Antitumor activity of substituted E-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylidene)-1,3-dihydroindol-2-ones

The design and synthesis of anticancer E-3-( 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzylidene)-1,3-dihydroindol-2-ones is reported. Strong COMPARE correlations among the cell line responses suggest that these compounds may be acting similarly through a combination of different mechanisms of action. The 5-methoxy derivative ( 2h) was the most active compound with a mean pGI(50) of 6.34, and it is now under review by Biological Evaluation Committee of the National Cancer Institute for possible further studies.