Potential of Using New Indole- and Benzimidazo[1,2-C]quinazolines in Anticancer Therapy Based on Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Purpose: The study of the cytotoxic effect of variously substituted indole- and benzimidazo[1,2-c]quinazolines may prove particularly valuable in the context of developing new, effective anticancer therapies based on MSCs. The unique ability of MSCs to migrate and inhabit the tumor microenvironment makes them an ideal tool for transferring chemotherapeutic agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of 4-(6-indolo[1,2-c]quinazoline)2-methyl-benzene-1,3-diol (compound A) and 4-(6-benzimidazolo[1,2-c]quinazoline)2-methyl-benzene-1,3-diol (compound B) relative to the adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells line (ASC52-telo) and the fibroblast line (HDFa).

Materials and methods: The test was performed on commercial cell lines: ASC52-telo and HDFa which were incubated with compounds A and B at four concentrations: 1 μg/mL, 2 μg/mL, 4 μg/mL, 8 μg/mL for 48 and 72 hours. The MTT test was performed to assess the cytotoxicity and determine the IC₅₀ value of compounds A and B against both tested cell lines.

Results: The results of the research indicate that both tested compounds showed stronger cytotoxic activity towards ASC52-telo than HDFa cells. In addition, compound A is characterized by greater cytotoxicity towards both tested cell lines compared to compound B.

Conclusion: The indole- and benzimidazo[1,2-c]quinazolines used in the study could potentially be used in MSCs-based therapy. There is a need to further investigate the safety of using MSCs as drug carriers, and to examine the anticancer activity of the tested compounds, as well as to perform additional and valuable assays, such as enzymatic and toxicity tests.