Synthesis and characterization of steroid-linked N-(2-chloroethyl)nitrosoureas

Syntheses of steroid-linked N-[N'-(2-chloroethyl)-N'-nitrosocarbamoyl]-(CNC-) amino acid esters and -amides with potential antineoplastic activity are described. The esters are prepared by reaction of CNC-amino acids with steroids using N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The corresponding amides are prepared by reaction of 1-(CNC-amino acyloxy)-pyrrolidine-2,5-diones with 17 beta-amino-3-hydroxy-1,3,5(10)-estratriene or 17 beta-O-[4-(6-aminohexylamino)-1,4-dioxo-butyl]-estradiol. Estradiol-17 beta-hemisuccinate is esterified with N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N'-(2-chloro-ethyl)-N'-nitrosourea (HECNU). Spectroscopic characteristics and relative binding affinities to steroid receptors are given.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of N-terminal proline-containing peptide-(chloroethyl)nitrosoureas

The N alpha-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosocarbamoyl derivatives of H-Pro-Lys(X)-Pro-Val-NH2 (X: tert-butyloxycarbonyl, formyl, (2-chloroethyl)nitrosocarbamoyl) were synthesized. It was found that the bis-substitution of the urea N3 in these derivatives does not decrease the antitumor activity influenced mainly by the nature of the carrier molecule as a whole.     

Synthesis of steroidal nitrosoureas with antitumor activity.

Four steroidal nitrosoureas with structures which may permit specific binding to estrogen receptor were synthesized. Inhibitory activity was observed against the growth of the DMBA-induced transplantable rat mammary tumor 13762.     

Synthesis of steroidal nitrosoureas as antitumor activity

Steroidal nitrosoureas have been synthesized and their antitumor activity on L1210 cells was evaluated. N-(2-Chloroethyl)-N-nitrosocarbamoyl-3-aza-A-homo-5α-cholestane (5a) showed significantly low ED₅₀ value of 1.6μg/ml whose activity is equivalent to that of methyl-CCNU (ED₅₀=1.7mg/ml).     

Cytostatic action of two nitrosoureas derived from cysteamine.

2-Chloroethyl nitrosocarbamoylcystamine or ICIG-1325 (CNCC) is a lipid-soluble isomeric mixture of nitrosoureas. Its dose-effect relationship on L1210 leukaemia is characterized by a large maximally efficient dose-range (MEDR), greater than that of other nitrosoureas. CNCC also demonstrated significant therapeutic activity on intracerebrally (i.c.) transplanted L1210 leukaemia and on six transplanted solid tumours, TM2 mammary carcinoma, M555 ovarian carcinoma, B16 melanoma, glioma 26, 3LL, Lewis lung carcinoma and colon 26 carcinoma. It was inactive on fibrosarcoma ICIG-Ci4. Its antitumour activity spectrum is wider than that of the related compounds 2-[3-(2-chloroethyl) 3-nitrosoureido]D-glucopyranose (CZT), (chloro-2-ethyl)-1(ribofuranosyl-isopropylidene-2'-3' paranitrobenzoate-5')-3 nitrosourea (RFCNU), and (chloro-2-ethyl)-1 (ribopyranosyl triacetate-2'-3'-4')-3 nitrosourea (RPCNU). A study of its metabolic disposition in animals has shown that CNCC undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism leading to the formation of four main plasma metabolites. These metabolites are water-soluble nitrosoureas that arose from the bioreduction of the disulphide bridge followed by the methylation and the oxidation of the thiol groups. Experimental screening was performed with these chemically synthesized metabolites. Both N'-(2-chloroethyl)-N-[2-(methylsulphinyl)ethyl]-N'-nitrosourea (CMSOEN2) and N'-(2-chloroethyl)-N-[2-(methylsulphonyl)ethyl]-N'-nitrosourea (CMSO2EN2) are very active on L1210 leukaemia grafted intraperitoneally (i.p.) and i.c., L40 leukaemia, B16 melanoma, glioma 26 and Lewis lung carcinoma. Their effectiveness is better than that of the parent compound CNCC. In addition,the percentage of mice cured after CMSOEN2 or CMSO2EN2 treatment is increased especially on B16 melanoma and glioma 26.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitroureas and N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrocarbamates

