Modern synthetic pathways towards eribulin and its subunits

• Sebastian Dominik Graf

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2026, 22, 495–526, doi:10.3762/bjoc.22.37

• , Halaven) due to its unique mechanism of action as a microtubule dynamics inhibitor. It is primarily used in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and liposarcoma, offering a new therapeutic option for patients with advanced disease. To meet the increasing clinical demand, the research on new synthetic

• eribulin are summarized. Keywords: breast cancer; drug manufacturing; eribulin; Halaven; total synthesis; Introduction Eribulin (1) is a truncated derivative of halichondrin B (2), a complex natural product originally isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria okadai (Figure 1) [1][2][3][4][5]. Already

• chemistry, as it exemplifies the successful translation of marine natural products into effective therapeutic agents. The clinical importance of 1 primarily stems from its efficacy in treating aggressive and refractory cancers, notably metastatic breast cancer and liposarcoma [31][32][33][34][35

Structural reassignment of compound 968, an allosteric glutaminase inhibitor

• Lindsey A. Albertelli,
• Sainabou Jallow,
• Chun Li and
• Scott M. Ulrich

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2026, 22, 455–460, doi:10.3762/bjoc.22.33

• found to suppress the growth of a luminal breast cancer cell line that expresses GLS2 and is insensitive to GLS1-specific inhibitors such as BPTES and CB-839 [22]. After initiating a project to synthesize derivatives of compound 968, we searched the literature for synthetic routes towards its scaffold

Synthesis and anti-cancer activity of naphthalimide–organylselanyl conjugates

• Rajkumar Ravi and
• Selvakumar Karuthapandi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2026, 22, 416–435, doi:10.3762/bjoc.22.29

• structurally characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The anticancer potential of the NAP-SePh and NAP-Se(n-Oct) was evaluated using an in vitro cell viability assay with MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. The IC₅₀ values for compounds NAP-SePh and NAP-Se(n-Oct) were

• a serious challenge to health and survival [1][2]. Among its various forms, breast cancer is a major concern, particularly for women, as it accounts for a significant proportion of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide [3]. Breast cancer affects one in ten cancer patients worldwide [4

• ]. The predicted breast cancer mortality rate will increase by 7% in East Asia and 35% in South Asia by 2030 [5]. Early detection enables identification at an earlier stage, when treatment is more effective, and survival rates are significantly higher [6]. Breast cancer is divided into luminal A (ER+/PR

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 2,5-diaryloxazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-7-ylamines as selective cytotoxic agents against HeLa cells

• Maryna V. Kachaeva,
• Agnieszka B. Olejniczak,
• Marta Denel-Bobrowska,
• Victor V. Zhirnov,
• Yevheniia S. Velihina,
• Stepan G. Pilyo and
• Volodymyr S. Brovarets

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2026, 22, 390–398, doi:10.3762/bjoc.22.27

• breast cancer cells (MCF-7 – IC50 1.18–11.81 µM) by increasing intracellular accumulation [7]. A significant number of studies has been published on the anticancer activity of oxazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidines, showing their significant activity as agonists and antagonists of signaling pathways involved in the

• antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity against the tested NCI60 cancer cell lines. Also, several other 7-(1,4-diazepan)- and 7-piperazine-substituted [1,3]oxazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidines (structures A and B in Scheme 1) showed cytotoxic activity in the micromolar concentration range against most breast cancer cell

Synthesis, biological and electrochemical evaluation of glycidyl esters of phosphorus acids as potential anticancer drugs

• Almaz A. Zagidullin,
• Emil R. Bulatov,
• Mikhail N. Khrizanforov,
• Damir R. Davletshin,
• Elvina M. Gilyazova,
• Ivan A. Strelkov and
• Vasily A. Miluykov

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1909–1916, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.148

• , obtaining products with high purity and moderate to excellent yields. Their cytotoxic potential was evaluated using the MTT assay on human fibroblasts (HSF), prostate cancer (PC-3), and breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines, revealing moderate preferential cytotoxicity toward cancer cells, particularly in the

