Design, synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of phosphinanes as potential anticancer agents

Abstract The development of novel anticancer agents is crucial to the ongoing effort to combat cancer. In this study, six-membered phosphorus heterocycles (phosphinanes) were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as potential antiproliferative agents. A series of novel phosphinane derivatives was obt...

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Main Authors: Elżbieta Łastawiecka, Paulina Strzyga-Łach, Ewelina Kiernozek-Kalińska, Marta Struga, Anna Bielenica
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10692-w
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author Elżbieta Łastawiecka
Paulina Strzyga-Łach
Ewelina Kiernozek-Kalińska
Marta Struga
Anna Bielenica
author_facet Elżbieta Łastawiecka
Paulina Strzyga-Łach
Ewelina Kiernozek-Kalińska
Marta Struga
Anna Bielenica
author_sort Elżbieta Łastawiecka
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The development of novel anticancer agents is crucial to the ongoing effort to combat cancer. In this study, six-membered phosphorus heterocycles (phosphinanes) were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as potential antiproliferative agents. A series of novel phosphinane derivatives was obtained through structural modifications of 1-phenylphosphinane 1-oxide and 1-phenylphosphinan-4-one 1-oxide, achieving high overall yields. The dearomatization of the phenyl group attached to the phosphorus atom is a pivotal step in the P-substituent modification. The synthesized compounds, differing in steric and electronic properties, were assessed for in vitro cytotoxicity against colon (SW480, SW620, HCT116) and prostate (PC3) cancer cell lines. Among them, three compounds (2, 8, and 11) exhibited activity at ≤ 10 µM, with compound 11 outperforming cisplatin in all assays. This compound was the most potent activator of late apoptosis in PC3, SW480, and HCT116 cells (by 87.5–95.5%) and inhibited IL-6 secretion from all studied tumor cells by 71.8–96.8%. These results position phosphinanes as a tractable scaffold for further development in anticancer drug discovery.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
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spelling doaj-art-ad52aa5e9d794becb23db2c6e15774ec2025-08-20T04:03:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-10692-wDesign, synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of phosphinanes as potential anticancer agentsElżbieta Łastawiecka0Paulina Strzyga-Łach1Ewelina Kiernozek-Kalińska2Marta Struga3Anna Bielenica4Department of Organic Chemistry and Crystal Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska UniversityChair and Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of WarsawDepartment of Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of WarsawChair and Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of WarsawChair and Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of WarsawAbstract The development of novel anticancer agents is crucial to the ongoing effort to combat cancer. In this study, six-membered phosphorus heterocycles (phosphinanes) were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as potential antiproliferative agents. A series of novel phosphinane derivatives was obtained through structural modifications of 1-phenylphosphinane 1-oxide and 1-phenylphosphinan-4-one 1-oxide, achieving high overall yields. The dearomatization of the phenyl group attached to the phosphorus atom is a pivotal step in the P-substituent modification. The synthesized compounds, differing in steric and electronic properties, were assessed for in vitro cytotoxicity against colon (SW480, SW620, HCT116) and prostate (PC3) cancer cell lines. Among them, three compounds (2, 8, and 11) exhibited activity at ≤ 10 µM, with compound 11 outperforming cisplatin in all assays. This compound was the most potent activator of late apoptosis in PC3, SW480, and HCT116 cells (by 87.5–95.5%) and inhibited IL-6 secretion from all studied tumor cells by 71.8–96.8%. These results position phosphinanes as a tractable scaffold for further development in anticancer drug discovery.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10692-wPhosphinaneSix-membered heterocyclic compoundsApoptosisAntiproliferative activityCytotoxic activity
spellingShingle Elżbieta Łastawiecka
Paulina Strzyga-Łach
Ewelina Kiernozek-Kalińska
Marta Struga
Anna Bielenica
Design, synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of phosphinanes as potential anticancer agents
Scientific Reports
Phosphinane
Six-membered heterocyclic compounds
Apoptosis
Antiproliferative activity
Cytotoxic activity
title Design, synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of phosphinanes as potential anticancer agents
title_full Design, synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of phosphinanes as potential anticancer agents
title_fullStr Design, synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of phosphinanes as potential anticancer agents
title_full_unstemmed Design, synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of phosphinanes as potential anticancer agents
title_short Design, synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of phosphinanes as potential anticancer agents
title_sort design synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of phosphinanes as potential anticancer agents
topic Phosphinane
Six-membered heterocyclic compounds
Apoptosis
Antiproliferative activity
Cytotoxic activity
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10692-w
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AT paulinastrzygałach designsynthesisandbioactivityevaluationofphosphinanesaspotentialanticanceragents
AT ewelinakiernozekkalinska designsynthesisandbioactivityevaluationofphosphinanesaspotentialanticanceragents
AT martastruga designsynthesisandbioactivityevaluationofphosphinanesaspotentialanticanceragents
AT annabielenica designsynthesisandbioactivityevaluationofphosphinanesaspotentialanticanceragents