The effect of alkylating agents and other drugs on the accumulation of melphalan by murine L1210 leukaemia cells in vitro

The effect of cytotoxic and other drugs on the accumulation of melphalan by L1210 murine leukaemia cells was studied. We have confirmed that uptake is an active process competitively inhibited by l-leucine. In 36 experiments in amino acid-free medium the mean concentration of melphalan taken up was 225 pmoles/10⁶ cells. High pressure liquid Chromatographie analysis showed that the majority of the drug is present as free native melphalan. 1, 3-Bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) was the only drug that stimulated accumulation, but without significant effect on influx or efflux rates. Busulphan, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, interferon, methotrexate and prednisolone had no effect on accumulation after 30 min melphalan transport. Adriamycin, CCNU, methyl CCNU, mustine and vincristine all impaired melphalan accumulation as did the non-cytotoxic drugs aminophylline, chlorpromazine and ouabain. Adriamycin, aminophylline, chloropromazine, indomethacin and ouabain all reduced melphalan influx.     

Stereoselective monooxygenation of carcinostatic 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(cyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(trans-4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea by purified cytochrome P-450 isozymes

Three highly purified forms of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 (P-450a, P-450b and P-450c) from Aroclor 1254-treated rats catalyzed 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(cyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(trans-4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea (MeCCNU) monooxygenation in the presence of purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, NADPH, and lipid. Differences in the regioselectivity of CCNU and MeCCNU monohydroxylation reactions by the cytochrome P-450 isozymes were observed. Cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenation of CCNU gave only alicyclic hydroxylation products, but monooxygenation of MeCCNU gave alicyclic hydroxylation products, an αhydroxylation product on the 2-chloroethyl moiety, and a trans-4-hydroxymethyl product. A high degree of stereoselectivity for hydroxylation of CCNU and MeCCNU at the cis-4 position of the cyclohexyl ring was demonstrated. All three cytochrome P-450 isozymes were stereoselective in primarily forming the metabolite cis-4-hydroxy-trans-4-Methyl-CCNU from MeCCNU. The principal metabolite of CCNU which resulted from cytochromes P-450a and P-450b catalysis was cis-4-hydroxy CCNU, whereas the principal metabolites from cytochrome P-450c catalysis were the trans-3-hydroxy and the cis-4-hydroxy isomers. Total amounts of CCNU and MeCCNU hydroxylation with cytochrome P-450b were twice that with hepatic microsomes from Aroclor 1254-treated rats. Catalysis with cytochromes P-450a and P-450c was substantially less effective than that observed with either cytochrome P-450b or hepatic microsomes from Aroclor 1254-treated rats.     

A structure--activity study of seven new water soluble nitrosoureas.

The in vitro alkylating activity, carbamoylating activity, decomposition rates and octanol-water partition coefficients (Log P) of seven water soluble chloroethylnitrosourea antitumor agents and a reference lipid soluble analog were correlated with their biological activities in mice. The alkylating activity of each compound demonstrated a significant inverse linear correlation with both the decomposition rate in 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer. pH7.4 (r = -0.92,P< 0.01), and the molar ld₁₀ dose (r = 0.87, P< 0.01). A direct relationship was found between the Log P values and both the alkylating activity (r = -0.86. P< 0.01) and the molar ld₁₀ dose (r = 0.77, P< 0.025). However, the addition of the variable. Log P, in multiple regression analysis did not contribute significantly to any of the direct correlations of chemical parameters with biological variables. In comparison, carbamoylating activity did not function as an independent variable for the relative myelotoxicity or lethality of each compound. All water soluble drugs except for chlorozotocin and 1-(2 chloroethyl)-3-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-1-nitrosourea, the two analogs with glucose carriers, produced a significant reduction in circulating neutrophils at their respective ld₁₀ doses. There was no correlation between relative myelotoxicity and alkylating activity, carbamoylating activity or Log P. The glucose moiety appears to function as an independent variable for reducing nitrosourea cytotoxicity to bone marrow cells without significantly altering antitumor activity.     

Comparison of the properties of metabolites of CCNU.

