Nitrogen-containing analogs of Salinomycin, synthesis and use against cancer stem cells and malaria.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns amino-derivatives of salinomycin, processes for their preparation and their use as a drug, in particular in the treatment of cancer and in the treatment of malaria.

STATE OF THE ART

Salinomycin is a monocarboxylic polyether possessing ionophoric properties of the following formula:

To date, salinomycin has been widely employed in veterinary medicine as an antibiotic and an anticoccidial.

Recently, the screening of 16000 compounds enabled identifying a small number of compounds capable of killing selectively cancer stem cells (CSCs) and tumor initiating cells (TICs), without affecting normal cells. This study demonstrated that targeting CSCs and TICs enabled the regression of the tumor mass and prevented metastasis.

In this study, salinomycin was identified as a potent compound against these cells, being capable of reducing the amount of TICs with a 100-fold higher efficacy than paclitaxel, a commonly employed anti-cancer drug.

Other studies have also shown that salinomycin induces cell death in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells by inhibiting the Wnt path, in prostate cancer cells by inducing reactive oxygen species and by inducing a drop of mitochondrial membrane potential.

Salinomycin, however has the drawback of being neurotoxic, leading to peripheral neuropathies. In addition, its activity against CSCs and TICs remains moderate.

Analogs of salinomycin have been described in prior art. The modifications of salinomycin essentially consist in the replacement of the 1 -carboxylic acid function by an ester, or the acylation of the 20-hydroxyl group of salinomycin. There is therefore a need to improve the activity of salinomycine against CSCs and TICs, but also to design derivatives of this compound having reduced neurotoxicity. The inventors of the present invention have discovered that 9- and/or 1 1 - and/or 20- amino derivatives of salinomycine possess a superior activity against CSCs and TICs.

The ability of salinomycin to accumulate in lysosomes and to promote the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lysosomal membrane permeabilization is pointing toward the role of salinomycin derivatives in chelating iron to catalyze the Fenton reaction (that is the conversion of H ₂ 0 ₂ into ROS mediated by iron complexes). Therefore, salinomycin derivative bearing chemical modifications that favor iron binding and the Fenton reaction are of considerable interest.

The present invention therefore concerns 9- and/or 1 1 - and/or 20-amino derivatives of salinomycine, enantiomers, mixture of enantiomers, diastereoisomers and mixture of diasteroisomers thereof, of formula (I):

wherein:

-W is selected from the group consisting of =0; -NR ₁ R ₂ ; -NR ₃ -(CH2)n-NR ₄ R ₅ ; -0-(CH ₂ ) _n - NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ;

-X is selected from the group consisting of =0, OH; -NR-| R ₂ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -O-

(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ,

-Y is selected from the group consisting of OH; =N-OH; -NR-| R ₂ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -O- (CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ,

Ri and R ₂ , identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of H; (d- Ci ₆ )-alkyl; (C ₃ -Ci ₆ )-alkenyl; (C ₃ -Ci ₆ )-alkynyl; (C ₃ -Ci ₆ )-cycloalkyl; aryl; heteroaryl;

(CrC ₆ )-alkyl-aryl; (Ci-C ₆ )-alkyl-heteroaryl; or R- _\ represents H and R ₂ represents

ORg, where R ₉ is H, (CrC ₆ )-alkyl, aryl and (Ci-C ₆ )-alkyl-aryl;

R ₃ is selected from the group consisting of H; (CrC ₆ )-alkyl; (Ci-C ₆ )-alkyl-aryl; R ₄ and R ₅ , identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of H; (d- C ₆ )-alkyl; aryl; (d-d)-alkyl-aryl;

R ₆ , R ₇ and R ₈ , identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of (d- C ₆ )-alkyl; aryl; (d-d)-alkyl-aryl; with the proviso that at least one of W, X and Y is selected from the group consisting of -NR-|R ₂ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n - N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ .

Z is a functional group capable of chelating iron salts such as OH; NHNR ₉ R ₁₀ (hydrazine), NHOC(0)Rn (O-Acyl hydroxylamine), N(OH)-C(0)Rn (N-acyl hydroxylamine), OOH, SR _i2 ; 2-aminopyridine; 3-aminopyridine; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -OH; where:

R ₉ and Rio, identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of H, (C C ₆ )-alkyl, aryl and (Ci-C ₆ )-alkyl-aryl;

Rii is selected from the group consisting of H; (d-Ci ₆ )-alkyl; (C ₃ -C ₁₆ )-alkenyl; (C ₃ - C ₁₆ )-alkynyl; aryl; heteroaryl; (d-d)-alkyl-aryl; (d-d)-alkyl-heteroaryl;

R ₁₂ is selected from the group consisting of H; (d-C ₁₆ )-alkyl; (C ₃ -d ₆ )-alkenyl; (C ₃ - C ₁₆ )-alkynyl; aryl; heteroaryl; (d-C ₆ )-alkyl-aryl; (d-C ₆ )-alkyl-heteroaryl; and

n = 0, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

Advantageously, the 9- and/or 1 1- and/or 20-amino derivatives of salinomycine, enantiomers, mixture of enantiomers, diastereoisomers and mixture of diasteroisomers of the invention are of formula

wherein:

-W is selected from the group consisting of =0; -NR-|R ₂ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -

NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ;

-X is selected from the group consisting of =0, OH; -NR^; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -O- (CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ , -Y is selected from the group consisting of OH; -N R ₁ R ₂ ; -N R ₃ -(CH2)n-N R ₄ R ₅ ; -0-(CH ₂ ) _n - N R ₄ R ₅ ; -N R ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ,

R-i and R ₂ , identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of H ; (d- C ₁₆ )-alkyl; (C ₃ -C ₁₆ )-alkenyl; (C ₃ -C ₁₆ )-alkynyl; aryl; heteroaryl; (d-d)-alkyl-aryl; (d- C ₆ )-alkyl-heteroaryl; or R-i represents H and R ₂ represents OR ₉ , where R ₉ is H ,

(C C ₆ )-alkyl, aryl and (Ci-C ₆ )-alkyl-aryl;

R ₃ is selected from the group consisting of H ; (d-C ₆ )-alkyl; (Ci-C ₆ )-alkyl-aryl; R ₄ and R ₅ , identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of H ; (d- C ₆ )-alkyl; aryl; (Ci-C ₆ )-alkyl-aryl;

R ₆ , R7 and R ₈ , identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of (d-

C ₆ )-alkyl; aryl; (Ci-C ₆ )-alkyl-aryl;

n = 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6,

with the proviso that at least one of W, X and Y is selected from the group consisting of -N R-| R ₂ ; -N R ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N R ₄ R ₅ ; -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N R ₄ R ₅ ; -N R ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n - N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ .

Z is a functional group capable of chelating iron salts such as OH ; N H N R ₉ R ₁₀ (hydrazine), N HOC(0)Rn (O-Acyl hydroxylamine), N(OH)-C(0)Rn (N-acyl hydroxylamine), OOH , SR ₁₂ ; 2-aminopyridine; 3-aminopyridine; -N R ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N R ₄ R ₅ ; -N R ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -OH; where:

R ₉ and R ₁₀ , identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of H , (C C ₆ )-alkyl, aryl and (d-d)-alkyl-aryl;

R11 is selected from the group consisting of H ; (d-Ci ₆ )-alkyl; (d-Ci ₆ )-alkenyl; (C ₃ - C ₁₆ )-alkynyl; aryl; heteroaryl; (d-C ₆ )-alkyl-aryl; (d-C ₆ )-alkyl-heteroaryl;

Ri ₂ is selected from the group consisting of H ; (d-de)-alkyl; (C ₃ -d ₆ )-alkenyl; (d- Ci ₆ )-alkynyl; aryl; heteroaryl; (d-d)-alkyl-aryl; (d-d)-alkyl-heteroaryl.

Advantageously, n = 0, 2, 3 or 4.

Advantageously, W and/or X and/or Y are selected from the group consisting of -N R-| R ₂ ; -N R ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N R ₄ R ₅ ; -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N R ₄ R ₅ , more advantageously -N R-| R ₂ .

Advantageously, Ri and R ₂ , identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of H; (d-C ₁₆ )-alkyl, advantageously (C ₃ -C ₁₄ )-alkyl, more advantageously (C ₈ -C ₁₄ )-alkyl; (C ₃ - C ₁₆ )-alkenyl, advantageously (d-d)-alkenyl; (C ₃ -C ₁₆ )-alkynyl, advantageously (C ₃ -d)- alkynyl; (C ₃ -C ₁₆ )-cycloalkyl, advantageously (C ₃ -C ₆ )-cycloalkyl; and (CrCe^alkyl-heteroaryl, advantageously CH ₂ -pyridynyl.

