Targeting apoptosis; design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new benzoxazole and thiazole based derivatives

Several novel approaches to target Bcl-2 proteins and apoptotic pathways have been identified in recent years for the treatment of different types of cancer including colorectal cancer. However, no effective treatments were yet developed for colorectal cancer. Twenty two novel benzoxazole and thiazole−based compounds were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as potential Bcl-2 inhibitors with anti−proliferative activity. Compounds 8g, 12e and 13d showed good to moderate anti−proliferative activity against most of the NCI 60 cell line panel with mean growth inhibition percent of 45.13, 42.29 and 29.25