Properties of the six isomeric N-(2-chloroethyl-N′-(hydroxycyclohexyl-N-nitrosoureas, which have been identified by other investigators as metabolites of N-(2-chloroethyl-N′-cyclohexyl-N-nitrosourea (CCNU), have been compared with those of CCNU and 2-[[[(2-chloroethyl)nitrosoamino]-carbonyl]amino]-2-deoxy-D-glucose (chlorozotocin). There are significant differences in the physicochemical, chemical, and biological properties of these metabolites, and the properties of some of them are significantly different from those of CCNU and chlorozotocin. The position of the hydroxy group and the steric configuration of the compound markedly affect the alkylating and carbamoylating activities of the compounds. The metabolites having the higher alkylating activities and the lower carbamoylating activities produce lethal toxicity to mice at lower molar doses but have somewhat better therapeutic indexes. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the biological effects observed following the administration of CCNU are due to a large extent to the major metabolites with lesser effects contributed by the minor metabolites. Some of the metabolites have slightly better therapeutic indexes against murine leukemia L1210 than CCNU and chlorozotocin, and they are more soluble in water than CCNU but are active against both intraperitoneally implanted and intracerebrally implanted L1210 leukemia. There might be some therapeutic advantage to administering one of the minor metabolites instead of CCNU or chlorozotocin to cancer-bearing animals.     

Mechanism of action of 2-haloethylnitrosoureas on deoxyribonucleic acid. Nature of the intermediates from nitrosourea decomposition.

Direct current (DC) and differential pulse polarographic analyses were used to measure the rates of decomposition of a series of 2-haloethylnitrosoureas in aqueous solution. Measured by these methods, the rates of the first and rate-determining step which show a marked pH and solvent dependence agree with the overall rate of decomposition measured by gas evolution. In the 1,3-bis(haloethyl)-1-nitrosourea series, changing the nature of the halogen X has a small effect on the rate of decomposition. In the 3-cyclohexyl-1-(2-haloethyl)-1-nitrosourea series, changing X for OH or OCH₃ results in the rate of hydrolysis being reduced considerably. A free—NH₂ group in the nitrosourea structure as in CNU, MNU, ENU, CPNU, 4-CBNU and 5-CPNU accelerates considerably the rate of decomposition relative to the BCNU and CCNU series. Arrhenius parameters for the decomposition in aqueous pH 7.1 solution in the temperature range 28–47° were obtained for BFNU, BCNU and BBNU: log A, ?20.1± 1.4,?21.6± 0.7 and ?22.3±1.6; E_a, 24.4 ± 2.0, 26.5± 1.0 and 27.2 m 2.3 kcal/mole. The corresponding values for BINU were estimated as log A,?23.3± 3.0; E_a, 28.0± 3.0 kcal/mole. Examination of the decomposition products of 1,3-bis(2-chloropropyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU-β-Me) and 1,3-bisl 1-(chloromethyl)ethyl]-1-nitrosourea (BCNU-α-Me) favors decomposition pathway B via the diazohydroxide and cyclic chloronium ion for BCNU-β-Me and via the diazohydroxide and/or 2-chloro-1-methylethyl carbonium ion for BCNU-α-Me. While there is no evidence for the contribution of pathway A via a 2-imino-N-nitrosooxazolidinone for these compounds, consideration of product type and yields implicates a third decomposition pathway, via a 1,2,3-oxadiazoline intermediate. Additional evidence for an oxadiazoline intermediate is obtained by the isolation of 2-bromoethanol when BCNU is decomposed in the presence of a high concentration of sodium bromide.     

Nitrosourea-induced DNA single-strand breaks.

