Antitumor agents. Part 3: synthesis and cytotoxicity of new trans-Stilbene benzenesulfonamide derivatives

A new series of trans-stilbene benzenesulfonamide derivatives were designed and synthesized as potential antitumor agents. These new compounds were evaluated in the National Cancer Instituteʹs 60 human tumor cell line in vitro screen. Compounds 9–13 were cytotoxic against several cell lines. Notably, two compounds, 9 and 12, demonstrated selective cytotoxic activity against BT-549 breast cancer (GI50=0.205 μM) and HT–29 colon cancer (GI50=0.554 μM), respectively.