Antitumor agents. Part 204: Synthesis and biological evaluation of substituted 2-aryl quinazolinones

A series of 2 ' ,3 ' ,4 ' ,6,7-substituted 2-aryl quinazolinones were synthesized and evaluated for biological activity. Among them, 17 displayed significant growth inhibitory action against a panel of tumor cell lines. Compound 17 was also a potent inhibitor of tubulin polymerization. Compounds 8-10 displayed selective activity against P-gp-expressing epidermoid carcinoma of the nasopharynx. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. all rights reserved.