Hydrazone derivatives having potent antitumor activity toward multi-drug resistant tumor cells

1. A method of treatment for cancer, comprising administering a composition comprising a carrier, optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and a compound of formula (I) to a subject in need of treatment therewith, wherein the compound of formula (I) has a structure:

wherein X is N or CH;

wherein Y is N or C—R 3 , where R 3 is H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, phenyl, or substituted phenyl, benzyl, or substituted benzyl, F, Cl, Br, I;

wherein R is (i) H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, phenyl, or substituted phenyl, benzyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 3-hydroxypropyl, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl, alkoxyalkyl, carboxyalkyl or (ii)

wherein W is O, S, or CH 2 ; U is H, OH, F, or Cl; V is H, OH, F, or Cl; T is H, CH 3 , F, Cl, or OH; and

Z is H, CH 3 , OH, F, Cl;

wherein R 1 in compound of formula I is (i):

H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl, dihydroxyethyl, dihydroxypropyl, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, COOR 3 , (CH 2 ) n COOR 3 , where R 3 is an aliphatic residue or a phenyl group; or

R 1 is a heterocycle selected from the group consisting of:

wherein R 9 is H, CH 3 , OCH 3 , OH, Cl, Br, F, CF 3 , NO 2 , NH 2 , NHCOCH 3 , N(CH 3 ) 2 , CN, C═NH(NH 2 ), C═S(NH 2 ), C═NH(NHOH), COOH, or COOR 6 , wherein R 6 is an aliphatic residue or a phenyl group, or CONR 7 R 8 , wherein R 7 , R 8 represent H, an aliphatic substituent, or a phenyl group;

wherein R 2 in the compound of formula I is (i) H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl, dihydroxyethyl, dihydroxypropyl, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, COOR 3 , (CH 2 ) n COOR 3 where R 3 an aliphatic residue or a phenyl group; or (ii) a heterocycle selected from the group consisting of:

wherein R 9 is H, CH 3 , OCH 3 , OH, Cl, Br, F, CF 3 , NO 2 , NH 2 , NHCOCH 3 , N(CH 3 ) 2 , CN, C═NH(NH 2 ), C═S(NH 2 ), C═NH(NHOH), COOH, or COOR 6 , wherein R 6 is an aliphatic residue or a phenyl group, or CONR 7 R 8 , wherein R 7 , R 8 represent H, an aliphatic substituent or a phenyl group;

wherein in the compound of formula I:

“alkyl” is a branched or unbranched, saturated, or unsaturated, monovalent or multivalent hydrocarbon group, optionally selected from the group consisting of a methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, decyl, ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl, isobutenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl, heptenyl, octenyl, nonenyl, decenyl, ethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, isobutynyl, pentynyl, hexynyl, heptynyl, octynyl, nonynyl, and decynyl group;

“cycloalkyl” is a non-aromatic, monocyclic, or polycyclic ring comprising carbon and hydrogen atoms comprising one or more carbon-carbon double bonds, optionally selected from the group consisting of a cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and cycloheptyl, and saturated cyclic and bicyclic terpenes and cycloalkenyl groups such as cyclopropenyl, cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, and unsaturated cyclic and bicyclic terpenes, wherein the cycloalkyl group is unsubstituted or substituted by one or two suitable substituents; and

“phenyl” is a substituted or disubstituted phenyl group selected from the group consisting of:

wherein each of R 4 and R 5 independently is H, CH 3 , OCH 3 , OH, Cl, Br, F, CF 3 , NO 2 , NH 2 , NHCOCH 3 , N(CH 3 ) 2 , CN, C═NH(NH 2 ), C═S(NH), C═NH(NHOH), COOH, or COOR 6 , wherein R 6 is an aliphatic residue or a phenyl group, or CONR 7 R 8 , wherein R 7 , R 8 represent H, an aliphatic substituent or a phenyl group;

or salt thereof.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of hepatocellular carcinoma, cervical adenocarcinoma, breast adenocarcinoma, and colorectal cancer.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the treatment is a combination therapy that comprises administering a second chemotherapeutic agent, optionally selected from the group consisting of Shikonin, Paclitaxel, and Sorafenib.