R-i and R ₂ , identical or different, can also be selected from the group consisting of H; (CrCi ₆ )-alkyl, advantageously (C ₈ -Ci ₄ )-alkyl; (C ₃ -Ci ₆ )-alkynyl, advantageously (C ₃ -C ₅ )- alkynyl; and (Ci-C ₆ )-alkyl-heteroaryl, advantageously CH ₂ -pyridynyl.

Advantageously, Ri and R ₂ are not both H. More advantageously, Ri is H and R ₂ is selected from the group consisting of (Ci-Ci ₆ )- alkyl, advantageously (C ₃ -Ci ₄ )-alkyl, more advantageously (C ₈ -Ci ₄ )-alkyl; (C ₃ -Ci ₆ )-alkenyl, advantageously (C ₃ -C ₅ )-alkenyl; (C ₃ -Ci ₆ )-alkynyl, advantageously (C ₃ -C ₅ )-alkynyl; (C ₃ -Ci ₆ )- cycloalkyl, advantageously (C ₃ -C ₆ )-cycloalkyl; and (Ci-C ₆ )-alkyl-heteroaryl, advantageously CH ₂ -pyridynyl.

Ri can also be H and R ₂ can also be selected from the group consisting of (C-|-C ₁₆ )- alkyl, advantageously (C ₈ -C ₁₄ )-alkyl; and (C ₃ -C ₁₆ )-alkynyl, advantageously (C ₃ -C ₅ )-alkynyl; and (CrCe^alkyl-heteroaryl, advantageously CH ₂ -pyridynyl. Advantageously, R ₃ is selected from the group consisting of H and (Ci-C ₆ )-alkyl.

Preferably, R ₃ is H.

Advantageously, R ₄ and R ₅ , identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of H and (CrCi ₆ )-alkyl. More advantageously, R ₄ and R ₅ are H or (CrC ₆ )-alkyl. Preferably, R ₄ and R ₅ are identical. In one advantageous embodiment, the group -(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ is selected from the group consisting of -(CH ₂ ) ₂ -N(CH ₃ ) ₂ , -(CH ₂ ) ₃ -N(CH ₃ ) ₂ , -(CH ₂ ) ₂ -NH ₂ and -(CH ₂ ) ₃ -NH ₂ .

Advantageously, R ₆ , R ₇ and R ₈ , identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of (CrC ₆ )-alkyl; and aryl. More advantageously, R ₆ , R ₇ and R ₈ are (CrC ₆ )-alkyl. Preferably, R ₆ , R ₇ and R ₈ are identical. In one advantageous embodiment, the group -(CH ₂ ) _n - N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ is selected from the group consisting of -(CH ₂ ) ₂ -N ⁺ (CH ₃ ) ₃ , and -(CH ₂ ) ₃ -N ⁺ (CH ₃ ) ₃ . Advantageously, Z is OH, OOH, NHNH ₂ , NHOH, or NH ₂ OH, preferably OH. In another particular embodiment, Z is SH.

In a first embodiment according to the present invention, the compound is a 9-, 1 1 -, 20- triamino derivative of salinomycine, an enantiomer, a mixture of enantiomers, a diastereoisomer and a mixture of diasteroisomers thereof of formula (la):

where W, X, Y, Z, R-i , R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , R ₆ , R ₇ , R ₈ and n are as defined in formula (I). In a second embodiment according to the present invention, the compound is a diamino derivative of salinomycine, wherein two of W, X and Y are selected from the group consisting of -NR-|R ₂ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R8; and -O- (CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ of formula (lb),

where W, X, Y, Z, R^ R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , R ₆ , R ₇ , Rs and n are as defined in formula (I).

The compound of formula (lb) may be a 9-, 20- diamino derivative of salinomycine, an enantiomer, a mixture of enantiomers, a diastereoisomer and a mixture of diasteroisomers thereof of formula (Ib1 ):

wherein X and Y, identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of -NR-|R ₂ ;

-NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ , and Z, R R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , R ₆ , R ₇ , R ₈ and n are as defined in formula (lb). The compound of formula (lb) may be a 9-, 1 1-diamino derivative of salinomycine, an enantiomer, a mixture of enantiomers, a diastereoisomer and a mixture of diasteroisomers thereof of formula (Ib2)

wherein W and X, identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of -

NR-|R ₂ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n - N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ , and

Z, R R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , R ₆ , R ₇ , R ₈ and n are as defined in formula (lb),

The compound of formula (lb) may be an 1 1-, 20- diamino derivative of salinomycine, an enantiomer, a mixture of enantiomers, a diastereoisomer and a mixture of diasteroisomers thereof of formula (Ib3):

wherein W and Y, identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of NR-|R ₂ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ,

X is OH or =0, and

Z, Ri, R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , R ₆ , R ₇ , R ₈ and n are as defined in formula (lb).

In an advantageous embodiment according to the present invention, the compound of formula (I) is a monoamine derivative of salinomycine of formula (Ic), and only one of W, X or Y is a -NR-|R ₂ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; or -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ group, and W, X, Y, Z, Ri, R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , R ₆ , R7, R ₈ and n are as defined in formula (I).

The compound of formula (Ic) may be a 9-amino derivative of salinomycine of formula

wherein:

X is selected from the group consisting of -NR^; -NR ₃ -(CH2)n-NR ₄ R ₅ ; -0-(CH ₂ ) _n - NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and

Z, R^ R ₂ , R3, R ₄ , R5, R6, R7, Rs and n are as defined in formula (Ic).

Advantageously, Z is OH.

The inventors have indeed discovered that the presence of an amino group and the carboxylic acid at position 1 result I compounds having an improved activity against CSCs and TICs.

The compound of formula (Ic) may be a 1 1-amino derivative of salinomycine of formula

wherein:

W is selected from the group consisting of -NRiR ₂ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ ; -0-(CH ₂ ) _n - NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and

Z, R R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , R ₆ , R ₇ , R ₈ and n arep as defined in formula (Ic). The compound of formula (lc) may advantageously be a 20-amino derivative of salinomycine of formula (I

wherein:

X is selected from the group consisting of OH and =0,

Y is selected from the group consisting of -NR ₁ R ₂ ; -NR ₃ -(CH2)n-NR ₄ R5; -0-(CH ₂ ) _n - NR ₄ R ₅ ; -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; and

Z, R R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , R ₆ , R7, Rs and n are as defined in formula (I). In one advantageous embodiment, in the compounds of formula (Ic3), X is OH, Z is OH, and Y is -NR-|R ₂ . More advantageously, Ri is H and R ₂ is selected from the group consisting of (CrCi ₆ )-alkyl, advantageously (C ₈ -Ci ₄ )-alkyl; (C ₃ -Ci ₆ )-alkenyl, advantageously (C ₃ -C ₅ )- alkenyl; (C ₃ -Ci ₆ )-alkynyl, advantageously (C ₃ -C ₅ )-alkynyl; (C ₃ -Ci ₆ )-cycloalkyl, advantageously (C ₃ -C ₆ )-cycloalkyl; and (CrC ₆ )-alkyl-heteroaryl, advantageously CH ₂ -pyridynyl.

The inventors have indeed discovered that the presence of an amino group and the carboxylic acid at position 1 result I compounds having an improved activity against CSCs and TICs.

In another embodiment, X is =0, Y is selected from the group consisting of =N-OH and NR.|R ₂ and Z is NHOH. Advantageously, X is =0, Y is NR-|R ₂ and Z is NHOH. More advantageously, R-i is H and R ₂ is CH ₂ -pyridinyl, preferably CH ₂ -(2-pyridinyl). Alternatively, R-i is H and R ₂ is (C ₃ -C ₁₆ )-cycloalkyl, and (C ₃ -C ₁₆ )-alkynyl.

In a particular embodiment, when Z is -NHOH, W is =0 and X is -OH, then Y is not a propargyl group.

In a particular embodiment, when Z is -OH, W is =0 and X is -OH, then Y is not NCH ₂ CH ₂ N(CH ₃ ) ₂ . The compounds of formula (I) may advantageously be chosen from the group consisting

In a particular embodiment, W is =0, X is -OH, Y is -NR-| R ₂ preferably with R-i being H and R ₂ being (C ₃ -Ci ₆ )-cycloalkyl, preferably cyclopropyl, and Z is -OH.

In a particular embodiment, W is =0, X is -OH, Y is -NR-| R ₂ preferably with R-i being H and R ₂ being (C ₃ -C ₁₆ )- alkynyl, preferably propargyl, and Z is -OH.

The invention also concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of formula (I) as defined previously, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or hydrate thereof, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

The pharmaceutical composition can further comprise at least one other anticancer drug, such as Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide (AC), Docetaxel (Taxol), Trastuzumab, Degarelix, Capecitabine, ifosfamide or Cis platine. Advantageously, the pharmaceutical composition further comprises Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (AC) or docetaxel (Taxol).

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can be intended to oral, sublingual, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, transdermal, topical or rectal administration. The active ingredient can be administered in unit forms for administration, mixed with conventional pharmaceutical carriers, to animals or to humans. When a solid composition is prepared in the form of tablets, the main active ingredient is mixed with a pharmaceutical vehicle and other conventional excipients known to those skilled in the art.

