Synthesis of N-acetyl Glucosamine Analogs as Inhibitors for Hyaluronan Biosynthesis

Elevated hyaluronan expression is a hallmark of many types of cancer. Therefore, inhibition of hyaluronan biosynthesis can potentially slow the growth of tumor cells. Herein, we explore a chain termination strategy to reduce hyaluronan synthesis by tumor cells. Several analogs of glucosamine were prepared, which contained modifications at the C-3 positions. These analogs can possibly cap the nonreducing end of a growing hyaluronan chain, thus lowering the amount of hyaluronan synthesized. Upon incubation with pancreatic cancer cells, a fluorine-containing glucosamine analog was found to exhibit significant inhibitory activities of hyaluronan synthesis. Furthermore, it drastically reduced the proliferation of cancer cells.