Sulfamoylated estradiol analogs targeting the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons demonstrate anti-cancer properties in vitro and in ovo

Abstract

The microtubule-disrupting agent 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME) displays anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic properties, but its clinical development is halted due to poor pharmacokinetics. We therefore designed two 2-ME analogs in silico—an ESE-15-one and an ESE-16 one—with improved pharmacological properties. We investigated the effects of these compounds on the cytoskeleton in vitro, and their anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic properties in ovo. Time-lapse fluorescent microscopy revealed that sub-lethal doses of the compounds disrupted microtubule dynamics. Phalloidin fluorescent staining of treated cervical (HeLa), metastatic breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) displayed thickened, stabilized actin stress fibers after 2 h, which rearranged into a peripheral radial pattern by 24 h. Cofilin phosphorylation and phosphorylated ezrin/radixin/moesin complexes appeared to regulate this actin response. These signaling pathways overlap with anti-angiogenic, extra-cellular communication and adhesion pathways. Sub-lethal concentrations of the compounds retarded both cellular migration and invasion. Anti-angiogenic and extra-cellular matrix signaling was evident with TIMP2 and P-VEGF receptor-2 upregulation. ESE-15-one and ESE-16 exhibited anti-tumor and anti-metastatic properties in vivo, using the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. In conclusion, the sulfamoylated 2-ME analogs displayed promising anti-tumor, anti-metastatic, and anti-angiogenic properties. Future studies will assess the compounds for myeloproliferative effects, as seen in clinical applications of other drugs in this class.