The compounds of the invention can be used in a pharmaceutical composition at a dose ranging from 0.01 mg to 1000 mg a day, administered in only one dose once a day or in several doses along the day, for example twice a day. The daily administered dose is advantageously comprised between 5 mg and 500 mg, and more advantageously between 10 mg and 200 mg. However, it can be necessary to use doses out of these ranges, which could be noticed by the person skilled in the art.

It has been shown that salinomycin, in addition to resulting in an inhibition of proliferation or an induction of apoptosis in CSCs and TICs in a variety of cancer types including breast, blood, lung, pancreas and colon cancers, hampers migration of these cells. The present invention therefore concerns a compound of formula (I) as defined above or a pharmaceutical composition as defined above for use as a drug. The present invention further concerns a compound of formula (I) as defined above or a pharmaceutical composition as defined above for use in the treatment of cancer, such as carcinoma, sarcoma, metastatic disorders, prostate, colon, lung, breast, liver cancer, and leukemias, advantageously breast cancer and/or for the prevention of cancer relapse and/or metastases.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a compound of formula (I) as defined above or a pharmaceutical composition as defined above, for the manufacture of a medicament, advantageously for use in the treatment of cancer, such as carcinoma, sarcoma, metastatic disorders, prostate, colon, lung, breast, liver cancer, and leukemias, advantageously breast cancer, and/or in the prevention of cancer relapse and/or metastases.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of treatment of cancer, such as carcinoma, sarcoma, metastatic disorders, prostate, colon, lung, breast, liver cancer, and leukemias, advantageously breast cancer and/or prevention of cancer relapse and/or metastases, comprising the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) as defined above or a pharmaceutical composition as defined above to a person in need thereof The compound of formula (I) as defined above may be administered alone or in combination with a therapy against cancer, for example with other anticancer drugs. Anticancer drugs are known in the art.

Therefore, a further aspect of the invention relates to a pharmaceutical product comprising: a) the compound of formula (I) as defined above, and b) another chemotherapy compound, such as Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide (AC), Docetaxel (Taxol), Trastuzumab, Degarelix, Capecitabine, ifosfamide or Cis platine, advantageously Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide (AC), Docetaxel (Taxol), as combination product for simultaneous, separate or staggered use as a medicament, in particular in the treatment of cancer, advantageously breast cancer.

By the phrase "combination product" is meant herein the compound of formula (I) of the present invention is administered to the individual thus treated before, during (including concurrently with-preferably co-formulated with) and/or after treatment of an individual with the other anti-cancer drug. The formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form by methods known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, the kit-of-parts contains instructions indicating the use of the dosage form to achieve a desirable affect and the amount of dosage form to be taken over a specified time period. Preferably, said combination product is for the treatment of cancer such as carcinoma, sarcoma, metastatic disorders, prostate, colon, lung, breast, liver cancer, and leukemias, advantageously breast cancer, and/or in the prevention of cancer relapse and/or metastases. Since the compounds of formula (I) as defined above are capable of inhibiting autophagy, the present invention also concerns a compound of formula (I) for use in the treatment of diseases in which autophagy is involved, in particular malaria.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a compound of formula (I) as defined above, for the manufacture of a medicament, advantageously for use in the treatment of diseases in which autophagy is involved, in particular malaria. A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of treatment of diseases in which autophagy is involved, in particular malaria, comprising the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) as defined above to a person in need thereof. The compounds of formula (I) can be prepared following the methods illustrated in

Scheme 1 and described thereafter:

Scheme 1

The NR-|R ₂ ; -NR ₃ -(CH2) _n -NR ₄ R5 and -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ group at position 20 of salinomycine can be introduced by the following method: (a) oxidizing the allylic alcohol at position 20 of salinomycine to the a, β-un saturated ketone.

Methods for the oxidation of allylic alcohols are known in the art. Advantageously, this oxidation is performed with Mn0 ₂ . (b) protecting the carboxylic acid at position 1 of the α,β-unsaturated ketone analog of salinomycine,

Any suitable protecting group for carboxylic acids may be used. Advantageously, the carboxylic acid is protected in the form of an ester, such as a methyl ester or an allyl ester. The carboxylic acid at position 1 may also be protected prior to the oxidation to the α,β- unsaturated ketone.

Suitable protecting groups are for example disclosed in Greene, "Protective Groups In Organic synthesis", (John Wiley & Sons, New York ( 1 981 ) .

(c) reacting the α,β-unsaturated ketone with an amine and simultaneously or subsequently reducing the imine, Methods for preparing amines by reductive amination are known in the art.

Advantageously, the imine is formed by reacting the amine in a polar solvent in the presence of an acid. In a particular embodiment, the imine is formed in a mixture of an alcohol, such as methanol or ethanol and acetic acid. The reduction of the imine into the amine is advantageously done with a borohydride, such as sodium borohydride or sodium cyanoborohydride, in the presence of a cerium salt, such as cerium trichloride CeCI ₃ .

(d) deprotecting the ester at position 1 to provide the carboxylic acid.

Methods for the deprotection of an ester are for example disclosed in Greene, "Protective Groups In Organic synthesis", (John Wiley & Sons, New York ( 1 981 ) .

The NR-|R ₂ ; -NR ₃ -(CH2)n-NR ₄ R5 and -NR ₃ -(CH2)n-N ⁺ R ₆ R7R ₈ group at position 1 1 can be obtained by reacting the keto-group at position 1 1 with an amine and simultaneous or subsequent reduction of the imine.

Methods for preparing amines by reductive amination are known in the art.

Advantageously, the imine is formed by reacting the amine in a polar solvent in the presence of an acid. In a particular embodiment, the imine is formed in a mixture of an alcohol, such as methanol or ethanol and acetic acid. The reduction of the imine into the amine is advantageously done with a borohydride, such as sodium borohydride or sodium cyanoborohydride.

The carboxylic acid and/or hydroxyl groups of salinomycine, when present, may be protected. Suitable protecting groups are for example disclosed in Greene, "Protective Groups In Organic synthesis", (John Wiley & Sons, New York (1 981 ) . Advantageously, the protecting group is a triethylsilyl group.

The NR-|R ₂ ; -NR ₃ -(CH2)n-NR ₄ R5 and -NR ₃ -(CH2)n-N ⁺ R ₆ R7R ₈ group at position 9 can be introduced by the following steps:

(a) protecting the hydroxyl groups at positions 1 1 , 20 and 28 of salinomycine,

(b) transforming the hydroxyl group at position 9 into a leaving group,

The leaving group may be, for example, a sulfonate, such as a mesylate or a trifluoromethylsulfonate. Methods for the substitution of an hydroxyl group with an amine are known in the art. (c) reacting the product obtain in step (b) with an appropriate amine,

(e) deprotecting the hydroxyl groups and the carboxylic acid.

The groups -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -NR ₄ R ₅ and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ can be introduced starting from the 9 , 1 1 and/or 20 hydroxyl analogs of salinomycine.

The hydroxyl group at position 1 1 of salinomycine can be obtained by reducing the keto- group at this position using methods known in the art. The ketone may for example be reduced with sodium borohydride in an alcohol, such as methanol or ethanol. The reaction is performed by the following steps:

(a) protecting the carboxylic acid at position 1 and the hydroxyl groups at position 9, 1 1 and/or 20 , when present, and the hydroxyl group at position 28, Advantageously, the carboxylic acid is protected as an allyl ester.

(b) transforming the hydroxyl group into a leaving group,

The leaving group may be, for example, a sulfonate, such as a mesylate or a trifluoromethylsulfonate. Methods for transforming an hydroxyl group into a leaving one are known in the art. The reaction is preferably conducted in the presence of a base, such as pyridine. (c) reacting the product obtained in step (b) with a compound of formula HO-(CH ₂ ) _n -

NR4R ₅ or HO-(CH ₂ )n-N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R8 in the presence of a base,

Advantageously, the reaction is performed with a strong base, such as sodium hydride. Preferably, the alkoxide is prepared separately, prior to being reacted with the product obtained in step (b).

(d) deprotecting the optionally protected hydroxyl groups and the carboxylic acid.

The present invention therefore also concerns a process for preparing a 20-amino, 9-, 20-diamino or 9-, 1 1 -,20-triamino derivative of salinomycine of formula (I), wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of -NR^; -NR ₃ -(CH2)n-NR ₄ R5; and -NR ₃ -(CH ₂ ) _n - N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ ; where R-i , R ₂ , R3, R ₄ , R ₅ , R6, R7, Rs and n are as defined for formula (I), comprising the steps of:

(a) reacting a compound of formula (II):

wherein:

X is as defined in claim 1 , optionally protected, PGi is a carboxylic acid protective group, advantageously methyl, with an amine of formula R ₂ NH ₂ , or NH ₂ -(CH2)n-NR4R ₅ ; or NH2-(CH2)n-N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R8;

(b) reducing the imine obtained in step (a), advantageously with a borohydride, in the presence of a cerium salt such as cerium trichloride,

(c) deprotecting the carboxylic acid at position 1 ,

(d) optionally alkylating the amine.

