Novel Imidazopyridine-Oxadiazole β‑Tubulin Inhibitors Suppress Breast Cancer Migration and Induce Caspase-3-Mediated Apoptosis

A series of novel imidazo-[1,2-a]-pyridine-oxadiazole (iMPZ1-15) hybrid compounds was designed as potential β-tubulin polymerization inhibitors, inspired by the cis-conformation and biaryl scaffold of combretastatin A-4. The effects of iMPZ beta-tubulin inhibitors on proliferation in MDA-MB-231, SH-SY5Y, and DLD-1 Cancer cells, as well as their influence on beta-tubulin inhibition, colonization, cell migration, cell cycle progression, and Apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells, were investigated. iMPZ-8 identified as the most efficacious treatment candidate, with an IC₅₀ value of 7.5 μM in MDA MB-231 cells. iMPZ-8 had a comparable effectiveness to NOC, which served as a positive control for beta tubulin inhibition. IMPZ-8 reduced cellular migration and colonization. It also accumulated throughout the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, through the BAX-Caspase-3 intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway.