Functionalized azirine based scaffolds as endothelin inhibitors for the selective anti-angiogenic activity

Anti-angiogenic therapy has long been used as an adjunct therapy for the resolution of tumor burden. The current findings describe the synthesis of novel marine-based azirine-containing compounds that exhibit anti-angiogenic mediated anti-tumor activity. Azirine-2-carboxylate inhibited HUVEC-mediated tubulogenesis without causing cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Ex-vivo CAM, in-vivo Matrigel implantation, and ear angiogenesis experiments have all shown that azirine-2-carboxylate effectively inhibits angiogenesis. Furthermore, azirine-2-carboxylate inhibits the migration of ECs without disrupting the preformed tubule network. Azirine-2-carboxylate had adequate intramuscular systemic exposure and inhibited tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. DARTS analysis, competitive binding assay, and gene expression investigations revealed that azirine-2-carboxylate inhibits endothelin-1-mediated angiogenesis. Overall, the discovery of azirine-2-carboxylate demonstrated a potent inhibition of angiogenesis targeting ET1 and a possible application in anti-angiogenic therapy.