Bipyraloxifene – a modified raloxifene vector against triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract

Raloxifene, a selective oestrogen receptor modulator (SERM), has demonstrated efficacy in the prevention and therapy of oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, with some degree of effectiveness against triple-negative forms. This suggests the presence of oestrogen receptor-independent pathways in raloxifene-mediated anticancer activity. To enhance the potential of raloxifene against the most aggressive breast cancer cells, hybrid molecules combining the drug with a metal chelator moiety have been developed. In this study, we synthetically modified the structure of raloxifene by incorporating a 2,2′-bipyridine (2,2′-bipy) moiety, resulting in [6-methoxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzo[b]thiophen-3-yl]-[4-(2,2′-bipyridin-4′-yl-methoxy)phenyl]methanone (bipyraloxifene). We investigated the cytotoxic activity of both raloxifene and bipyraloxifene against ER+ breast adenocarcinomas, glioblastomas, and a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line, elucidating their mode of action against TNBC. Bipyraloxifene maintained a mechanism based on caspase-mediated apoptosis but exhibited significantly higher activity and selectivity compared to the original drug, particularly evident in triple-negative stem-like MDA-MB-231 cells.

Graphical abstract: Bipyraloxifene – a modified raloxifene vector against triple-negative breast cancer

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
19 Jan 2024
Accepted
01 Apr 2024
First published
03 Apr 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Med. Chem., 2024, Advance Article

Bipyraloxifene – a modified raloxifene vector against triple-negative breast cancer

A. Kazimir, T. Götze, B. Murganić, S. Mijatović, D. Maksimović-Ivanić and E. Hey-Hawkins, RSC Med. Chem., 2024, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D4MD00051J

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