Prenylated Chalcones as Anticancer Agents Against Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Prenylated chalcones have garnered attention as potential anticancer agents due to their ability to modulate multiple cancer-related pathways. In this study, we synthesized and evaluated nine novel prenylated chalcone derivatives for their antiproliferative effects against castration-resistant prost...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Marcos Morales-Reyna, Elisa Elvira Figueroa-Angulo, José Espinoza-Hicks, Alejandro Camacho-Dávila, César López-Camarillo, Laura Isabel Vázquez-Carrillo, Alfonso Salgado-Aguayo, Ángeles Carlos-Reyes, Violeta Deyanira Álvarez-Jiménez, Jonathan Puente-Rivera, María Elizbeth Alvarez-Sánchez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Scientia Pharmaceutica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-0532/93/2/25
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849432242512723968
author Marcos Morales-Reyna
Elisa Elvira Figueroa-Angulo
José Espinoza-Hicks
Alejandro Camacho-Dávila
César López-Camarillo
Laura Isabel Vázquez-Carrillo
Alfonso Salgado-Aguayo
Ángeles Carlos-Reyes
Violeta Deyanira Álvarez-Jiménez
Jonathan Puente-Rivera
María Elizbeth Alvarez-Sánchez
author_facet Marcos Morales-Reyna
Elisa Elvira Figueroa-Angulo
José Espinoza-Hicks
Alejandro Camacho-Dávila
César López-Camarillo
Laura Isabel Vázquez-Carrillo
Alfonso Salgado-Aguayo
Ángeles Carlos-Reyes
Violeta Deyanira Álvarez-Jiménez
Jonathan Puente-Rivera
María Elizbeth Alvarez-Sánchez
author_sort Marcos Morales-Reyna
collection DOAJ
description Prenylated chalcones have garnered attention as potential anticancer agents due to their ability to modulate multiple cancer-related pathways. In this study, we synthesized and evaluated nine novel prenylated chalcone derivatives for their antiproliferative effects against castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cell lines, DU145 and PC3. Among these, compounds 6d and 7j demonstrated potent cytotoxic activity, with IC<sub>50</sub> values comparable to cisplatin, and exhibited selective toxicity towards cancer cells over non-tumorigenic RWPE-1 cells. Mechanistic investigations revealed that these compounds induce apoptosis via mitochondrial membrane depolarization and increased late apoptotic events. Flow cytometry confirmed activation of both early and late apoptotic pathways. These findings highlight the potential of chalcone derivatives 6d and 7j as promising therapeutic candidates for CRPC treatment and support further development of chalcone-based molecules in precision oncology.
format Article
id doaj-art-ec83ac9e3e2e46108e9c5f82eccf4fea
institution Kabale University
issn 0036-8709
2218-0532
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Scientia Pharmaceutica
spelling doaj-art-ec83ac9e3e2e46108e9c5f82eccf4fea2025-08-20T03:27:25ZengMDPI AGScientia Pharmaceutica0036-87092218-05322025-06-019322510.3390/scipharm93020025Prenylated Chalcones as Anticancer Agents Against Castration-Resistant Prostate CancerMarcos Morales-Reyna0Elisa Elvira Figueroa-Angulo1José Espinoza-Hicks2Alejandro Camacho-Dávila3César López-Camarillo4Laura Isabel Vázquez-Carrillo5Alfonso Salgado-Aguayo6Ángeles Carlos-Reyes7Violeta Deyanira Álvarez-Jiménez8Jonathan Puente-Rivera9María Elizbeth Alvarez-Sánchez10Laboratorio de Patogénesis Celular y Molecular Humana y Veterinaria, Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 03100, MexicoLaboratorio de Patogénesis Celular y Molecular Humana y Veterinaria, Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 03100, MexicoFacultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, México, Circuito Universitario s/n, Campus Universitario II, Chihuahua 31125, MexicoFacultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, México, Circuito Universitario s/n, Campus Universitario II, Chihuahua 31125, MexicoPosgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 03100, MexicoLaboratorio de Patogénesis Celular y Molecular Humana y Veterinaria, Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 03100, MexicoLaboratorio de Investigación en Enfermedades Reumáticas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Ciudad