Tuning Scaffold Properties of New 1,4-Substituted Pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline Derivatives Endowed with Anticancer Potential, New Biological and In Silico Insights

The study investigates the anticancer potential of new 1,4-substituted pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline derivatives, emphasizing their antiproliferative and antimetastatic properties. The research highlights the role of the "piperonyl" group in enhancing activity against various cancer cell lines, including leukemia, CNS, renal, melanoma, and breast cancers. Derivative 7p, in particular, demonstrated significant efficacy in inhibiting cell growth and mobility in MCF-7 and HeLa cells. In silico docking studies showed strong binding affinities of 7p to cancer-related targets like HSP90, IGF1R, and HDAC2, suggesting a multi-target mechanism. These findings indicate the potential for developing new derivatives with tailored functionalities to target specific cancer pathways, although further biological studies are needed to fully understand their mechanisms of action.