Discovery and structure-activity relationship of 2-phenyl-oxazole-4-carboxamide derivatives as potent apoptosis inducers.

Abstract As a continuation of our efforts to discover novel apoptosis inducers as anticancer agents using a cell-based caspase HTS assay, 2-phenyl-oxazole-4-carboxamide derivatives were identified. The structure–activity relationships of this class of molecules were explored. Compound 1k , with EC 50 of 270 nM and GI 50 of 229 nM in human colorectal DLD-1 cells, was selected and demonstrated the ability to cleave PARP and displayed DNA laddering, the hallmarks of apoptosis. Compound 1k showed 63% tumor growth inhibition in human colorectal DLD-1 xenograft mouse model at 50 mpk, bid.