• . Among the tested compounds, triglycidyl phosphate (3) demonstrated the highest overall cytotoxicity against HSF and PC-3 cell lines, while diglycidyl methylphosphate (2) showed the greatest potency toward MCF7 breast cancer cells. Although the IC50 values for compounds 1 and 2 were somewhat higher in

• or aziridine fragments. Dose–response curves for the cytotoxic effects of glycidyl esters of phosphorus acids 1–3 on human cell lines. (A) Human skin fibroblasts (HSF), (B) prostate cancer cells (PC-3), and (C) breast cancer cells (MCF7) were treated with diglycidyl methylphosphonate (1, red

Formal synthesis of a selective estrogen receptor modulator with tetrahydrofluorenone structure using [3 + 2 + 1] cycloaddition of yne-vinylcyclopropanes and CO

• Jing Zhang,
• Guanyu Zhang,
• Hongxi Bai and
• Zhi-Xiang Yu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1639–1644, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.127

• frontier for treating breast cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, neuropathies, and other diseases. Merck scientists found that molecules with tetrahydrofluorenone (6/5/6 tricyclic motif) can act as SERMs. For example, molecules I and II (Scheme 1A) displayed low nanomolar affinity for ERβ and

Pd-Catalyzed asymmetric allylic amination with isatin using a P,olefin-type chiral ligand with C–N bond axial chirality

• Natsume Akimoto,
• Kaho Takaya,
• Yoshio Kasashima,
• Kohei Watanabe,
• Yasushi Yoshida and
• Takashi Mino

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1018–1023, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.83

• in medicinal chemistry. For example, racemic compound 1 (Figure 1) was evaluated for its cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cells (MCF7) in comparison to the standard doxorubicin and exhibited excellent activity against the MCF7 cell line [12]. The optically active compound 2 also showed

Studies on the syntheses of β-carboline alkaloids brevicarine and brevicolline

• Benedek Batizi,
• Patrik Pollák,
• András Dancsó,
• Péter Keglevich,
• Gyula Simig,
• Balázs Volk and
• Mátyás Milen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 955–963, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.79

• : it acts as an antioxidant [28], shows antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis [31], has antiproliferative effects against triple-negative breast cancer [32], serves as an agent against Parkinson's disease [29], and possesses skin anti-inflammatory properties [33]. Notably, the

Photocatalyzed elaboration of antibody-based bioconjugates

• Marine Le Stum,
• Eugénie Romero and
• Gary A. Molander

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 616–629, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.49

• trodelvy, used in a treatment for patients with triple-negative breast cancer, the linker may release the drug prior to internalization. (3) Payload: The payload may be a subunit used in cellular tracking, imaging, or most commonly toxic drug therapeutics. The overall goal of ADCs is to deliver the payload

Semisynthetic derivatives of massarilactone D with cytotoxic and nematicidal activities

• Rémy B. Teponno,
• Sara R. Noumeur and
• Marc Stadler

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 607–615, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.48

• , epidermoid carcinoma A431, ovarian carcinoma SKOV-3, and breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against all the tested cells. Some of the semisynthetic derivatives were also tested for their nematicidal activity and compound 4 displayed significant and selective

• prostate cancer PC-3, epidermoid carcinoma A431, ovarian carcinoma SKOV-3, and breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines. Although the parent compound was not active as previously described [15][16], compounds 2 and 3 exhibited a significant cytotoxic activity against all the tested cells lines with IC50 values

• C19H23O8+, 379.1387; found, 379.1383. Cytotoxic activity The cytotoxicity against the murine fibroblasts L929, human cervix carcinoma KB-3-1, human lung carcinoma A549, human prostate cancer PC-3, epidermoid carcinoma A431, ovarian carcinoma SKOV-3, and breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines was determined by

Identification and removal of a cryptic impurity in pomalidomide-PEG based PROTAC

• Bingnan Wang,
• Yong Lu and
• Chuo Chen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 407–411, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.28

• (R01 CA269377) and the UTSW SCCC Breast Cancer Collaborative Pilot.

