TC11

TC11 is an optimized sulfonamide-indolinone hybrid, derived from molecular hybridization of derivative 5d with the polar tail of sunitinib. It exhibits superior antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cells, particularly those dependent on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). TC11 functions by significantly reducing and impairing mitochondrial respiration and mitochondria-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in breast cancer cells. This leads to G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in MCF7 breast cancer cells. Notably, TC11 demonstrates selectivity, as anticancer doses do not elicit cytotoxic effects on normal cardiomyoblasts and hepatocytes, highlighting its therapeutic potential for targeting metabolic vulnerabilities in OXPHOS-dependent breast cancer.