As analogs of the widely used anti-tumor agents, N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosoureas, N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitroureas and N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrocarbamates were synthesized by nitration following the reaction of the appropriate amines or alcohols with 2-chloroethyl isocyanate. All tested compounds exert cytotoxic effect with IC50 values of 10(-4) to 10(-6) M and most of them show somewhat higher cytotoxicity in nitrogen than in air.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of analogues of ifosfamide modified in the N-(2-chloroethyl) group

A series of 3-(2-chloroethyl)-N-(2-X-ethyl)tetrahydro-2H-1,3,2-oxazaphosphorin -2-amine 2-oxides with various X substituents have been prepared by cyclization of racemic ifosfamide or its enantiomers with sodium hydride and subsequent treatment of intermediary products with hydrobromic acid, diethyl hydrogen phosphate, dibenzyl hydrogen phosphate, p-toluenesulfonic acid, and acetic acid. All of these compounds were tested in vivo against L 1210 lymphoid leukemia in mice. Only bromo analogue 13 and its enantiomers were effective, exceeding the activity of racemic ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide. The therapeutic index of the racemic 13 and its levorotatory enantiomer was about 1.7 times higher than that for ifosfamide and about 2.7 times higher than that for cyclophosphamide.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of 4-[p-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]phenyl]butyrates

Ten 4-[p-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]phenyl]butyrates were synthesized and evaluated for antitumor activity. The 2-phenoxyethyl ester exhibited activity against P-388 lymphocytic leukemia, and the n-butyl and n-pentyl esters exhibited activity against L-1210 lymphoid leukemia in initial screening tests.     

Synthesis and evaluation of antitumor activity of 1-[N, N-bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfamoylphenyl]-3,3-dialkyltriazenes.

Twenty-two 1-p-sulfamoylphenyl-3,3-dialkyltriazenes, 1-p-dialkylsulfamoylphenyl-3,3-dialkyltriazenes, and 1-p-[N,N-bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfamoylphenyl] -3,3-dialkyltriazenes were synthesized from their corresponding amines. Six of the compounds tested were devoid of antitumor activity.     

Phase I trial of cystemustine, a new cysteamine (2-chloroethyl) nitrosourea: an intrapatient escalation scheme.

A trial of cystemustine, a cysteamine nitrosourea, was carried out on 34 patients with advanced malignancies at increasing dosage of the drug over a period of up to 190 days in seven or eight cycles. A partial response to treatment was obtained in three patients. A degree of haematological toxicity developed in a number of the patients.     

Phase I trial of Perrimustine, a new cysteamine (2-chloroethyl) nitrosourea: an intrapatient escalation scheme.

The recently synthesized nitrosourea, N-[N'-chloro-2-ethyl-N'-nitrosocarbamoyl]-S-methyl cysteamine sulfoxide (Perrimustine), is water soluble and has a high alkylating activity, similar to that of the widely used nitrsoureas BCNU and CCNU, and a low carbamoylating activity. Preclinical studies with a broad spectrum of murine tumors indicate that this new compound may be clinically useful. The maximally efficient dose range (MEDR) in L1210 bearing mice was 45 mg/m2 (subcurative dose) to 67 mg/m2 (subtoxic dose). The present phase I trial used an intrapatient escalation schedule, so that each patient entering the study received a potentially active dose. The first dose injected was 1:100 of the MEDR suboptimal dose to check for anaphylactic sensitivity. Patients were then given increasing doses at increasing time intervals until toxicity was observed. The highest dose was given on day 150-230. The main toxic effect was myelosuppression [five out of the 24 patients evaluated: one grade 4 thrombocytopenia, two grade 3 thrombocytopenia; anemia and leucopenia were milder (grade 1 to 2 on OMS scale)]. Of the 19 patients evaluated for clinical response, one showed response after the 45 mg/m2 dose (disappearance of the cerebral metastasis with persistence of hepatic localizations in a patient with melanoma) and the disease was stabilized in two cases (a pleural mesothelioma and a renal carcinoma with lung metastases) after 26 and 37 weeks, with total cumulative doses per m2 of 232 and 196 mg, respectively.