Heparanase is an endoglycosidase involved in remodeling the extracellular matrix and thereby in regulating multiple cellular processes and biological activities. It cleaves heparan sulfate (HS) side chains of HS proteoglycans into smaller fragments and hence regulates tissue morphogenesis, differentiation, and homeostasis. Heparanase is overexpressed in various carcinomas, sarcomas, and hematological malignancies, and its upregulation correlates with increased tumor size, tumor angiogenesis, enhanced metastasis, and poor prognosis. In contrast, knockdown or inhibition of heparanase markedly attenuates tumor progression, further underscoring the potential of anti-heparanase therapy. Heparanase inhibitors were employed to interfere with tumor progression in preclinical studies, and selected heparin mimetics are being examined in clinical trials. However, despite tremendous efforts, the discovery of heparanase inhibitors with high clinical benefit and minimal adverse effects remains a therapeutic challenge. This review discusses the key roles of heparanase in cancer progression focusing on the status of natural, chemically modified, and synthetic heparanase inhibitors in various types of malignancies.
Synthesis of quinoxalines from o‐phenylenediamines (o‐PDs) with electronically diversified 1,2‐diketones and α‐bromoketones via simple cyclocondensation reaction using an heterogeneous nano‐ϒ‐Fe2O3‐SO3H catalyst has been reported under solvent free condition. Low cost, easy workup, high yield, operational simplicity, less reaction time, environmentally benign nature and catalyst is magnetically retrievable and can be reused up to five catalytic cycles without significant loss in the product yields are the noteworthy features of this protocol.
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