Antibiofilm and cytotoxic metabolites from the entomopathogenic fungus Samsoniella aurantia

• Rita Toshe,
• Syeda J. Khalid,
• Blondelle Matio Kemkuignou,
• Esteban Charria-Girón,
• Paul Eckhardt,
• Birthe Sandargo,
• Kunlapat Nuchthien,
• J. Jennifer Luangsa-ard,
• Till Opatz,
• Hedda Schrey,
• Sherif S. Ebada and
• Marc Stadler

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 327–339, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.23

• cell lines: mouse fibroblasts (L-929) and human endocervical adenocarcinoma (KB-3.1) applying a previously described protocol [20][21]. Compounds exhibiting cytotoxic properties against these two cell lines were further assessed against prostate cancer (PC-3), breast cancer (MCF-7), ovarian cancer

Synthesis of the 1,5-disubstituted tetrazole-methanesulfonylindole hybrid system via high-order multicomponent reaction

• Cesia M. Aguilar-Morales,
• América A. Frías-López,
• Nadia V. Emilio-Velázquez,
• Alejandro Islas-Jácome,
• Angelica Judith Granados-López,
• Jorge Gustavo Araujo-Huitrado,
• Yamilé López-Hernández,
• Hiram Hernández-López,
• Luis Chacón-García,
• Jesús Adrián López and
• Carlos J. Cortés-García

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 3077–3084, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.256

• efficiency and creating six new bonds (two C–C, three C–N, and one N–N). Additionally, the products were evaluated against breast cancer MCF-7 cells, finding moderate activity in the compounds substituted with fluorine and chlorine. Keywords: 1,5-disubstituted tetrazoles; high-order multicomponent reaction

• against MCF-7 cell line, which has been used as a model for breast cancer (BC), a public health issue very common and a deadly pathology worldwide, where women between 45 and 55 years of age are the most vulnerable population. In 2020, 684,996 deaths were recorded [40][41][42][43]. This in vitro

• bioactivity study was proposed based on observations that indole-coumarin-thiadiazole hybrid compounds described by Kamath et al. [44], as well as indole-benzimidazole hybrids reported by Singla et al. [45] have shown potential as therapeutic agents for breast cancer treatment. Thereby, we hypothesized that

N-Glycosides of indigo, indirubin, and isoindigo: blue, red, and yellow sugars and their cancerostatic activity

• Peter Langer

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 2840–2869, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.240

• exhibit an absorption at 618 nm and show a blue color. In contrast to biologically inactive indigo, akashines A–C are active against various human tumor cell lines (CNCL SF268, LCL H460, MACL, colon carcinoma CCL HT29, melanoma MEXF 514L, lung carcinoma LXFA 526L and LXFL 529L, breast cancer MCF-7, kidney

• employed, namely, bladder (5637), small cell lung (A-427), esophageal (Kyse-70), and breast (MCF-7) [23]. Rhamnosides α-17a and β-17b showed excellent activities against the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. In general, the best activities were observed for indirubins containing no additional

• . In any case, compound Z-41e was reported to exhibit a strong in vitro antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cells MCF-7 and melanoma mouse cells B16F10. In contrast, the activity against melanoma cells SKMEL-28 was only moderate. Carboindirubin-N-glycososides The reaction of isatin-N

The Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé reaction in its maturity: innovation and improvements since its 21st birthday (2019–2023)

• Cristina Martini,
• Muhammad Idham Darussalam Mardjan and
• Andrea Basso

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1839–1879, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.162

The Ugi4CR as effective tool to access promising anticancer isatin-based α-acetamide carboxamide oxindole hybrids

• Carolina S. Marques,
• Aday González-Bakker and
• José M. Padrón

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1213–1220, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.104

• lines, among them, non-small cell lung carcinoma, cervical adenocarcinoma, breast cancer and colon adenocarcinoma. The most potent compounds 8d, 8h and 8k showed GI50 values in the range of 1–10 μM. Keywords: cancer; GI50; isatin; oxindole; Ugi4CR; Introduction Meticulous attention has been given by