Reaction of DNA with nitrosoureas in vitro results in extensive formation of alkali labile sites. Two types of single-strand scission (SSS) processes may be distinguished by their different rates: (1) type I SSS which occurs relatively fast at high pH, and (2) type II SSS which is a much slower process. Neither of these processes is affected by free radical traps. Dimethyl sulfate, which is known to alkylate DNA bases but not phosphate residues, shows no type I SSS but does show extensive type II SSS. That the latter process involves alkylation of bases followed by the formation of apurinic sites was confirmed by using endonuclease VI, an enzyme specific for apurinic positions. Reactions of chloroethylnitrosoureas with DNA produces both type I and type II SSS. Aliphatic amines produced in the decomposition of alkyl nitrosoureas do not contribute significantly to the scission of apurinic sites via Schiff base formation. However, this process may be significant for aryl nitrosoureas. Ethyl nitrosourea (ENU), 1, 3-bis(2-chloroethyl)nitrosourea (BCNU), and 3-cyclohexyl-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-nitrosourea (CHNU) readily degrade poly A by phosphate alkylation, with rates that parallel their relative rates of decomposition. The relative rates of hydrolysis of triethylphosphate and β-hydroxyethyl diethyl phosphate parallel the type I SSS observed for ENU and CHNU with DNA. The type I SSS of DNA by these compounds appears to involve a similar phosphotriester formation and hydrolysis. The type I SSS is in accord with the observed extreme liability of β-hydroxyethyl diethyl phosphate which is attributed to participation of the OH group, and by the fact that methylation of the OH completely inhibits the type I SSS process.     

In vitro pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU)

The relationship between treatment efficacy and the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of anticancer drugs is poorly defined. 1,3-Bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) is an alkylating agent used in the treatment of brain and other forms of cancer. It is postulated that BCNU kills cells by forming DNA interstrand cross-links. The present study was undertaken to characterize the PK and PD of BCNU in mouse L1210 cells. L1210 cells were exposed to BCNU (0-160 microM) and analyzed for intracellular BCNU concentrations, DNA interstrand cross-links, cell cycle phase, and cytotoxicity. The half-life of BCNU in cells was approximately 40 min. The maximum reduction of mitochondrial enzyme activity (maximum cell death) achieved within 24 hr after exposure to BCNU was concentration-dependent and could be described by a Hill equation. At lower concentrations, the area under the DNA interstrand cross-link-time curve linearly correlated with the maximum cell death and the area under the BCNU concentration-time curve. BCNU induced cell accumulation in the G(2)/M phase of the cell cycle, which continued even after apparent completion of cross-link repair. Loss of membrane permeability was minimal (approximately 2%) during the first 24 hr. Thereafter, cells died exponentially over the next 9 days, primarily by necrosis. In conclusion, while cytotoxicity was concentration-dependent, an indirect relationship was found among the time-course of BCNU concentrations, DNA interstrand cross-links, and cell death. Because of the disparity between the time-scale of PK and PD, focusing only on the early events may provide limited information about the process of anticancer drug-induced cell death.     

An analysis of 1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea activity at the cellular level

The effect of five different 1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosoureas on the growth of cultured P388 cells has been analyzed in terms of physical, chemical, and kinetic parameters that are related to the mechanism of action of this class of cancer chemotherapeutic agent. This study correlates structure with activity at the cellular level by using a dose function that is related to the amount of active species, the (2-chloroethyl)diazonium ion, that is formed during the period of exposure of cells to drug rather than to the initial drug dose. 1-(2-Chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea analogues that rapidly enter the P388 cells are shown to have the same activity relative to the amount of active species formed. When analyzed in this way, activity is not influenced by the structure of the N-3 substituent, lipophilicity, or carbamoylating activity. The agents 1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (CNU), 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(2,6-dioxo-3-piperidyl)-1-nitrosourea (PCNU), 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU), and 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) all produce a 50% cell growth inhibition at 6 to 7 microM active species formed per cell volume. Chlorozotocin required a twofold higher effective dose to produce the same toxic effect. This decreased activity is attributed to the slow uptake of the water-soluble chlorozotocin into P388 and L1210 cells relative to the rate of chlorozotocin conversion to active species in medium. The yields to 2-chloroethanol from CNU, BCNU, and chlorozotocin were shown to be the same, indicating that these agents generate the same yield of alkylating intermediate at 37 degrees C and pH 7.4.     

Application of lipid microspheres for the treatment of cancer

Lipid microspheres can act as a carrier for antitumor agents. We incorporated a lipophilic antitumor agent, l,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) into microspheres by homogenizing a soybean oil solution of BCNU with egg yolk lecithin. Lipid microsphere-encapsulated BCNU showed a significantly enhanced antitumor activity with reduced toxicity in mice with L1210 leukemia when compared to the corresponding dose of free BCNU. Lipid nanospheres, smaller particles containing BCNU with an average size of 50 nm, also showed a similar level of in vivo antitumor activity. An in vitro study showed that [¹⁴C]triolein uptake by tumor cells was increased by incorporation into microspheres. The in vitro uptake of small microspheres was lower than that of standard microspheres. However, the in vivo half-life of small microspheres was longer, they avoided capture by the reticuloendothelial system and showed higher accumulation at tumor sites. Thus, lipid microspheres may be useful for delivering various lipophilic chemotherapy agents.     

