Substituted phenanthrenes with basic amino side chains: A new series of anti-breast cancer agents

In the course of our search for new anti-breast cancer agents, substituted phenanthrenes with basic amino side chains were synthesized and some of them showed remarkable antiproliferative activity against ER +ve MCF-7 cell line with IC50 in the range of 3.53-22.25 mu M. One of the compounds 15ca showed anti-breast cancer activity in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) induced hormone-dependent mammary tumor in rat and the activity was comparable to that shown by tamoxifen. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.