A series of 3-heteroarylisoquinolinamines were designed, synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxicity, topoisomerases (topos) inhibitory activities and cell cycle inhibition. Several of the 3-heteroarylisoquinolines exhibited selective cytotoxicity against human ductal breast epithelial tumor (T47D) cells over non-cancerous human breast epithelial (MCF-10A) and human prostate cancer (DU145) cells. Most of the derivatives showed greater cytotoxicity in human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HCT-15) cells than camptothecin (CPT), etoposide and doxorubicin (DOX). Generally, 3-heteroarylisoquinolinamines displayed greater affinity for topo I than topo II. 3-Heteroarylisoquinolinamines with greater topo I inhibitory effect exhibited potent cytotoxicity. Piperazine-substituted derivative, 5b, with potent topo I and moderate topo II activities intercalated between DNA bases and interacted with topos through H-bonds at the DNA cleavage site of a docking model. Moreover, flow cytometry indicated that cytotoxic 3-heteroarylisoquinolinamines led to accumulation of human cervical (HeLa) cancer cells in the different phases of the cell cycle before apoptosis. Taken together, 3-heteroarylisoquinolinamines possessed potent cytotoxicity with topos and cell cycle inhibitory activities.ⓒ2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. aLL reserved.