Nitrogen-Containing Heterocyclic Quinones: A Class of Potential Selective Antitumor Agents

Title: Nitrogen-Containing Heterocyclic Quinones: A Class of Potential Selective Antitumor Agents

Volume: 7 Issue: 5

Author(s): Laura Garuti, Marinella Roberti and Daniela Pizzirani

Affiliation:

Keywords: Quinones, anticancer agents, tumor-selective toxicity, SAR, prodrugs, heterocycles

Abstract: The development of prodrugs that are enzymatically activated into anticancer agents is a promising perspective in cancer therapy. Many nitrogen-containing quinoid heterocycles have been reported to show antitumor effect. The principal interest in these compounds lies on their potential to produce tumor-selective toxicity. Selectivity occurs by difference in oxygen tension between normal and tumor tissue and by levels of the required activating enzymes. In this review a summary of the most interesting heterocyclic quinones is given together with their biological property. SAR studies concerning the importance of some structural features will be described.

Cite this article as:

Garuti Laura, Roberti Marinella and Pizzirani Daniela, Nitrogen-Containing Heterocyclic Quinones: A Class of Potential Selective Antitumor Agents, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry 2007; 7 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138955707780619626