UNCOVERING THE POTENTIAL OF CHALCONE-SULFONAMIDE HYBRIDS: A SYSTEMATIC
REVIEW ON THEIR ANTICANCER ACTIVITY AND MECHANISMS OF ACTION
Abstract
Chalcones are α,β-unsaturated ketones, naturally produced as flavonoids
and isoflavonoids precursors. Their privileged chemical structure
enables their conjugation with different groups, aiming to improve their
chemical properties and biological activities. Chalcone-sulfonamide
hybrids display a range of biological activities and have been widely
investigated for their anticancer potential, being considered promising
molecules for cancer treatment. This systematic review aimed to
summarize the information available in the literature about the
anticancer potential of chalcones-sulfonamides in vitro and in vivo and
their mechanisms of action. An electronic search was performed across
scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Emabase, and Scopus), and
two blinded authors selected the studies according to the inclusion and
exclusion criteria. The search yielded 1,467 articles, of which 18 were
considered eligible for the review. Our analysis demonstrated that
chalcones-sulfonamides are mainly obtained by Claisen-Schmidt
condensation and can receive several functional groups, directly
affecting their activity. Chemical substitutions often involve the
addition of methoxy or chlorine groups at different positions of the
molecule. Chalcones-sulfonamides demonstrated relevant cytotoxic
potential in vitro and reduced tumor growth in vivo. The mechanisms
underlying these effects involve oxidative stress, increased
intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), and DNA damage. The
oxidative stress induced by chalcones-sulfonamides also seems to
contribute to the inhibition of Carbonic Anhydrase, which is frequently
overexpressed in cancer cells. Altogether, chalcones-sulfonamides may
lead to cell death by different pathways, predominantly via apoptosis or
necroptosis.