Novel potent organoselenium compounds as cytotoxic agents in prostate cancer cells

A series of 17 symmetrical substituted imidothiocarbamate and imidoselenocarbamate derivatives has been synthesized by reacting appropriately substituted acyl chlorides with alkyl imidothiocarbamates and alkyl imidoselenocarbamates. The antitumoral activities of the compounds were evaluated in vitro by examining their cytotoxic effects against human prostate cancer cells (PC-3). Five compounds showed interesting activity levels and 3p (IC50 = 1.85 μM) was 7.3 times more active than the standard etoposide used in the treatment of prostate cancer and emerges as the most interesting compound.