Previous studies have reported that compounds bearing an arylamide linked to a heterocyclic planar ring have successfully inhibited the hemopexin-like domain (PEX9) of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9). PEX9 has been suggested to be more selectively targeted than MMP9’s catalytic domain in a degrading extracellular matrix under some pathologic conditions, especially in cancer. In this study, we aim to synthesize and evaluate 10 arylamide compounds as MMP9 inhibitors through an enzymatic assay as well as a cellular assay. The mechanism of inhibition for the most active compounds was investigated via molecular dynamics simulation (MD). Molecular docking was performed using AutoDock4.0 with PEX9 as the protein model to predict the binding of the designed compounds. The synthesis was carried out by reacting aniline derivatives with 3-bromopropanoyl chloride using pyridine as the catalyst at room temperature. The MMP9 assay was conducted using the FRET-based MMP9 kits protocol and gelatin zymography assay. The cytotoxicity assay was done using the MTT method, and the MD simulation was performed using AMBER16. Assay on MMP9 demonstrated activities of three compounds (2, 7, and 9) with more than 50% inhibition. Further inhibition on MMP9 expressed by 4T1 showed that two compounds (7 and 9) inhibited its gelatinolytic activity more than 50%. The cytotoxicity assay against 4T1 cells results in the inhibition of the cell growth with an EC50 of 125 μM and 132 μM for 7 and 9, respectively. The MD simulation explained a stable interaction of 7 and 9 in PEX9 at 100 ns with a free energy of binding of −8.03 kcal/mol and −6.41 kcal/mol, respectively. Arylamides have potential effects as selective MMP9 inhibitors in inhibiting breast cancer cell progression.

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Breast cancer with Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (HER)2 overexpression increases tumor progession and lead to metastasis, which is primarily cause of mortality in breast cancer. Pentagamaboronon-0 Sorbitol (PGB-0-So) is an aquoeous formulation of curcumin analog, PGB-0, with sorbitol. This compound has been developed as an anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent and a boron carrying pharmaceutical for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The aims of this study are to investigate antimetastatic activities of PGB-0-So against HER2-overexpressed MCF-7 breast cancer (MCF-7/HER2) cells. The MTT cytotoxicity assay of PGB-0-So exhibited cytotoxic effect with an IC50 value of 35 μM. The testing of anti-migration activity using the scratch wound healing assay demonstrated that PGB-0-So inhibited the closure of the wound on MCF-7/HER2 cells compare to the control. Furthermore, PGB-0-So was able to suppress matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activities, based on the gelatin zymography assay. In conclusion, PGB-0-So has potency to be developed as an anti-cancer agent against metastatic breast cancer.Keywords : PGB-0-So, anti-metastatsis, cell migration, MMP-9, MCF-7/HER2

Development of specific and selective boron carriers is indispensable for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) application. Pentagamaboronon-0 (PGB-0) is a promising candidate as boron carrier compound due to the low but selective cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells. Formerly we reported synthesis of PGB-0 which was ineffective due to its low aqueous solubility. In the present study, we, therefore, introduced the new PGB-0 preparation complexed with sugars to increase its solubility in water. By synthesizing at room temperature and using flash chromatography for the purification, we produced PGB-0 with a yield of 40%. PGB-0 fructose complex (PGB-0-F) and PGB-0 sorbitol complex (PGB-0-Sor) were obtained with smaller particle size compared to PGB-0 suspension in water. Based on the MTT assay, the cytotoxicity of PGB-0-F and PGB-0-Sor were higher than PGB-0 even though still categorized as low cytotoxic agents. In conclusion, we provided PGB-0 with a new method and improved its solubility in water. Further investigations are still needed to develop more efficient PGB-0 as boron carrier for BNCT in various cancers.

HER2‐positive breast cancer is an aggressive form of the disease that is associated with poor prognosis and chemo‐resistance. As such, investigation continues into the development of a new HER2‐targeted drug for breast cancer. This study investigated the anti‐proliferative activities of pentagamaboronon‐0‐sorbitol (PGB‐0‐So) in HER2‐overexpressing breast cancer (MCF‐7/HER2) cells. The cytotoxicity of PGB‐0‐So was assessed via MTT assay. Flow cytometry with propidium iodide and annexin‐V‐FITC staining was conducted to investigate the mechanism of PGB‐0‐So in inhibiting the proliferation of MCF‐7/HER2 cells. Finally, FACS analysis with 2′,7′–dichlorofluorescin diacetate staining was performed to examine intracellular ROS production. PGB‐0‐So exerted cytotoxicity towards MCF‐7/HER2 breast cancer cells with an IC50 value of 36 μM. PGB‐0‐So induced S‐phase arrest and apoptosis in MCF‐7/HER2 cells. Moreover, PGB‐0‐So could increase intracellular ROS production in MCF‐7/HER2 cells. PGB‐0‐So exerted anti‐proliferative activity towards MCF‐7/HER2 cells. This compound may be developed as a chemotherapeutic agent against HER2‐overexpressing breast cancer.