• antiproliferative activity of these compounds, we screened 14 α-acetamide carboxamide isatin hybrids against six human solid tumor cell lines. The panel of cell lines comprised non-small cell lung carcinoma A549 and SW1573, cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa, breast cancer HBL-100 and T-47D, and colon adenocarcinoma WiDr

Synthesis of 1,4-azaphosphinine nucleosides and evaluation as inhibitors of human cytidine deaminase and APOBEC3A

• Maksim V. Kvach,
• Stefan Harjes,
• Harikrishnan M. Kurup,
• Geoffrey B. Jameson,
• Elena Harjes and
• Vyacheslav V. Filichev

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 1088–1098, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.96

• with reduced tamoxifen sensitivity of tumours in those patients [19] and poor survival rates for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer patients [21][29]. In line with these observations, A3B overexpression accelerates the development of tamoxifen resistance in murine xenograft with ER+ breast

• financial support provided by the Worldwide Cancer Research (Grant 16–1197), the breast cancer partnership of the Health Research Council of New Zealand with the Breast Cancer Cure and Breast Cancer Foundation NZ (Grant 20/1355), Palmerston North Medical Research Foundation, Maurice Wilkins Centre for

• cancer. In contrast, knockdown of A3B results in prolonged tamoxifen responses and leads to the survival of mice for the duration of the experiment (1 year) [19]. More recent research also points at a prominent role of A3A in breast [30] and other cancers [30][31][32][33]. Overexpression of A3A and A3B

Green and sustainable approaches for the Friedel–Crafts reaction between aldehydes and indoles

• Periklis X. Kolagkis,
• Eirini M. Galathri and
• Christoforos G. Kokotos

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 379–426, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.36

• most common applications being the treatment of breast cancer. Studies have shown that breast cancer is tied to the ratio of 16α-hydroxyestrone (16αOHE1) and 2-hydroxyestrone (2OHE1), which are products of the metabolism of the estrogen 17β-estradiol. BIMs can shift the process of estrogen metabolism

• towards the production of 2OHE1, thus reducing the risk for estrogen-sensitive cancers, especially in combination with tamoxifen, which is an estrogen receptor modulator used in the treatment of breast cancer [4]. BIMs increase the efficacy of the antitumor activity of tamoxifen and reduce the side

• -effects that it can cause in the more sensitive subgroups of patients. Specifically, when DIM was used in tandem with tamoxifen, the ratio between 2OHE1/16αOHE1 increased up to 229%, as well as the concentration of the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) that inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells [4

Synthesis of ether lipids: natural compounds and analogues

• Marco Antônio G. B. Gomes,
• Alicia Bauduin,
• Chloé Le Roux,
• Romain Fouinneteau,
• Wilfried Berthe,
• Mathieu Berchel,
• Hélène Couthon and
• Paul-Alain Jaffrès

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1299–1369, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.96

• that now produces more accurate quantification of lipids with a distinction of neutral EL and phosphoglycero ELs produced contradictory data. Indeed, a recent study that focused on ether glycerophospholipids (alkyl and alkenyl ether lipids) indicates that in breast cancer cells (average of 9 breast

• Parkinson disease [18], breast cancer [19] and in rectal adenocarcinoma [20] (in the last case by measuring lysophosphatidylcholine plasmalogen). Low levels of ether lipids are reported in inherited peroxisomal disorders (e.g., rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata or Zellweger syndrome) [21]. The severity

• constitutive Ca2+ entry thus influencing breast cancer cell migration [106]. 1.4 Analogues of PAF with modification at the sn-3 position Finally, a series of PAF’s analogues were reported by changing the structure of the phosphocholine polar head group. Ohno et al. replaced the trimethylammonium moiety by

Two new lanostanoid glycosides isolated from a Kenyan polypore Fomitopsis carnea

• Winnie Chemutai Sum,
• Sherif S. Ebada,
• Didsanutda Gonkhom,
• Cony Decock,
• Rémy Bertrand Teponno,
• Josphat Clement Matasyoh and
• Marc Stadler

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1161–1169, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.84