The present invention further concerns a process for preparing a 9-amino, a 9-, 20- diamino or a 9-, 1 1-, 20-triamino derivative of salinomycine of formula (I), wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of -0-(CH2)n-NR ₄ R5 and -0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R7R8; where R ₄ , R ₅ , R ₆ , R ₇ , R ₈ and n are as defined for formula (I), comprising the steps of:

(a) reacting a compound of formula (II I):

wherein:

X is as defined in formula (I), optionally protected,

OU is a leaving group, such as a sulfonate, advantageously a mesylate,

PGi is a carboxylic acid protective group, such as methyl or allyl, advantageously allyl, PG ₂ is an hydroxyl protecting group, advantageously triethylsilyl,

with a compound of formula M-0-(CH ₂ )n-NR ₄ R ₅ or M-0-(CH ₂ ) _n -N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ , where:

M is a metal chosen from the group consisting of Na, K and Li,

(b) deprotecting the carboxylic acid at position 1 and the hydroxyl groups. Definitions:

The compounds of formula (I) in which X or Y is a -NR ₃ -(CH2)n-N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ or-0-(CH ₂ ) _n - N ⁺ R ₆ R ₇ R ₈ group are betaines. In that case, the carboxylic acid at position 1 of salinomycine is in the form of the carboxylate, i.e. Z will be O ^" instead of OH.

Within the groups, radicals or fragments defined in the description and the claims, the number of carbon atoms is specified inside the brackets. For example, (CrCi ₆ )-alkyl designates an alkyl group or radical having 1 to 16 carbon atoms.

For the groups comprising two or more subgroups, the attachment is indicated with For example, "-(Ci-C ₆ )-alkyl-aryl" indicates a radical alkyl bound to a radical aryl wherein the alkyl is bound to the rest of the molecule. In the sense of the present invention, the expression "(d-C^-alkyl" designates an optionally substituted acyclic, saturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon chain comprising 1 to 16 carbon atoms. Examples of (Ci-Ci ₆ )-alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, and dodecyl. Unless explicitly stated, the definitions propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, dodecyl, etc. include all possible isomers. For example, butyl comprises n-butyl, / ^' so-butyl, sec-butyl and ie f-butyl.

In the sense of the present invention, the expression "-(C ₃ -C ₁₆ )-alkenyl" designates an optionally substituted acyclic, saturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon chain comprising 3 to 16 carbon atoms, at least two of which are linked via a double bond. Examples of "-(C ₃ - Ci ₆ )-alkenyl" include propenyl, butenyl, pentenyl or hexenyl. Unless explicitly stated, the definitions of propenyl, butenyl, pentenyl and hexenyl include all possible isomers.

In the sense of the present invention, the expression "-(C ₃ -Ci ₆ )-alkyny designates an optionally substituted acyclic, saturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon chain comprising 3 to 16 carbon atoms, at least two of which are linked via a triple bond. Examples of "-(C ₃ -Ci ₆ )- alkynyl" include propynyl, butynyl, pentynyl or hexynyl. Unless explicitly stated, the definitions of propynyl, butynyl, pentynyl and hexynyl include all possible isomers. In the sense of the present invention, the expression "(C ₃ -C ₁₆ )-cycloalkyl" designates an optionally substituted cyclic, saturated hydrocarbon chain comprising 1 to 16 carbon atoms. Examples of (C ₃ -C ₁₆ )-cycloalkyl groups include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, and cyclododecyl. Advantageously, (C ₃ -C ₁₆ )-cycloalkyl group is selected from cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl.

The term "optionally substituted" as used herein means that any of the hydrogen atoms can be replaced by a substituent, such as fluorine. The term "aryl" designates an aromatic, monocyclic ring that may be fused with a second saturated, unsaturated or aromatic ring. The term aryl include, without restriction to the following examples, phenyl, indanyl, indenyl, naphtyl, anthracenyl, phenanthrenyl, tetrahydronaphtyl, and dihydronaphtyl. The preferred aryl are those comprising one six- membered aromatic ring. The aryl group may be substituted with one or more groups independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, hydroxyl, amino, nitro, cyano, trifluoro, carboxylic acid or carboxylic ester. Examples of substituted phenyl groups are methoxyphenyl, dimethoxyphenyl, trimethoxyphenyl, fluorophenyl and trilfuoromethylphenyl. The term "-(d-Ce^alkyl-aryl" designates in the sense of the present invention an aryl group, as defined above, linked to the rest of the molecule by an alkyl chain containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Advantageously, the ""-(C"i-C ₆ )-alkyl-aryl is a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl. Examples of substituted benzyl groups include methoxybenzyl, cyanobenzyl, nitrobenzyl or fluorobenzyl.

The term heteroaryl designates a mono- or polycyclic aryl as defined above where one or more carbon atoms have been replaced with one or more heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S. Unless explicitly stated, the term "heteroaryl" includes all possible isomers. Examples of heteroaryl groups include furyl, thienyl, imidazolyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, N-alkyl pyrrolyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl and triazinyl. The heteroaryl group may be substituted with one or more groups independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, hydroxyl, amino, nitro, cyano, trifluoro, carboxylic acid or carboxylic ester. Preferred heteroaryls are those having 5 or 6 atoms in the ring, such as indolyl, pyrrolyl, pyridinyl, pyrrazolyl, triazolyl, furanyl or thienyl.

The term "-(d-Ce^alkyl-heteroaryl" designates in the sense of the present invention an heteroaryl group, as defined above, linked to the rest of the molecule by an alkyl chain containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Advantageously, the "-(Ci-C ₆ )-alkyl-heteroaryl" is a substituted or (Ci)-alkyl-heteroaryl.

In the sense of the present invention, the term "halogen" designates a fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine atom.

For the purpose of the invention, the term "pharmaceutically acceptable" is intended to mean what is useful to the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition, and what is generally safe and non-toxic, for a pharmaceutical use.

The term « pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate of solvate » is intended to mean, in the framework of the present invention, a salt of a compound which is pharmaceutically acceptable, as defined above, and which possesses the pharmacological activity of the corresponding compound. Such salts comprise:

(1 ) hydrates and solvates,

(2) acid addition salts formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, nitric and phosphoric acid and the like; or formed with organic acids such as acetic, benzenesulfonic, fumaric, glucoheptonic, gluconic, glutamic, glycolic, hydroxynaphtoic, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic, lactic, maleic, malic, mandelic, methanesulfonic, muconic, 2-naphtalenesulfonic, propionic, succinic, dibenzoyl-L- tartaric, tartaric, p-toluenesulfonic, trimethylacetic, and trifluoroacetic acid and the like, and

(3) salts formed when an acid proton present in the compound is either replaced by a metal ion, such as an alkali metal ion, an alkaline-earth metal ion, or an aluminium ion; or coordinated with an organic or inorganic base. Acceptable organic bases comprise diethanolamine, ethanolamine, N-methylglucamine, triethanolamine, tromethamine and the like. Acceptable inorganic bases comprise aluminium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide.

DESCRIPTION DES FIGURES

Figure 1 represents viability of HMLER CD24- cells (full line) and HMLER CD24+ cells (dotted line) at different concentration of salinomycine (1A), AM5 (1 B), AM9 (1 C) or AM 13 (1 D).

The Y axis represents cell viability and is expressed as percentage.

The X axis represents the concentration of each product in μΜ. The concentrations used are, from left to right from the intersection between the X and Y axes: 0.0001 μΜ; 0.001 ; 0.01 μΜ; 0.1 μΜ, 1 μΜ and 10 μΜ. Each dot on the line represents measured cell viability at the corresponding concentration. Figure 2 is a representative phase contrast photomicrographs of mammospheres formed after 1 1 days in the absence of any added compound (Control) or in the presence of a defined amount of salinomycine, AM5, AM9 or AM13. Sal analogues (AM5, AM13) reduced the number and the size of mammosphere at low nanomolar concentrations. The size of the mammospheres is correlated with progenitor cell proliferation, whereas the number of mammospheres formed after serial passages at clonal density is correlated with the self- renewal capacity of primitive Cancer Stem Cells. A smaller mass indicates cell death and regression of the mammosphere.

Figure 3A is a representative phase contrast photomicrographs of mammospheres formed after 7 or 14 days in the absence of any added compound (Not treated) or in the presence of a defined amount of salinomycine, AM5, Taxol or the combination of AM5 and Taxol. A smaller mass indicates cell death and regression of the mammosphere.

