Discovery to solve multidrug resistance: Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel agents

Chemotherapy remains a pillar in the treatment and management of various cancers. However, multidrug resistance (MDR) becomes a severe problem after long-term administration of chemotherapy drugs. Overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a significant cause for tumor MDR. Therefore, P-gp inhibition is considered as an effective strategy to reverse MDR. A third-generation P-gp inhibitor tariquidar was selected as a lead compound, and a new series of triazol-N-ethyl tetrahydroisoquinoline based compounds were designed as novel P-gp inhibitors and synthesized through click chemistry. These compounds presented higher reversal activities than the positive-control verapamil (VRP). Among 18 compounds, compound 11 without cytotoxicity reversed MDR in a dose-dependent manner, with a persistent longer chemosensitizing effect and reversibility compared to others. Mechanism studies discovered that compound 11 could escalate the intracellular accumulation of rhodamine-123 and doxorubicin in K562/A02 cells as well as inhibit their efflux from cells. The results obtained suggest that compound 11 is more potent than VRP administered under the same conditions; it may be a potent and safe candidate for P-gp modulation for further development.