Indenopyrazole as a Privileged Structure in the Development of Anticancer Agents

Abstract

A Privileged structureis a molecular scaffold that can provide potent and selective ligands for a range of different biological targets through modification of functional groups. Indenopyrazole is a three ringed heterocyclic structure consisting of a benzene ring, a central 5-membered ring and a pyrazole ring. As a privileged structure, indenopyrazole has been extensively used in recent years in the design of anticancer agents with versatile targets. A number of indenopyrazole derivatives displayed potent anticancer activities as checkpoint kinase 1, epidermal growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, cyclin-dependent kinases, and tubulin polymerization inhibitors, among many others. This review will summarize the recent development of indenopyrazoles as anticancer agents, discuss their SARs. Keywords: Checkpoint kinase 1, cyclin-dependent kinases, epidermal growth factor receptor, hypoxia-inducible factor 1, indenopyrazoles, inhibitors, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, privileged structures, tubulin polymerization, vascular endothelial growth factor.