Figure 3B represents the quantification of the number and the size of mammosphere. The combination of AM5 at 15 nM and Taxol at 5 nM decrease the number and the size of mammosphere with an improved efficacy than AM5 alone at 15nM or 5nM. Figure 4 represents MCF-7 tumor-growth curves of compound-treated mice (3mg per kg body weight per day, intra peritoneal injection, n=5). Non-lethal injections of an active Sal analogue (AM5) inhibits breast cancer tumor growth in mice (n = 5; error bars, s.e.m). Figure 5: Salinomycine analogue - induced cell death is inhibited by the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Cell lines were incubated with or without 500 nM of Sal analogues for 48 h. Apoptosis was evaluated by Annexin V -FITC and PI staining, and FACS analysis. All data are expressed as means ± s.d. from three individual experiments ( ^* ; P<0.05)

Figure 6: Lysosomal iron mediates Sal analogues-activated cell death signaling. Sal analogue-induced cell death is inhibited by lysosomal iron chelator deferoxamine mesylate (DFO). Cells were treted as in (c) with or without the indicated concentration of DFO for 48 h. Apoptosis was evaluated as in c.

Figure 7 represents the quantification of the number of mammospheres counted in experiments shown in figure 9. The number of mammospheres formed after serial passages at clonal density is correlated with the self-renewal capacity of primitive Cancer Stem Cells. A smaller mass indicates cell death and regression of the mammosphere. As compared to untreated cells or cells treated with salinomycine, only AM5 and more efficiently AM23 reduced the number of mammospheres.

Figure 8 represents the quantification of the size of mammospheres counted in experiments shown in figure 9. The size of the mammosphere is only reduced by the highest dose of AM23 whereas salinomycine, AM5 and lower dose of AM23 do not alter the tumor diameters.

Figure 9 represents images of the third generation of mammospheres formed from individual HMLER CD24low cells treated during 7 days with the indicated drug. The size of the mammospheres is correlated with progenitor cell proliferation capacity, whereas the number of mammospheres formed after serial passages at clonal density is correlated with the self-renewal capacity of primitive Cancer Stem Cells. A smaller mass indicates cell death and regression of the mammosphere. Figure 10 is an ORTEP drawing of the X-Ray structure of AM23.

Figure 1 1 represents FACS analyses of ROS in HMLER CD24low cells treated with salinomycine, AM5 and AM23.

Figure 12 is a graph representing the influence of salinomycine, AM5, AM13 and AM9 on intracellular sodium concentration Figure 13 represents the evaluation of the prevention of tumor growth in MCF-7 xenograft-bearing mice.

Figure 14 represents a comparative H&E staining images of peripheral tissues of mice treated as in figure 13, representative of five biological replicates (scale bar, 100 μηη).

Figure 15 is a graph representing the mice body-weight during treatment with AM5. Error bars for mice body weight represent s.d. and correspond to correspond to five animals per group. Figure 16 is a graphic representation of percent of dead cells (DIOC6(3) negative /

DAPI positive or negative)

Figure 17 represents a FACS analysis of ROS in cells treated for 48h.

EXEMPLES

Example 1 : Synthesis of Compound of formula (I) Preparation of oxidized Salinomycin acid (oxo-Sal-H) 2:

Salinomycin sodium (2.00 g, 2.587 mmol) was dissolved in 250 mL DCM and mangandioxide was added (9.00 g, 103.5 mmol, 40 eq). The suspension was stirred over night at room temperature. After complete conversion of starting material the mixture was filtrated on celite. The filtrate was extracted with 15 mM aqueous H2S04 solution, dried on MgS04 and concentrated to give product 2 (1 ,71 g, 2.28 mmol, 96 %) as pure and white foam without any further purification.

1 H NMR (CDCI3, 500 MHz, rt): 0.64-0.72 (6H, m), 0.72-0.82 (6H, m), 0.83-0.98 (12H, m), 1 .04-1 .17 (4H, m), 1.19-1.27 (2H, m), 1.30-1.57 (12H,m), 1 .59-2.05 (14H, m), 2.43-2.60 (2H, m), 2.63-2.73 (1 H, m) 2.76-2.88 (1 H, m), 3.38-3.52 (1 H, m), 3.66 (1 H, d, J = 9.6 Hz), 3.76 (1 H, d, J = 10.2 Hz), 3.88-4.04 (2H, m), 4.1 1 -4.22 (1 H, m), 6.20 (1 H, d, J = 10.7), 7.12 (1 H, d, J = 10.7).

13C NMR (CDCI3, 500 MHz, rt): 6.6, 7.0, 1 1.3, 12.1 , 12.6, 13.1 , 14.2, 15.5, 16.0, 17.6, 19.8, 20.7, 22.9, 26.4, 27.2, 28.3, 28.6, 32.1 , 32.2, 33.2, 34.2, 35.5, 38.4, 40.2, 50.3, 51 .6, 55.7, 67.7, 69.6, 71.0,73.2, 75.8, 76.5, 76.7, 90.0, 98.0, 105.3, 107.1 , 142.3, 183.2, 187.9, 217.9.

HRMS (ESI) m/z: Calculated for C42H68Na01 1 + [M+Na+] 771 .4654, found: 771.4560.

In a flame dried and Ar-flushed schlenk flask 2 (100 mg, 0.134 mmol) was introduced and dissolved in anhydrous DMF (3 mL). Cesium carbonate (56.5 mg, 0.174 mmol, 1 .3 eq) was added followed by methyl iodide (1 1 μΙ_, 0.174 mmol, 1.3 eq) and the solution was stirred for 24h at room temperature. After completion of the reaction the solvent was removed, the residue was taken up in DCM and the solution was extracted with 15 mM aqueous H2S04 solution, saturated NaHC03 solution, water, brine and dried over MgS04. The solution was filtred, concentrated and purified on silica gel with a CombiFlash using DCM/MeOH 10/0.2. The pure product 3 (96.5 mg, 0.126 mmol, 95%) was isolated as a white foam.

(The oxidation-methylation procedure can be inversed, the yields in both steps do not change so much.) 1 H NMR (CDCI3, 300 MHz, rt): 0.63-0.72 (9H, m), 0.72-0.77 (3H, d, J = 7.0 Hz), 0.80-

0.89 (12H, m), 1.06-1.17 (7H, m), 1 .17-1 .21 (2H, m), 1 .21 -1.32 (3H, m), 1 .32-1 .46 (8H, m), 1 .46-1.58 (3H, m), 1 .60-1 .80 (4H, m), 1 .80-1.94 (2H, m), 1.98-2.12 (2H, m), 2.48-2.56 (1 H, m), 2.58-2.68 (1 H, m), 2.81 -2.99 (2H, m), 3.26-3.32 (1 H, m), 3.51 (1 H, dd, J = 9.8Hz, 1 .5 Hz), 3.59-3.73 (2H, m), 3.70 (3H, s, OMe), 3.85-3.97 (2H, m), 6.16 (1 H, d, J = 10.7 Hz), 7.18 (1 H, d, 10.7 Hz).

13C NMR (CDCI3, 300 MHz, rt): 6.6, 7.2, 1 1.1 , 1 1.9, 12.1 , 14.0, 15.0, 17.9, 18.7, 19.8, 20.8, 22.6, 22.7, 26.3, 28.1 , 29.2, 29.7, 30.3, 34.26, 34.30, 34.4, 36.6, 39.2, 39.9, 47.7, 49.1 , 52.7, 57.5, 70.0, 71.2, 71.8, 72.3, 75.1 , 77.1 , 77.4, 88.7, 97.6, 105.5, 127.3, 144.2, 176.6, 190.9, 214.3.

HRMS (ESI) m/z: calculated for C43H70NaO1 1 + [M+Na+] 785.4810, found: 785.4807.

Procedure for reductive amination reactions on 2 or 3:

100 mg of starting material 2 was dissolved in 3 ml MeOH, the primary amine was added (10 eq.), followed by AcOH (50 μΙ_). The solution was stirred one hour at room temperature before CeCI3-7H20 was added. A solution of NaBH3CN (1.05-1 .3 eq) in 2 mL of MeOH was added very slowly with the help of a syringe pump over a period of 8h at room temperature. After further 4h stirring at room temperature, a sample was taken out of the reaction mixture and a miniwork-up was done, followed by TLC. If starting material was not fully consumed, some more NaBH3CN in MeOH was slowly added until full conversion was visible. Then, a aqueous solution of 15 mM H2S04 (2-4 mL) was carefully added, followed by DCM. The layers were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted 2 times with DCM. The combined organic layers were washed with aqueous 15 mM H2S04, sat. aqueous NaHC03 solution, water and brine. The solution was dried over MgS04 and concentrated, before purification with a Combi Flash, using gradually 1 to 3% MeOH in DCM on silica gel. Most of side products could be removed by this step. For the final purification the product was purified by HPLC on C18-reversed phase column. Elution gradient: 50%/50% ACN/H20 (both with 0.1 % formic acid) to 100% ACN within 12 min, 10-20 min 100% ACN (depending on polarity of products and side products). Amines eluted at around 60-90% ACN (AM5: 60%, AM9: 70%, AM13: 90-100%). Detection with UV detector at a wavelength of 217 nm.

