Synthesis and biological properties of benzothiazole, benzoxazole, and chromen-4-one analogues of the potent antitumor agent 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-fluorobenzothiazole (PMX 610, NSC 721648)

New fluorinated 2-aryl-benzothiazoles, -benzoxazoles, and -chromen-4-ones have been synthesized and their activity against MCF-7 and MDA 468 breast cancer cell lines compared with the potent antitumor benzothiazole 5. Analogues such as 9a,b and 12a,d yielded submicromolar GI(50) values in both cell lines; however, none Of the new compounds approached 5 in terms of antitumor potency. For 5, binding to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor appeared to be necessary but not sufficient for growth inhibition.