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

17. Khanfar, MA, Alqtaishat, S. Discovery of potent natural-product-derived SIRT2 inhibitors using structure- based exploration of SIRT2 pharmacophoric space coupled with QSAR analyses. Anti Cancer Agents Med Chem 2021;21:2278–86. https://doi.org/10.2174/1871520621666210112121523.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

18. Salassa, G, Terenzi, A. Metal complexes of oxadiazole ligands: an overview. Int J Mol Sci 2019;20. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20143483.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

19. Benassi, A, Doria, F, Pirota, V. Groundbreaking anticancer activity of highly diversified oxadiazole scaffolds. Int J Mol Sci 2020;21. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21228692.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

20. Khanfar, MA. Oxadiazol-based mTOR inhibitors with potent antiproliferative activities: synthetic and computational modeling. Mol Divers 2022;26:3357–64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11030-021-10367-4.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

21. Alley, MC, Scudiero, DA, Monks, A, Hursey, ML, Czerwinski, MJ, Fine, DL, et al.. Feasibility of drug screening with panels of human tumor cell lines using a microculture tetrazolium assay. Cancer Res 1988;48:589–601.Search in Google Scholar

22. Khanfar, MA, Salman, IM, Ameer, OZ. Synthesis and biological evaluation of thiazole-based fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 inhibitors. Anti Cancer Agents Med Chem 2022. https://doi.org/10.2174/1871520622666220905141248.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

23. Shoemaker, RH. The NCI60 human tumour cell line anticancer drug screen. Nat Rev Cancer 2006;6:813–23. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc1951.Search in Google Scholar PubMed


Supplementary Material

This article contains supplementary material (https://doi.org/10.1515/znc-2024-0224).


Received: 2024-10-14
Accepted: 2025-02-12
Published Online: 2025-03-03
Published in Print: 2025-11-25

© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Review Articles
  3. Cutting-edge developments in agro-waste derived carbon nanomaterials and their multifaceted applications in agriculture: enhancing crop imaging, nutrient efficiency, and plant health
  4. Emerging silk sericin-based formulation fortified with therapeutics in the management of diabetic wound and skin tissue regeneration
  5. Biogenic selenium nanoparticles: a comprehensive update on the multifaceted application, stability, biocompatibility, risk, and opportunity
  6. Enhancing vaginal drug delivery: the nanoemulsion gel strategy
  7. Research Articles
  8. Exploring the therapeutic potential of leriodenine and nuciferine from Nelumbo nucifera for renal fibrosis: an In-silico analysis
  9. Antidiabetic activities of aerial part of Asparagus racemosus Willd. extract: an in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approach
  10. New hydrazone derivatives: synthesis, characterization, carbonic anhydrase I-II enzyme inhibition, anticancer activity and in silico studies
  11. Design and synthesis of new 1,3,4-thiadiazoles as antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents
  12. Insight the confirmation of benzothiazolidinone-derived thiadiazole scaffolds as promising antiurease and anti-Alzheimer agents: synthesis, in vitro, and in silico investigations
  13. Biotransformation of vinblastine into vincristine using a fungal endophyte Fusarium equiseti along with the assessment of its antiangiogenic properties
  14. Rapid Communications
  15. Design and synthesis of 3-(azepan-1-ylsulfonyl)-N-aryl benzamide derivatives as potent carbonic anhydrase IX inhibitors with anticancer activities
  16. Unveiling the essential oil composition and bioactivities of Piper frustratum Boerl.
Downloaded on 27.12.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/znc-2024-0224/html
Scroll to top button