Novel Stilbene-Based Antileukemic Agents Active in P-Glycoprotein Expressing and Apoptosis-Resistant Acute Leukaemia Cell Lines.

Abstract The stilbene scaffold is a basic element for a number of biologically active natural and synthetic compounds and in accordance with Evans’ definition it can be considered as a privileged structure. One of the most relevant and studied stilbenes is Resveratrol, a phytoalexin present in grapes, endowed with chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic properties and able to induce apoptosis in different cancer cell lines. Since reduced apoptosis has been implicated in the development and progression of malignant tumors and in the occurrence of chemoresistant phenotypes, resveratrol-induced apoptosis might therefore contribute to its antitumor activity. However, resveratrol is a not potent cy…