Preparation of A

Sal-Propargylamine was prepared using 103 mg of 2 (0.134 mmol), 86 μΙ_ (1 .34 mmol, 10 eq) propargyl amine, 1 1 mg (0.174 mmol, 1 .3 eq) NaBH3CN, 50.0 mg (0.134 mmol, 1 eq) of CeCI3-7H20 and 50 μΙ_ acetic acid in 8 mL of MeOH. After purification with CombiFlash and HPLC 25 mg (0.032 mmol, 24%) of pure product could be isolated as colorless foam.

1 H NMR (CDCI3, 600 MHz, 5°C): 0.66 (3H, d, J=7.2 Hz, C39H3), 0.71 (3H, d, J=6.6 Hz, C34H3), 0.75 (3H, dd, J=J=7.8 Hz, C37H3), 0.77 (3H, d, J=7.2 Hz, C38H3), 0.85 (3H, d, J=6.6 Hz, C35H3), 0.86 (3H, m, C32H3), 0.88 (3H, m, C40H3), 0.90 (3H, m, C42H3), 1.13 (1 H, dd, J=J=13.8 Hz, C15H), 1.21 (3H, d, J=7.2 Hz, C30H3), 1.25-1 .38 (8H, m, C41 H, C31 H2, C36H, C33H3, C4H), 1.39-1 .48 (3H, m, C5H, C8H, C41 H), 1.49-1 .55 (1 H, m, C26H), 1 .55-1.63 (3H, m, C26H, C27H2), 1 .63-1 .71 (3H, m, C14H, C15H, C16H), 1 .71-1 .80 (3H, m, C6H, C23H, C5H), 1.80-1 .91 (2H, m, C36H, C4H), 1 .91-2.00 (2H, C22H2), 2.09-2.16 (1 H, m, C23H), 2.36-2.40 (1 H, s,≡CH), 2.55- 2.64 (2H, m, C12H, C10H), 2.84-2.91 (1 H, dt, C2H), 3.53 (1 H, m, C13H), 3.57-3.63 (2H, C25H, m, C7H), 3.81-3.85 (1 H, m, C29H), 3.91-4.01 (2H, m, C3H, C20H), 4.15 (1 H, d, J = 10.2 Hz, C9H), 4.28 (2H, bs, NHCH2), 6.28 (1 H, m, C19H), 6.44 (1 H, d, J =9.6 Hz, C18H). 13C NMR (CDCI3, 600 MHz, 5°C): 6.5 (C32), 7.1 (C39), 1 1.2 (C40), 12.2 (C38), 12.5 (C42), 13.3 (C37), 14.5 (C30), 15.6 (C34), 16.7 (C36), 17.6 (C35), 20.0 (C4), 21 .8 (C26), 22.9 (C41 ), 25.0 (C33), 26.4 (C5), 28.1 (C6), 28.8 (C27), 30.7 (C31 ), 30.8 (C23), 32.3 (C14), 36.1 (C8), 37.1 (NHCH2), 37.6 (C15), 39.0 (C16), 40.0 (C22), 49.2 (C2), 50.0 (C10), 53.0 (C20), 55.2 (C12), 68.9 (C9), 71.1 (C28), 71.5 (C7), 72.9 (C25), 75.5 (C3), 75.8 (C13), 76.3 (≡CH), 76.9 (C29), 77.3 (≡C-), 88.6 (C24), 98.6 (C17), 105.6 (C21 ), 125.8 (C19), 132.2 (C18), 180.8 (C1 ), 216.1 (C1 1 ).

HRMS (ESI) m/z: Calculated for C45H74NO10+ [M+H+] 788.5307, found: 788.5304.

Preparation of AM9

Me-Sal-propargylamine was prepared using 106 mg of 3 (0.139 mmol), 89μΙ_ (1 .39 mmol, 10 eq) propargyl amine, 9.6 mg (0.153 mmol, 1.1 eq) NaBH3CN, 51.8 mg (0.138 mmol, 1 eq) of CeCI3-7H20 and 50 μΙ_ acetic acid in 8 mL of MeOH. After purification with CombiFlash and HPLC 25 mg (0.031 mmol, 22%) of pure product could be isolated as colorless foam.

1 H NMR (CDCI3, 500 MHz, 5°C): 0.72 (3H, d, J = 6.9 Hz), 0.75-0.87 (1 1 H, m), 0.88- 0.99 (9H, m), 1.07 (1 H, ddd, J = 13.1 Hz, 13.1 Hz, 12.1 Hz), 1 .20-1.68 (21 H, m), 1.70-2.05 (8Hz, m), 2.10-2.26 (3H, m), 2.30-2.41 (2H, m), 2.69-2.74 (1 H, m), 3.04 (1 H, dt, J = 10.8 Hz, 4.1 Hz), 3.47-3.72 (4H, m), 3.80-3.88 (1 H, m), 3.90 (3H, s), 4.02-4.09 (2H, m), 6.01-6.08 (2H, m).

13C NMR (500MHz, CDCI3, 5°C): 6.5, 7.4, 1 1 .0, 12.0, 13.2, 13.9, 14.7, 15.7, 17.5, 19.7, 22.2, 22.7, 25.5, 26.2, 28.0, 29.0, 30.6, 30.7, 32.9, 36.4, 37.1 (2C), 38.6, 38.7, 40.3, 48.0, 48.6, 52.6, 55.2, 56.6, 69.2, 71.0, 71 .7, 73.9, 75.1 , 76.9, 77.3, 80.1 , 88.0, 98.6, 102.0, 108.3, 123.2, 130.5, 176.2, 214.0.

HRMS (ESI) m/z: calculated for C46H76NO10+ [M+H+] 802.5464, found: 802.5465. Preparation of AM 13

Sal-Dodecylamine was prepared using 103 mg of 2 (0.138 mmol), 255.8 mg (1.38 mmol, 10 eq) dodecyl amine, 9 mg (0.145 mmol, 1.05 eq) NaBH3CN, 51.4 mg (0.138 mmol, 1 eq) of CeCI3-7H20 and 20 μΙ_ acetic acid in 8 ml_ of MeOH. After purification with CombiFlash and HPLC 14 mg (0.0152 mmol, 1 1 %) of pure product could be isolated as colorless foam. 1 H NMR (CDCI3, 500 MHz, 5°C): 0.67 (3H, d, J=6.9 Hz), 0.66-0.77 (9H, m), 0.78-0.90

(15H, m), 1 .10-1 .51 (34H, m), 1.51 -1 .78 (9H, m), 1.80-2.10 (6H, m), 2.50-2.60 (2H, m), 2.77- 2.87 (1 H, m), 3.30-3.62 (5H, m), 3.68-3.80 (2H, m), 3.97-4.04 (1 H, m), 4.20-4.30 (1 H, m), 6.32-6.42 (2H, m).

13C NMR (500MHz, CDCI3, 5°C): 6.5, 7.1 , 1 1 .3, 12.3, 12.8, 13.1 , 14.3, 14.4, 15.5, 16.5, 17.6, 20.3, 21.8, 22.81 , 22.84, 24.5, 26.4, 26.7, 27.3, 28.2, 29.0, 29.5, 29.6, 29.76, 29.81 (4C), 30.5, 31 .0, 32.0, 32.2, 35.8, 37.7, 39.0, 40.6, 48.6, 49.3, 50.5, 55.0, 55.1 , 71 .05, 71 .14, 73.0, 75.5, 76.4, 77.0, 88.8, 99.0, 106.5, 128.0, 130.9, 204.7, 214.8.

HRMS (ESI) m/z: calculated for C54H96NO10+ [M+H+] 918.7029, found: 918.7034.

Preparation of AM23

Sal-cyclopropylamine was prepared using 100 mg of 2 (0.133 mmol), 94μΙ, (1.33 mmol, 10 eq) cyclopropyl amine, 1 1 mg (0.17 mmol, 1.3 eq) NaBH ₃ CN, 50.0 mg (0.134 mmol, 1 eq) of CeCI ₃ -7H20 and 50 μΙ_ acetic acid. AM23 was obtained as a colorless foam (44 mg, 42 %).

¹ H NMR (CDCI ₃ , 500 MHz, 278 K) δ 0.47-0.58 (2H, m), 0.69 (3H, J = 10.0 Hz), 0.71 - 0.78 (9H, m), 0.78-0.95 (14H, m), 1.12-1.50 (16H, m), 1.50- 1.75 (5H, m), 1.76-1.91 (4H, m), 2.02-2.20 (2H, m), 2.60 (1 H, d, J = 10.5 Hz), 2.62-2.68 (1 H, m), 2.70-2.78 (1 H, m), 2.78-2.88 (1 H, m), 3.37 (1 H, s), 3.53-3.80 (3H, m), 3.82-3.89 (1 H, m), 4.08 (1 H, d, J = 9.5 Hz), 5.15 (2H, br s), 6.13 (2H, s).