Evaluation of the role of isocyanates in the action of therapeutic nitrosoureas

The half-lives of chloroethyl and cyclohexyl isocyanate have been determined in tissue culture medium, and the isocyanate concentration produced during the breakdown of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) has been calculated. L1210 or HeLa cells exposed either to the parent nitrosourea or to an equivalent constant isocyanate concentration show no deficiency in the repair of gamma-irradiation damage as measured by DNA strand separation in alkali. Viability studies indicate that the isocyanates play a minor role in the overall cytotoxicity of the nitrosoureas.     

Inhibition of intracellular esterases by antitumour chloroethylnitrosoureas. Measurement by flow cytometry and correlation with molecular carbamoylation activity

Antitumour chloroethylnitrosoureas (Cnus) decompose in physiological conditions yielding alkylating species and organic isocyanates. While antitumour activity is mainly attributed to the alkylation of DNA, carbamoylation of intracellular proteins by isocyanates may also have pharmacological and toxicological relevance. We previously reported a novel dynamic flow cytoenzymological assay for esterase inhibition in intact murine cells by BCNU and related isocyanates, and proposed that this might form the basis of an assay for intracellular carbamoylation. We have now examined a wide range of Cnus, isocyanates, and alkylating agents for their ability to inhibit cellular esterases. BCNU, CCNU, their derived isocyanates, and the 4-OH metabolites of CCNU exhibited potent inhibitory activity (I50 values 5.5 x 10(-5)-7.3 x 10(-4) M). Chlorozotocin and GANU were relatively inactive (I50 much greater than 10(-2) M). ACNU, TCNU and the 2-OH metabolites of CCNU exhibited intermediate activity (I50 values 1.1 x 10(-3)-2.3 x 10(-2) M). Compounds not able to form isocyanates were essentially inactive. Poor membrane permeability was also implicated in the weak activity of chlorozotocin and GANU. There was overall a good correlation between esterase inhibition and chemical carbamoylating activity, but some particular differences were identified. We concluded that flow cytoenzymological assay appears to have the potential to provide useful measurement of intracellular protein carbamoylation by existing Cnus and novel derivatives, and also offers the advantage of cell subpopulation identification for in vivo evaluation of these agents.     

Alkylating agent interactions with the nuclear matrix

The interrelationship of DNA to the nuclear matrix is integral to the organization of chromatin within the nucleus and to the DNA replication process. The influence of nitrosourea and nitrogen mustard interactions with the nuclear matrix were studied in log phase HeLa cells. Alkylation of the nuclear matrix by chlorozotocin (CLZ) or 1-(2-chloroethyl-3-cyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) was 1.58 and 1.27 pmoles drug/micrograms protein, respectively, whereas carbamoylation by CCNU was 32.5 pmoles/micrograms. These constituted approximately 30% of the total (nuclear) drug modifications. The structural matricin fibrillar components of the matrix were alkylated and carbamoylated twice as much as the ribonuclear protein elements (RNP). However, when alkylations are measured per microgram of protein, the ratio of covalently bound drug to RNP:matricin was 1.2 for both CLZ and CCNU. The RNP:matricin carbamoylation ratio for CCNU was 0.9. The importance of DNA and matrix protein alkylations to the process of reassociation was studied. Under control conditions, in vitro, approximately 80% of the DNA was associated with the matrix at a protein:DNA ratio (micrograms for micrograms) of 50:1. Direct alkylation or carbamoylation of the matrix proteins did not affect these DNA-protein interactions. However, using in vitro alkylated DNA (1 alkylation/10(2) base pairs), there was a 60% reduction of the alkylated nucleic acid bound to the matrix at the same protein: DNA ratio. The reduced binding of DNA to matrix may be a function of interference with the DNA recognition sites by alkylation of specific bases. The interference of DNA-matrix association by DNA alkylation may contribute to the cytotoxic activity of these antineoplastic agents.     

