Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activities of Resveratrol and Valproic Acid Ester Derivatives with Anti-Bladder-Cancer Effects

Abstract Bladder cancer is a frequently diagnosed cancer that has caused many deaths over the past few decades, especially in men. Surgery and drugs are used for treatment, but there are no anticancer drugs that can effectively treat this condition. In this study, we synthesized a new anticancer drug with known anticancer effects. Specifically, we synthesized esters and acid anhydrides via esterification and identified a product with significant anticancer effects. The anticancer effects of (E)-5-(4-hydroxystyryl)-1,3-phenylene didodecanoate (compound 2) on human bladder cancer cells were confirmed using an MTT assay and Annexin V staining. We found that cell viability was markedly reduced by compound 2 in bladder cancer cells at concentrations ≥ 4 mM as compared to that in control cells (P < 0.05). Moreover, the ratio of total apoptotic cells significantly increased at 6 mM, with low toxicity in normal cells. These results demonstrated that compound 2 may serve as a novel anticancer drug candidate for the treatment of human bladder cancer.