Recent advances in the halogenated spirooxindoles as novel anticancer scaffolds: chemistry and bioactivity approach

Halogenated spirooxindoles have garnered increasing attention as promising targeted anticancer therapy agents, owing to their improved binding affinity and ability to engage diverse molecular targets. These compounds demonstrate notable anticancer activity across various human malignancies, attributed to their selectivity targeting and reduced toxicity profiles. Functioning as multitarget agents, halogenated spirooxindoles exert biological effects through mechanisms including kinase inhibition, disruption of the MDM2-p53 interaction, DNA-binding modulation, and activation of apoptosis pathways. Their multifaceted activity profile supports their potential as next-generation anticancer agents, suggesting that further studies will be required in this direction. Areas covered: the recent developments of synthetic routes of derivatization and anticancer activities of halogenated spirooxindoles scaffolds during 2020-2025 are thoroughly covered. Expert opinion: halogenated spirooxindoles represent a strategic advance in the development of targeted cancer therapy, combining structural ingenuity with mechanistic precision. These findings encourage medicinal chemists to optimize further halogen placement, scaffold rigidity, and hybrid designs that could lead to new target-oriented chemotherapeutics.