Recent research progress of β-carbolines as privileged scaffold in the discovery of anticancer agent (2019–2024)

Abstract

Cancer remains a formidable global health challenge, driving the need for targeted therapeutic agents to improve clinical outcomes. Natural and synthetic β-carboline alkaloids, characterized by their indole-based heterocyclic structures, have emerged as privileged scaffolds in oncology drug development due to their multimodal antitumor mechanisms. This review systematically evaluates recent advancements in β-carboline derivatives research, with emphasis on structural modification strategies, structure-activity relationships, and mechanistic elucidation of tumor suppression pathways. Through multidimensional evaluation and analysis, we propose actionable directions for the development of β-carboline derivatives with enhanced pharmacological profiles for treating various cancers.