Chiral phenoxyacetic acid analogues inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation acting as PPARγ partial agonists

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ (PPARγ) is an important sensor at the crossroad of diabetes, obesity, immunity and cancer as it regulates adipogenesis, metabolism, inflammation and proliferation. PPARγ exerts its pleiotropic functions upon binding of natural or synthetic ligands. The molecular mechanisms through which PPARγ controls cancer initiation/progression depend on the different mode of binding of distinctive ligands. Here, we analyzed a series of chiral phenoxyacetic acid analogues for their ability to inhibit colorectal cancer (CRC) cells growth by binding PPARγ as partial agonists as assessed in transactivation assays of a PPARG-reporter gene. We further investigated compounds (R,S)-3, (S)-3 and (R,S)-7 because they combine the best antiproliferative activity and a limited transactivation potential and found that they induce cell cycle arrest mainly via upregulation of p21waf1/cip1. Interestingly, they also counteract the β-catenin/TCF pathway by repressing c-Myc and cyclin D1, supporting their antiproliferative effect. Docking experiments provided insight into the binding mode of the most active compound (S)-3, suggesting that its partial agonism could be related to a better stabilization of H3 rather than H11 and H12. In conclusion, we identified a series of PPARγ partial agonists affecting distinct pathways all leading to strong antiproliferative effects. These findings may pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies in CRC.