Synthesis of a new bis(indolyl)methane that inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells

The synthesis and the antiproliferative activity against the human breast MCF-7, SkBr3 and the prostate LNCaP cancer cell lines of a series of bis(indolyl)methane derivatives are reported. The synthesis of new compounds was first accomplished by the reaction of different indoles with trimethoxyacetophenone in the presence of catalytic amounts of hydrochloric acid. A second procedure involving the use of oxalic acid dihydrate [(CO ₂H)₂·2H₂O] and N-cetyl-N,N,N- trimethylammonium bromide in water was carried out and led to better yields. Compound 5b significantly reduced LNCaP prostate cancer cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC₅₀ of 0.64 ± 0.09 M. To determine whether the growth inhibition was associated with the induction of apoptosis, treated cells were stained using DAPI. LNCaP cells treated with 1 M of 5b showed the morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis after 24 h of incubation.