• (L929) (IC50 = 15.2 µM), breast cancer cells (MCF-7) (17.6 µM), and prostate cancer cells (PC-3) (18.9 µM). Discussion The introduction of a hydroxy group at C-2 rendered forpinioside C (2) inactive in antimicrobial assays compared to forpinioside B (1), however; both compounds were not active in the

• used in determining the cytotoxicity (IC50) of the isolated compounds as previously established [38][39]. The mammalian cell lines (mouse fibroblasts L929, adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells A549, HeLa cells KB-3-1, breast cancer cells MCF-7, epidermoid carcinoma cells (A431), and

Five new sesquiterpenoids from agarwood of Aquilaria sinensis

• Hong Zhou,
• Xu-Yang Li,
• Hong-Bin Fang,
• He-Zhong Jiang and
• Yong-Xian Cheng

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 998–1007, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.75

• from agarwood. Unfortunately, none of the new compounds exhibits biological activity against LPS-induced inflammation in Raw264.7 cells and human breast cancer cells. However, we have drawn good conclusions for SAR studies based on the current study and our previous study. These compounds will be

Combretastatins D series and analogues: from isolation, synthetic challenges and biological activities

• Jorge de Lima Neto and
• Paulo Henrique Menezes

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 399–427, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.31

• with a median effective dose values (ED50) of 3.3 and 5.2 μg·mL−1 (10.56 and 17.55 μM), respectively [16][17]. Vongvanich and co-workers performed a cytotoxicity assay of combretastatins D-3 (3) and D-4 (4) against human breast cancer cells (BC-1), human epidermoid carcinoma of the mouth (KB), a small

An accelerated Rauhut–Currier dimerization enabled the synthesis of (±)-incarvilleatone and anticancer studies

• Tharun K. Kotammagari,
• Sweta Misra,
• Sayantan Paul,
• Sunita Kunte,
• Rajesh G. Gonnade,
• Manas K. Santra and
• Asish K. Bhattacharya

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 204–211, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.19

• configuration of each enantiomer was determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. In addition, a one-pot synthesis of (±)-incarviditone has been achieved from rac-rengyolone by using KHMDS as a base. We have also assessed the anticancer activity of all the synthesized compounds in breast cancer cells

• on the growth of the breast cancer cell line MCF7. For instance, we did not observe the 50% growth inhibition event at 100 µM. In contrast, 5-fluorouracil potently inhibited the growth of MCF7 cells with 50% growth inhibition at 7.1 ± 0.62 µM (Figure 2). Conclusion In summary, we have successfully

• -rengyolone (3) by using KHMDS as a base. The antiproliferative activity of these compounds was tested using MTT assays and the results revealed that these compounds are less efficient in inhibiting the growth of breast cancer cells. Structures of (±)-incarvilleatone (1), (±)-incarviditone (2), and

Insight into oral amphiphilic cyclodextrin nanoparticles for colorectal cancer: comprehensive mathematical model of drug release kinetic studies and antitumoral efficacy in 3D spheroid colon tumors

• Sedat Ünal,
• Gamze Varan,
• Juan M. Benito,
• Yeşim Aktaş and
• Erem Bilensoy

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 139–157, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.14

• also had better release, physical stability, and cytotoxicity [13]. CPT is an anticancer small molecule drug that inhibits the topoisomerase I enzyme, which has a critical role in cellular DNA functions [14], and is effective in a wide spectrum of cancers such as metastatic colon cancer, breast cancer

• -C6 nanoparticle formulation decreased upon incubation. Based on previous studies with breast cancer cell lines, it is comprehensible that anionic nanoparticles induce cell proliferation inhibition earlier than polycationic nanoparticles. The impact of anionic nanoparticles on free cholesterol level

Preparation of β-cyclodextrin/polysaccharide foams using saponin

• Max Petitjean and
• José Ramón Isasi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 78–88, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.7

• that saponins possess anticancer properties, by limiting proliferation and metastasis. This has been tested on different cancers such as leukemia [16], breast cancer [17] or prostate cancer to cite only a few of them [18]. They also present antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic