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Anticancer potential of fused heterocycles: structural insights and mechanistic advances Cover

Anticancer potential of fused heterocycles: structural insights and mechanistic advances

Open Access
|Dec 2025

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

Selected anticancer derivatives of β-lactam derivatives, carbazoles, isatin derivatives, PBD, and pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine. PBDs, pyrrolo-benzodiazepines.
Selected anticancer derivatives of β-lactam derivatives, carbazoles, isatin derivatives, PBD, and pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine. PBDs, pyrrolo-benzodiazepines.

Figure 2.

Structure of β-lactam.
Structure of β-lactam.

Figure 3.

Synthesis of cephalosporin prodrug.
Synthesis of cephalosporin prodrug.

Figure 4.

Structure of isatin.
Structure of isatin.

Figure 5.

An image of C. guianensis (Abricó-de-macaco) tree.
An image of C. guianensis (Abricó-de-macaco) tree.

Figure 6.

A structure–activity relationship of isatin derivatives [40].
A structure–activity relationship of isatin derivatives [40].

Figure 7.

Structure of carbazole.
Structure of carbazole.

Figure 8.

Structure of ellipticine, celiptium, and alectinib.
Structure of ellipticine, celiptium, and alectinib.

Figure 9.

Structure of PBD core nucleus. PBDs, pyrrolo-benzodiazepines.
Structure of PBD core nucleus. PBDs, pyrrolo-benzodiazepines.

Figure 10.

Few examples of PBD based biologically active compounds. PBDs, pyrrolo-benzodiazepines.
Few examples of PBD based biologically active compounds. PBDs, pyrrolo-benzodiazepines.

Figure 11.

Binding mechanism of PBD with DNA. PBDs, pyrrolo-benzodiazepines.
Binding mechanism of PBD with DNA. PBDs, pyrrolo-benzodiazepines.

Figure 12.

PBD derivatives (1-3) as anticancer agents. PBDs, pyrrolo-benzodiazepines. Findings from the literature review suggest that PBD compounds have been examined for their potential anticancer properties and have demonstrated encouraging results in inhibiting the advancement of cancer cells.
PBD derivatives (1-3) as anticancer agents. PBDs, pyrrolo-benzodiazepines. Findings from the literature review suggest that PBD compounds have been examined for their potential anticancer properties and have demonstrated encouraging results in inhibiting the advancement of cancer cells.

Figure 13.

Structure of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine framework.
Structure of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine framework.

Figure 14.

Examples of pyrido-pyrimidine based anticancer candidates.
Examples of pyrido-pyrimidine based anticancer candidates.

Summary of anticancer agents

Type of compoundCompound name/structureActivityIC50Type of cancer cell/mechanism of action)
β -LactamsN -Thiolated β -lactamsAnticancer-DNA
4-Alkylidene β -lactamsAnticancer-Matrix metalloproteinases and leukocyte selections
IsatinsSunitinibAnticancer-ATP binding sites of kinases
ToceranibAnticancer and antitumor-Inhibitor of certain RTKs
Amido/ureido-tethered isatin benzene sulfonamide hybridsAnticancer-Block specific isoforms of carbonic anhydrase, particularly HCa IX and XII
α, β-Unsaturated ketones generated from isatinAnticancer-Reducing cell proliferation across several cancer cell lines
Spirooxindole-derived morpholine-fused-1,2,3-triazolesAnticancer-Antiproliferative effects against several cancer cell types
CarbazolesEllipticineAnticancer-Inhibiting DNA synthesis and inducing programmed cell death in malignant cells
CeptiumAnticancer-Treatment of metastatic breast cancer since
AlectinibAnticancer-Target microtubules and inhibit tubulin assembly
AnthramycinsAntitumor antibiotics-Selectively bind to DNA
PBDsAnticancer0.5–6.6 μMHL-60, THP-1, U-937 and jurkat leukemia cell lines
Anticancer1.1–1.7 μMSkin (A431), lung (A549), prostate (PC-3) and colon (HT-29)
Anticancer2.2 μMPotent cytotoxicity against A375 cells
Pyrido[2,3-d] pyrimidinesAnticancer0.02–0.86 μMCytotoxicity against HeLa, PANC1, MDA-MB-231, and A549 cell lines
Anticancer1.6–29.7 μMSK-BR-3, BT-474, MCF-7, A549, and MDA-MB-231
Anticancer9.5–10.3 μMCytotoxicity against PC-3 cell lines
Anticancer0.3–9.6 μMHCT-116, HepG-2, PC-3, and A549
Anticancer6.2 and 19.6 μMMCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines
Anticancer3.0 and 10.5 μMT-47D and MDA-MB-436
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/abm-2025-0035 | Journal eISSN: 1875-855X | Journal ISSN: 1905-7415
Language: English
Page range: 358 - 374
Published on: Dec 31, 2025
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 6 issues per year

© 2025 Aaysha Pandey, Shubham Sharma, Kamal Kishore, Swati Rani, Man Vir Singh, Gangotri Pemawat, published by Chulalongkorn University
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.