Preclinical Evaluation of a Novel BOC-Modified Triazoloacridinone (TRA-01AR) in Combination with 5-Fluorouracil in Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) remains a cornerstone of colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy, yet its clinical efficacy is limited by resistance, systemic toxicity, and unfavorable pharmacokinetics. Strategies that enhance tumor sensitivity while maintaining tolerability are therefore of considerable interest. Here, we evaluated 5-FU in combination with two triazoloacridinones, C-1305 and a novel BOC-modified derivative, TRA-01AR, using integrated cellular, transcriptomic, bioenergetic, and in vivo approaches. Both compounds induced cytotoxic effects across cancer cell models and produced overlapping but distinct transcriptional responses, primarily affecting DNA replication and cell cycle pathways. Bioenergetic profiling revealed a shift toward oxidative phosphorylation accompanied by reduced glycolysis, indicating modulation of cellular metabolism relevant to chemotherapy response. Interestingly, TRA-01AR exhibited delayed cytotoxicity relative to C-1305, although the underlying mechanism remains to be defined. In vivo, the combination of 5-FU with C-1305 significantly reduced tumor weight in HT-29 xenografts, whereas 5-FU combined with TRA-01AR did not result in a statistically significant reduction compared to 5-FU alone. TRA-01AR was associated with a more favorable systemic profile and increased intratumoral blood flow compared with C-1305. Collectively, these findings indicate that triazoloacridinones modulate transcriptional and metabolic programs relevant to the 5-FU response. While C-1305 demonstrated greater antitumor activity under the tested conditions, TRA-01AR exhibited distinct biological effects, including improved tolerability and vascular modulation. Further studies are required to clarify TRA-01AR's mechanism of action and assess its potential relevance in CRC-specific therapies.