Triterpenoids from Momordica balsamina with a Collateral Sensitivity Effect for Tackling Multidrug Resistance in Cancer Cells

Abstract

The collateral sensitivity effect is among the most promising strategies for overcoming multidrug resistance in cancer. In this work, 28 cucurbitane-type triterpenoids (1 - 28), previously isolated from the African medicinal plant Momordica balsamina and its derivatives, were evaluated for their collateral sensitivity effect on three different human cancer entities, gastric (EPG85-257), pancreatic (EPP85-181), and colon (HT-29), each with two different multidrug-resistant variants. One was selected for its resistance to daunorubicin (EPG85-257RDB, EPP85-181RDB, HT-29RDB) and the other was selected for its resistance to mitoxantrone (EPG85-257RNOV, EPP85-181RNOV, HT-29RNOV). On gastric cell lines, the best results were obtained for compounds 3 and 10, which exhibited a collateral sensitivity effect together with high antiproliferative activity. In turn, on colon cancer cell lines, the best multidrug resistance-selective antiproliferative effects were observed for derivatives 11, 13, and 15, which showed collateral sensitivity effects against both resistant variants. Compounds 11 and 3 were also the most selective against the multidrug resistance pancreatic cells lines. Some compounds, such 6, 10, 11 and 15, were previously found to be strong P-glycoprotein modulators, thus highlighting their potential as promising leads for overcoming multidrug resistance in cancer cells.