The key role of some
matrix metalloproteinases (
MMPs) on several
pathological processes, including
carcinogenesis and
tumor growth, makes the development of
MMP inhibitors (MMPIs) an attractive approach for
cancer therapy. We present herein an integrated approach for the development of a new series of inhibitors of MMP2 and MMP14, two
enzymes over-expressed by human
ovarian cancer. As a first step, a new series of single model compounds bearing different
zinc-binding groups (ZBGs), such as carboxylic,
hydroxamic acid,
hydrazide and sulfonylhydrazide groups, were studied and revealed reasonably good capacity for the Zn(II) chelation in
solution and for the
MMP inhibition. Aimed at further reinforcing the
biological activity of these MMPIs as anti-
cancer agents, a selection of those models was extra-functionalized with
benzothiazole (BTA), a group with recognized antitumor activity. Analysis of the results obtained for these bifunctional compounds, in particular the inhibitory activity against MMP2 and MMP14 as well as the anti-proliferative activity on the A2780
ovarian cancer cell line, allowed to understand the activity dependence on the type of ZBG, as well as the relevance of the BTA moiety. Overall, the evidenced BTA-associated activity improvements on
enzyme inhibition and cell antiproliferactivity, combined with the hydrolytic stability revealed by the
hydrazide group, suggest that these new bifunctional BTA-
hydrazide derivatives should be taken in consideration for the development of new generations of MMPIs with anti-
cancer activity.