The Pyrazole Scaffold in Anticancer Drug Discovery: A Review of Synthetic Approaches, Structure–Activity Relationships, and Target-Based Mechanism of Action

Pyrazole derivatives have emerged as an important class of heterocyclic compounds in anticancer research due to their structural versatility and broad spectrum of biological activities. This review provides a concise overview of recent advances in the development of pyrazole-based anticancer agents, with emphasis on synthetic strategies, structure-activity relationships, and molecular mechanisms of action. Common synthetic approaches, particularly condensation and cyclization reactions, have enabled the preparation of structurally diverse pyrazole derivatives for biological evaluation. Available evidence indicates that the type and position of substituents within the pyrazole scaffold markedly influence anticancer potency, selectivity, and target affinity. Reported compounds act through multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of cancer-related targets such as tubulin, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK), and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-associated pathways, as well as induction of apoptosis and disruption of cell-cycle progression. Several pyrazole derivatives have shown promising activity in in vitro and in vivo models. Overall, the findings summarized in this review identify the pyrazole scaffold as a valuable platform for the design and optimization of novel anticancer agents and support its continued exploration in medicinal chemistry.