¹³ C NMR (CD ₃ CN, 125 MHz, 278 K) δ 5.9, 6.4, 6.9, 7.7, 12.0, 12.4, 13.6, 13.7, 15.2, 16.1 , 17.4, 17.9, 21.0, 22.7, 24.0, 25.7, 27.3, 29.1 , 30.1 , 31.8, 31.9, 33.4, 36.8, 39.0, 39.5, 41.2, 49.0, 50.4, 56.7, 57.6, 69.5, 71.5, 72.4, 74.7, 76.0, 77.1 , 77.9, 89.7, 99.9, 107.9, 126.0, 130.8, 178.8, 214.7.

HRMS (ESI) m/z: calculated for C ₄ 5H ₇₅ NO ₁₀ ⁺ [M+H ⁺ ] 789.5385, found: 789.5381.

Figure 10 shows the 3D-structure of compound AM23 which confirms unambiguously the crystalline structure and the stereochemistry of AM23.

Exemple 2: IC ₅ o assessment

Cell viability assay was carried out by plating 1000 cells per well in 96-well plates. NAC (2 mM, A9165 Sigma) or DFO (1 mM) were pretreated 2 hours prior to the compound treatment. CellTiter-Blue® Reagent (Promega; G3582) (20μΙΛ/νβΙΙ) was added after 24, 48, or 72 hours treatment and cells were incubated for 1 hour before recording fluorescence (560(20)Ex/590(10)Em) using a Perkin Elmer Wallac 1420 Victor2 Microplate Reader. Results:

Compound ID Compound CD24- CD24+

Salinomycine 1.56 10.97

The above results show that the compounds not containing an amine functionality at the 20-position have lower potency than salinomycine against cancer stem cells.

Introducing an amine function at position 20 of salinomycine results in a significantly improved activity against CD24 cells (AM 5, AM8, AM1 1 , AM12, AM13 and AM23), up to an 18 fold improvement.

Replacement of the carboxylic acid functionality in the 1 -position of salinomycine with an ester group results in compounds with lower efficiency than salinomycine (AM9 and AM10). These results demonstrate that both the amine and a functional group capable of chelating iron, such as a carboxylic acid are necessary for improved activity. It is contemplated that the presence of these two functional groups help iron coordination, thereby favoring the Fenton reaction in the lysosomes.

The compounds of formula (I) are therefore useful for the treatment of cancer and/or the prevention of cancer relapse and/or metastases.

Example 3: effect of AM5, AM 9 and AM13 on the proliferation of HMLER CD24- cells:

AM5, AM9, AM13 and salinomycine were assessed for their capability to inhibit cell proliferation and formation of mammospheres.

The results are presented in Figure 2.

At 30 nM, AM 5 and AM13 inhibit cell proliferation with a ten-fold improved efficacy in comparison with salinomycine.

In contrast, AM 9 did not inhibit cell proliferation, even at 500 nM.

These results thus indicate that the compounds of formula (I) according to the present invention are capable of inhibiting the formation of mammospheres more efficiently than salinomycine.

Example 4: effect of AM5, Taxol and combination thereof on the proliferation of HMLER CD24- cells:

AM5, Taxol and a combination of AM5 and Taxol were also assessed for their capability to inhibit cell proliferation and formation of mammospheres.

The results are presented in Figure 3.

The combination of AM5 at 15 nM and Taxol at 5 nM inhibits cell proliferation and mammosphere formation with an improved efficacy than AM5 alone at 15nM or 5nM.

Example 5: effect of AM5 on xenograft tumor formation

Human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 cells cultures were collected, enzymatically dissociated, washed in PBS, and resuspended in PBS/Matrigel mixture (1 :1 volume). 0.1 ml of this mixture was then implanted in the mammary fat pad of 5-week-old female AthymicNude-Foxl nu mice (Harlan, France). The mice were maintained in individually- ventilated cages (Tecniplast, France) under constant temperature and humidity; all experiments were performed under laminar flow (Tecniplast France). The mice received estradiol supplementation (0.4 mg/kg) in the same day and 7th day from cell injection, and were observed and palpated for tumor appearance. The mice received Salinomycine analogue (here AM5, 3mg per kg body weight per day, intra peritoneal injection) every 5 opened days of the week for 33 days. Tumor growth was measured weekly using calipers. Tumor volume was determined using the standard formula: where L and W are the longest and shortest diameters, respectively. All animal work was done according to the Guidelines of the United Kingdom Coordinating Committee on Cancer Research.

The results are presented in Figure 4.

Following AM5 treatment, the tumor volume and tumor weight were lower.

These results are consistent with the in vitro assay and indicate that the compounds of formula (I) according to the present invention are capable of inhibiting the tumor formation in nude mice.

Example 6: Salinomycin and active analogues trigger cell death through lysosomal Fenton catalysis.

Salinomycine analogue-induced cell death is inhibited by the ROS scavenger N- acetylcysteine (NAC). Cell lines were incubated with or without 500 nM of Sal analogues for 48 h. Apoptosis was evaluated by Annexin V -FITC and PI staining, and FACS analysis.

The results are presented in Figure 5. All data are expressed as means ± s.d. from three individual experiments ( ^* ; P<0.05)

Data indicate that Salinomycine and AM5 induce cell death through lysosomal ROS production.

Exemple 7: Lysosomal iron mediates Salinomycine analogues-activated cell death signaling.

Salinomycine analogue-induced cell death is inhibited by lysosomal iron chelator deferoxamine mesylate (DFO). Cells were treated as in Example 6 with or without the indicated concentration of DFO for 48 h. Apoptosis was evaluated as in Example 6.

The results are presented in Figure 6. Data indicate that lysosomal iron mediated Salinomycine analogues activated cell death signaling.

Example 8: effect of AM5 and AM23 on the proliferation of HMLER CD24- cells: AM5 and AM23 and salinomycine were assessed for their capability to inhibit cell proliferation and formation of mammospheres.

The results are presented in Figures 7 to 9.

At 30 nM, AM 5 and AM23 inhibit cell proliferation with a ten-fold improved efficacy in comparison with salinomycine.

These results thus indicate that the compounds of formula (I) according to the present invention are capable of inhibiting the formation of mammospheres more efficiently than salinomycine. Example 9: IC50 of Salinomycin, of AM5 and of AM23 on breast cell lines:

Table 1 below represents the IC50 of Salinomycin (Sal) and its derivatives AM5 and AM23 for a wide range of the breast cell lines.

The cells were seeded in a 6-well plate at density 5.105 cells / well and cultured overnight. The cells were then treated with various concentration (15, 30, 100, 500, 1000 and 10.000 nM) of salinomycine, AM 5 and AM23 for 72h, 96h and 108h. After treatment, cell death was quantified using Annexin V-FITC/Propidium Iodide (PI) assay according to the manufacturer's protocol (FITC Annexin V Apoptosis Detection Kit II, 556570, BD PharmingenTM) and analyzed by a LSRFortessaTM flow cytometer (BD Bioscience, San Jose, CA). The data were processed using Cell Quest software (BD Biosciences). Dose- response cell death curves were determined for indicated time.

For tumor cells, the cells are classified in function of their sensitivity of drugs. Here, the most sensitive cells are incubated for 72h, the middle sensitive cells for 96h and the less sensitive or resistant cells are incubated for 108h with drug at several concentrations.

Concentrations of 30 nM, 500 nm and 1 μΜ were used for determining the IC50 of drugs.

Intervals ]30 - 500 nM ] mean that IC50 is included in this interval with exclusion of the valor 30 nM. Table 1

The SW620 and SW480 cell lines are from colon tumors. Table 2 describes the essential specificities of each cell line:

Table 2

Name Essential specificities

HBL100 Human mammary epithelial cell line obtained from primary cultures of cells derived from an early lactation sample of human milk (from ATCC).

HMLE W2 Human mammary epithelial cell line infected with a retrovirus carrying hTERT, SV40 (R.A. Weinberg, Whitehead Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)

HMLER ID2 Human mammary epithelial cell line infected with a retrovirus carrying hTERT, SV40 and the oncogenic allele HrasV12 (R.A. Weinberg,

Whitehead Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)

HMLER HMLER CD44high/CD24low not expressing E-cadherin and expressing CD24low Vimentin (was obtained from A. Puisieux INSERM) HMLER shGFP HMLER cells expressing a control shRNA (shCtrl). Generated by (Ctrl) infection with retrovirus encoding the pWZL-GFP plasmid. (R.A.

Weinberg, Whitehead Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)

HMLER transformed HMLER breast cancer cells displaying a short hairpin RNA shECAD (shRNA)-mediated inhibition of the human CDH1 gene, which encodes

E-cadherin. Generated by infection with retrovirus encoding the pWZL- GFP plasmid. (R.A. Weinberg, Whitehead Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)

MCF-7 Human ductal breast epithelial tumor cell line classified in

Estrogen/Progesteron Receptor (ER/PR) positive group and luminal A (from ATCC).

