Novel indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline analogues as cytostatic agents: synthesis, biological evaluation and structure–activity relationship

In our endeavor to design and synthesize novel anticancer agents, a new series of indoloquinazoline compounds were prepared and tested initially for anticancer activity in vitro against a panel of human cancer cell lines. Most of these compounds exhibited cytotoxic activity in in vitro screens. Compounds were selected and further evaluated using a modified Hollow Fiber Assay for their preliminary in vivo activity against 12 cell lines implanted in the subcutaneous and intraperitoneal compartments in mice. The results indicate that these compounds may constitute a new class of anticancer agents.