Cyclin D proteins are elevated in many cancer cells and targeted deletion of Cyclin D1 gene in the mammary tissues protects mice from breast cancer. Accordingly, there is an increasing awareness of this novel non-enzymatic target for cancer therapeutics. We have developed novel, non-alkylating styryl benzyl sulfones that induce cell death in wide variety of cancer cells without affecting the proliferation and survival of normal cells. The development of derivatized Styryl Benzyl Sulfones followed logically from a tumor cell cytotoxicity screen performed in our laboratory that did not have an a priori target profile. Modifications of some of the precursor molecules led to lead optimization with regard to tumor cell cytotoxicity. In this report we describe the synthesis and structure-activity relationships of novel, non-alkylating (E) styryl benzyl sulfones, and the development of the novel anti-cancer agent sodium (E)-2-{2-methoxy-5-[(2′,4′,6′-trimethoxystyrylsulfonyl)methyl]phenylamino}-acetate (ON 01910.Na), which is in Phase III trials for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) associated with aberrant expression of cyclin D proteins.
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