Zr75.1 Human ductal breast epithelial tumor cell line, classified in

Estrogen/Progesteron Receptor (ER/PR) and HER-2 positive group and luminal A (from ATCC).

MDA-MB-361 Human ductal breast epithelial tumor cell line, classified in Progesteron

Receptor (PR) and HER-2 positive group and luminal B (from ATCC). These cells were isolated from a metastatic site in the brain.

MDA-MB-134 Human ductal breast epithelial tumor cell line classified in

Estrogen/Progesteron Receptor (ER/PR) positive group and luminal B (from ATCC).

MDA-MD-157 Human ductal breast epithelial tumor cell line, classified in

Estrogen/Progesteron Receptor (ER/PR) and HER-2 negative group and Basal (from ATCC).

MDA-MB-231 Human ductal breast epithelial tumor cell line, classified in

Estrogen/Progesteron Receptor (ER/PR) and HER-2 negative group and Basal (from ATCC).

BT474 Human ductal breast epithelial tumor cell line, classified in Progesteron

Receptor (PR) and HER-2 positive group and luminal B (from ATCC).

Hs578T Human ductal breast epithelial tumor cell line, classified in

Estrogen/Progesteron Receptor (ER/PR) and HER-2 negative group and Basal (from ATCC).

BT20 Human ductal breast epithelial tumor cell line, classified in

Estrogen/Progesteron Receptor (ER/PR) and HER-2 negative group and Basal (from ATCC).

SW620 colon tumor cells ; derived from metastatic site: lymph node (from ATCC).

SW480 colon tumor cells ; derived from a primary adenocarcinoma of the colon

(from ATCC).

BT549 Human ductal breast epithelial tumor cell line, classified in

Estrogen/Progesteron Receptor (ER/PR) and HER-2 negative group and Basal (from ATCC). T47D Human ductal breast epithelial tumor cell line classified in Estrogen/Progesteron Receptor (ER/PR) positive group and luminal A (from ATCC).

These results indicate that AM5 and AM23 have a IC50 compared to Salinomycin similar or better depending on the cells. Example 10: influence of AM23 in ROS inducement

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels were measured by flow cytometry or by confocal scanning immunofluorescence microscopy using CM-H2DCF-DA (C6827, invitrogen). Briefly, U20S and HMLER CD24low cells were treated as indicated in figurel 1 (30 nM, 500 nM or 1 μΜ of salinomycine, AM5 or AM23 or untreated during 48h). Then, these cells were trypsined and incubated with 5 μΜ CM-H2DCF-DA at 37 °C for 40 min, washed once with PBS and were counterstained with DAPI (0.5 g/ml) to exclude non-viable cells. The mean fluorescence intensity was determined as ROS production by flow cytometry with LSRFortessaTM cytometer (BD Bioscience, San Jose, CA). For immunofluorescence microscopy analysis, cells were seeded on coverslips and were treated with salinomycine derivatives (injection in culture medium then treatment during 24h, 48h and 72h). LysoTracker® Red DND-99 (L-7528, Life technologies) was used to visualize lysosomes. Then, cells were fixed with 4% PFA PBS. DAPI was used to visualize nuclear DNA. Cell images were obtained using a Deltavision real-time microscope (Applied Precision) or an ApoTome.2 microscope (Zeiss). ImageJ was used for further image processing.

As shown in figure 1 1 , AM23 induces ROS in HMLER CD24low cells.

Example 11 : intracellular sodium measurement and tumor growth in MCF-7 xenograft- bearing mice

Intracellular sodium measurement: Sodium and potassium buffers (10 mM HEPES, 1 mM CaCI ₂ , 1 mM MgCI ₂ , 130 mM Sodium-D-Gluconate or Potassium-D-Gluconate, 30 mM NaCI/KCI) were mixed at different ratios to produce five buffers with various sodium concentrations (0, 20, 40, 80, 160 mM). Nigericin (N7143, Sigma, 10 μΜ) and monensin (M5273, Sigma, 10 μΜ) were used to equilibrate the intracellular sodium concentration and establish a calibration curve. HMLER CD24low cells were harvested and re-suspended in ECS buffer (15 mM HEPES, 5.4 mM KCI, 140 mM NaCI, 10 mM Glucose, 1 mM MgCI ₂ , 1.8 mM CaCI ₂ , 0.1 % BSA, pH 7.6) containing 10 μΜ of the sodium-specific probe (SBFI-AM, S- 1263, Molecular Probes®) and 0.2% Pluronic F-127 (P2443, Sigma) and were incubated for 1 h in the dark at 37 °C. Then, cells were washed to remove excess dye and incubated for an additional 30 min in ECS buffer. Cells were introduced into a 96-well plate (1000 cells/well) and treated with salinomycine derivatives in a concentration ranging from 0.03 to 20 μηη (AM 5: 0.120μΜ; AM13: 0.120μΜ; AM9: 20μΜ; salinomycine: 20μΜ and 1 μΜ) during 5 min. Each well was sequentially excited at 340 and 370 nm and emission was recorded at 500 nm. The spectral response of SBFI upon sodium binding was assessed by excitation ratio measurement (340/370 nm). Measurements were performed on a Perkin Elmer Wallac 1420 Victor2 Microplate Reader at 37 °C.

Xenograft tumor formation experiments: MCF-7 cell cultures were collected, enzymatically dissociated, washed with PBS, and re-suspended in a PBS/Matrigel mixture (1 :1 v/v). The mixture (0.1 mL) was then implanted in the mammary fat pad of 5-week-old female AthymicNude-Foxl nu mice bilaterally (Harlan, France). Mice were maintained in individually- ventilated cages (Tecniplast, France) under constant temperature and humidity. All experiments were performed under laminar flow (Tecniplast France). Mice received estradiol supplementation (0.4 mg/kg) the same day and 7 days from cell injection, and were observed and palpated for tumor appearance. Mice were treated with AM5 or Paclitaxel (3 mg/kg body weight/day) by means of intraperitoneal injections every 5 opened days of the week. Tumor growth was measured weekly using calipers. Tumor volume was determined using the standard formula: Ι_ ^χ \Λ/2 ^χ 0.52, where L and W are the longest and shortest diameters, respectively. All animal studies were approved by the Direction des services Veterinaires, Prefecture de Police, Paris, France (authorization number A75-14-08) and the ethical committee (number 34) of Paris Descartes University. No randomization was used and experimenters were blinded to drug treatments and tissue analyses.

While salinomycine induced a fast increase in intracellular sodium using a dose as high as twenty times the IC50 value, salinomycine derivatives had no effect on sodium transport at doses effective against the proliferation of HMLER CD24low cells (Fig. 12). This data challenged the idea that salinomycine selectively affects the maintenance of CSCs by directly altering membrane potentials. In contrast, AM9 was ineffective in these assays validating the carboxylate as a required motif to alter CSC maintenance, and paclitaxel alone was poorly effective against tumorsphere formation. Moreover, AM5 prevented tumor growth in MCF-7 xenograft-bearing mice (Fig. 13).

Example 12: toxicity assessment

Histology. Organs from mice were removed at time of sacrifice. For morphological analyses, organs were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde, paraffin embedded, and 4-μηι sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Sections were scanned at high resolution using a slide scanner (NanoZoomer 2.0-HT, Hamamatsu, Massy, France). Representative images are shown in figure 14. No generic toxicity was observed upon treatment with an effective dose of AM5 as observed from the integrity of peripheral tissues and a constant body weight throughout treatment (figure 15).

All the samples of the lung from both untreated and treated groups showed minimal to moderate multifocal macrophages aggregates in the alveoli. This finding is poorly significant and commonly observed in mice. In 4 mice (2 untreated, 2 treated), extra-pulmonary, interstitial mononuclear cells infiltrates were observed. Most likely poorly significant, not treatment related.

In untreated mouse, a focal sub-pleural pulmonary densification was noticed with interstitial fibrosis and atypical cell infiltrates evoking tumor cells (metastasis). A large artefact on the lesion (tissue fold) interfered with the analysis

No significant changes were observed on kidney.

Example 13:

MDA-MB-231 cells were cultivated with or without cathepsine B inhibitor (COA74-Me, 30 μΜ), and/or salinomycine, AM5, or AM23 (500 nM) at indicated duration (48 h, 96 h, 108 h). From the treatment, dead cells were assessed by DIOC6(3)/DAPI test and analyzed by flow cytometry. Graphic representation of percent of dead cells (DIOC6(3) negative / DAPI positive or negative) is shown in figure 16. Cathepsine B inhibition and salinomycine, AM5 or AM23 treatment combine themselves to induce the death of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 . FACS analysis of ROS in cells treated for 48h is represented in figure 17. Pharmacological inhibition of Cathepsin B prevents AM5 from inducing ROS production in HMLER CD24low cells.