Biological evaluation of [4‐(4‐aminophenyl)‐1‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl](3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)methanone as potential antineoplastic agent in 2D and 3D breast cancer models

Targeting tubulin polymerization and depolymerization represents a promising approach to treat solid tumors. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of a structurally novel tubulin inhibitor, [4-(4-aminophenyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl](3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methanone (ARDAP), in two- and three-dimensional MCF-7 breast cancer models. At sub-cytotoxic concentrations, ARDAP showed a marked decrease in cell proliferation, colony formation, and ATP intracellular content in MCF-7 cells, by acting through a cytostatic mechanism. Additionally, drug exposure caused blockage of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In 3D cell culture, ARDAP negatively affected tumor spheroid growth, with inhibition of spheroid formation and reduction of ATP concentration levels. Notably, ARDAP exposure promoted the differentiation of MCF-7 cells by inducing: (i) expression decrease of Oct4 and Sox2 stemness markers, both in 2D and 3D models, and (ii) downregulation of the stem cell surface marker CD133 in 2D cell cultures. Interestingly, treated MCF7 cells displayed a major sensitivity to cytotoxic effects of the conventional chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin. In addition, although exhibiting growth inhibitory effects against breast cancer cells, ARDAP showed insignificant harm to MCF10A healthy cells. Collectively, our results highlight the potential of ARDAP to emerge as a new chemotherapeutic agent or adjuvant compound in chemotherapeutic treatments.