Synthesis, antitumor activity and CDK1 inhibiton of new thiazole nortopsentin analogues.

A new series of thiazole nortopsentin analogues was conveniently synthesized with fair overall yields. The antiproliferative activity of the new derivatives was tested against different human tumor cell lines of the NCI full panel. Four of them showed good antitumor activity with GI50 values from micro to nanomolar level. The mechanism of the antiproliferative effect of these derivatives, was pro-apoptotic, being associated with externalization of plasma membrane phosphatidylserine and DNA fragmentation. The most active and selective of the new thiazoles confined viable cells in G2/M phase and markedly inhibited in vitro CDK1 activity.