Evaluation of the Antiproliferative Effects of a Newly Synthesized Benzimidazole Compound on Prostate Cancer Cells

Benzimidazole is a versatile scaffold with considerable anticancer potential due to its structural resemblance to nucleosides and its ability to function as both a hydrogen bond donor and acceptor, enabling interactions with multiple molecular targets involved in cancer progression. Numerous benzimidazole-based anticancer agents have been reported in the literature, highlighting the importance of this core structure. In this study, a novel benzimidazole derivative, SA-17, was synthesized and its anticancer activity was evaluated in the human prostate cancer cell line PC3. Cytotoxic effects were assessed in vitro using the MTT assay. Cellular proliferation was analyzed in PC3 cells following 72 hours of exposure to varying concentrations of SA-17 and the reference drug nilotinib. The results demonstrated significant differences in cell viability depending on the concentration applied. High concentrations of SA-17 (150 µg/mL and above) exhibited strong cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects against PC3 cells after 72 hours of incubation. However, nilotinib showed greater efficacy than SA-17 in reducing PC3 cell viability. Overall, the findings suggest that structural modifications of benzimidazole derivatives hold substantial potential for the development of effective anticancer agents.