New Dual P-Glycoprotein (P-gp) and Human Carbonic Anhydrase XII (hCA XII) Inhibitors as Multidrug Resistance (MDR) Reversers in Cancer Cells

In a continuing search of dual P-gp and hCA XII inhibitors, we synthesized and studied new N,N-bis(alkanol)amine aryl diester derivatives characterized by the presence of a coumarin group. These hybrids contain both P-gp and hCA XII binding groups to synergistically overcome the P-gp-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells expressing both P-gp and hCA XII. Indeed, hCA XII modulates the efflux activity of P-gp and the inhibition of hCA XII reduces the intracellular pH, thereby decreasing the ATPase activity of P-gp. All compounds showed inhibitory activities on P-gp and hCA XII proteins taken individually, and many of them displayed a synergistic effect in HT29/DOX and A549/DOX cells that overexpress both P-gp and hCA XII, being more potent than in K562/DOX cells overexpressing only P-gp. Compounds 5 and 14 were identified as promising chemosensitizer agents for selective inhibition in MDR cancer cells overexpressing both P-gp and hCA XII.