Mechanism of action of 2-haloethylnitrosoureas on deoxyribonucleic acid. Nature of the chemical reactions with deoxyribonucleic acid.

1,3-Bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) covalently cross-links DNA under physiological conditions. Methyl substitution at either carbon atom of the 2-chloroethyl portion of the molecule prevents cross-linking. Haloalkyi nitrosoureas including 3-chloropropyl, 4-chlorobutyl and 5-chloropentyl, although they readily alkylate DNA, exhibit no ability to cross-link DNA. 3-(2-Chloroethyl)-1-methylcytosine hydrochloride and N⁴-(2-chloroethyl)- 1-methylcytosine hydrochloride, similar to intermediates suggested in the cross-linking process, alkylate PM2-CCC-DNA readily. These two cytosine derivatives also cyclize readily to give 3,N⁴-ethano-1-methylcytosine closely similar to a species isolated from the treatment of poly-C with BCNU. A number of processes including the extent of DNA alkylation, measured with [¹⁴C]CCNU labeled in the ethylene portion of the molecule, as well as concomitant DNA single strand scission, and intramolecular alkylation and/or hydrolysis of the chloroethyl cytidine intermediate were investigated as to their effects upon the interstrand cross-linking process.     

Differential inhibition of cellular glutathione reductase activity by isocyanates generated from the antitumor prodrugs Cloretazine and BCNU

The antitumor, DNA-alkylating agent 1,3-bis[2-chloroethyl]-2-nitrosourea (BCNU; Carmustine), which generates 2-chloroethyl isocyanate upon decomposition in situ, inhibits cellular glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.8.1.7) activity by up to 90% at pharmacological doses. GR is susceptible to attack from exogenous electrophiles, particularly carbamoylation from alkyl isocyanates, rendering the enzyme unable to catalyze the reduction of oxidized glutathione. Evidence implicates inhibition of GR as a cause of the pulmonary toxicity often seen in high-dose BCNU-treated animals and human cancer patients. Herein we demonstrate that the prodrug Cloretazine (1,2-bis[methylsulfonyl]-1-[2-chloroethyl]-2-[(methylamino)carbonyl]hydrazine; VNP40101M), which yields methyl isocyanate and chloroethylating species upon activation, did not produce similar inhibition of cellular GR activity, despite BCNU and Cloretazine being equally potent inhibitors of purified human GR (IC(50) values of 55.5 microM and 54.6 microM, respectively). Human erythrocytes, following exposure to 50 microM BCNU for 1h at 37 degrees C, had an 84% decrease in GR activity, whereas 50 microM Cloretazine caused less than 1% inhibition under the same conditions. Similar results were found using L1210 murine leukemia cells. The disparity between these compounds remained when cells were lysed prior to drug exposure and were partially recapitulated using purified enzyme when 1mM reduced glutathione was included during the drug exposure. The superior antineoplastic potential of Cloretazine compared to BCNU in animal models could be attributed in part to the contribution of the methyl isocyanate, which is synergistic with the co-generated cytotoxic alkylating species, while at the same time unable to significantly inhibit cellular GR.     

A comparative study of therapeutic activity,myelotoxicity and DNA damage in the bone marrow of mice after cyclophosphamide and ASTA Z 7557 (INN mafosfamide)

