De Tullio, Pascal[Université de Liège - ULg > > Chimie pharmaceutique >]
Foidart, Jean-Michel[Université de Liège - ULg > Département des sciences cliniques > Gynécologie - Obstétrique >]
Blacher, Silvia[Université de Liège - ULg > Département des sciences cliniques > Labo de biologie des tumeurs et du développement >]
Noël, Agnès[Université de Liège - ULg > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Biologie cellulaire et moléculaire appliquée à l'homme >]
[en] Coumarin derivatives ; Cancer ; Cell invasion ; Anti-cancer
[en] Novel 6-substituted 2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-3-carboxylic acid derivatives were synthesized and their potency in reducing the invasive behaviour of HT 1080 fibrosarcoma cells was evaluated. Structure-activity relationships were deduced from biological results and will be used in further design of new active compounds. In particular, the acetoxymethyl substituent found at the 6-position of previously described active compounds can be replaced by an acetamidomethyl substituent without loss of potency; while the presence of an aryl ester function at the 3-position was preferred to a thioester or an amide function to induce marked biological activity. This work confirms the interest of aryl esters of 6-substituted coumarin-3-carboxylic acids as potential new anti-cancer agents.