de México 14080, MexicoLaboratorio de Investigación en Enfermedades Reumáticas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Ciudad de México 14080, MexicoLaboratorio de Biología Molecular y Bioseguridad Nivel 3, Centro Médico Naval-SEMAR, Ciudad de México 04470, MexicoLaboratorio de Patogénesis Celular y Molecular Humana y Veterinaria, Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 03100, MexicoLaboratorio de Patogénesis Celular y Molecular Humana y Veterinaria, Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México 03100, MexicoPrenylated chalcones have garnered attention as potential anticancer agents due to their ability to modulate multiple cancer-related pathways. In this study, we synthesized and evaluated nine novel prenylated chalcone derivatives for their antiproliferative effects against castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cell lines, DU145 and PC3. Among these, compounds 6d and 7j demonstrated potent cytotoxic activity, with IC<sub>50</sub> values comparable to cisplatin, and exhibited selective toxicity towards cancer cells over non-tumorigenic RWPE-1 cells. Mechanistic investigations revealed that these compounds induce apoptosis via mitochondrial membrane depolarization and increased late apoptotic events. Flow cytometry confirmed activation of both early and late apoptotic pathways. These findings highlight the potential of chalcone derivatives 6d and 7j as promising therapeutic candidates for CRPC treatment and support further development of chalcone-based molecules in precision oncology.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-0532/93/2/25chalconesprostate cancerdrug resistanceanticancer activity
spellingShingle Marcos Morales-Reyna
Elisa Elvira Figueroa-Angulo
José Espinoza-Hicks
Alejandro Camacho-Dávila
César López-Camarillo
Laura Isabel Vázquez-Carrillo
Alfonso Salgado-Aguayo
Ángeles Carlos-Reyes
Violeta Deyanira Álvarez-Jiménez
Jonathan Puente-Rivera
María Elizbeth Alvarez-Sánchez
Prenylated Chalcones as Anticancer Agents Against Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Scientia Pharmaceutica
chalcones
prostate cancer
drug resistance
anticancer activity
title Prenylated Chalcones as Anticancer Agents Against Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
title_full Prenylated Chalcones as Anticancer Agents Against Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
title_fullStr Prenylated Chalcones as Anticancer Agents Against Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
title_full_unstemmed Prenylated Chalcones as Anticancer Agents Against Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
title_short Prenylated Chalcones as Anticancer Agents Against Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
title_sort prenylated chalcones as anticancer agents against castration resistant prostate cancer
topic chalcones
prostate cancer
drug resistance
anticancer activity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-0532/93/2/25
work_keys_str_mv AT marcosmoralesreyna prenylatedchalconesasanticanceragentsagainstcastrationresistantprostatecancer
AT elisaelvirafigueroaangulo prenylatedchalconesasanticanceragentsagainstcastrationresistantprostatecancer
AT joseespinozahicks prenylatedchalconesasanticanceragentsagainstcastrationresistantprostatecancer
AT alejandrocamachodavila prenylatedchalconesasanticanceragentsagainstcastrationresistantprostatecancer
AT cesarlopezcamarillo prenylatedchalconesasanticanceragentsagainstcastrationresistantprostatecancer
AT lauraisabelvazquezcarrillo prenylatedchalconesasanticanceragentsagainstcastrationresistantprostatecancer
AT alfonsosalgadoaguayo prenylatedchalconesasanticanceragentsagainstcastrationresistantprostatecancer
AT angelescarlosreyes prenylatedchalconesasanticanceragentsagainstcastrationresistantprostatecancer
AT violetadeyaniraalvarezjimenez prenylatedchalconesasanticanceragentsagainstcastrationresistantprostatecancer
AT jonathanpuenterivera prenylatedchalconesasanticanceragentsagainstcastrationresistantprostatecancer
AT mariaelizbethalvarezsanchez prenylatedchalconesasanticanceragentsagainstcastrationresistantprostatecancer