Novel Chalcone-Phenazine Hybrids Induced Ferroptosis in U87-MG Cells through Activating Ferritinophagy

Thirty-seven novel chalcone-phenazine hybrid molecules (C1∼C13 and F1∼F24) with 1,2,3-triazole or ethyl group as linkers were designed and synthesized in this study. Some compounds exhibited selective cytotoxicity against U87-MG cancer cell lines in vitro, in which compound C4 were found to have the best antiproliferative activity. SAR study indicated 1,2,3-triazole group may be crucial for enhancing compounds' cytotoxicity. C4 was verified to induce ferroptosis in U87-MG cells by transcription, lipid peroxidation, lipid ROS assays. Furthermore, C4 was up-regulated LC3-II, degradated FTH1, and then increasing iron resulted in the down-regulation of NCOA4. Together, all above evidences highlighted the potential of compound C4 that triggered ferroptosis by activating ferritinophagy against U87-MG cells.