Synthesis and Testing of MCT1 and MCT4 Inhibiting Compounds as Novel Cancer Therapeutics

Abstract

Triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) account for 10-20% of breast cancers and generally affect younger patient populations (<50 years) as well as African-American/Hispanic women.1,2 Current treatment options consist of surgical resection and radiation/chemical therapy; however, many of the drugs used are not cancer cell specific and result in widespread toxicity throughout body systems. A number of novel, small organic molecules selective towards cancer cells by inhibition of monocarboxylate transporters (MCT) were developed under the direction of Dr. Venkatram Mereddy. These compounds analogous to Alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHC, a known MCT inhibitor) were synthesized from readily-available reagents and show high potential as lead compounds based on in vitro and in vivo studies.