Medicinal Chemistry of Agents for Cancer Therapy and Diagnosis From Uruguay

This review summarizes the evolution of our research on anticancer agents, from early efforts on hypoxia-selective cytotoxins to more recent developments in chemoprevention, molecular targeting, and radiopharmacy. Initial studies focused on the design of N-oxide-containing heterocycles as bioreductive-prodrugs activated under tumor hypoxia. While early triazine N-oxides and furoxans showed limited selectivity, these studies underscored the importance of redox-properties in biological activities. This led to the identification of phenazine 5,10-dioxides as a more suitable pharmacophore, affording compounds with improved potency- and hypoxia-selectivity, supported by mechanistic-, physicochemical-, and in vivo studies. Parallel efforts explored metal-based complexes and formulation strategies enhancing bioavailability and therapeutic performance. Alongside these efforts, cancer chemopreventive-agents were investigated, particularly chalcone-derived scaffolds and related hybrids capable of modulating phase I/II enzymes through Nrf2 activation. Additionally, attention has shifted toward targeted- and diagnostic-approaches, including radiopharmaceuticals for hypoxia-imaging and the use of biomolecular recognition systems, such as aptamers, polypeptides, and antibodies, to selectively address tumor-associated biomarkers. These strategies include aptamer-based biotherapeutics for drug delivery and imaging, as well as approaches combining tyrosine kinase receptor targeting with BNCT. Furthermore, bioorthogonal-methodologies have been explored enabling selective in situ activation and targeting. Together, these studies illustrate a multidisciplinary approach integrating chemistry, biology, and pharmacology toward more selective anticancer strategies.