Summary This study compares the two oxazaphosphorine compounds ASTA Z 7557 (AZ) and cyclophosphamide (CP) in their therapeutic activity as well as in their myelotoxicity and DNA damage being induced after a single intraperitoneal injection. Therapeutic activity was determined towards methylnitrosourea-induced rat mammary carcinomas in vivo and in vitro, resulting in comparable efficacy of both compounds at their optimal doses, respectively, with the sensitivity of individual tumors being reflected by the degree of inhibition of ³H-thymidine uptake of these cells in vitro.Myelotoxicity was measured as inhibition of pluripotent (CFU-S) and macrophage-granulocyte committed (CFU-C) stem cells together with the extent of single strand breaks and DNA-DNA interstrand crosslinks in murine bone marrow. At equimolar base AZ was found to induce a higher level of DNA damage than CP in the bone marrow of mice 16 hours after a single intraperitoneal injection. Both compounds depressed the pluripotent stem cell compartment of the bone marrow to a similar extent, whereas AZ was significantly less toxic to the granulocyte cell lineage.Abbreviations AZ ASTA Z 7557; 2-[N,N,bis-(2-chloroethyl)-amino]-4-(2-sulphonato-ethylthio)-tetrahydro-2H-1,3,2, oxazaphosphorine-2-oxide - CP Cyclophosphamide; 2-[N,N,bis-(2-chloroethyl)-amino]-1,3,2-oxazaphosporine-2-oxide - CFU-C Granulocyte-committed stem cells - CFU-S Pluripotent stem cells - BCNU 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea - MNU N-methyl-N-nitrosourea - Mesna 2-mercaptoethanesulphonate     

Antitumour imidazotetrazines--IV. An investigation into the mechanism of antitumour activity of a novel and potent antitumour agent, mitozolomide (CCRG 81010, M & B 39565; NSC 353451)

8-Carbamoyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)imidazo[5,1-d]-1,2,3,5-tetrazin-4-(3H )-one- mitozolomide (CCRG 81010, M & B 39565, NSC 353451) is a potent inhibitor of the growth of a number of experimental tumours and can potentially decompose to give either an isocyanate or the monochloroethyltriazene (MCTIC). In vitro CCRG 81010 is not cross-resistant with the bifunctional alkylating agents against the Walker carcinoma. To investigate the mechanism of the antitumour activity of CCRG 81010 a comparison has been made with BCNU and MCTIC on precursor incorporation into macromolecules in TLX5 mouse lymphoma cells. Whereas BCNU produces a rapid and extensive inhibition of both (methyl 3H) thymidine and [5-3H]uridine incorporation into acid-insoluble material, neither CCRG 81010 or MCTIC have an early effect on precursor incorporation. Inhibition of precursor uptake is also not produced by concentrations of 2-chloroethylisocyanate that inhibit intracellular glutathione reductase activity. The potential carbamoylating activity of CCRG 81010 has also been assessed by comparing its effect with that of BCNU and 2-chloroethyl isocyanate on enzymes known to be inhibited by carbamoylation. Such enzymes, glutathione reductase, chymotrypsin and gamma-glutamyltranspepidase are not inhibited by CCRG 81010 under conditions where BCNU and 2-chloroethyl isocyanate show complete inhibition of enzyme activity, suggesting an absence of carbamoylating species. The results suggest that the most likely antitumour metabonate produced from CCRG 81010 is the triazene MCTIC.     

O6-苄基鸟嘌呤增强1，3-二（2-氯乙基）-亚硝基脲对人肝癌细胞及其移植瘤的抗肿瘤作用

应用噻唑蓝（MTT）法检测O⁶-苄基鸟嘌呤(O⁶-BG)与1,3-二（2-氯乙基）-亚硝基脲（BCNU）合用的细胞毒作用及透射电镜检测凋亡细胞的方法研究了O⁶-BG对O⁶-烷基鸟嘌呤-DNA烷基转移酶（O⁶-AGT）阳性的人肝癌细胞SMMC-7721对BCNU细胞毒作用敏感性的影响及其与BCNU合用治疗移植瘤的协同效果. 结果显示：1.5-6.0 mg·L^-1的O⁶-BG预先作用2 h后,SMMC- 7721细胞对BCNU的敏感性明显增加;0.75-6.0 mg·L^-1的O⁶-BG可完全快速地抑制肿瘤细胞的AGT活性并持续12 h; ip 90 mg·kg^-1的O⁶-BG预处理2 h后给予25 mg·kg^-1的BCNU治疗,可使动物sc接种的人肝癌移植瘤生长延迟38.6 d, 诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡,并且可明显抑制肿瘤组织的转移酶活性. 说明O⁶-BG与BCNU合用于AGT阳性的肿瘤将具有明显的治疗效果.     

Cytochrome P-450-dependent formation of alkylating metabolites of the 2-chloroethylnitrosoureas MeCCNU and CCNU

Rat liver microsomes catalyzed the biotransformation of the clinically important nitrosourea anticancer agents 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(trans-4-methyl-cyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea (MeCCNU) and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) to alkylating metabolites that bound covalently to microsomal protein and to DNA. The enzyme-mediated microsomal alkylation required NADPH and oxygen and was inhibited by carbon monoxide, indicating the participation of a cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase. Additional studies with inhibitors such as piperonyl butoxide and with the inducers 3-methylcholanthrene and phenobarbital were consistent with this view. In contrast to these observations on the formation of alkylating metabolites, carbamylation reactions were not affected significantly by microsomal metabolism. Reduced glutathione, cysteine or N-acetylcysteine decreased the microsomal alkylation by MeCCNU and produced a corresponding increase in the formation of polar metabolites that was resolved by HPLC as three distinct N-acetylcysteine-MeCCNU adducts. The addition of semicarbazide to the reaction decreased microsomal alkylation by 30%, indicating that the formation of the alkylating species may proceed via an aldehyde intermediate. Renal microsomes were not found to catalyze the alkylation reaction. Moreover, MeCCNU inhibited the renal slice accumulation of p-aminohippuric acid only in the presence of liver microsomes and NADPH, suggesting that a liver metabolite may be responsible for the renal toxicity of the parent nitrosourea.     

The polymorphic human glutathione transferase T1-1, the most efficient glutathione transferase in the denitrosation and inactivation of the anticancer drug 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea

A member of the Theta class of human glutathione transferases (GST T1-1) was found to display the greatest catalytic activity towards the cytostatic drug 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) of the GSTs studied. In this investigation (the most extensive to date), enzymes from four classes of the soluble human GSTs were heterologously expressed, purified, and kinetically characterized. From the 12 enzymes examined, only GST M2-2, GST M3-3 and GST T1-1 had significant activities with BCNU. This establishes that the activity is not a characteristic of a particular class of GSTs. Although GST M3-3 was previously reported to have the greatest activity with BCNU, the current investigation demonstrates that GST M2-2 is equally active and that GST T1-1 has an approximately 20-fold higher specific activity than either of the Mu class enzymes. A more rigorous kinetic analysis of GST T1-1 gave the following parameters with BCNU: a k(cat) of 0.035 +/-0.003s(-1) and a K(M) of 1.0 +/- 0.1mM. The finding that GST T1-1 has the highest activity towards BCNU is significant since GST T1-1 is expressed in the brain, a common target for BCNU treatment. Furthermore, the existence of a GST T1-1 null allele in up to 60% in some populations, may influence both the sensitivity of tumors to chemotherapy and the severity of adverse side-effects in patients treated with this agent.     

Reductive activation of the prodrug 1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)-2-[[1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxy]carbonyl]hydrazine (KS119) selectively occurs in oxygen-deficient cells and overcomes O-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase mediated KS119 tumor cell resistance

1,2-Bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)-2-[[1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxy]carbonyl]hydrazine (KS119) is a prodrug of the 1,2-bis(sulfonyl)hydrazine class of antineoplastic agents designed to exploit the oxygen-deficient regions of cancerous tissue. Thus, under reductive conditions in hypoxic cells this agent decomposes to produce the reactive intermediate 1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)hydrazine (90CE), which in turn generates products that alkylate the O⁶-position of guanine in DNA. Comparison of the cytotoxicity of KS119 in cultured cells lacking O⁶-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) to an agent such as Onrigin™, which through base catalyzed activation produces the same critical DNA G-C cross-link lesions by the generation of 90CE, indicates that KS119 is substantially more potent than Onrigin™ under conditions of oxygen deficiency, despite being incompletely activated. In cell lines expressing relatively large amounts of AGT, the design of the prodrug KS119, which requires intracellular activation by reductase enzymes to produce a cytotoxic effect, results in an ability to overcome resistance derived from the expression of AGT. This appears to derive from the ability of a small portion of the chloroethylating species produced by the activation of KS119 to slip through the cellular protection afforded by AGT to generate the few DNA G-C cross-links that are required for tumor cell lethality. The findings also demonstrate that activation of KS119 under oxygen-deficient conditions is ubiquitous, occurring in all of the cell lines tested thus far, suggesting that the enzymes required for reductive activation of this agent are widely distributed in many different tumor types.