DNA-directed alkylating agents. 4. 4-anilinoquinoline-based minor groove directed aniline mustards

A series of 4-anilinoquinoline-linked aniline mustards of widely varying mustard reactivity were prepared and evaluated for their antitumor activity. The compounds were designed as minor grove binding agents, where the aniline mustard ring is itself part of the DNA-binding ligand. While there was a general trend for cytotoxicity to correlate with mustard reactivity, this was much less pronounced than with untargeted mustards. The compounds were much more cytotoxic than the parent diols, and were also at least 10-fold more cytotoxic than the corresponding aniline mustards themselves. Comparative cell line studies suggested that the mechanism of cytotoxicity varied with mustard reactivity. The most reactive mustards cross-linked DNA, while cell killing by the less reactive compounds appeared to be by the formation of bulky monoadducts. The compounds were active but not particularly dose-potent against P388 leukemia in vivo. The modest potency may be related to their poor aqueous solubility, since the more soluble methyl quaternary salts were equally active at much lower doses.     

Structure-activity relationships of amyloid beta-aggregation inhibitors based on curcumin: influence of linker length and flexibility

Self-assembly of amyloid beta into fibrillar plaques is characteristic of Alzheimer's disease and oligomers of this peptide are believed to be involved in neurodegeneration. Natural organic dyes, such as congo red and curcumin, bind tightly to amyloid beta and, at higher concentrations, block its self-assembly. The ability of these molecules to prevent amyloid accumulation has generated interest in understanding which of their structural features contribute to inhibitory potency. In general, amyloid beta ligands tend to be flat, planar molecules with substituted aromatic end groups; however, a comprehensive structure-activity study has not been reported. To better understand these ligands, we surveyed the effect of three prominent features on inhibition of amyloid aggregation: the presence of two aromatic end groups, the substitution pattern of these aromatics, and the length and flexibility of the linker region. We found that modification of any one of the modules has profound effects on activity. Further, we report that the optimal length of the linker lies within a surprisingly narrow regime (6-19 A). These results offer insight into the key chemical features required for inhibiting amyloid beta aggregation. In turn, these findings help define the nature of the docking site for small molecules on the amyloid beta surface.     

Dominant lethal studies with alkylating agents: dose-response relationships.

Dominant lethal studies were conducted to establish dose-response relationships for the mutagenic alkylating agents, methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). Male albino mice were treated via single ip injections at doses ranging from 3.125 to 100 mg of MMS/kg and from 50 to 400 mg of EMS/kg. The mutagenic events induced following mating with untreated females were scored on the basis of early fetal deaths. Useful effect dosages were found to be 50 mg/kg for MMS and 200–300 mg/kg for EMS. Dosages of 100 mg of MMS/kg and >300 mg of EMS/kg were judged to be undesirable because of excessive preimplantation losses at these levels. It was not possible to differentiate the response of animals treated with up to 6.25 mg of MMS/kg or 100 mg of EMS/kg from that of the untreated control animals.     

Synthesis and evaluation of DNA-targeted spatially separated bis(aniline mustards) as potential alkylating agents with enhanced DNA cross-linking capability

DNA-targeted separated bis-mustards were synthesized by attaching aniline mono-mustards at the 4- and 9-positions of the DNA-intercalating ligand 9-aminoacridine-4-carboxamide, with the intention of improving the low cross-link to monoadduct ratio found with most alkylating agents. The geometry of these compounds requires that, when the acridine binds to DNA by intercalation, one alkylating moiety is delivered to each DNA groove. Gel electrophoretic studies show that only one arm of these compounds (probably that attached to the 9-position) alkylates DNA, such alkylation occurring specifically in the major groove at the N7 of guanines. Cell-line studies confirm that the mode of cytotoxicity of these compounds (unlike that of untargeted aniline bis-mustards of comparable reactivity) is due to bulky DNA monoadduct formation. It is concluded that more information is required about the exact orientation of the initial monoadducts before ligands with specific DNA cross-linking ability can be designed.     

DNA-directed alkylating agents. 2. Synthesis and biological activity of platinum complexes linked to 9-anilinoacridine

Two different classes of cis-diaminedichloroplatinum(II) complexes linked to the DNA-intercalating chromophore 9-anilinoacridine have been synthesized and evaluated as DNA-targeted antitumor agents. Two different Pt chelating ligands were investigated (based on 1,2-ethanediamine and 1,3-propanediamine), designed to deliver the Pt in an orientation likely to respectively enhance either intrastrand or interstrand cross-linking. Although both sets of ligands were somewhat unstable under neutral or basic conditions with respect to disproportionation, the corresponding Pt complexes, once prepared, appeared to be quite stable. All the Pt complexes were monitored for purity by TLC, HPLC, and FAB mass spectra, and the mode of Pt coordination was established by 195Pt NMR spectroscopy. The complexes appeared to cause simultaneous platination and intercalative unwinding of plasmid DNA. In vitro studies were carried out with both wild-type and cisplatin-resistant P388 cell lines. Whereas cisplatin itself and the ethylenediamine and 1,3-propanediamine complexes used as standards were about 10-fold less active against the resistant line, the ethylenediamine-linked Pt complexes showed no differential toxicity between the two lines and the propanediamine-linked complexes showed significant differentials (up to 8-fold) in favor of the cisplatin-resistant line. However, these were no greater than those shown by the unplatinated ligands themselves. The majority of the acridine complexes were inactive in vivo against the wild-type P388 leukemia. They were very insoluble, and although a suitable formulation was found, this may have been a factor. It is also possible that these compounds bind in such a way as to direct the Pt away from the major groove.     

DNA-directed alkylating agents. 5. Acridinecarboxamide derivatives of (1,2-diaminoethane)dichloroplatinum(II).

A series of acridine-2- and -4-carboxamide-linked analogues of PtenCl2 has been prepared and evaluated for biological activity against several tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo. The platinum complexes were generally more cytotoxic than the corresponding ligands against wild-type P388 leukemia cells in vitro, with acridine-4-carboxamide complexes being the more effective. In contrast to cisplatin and PtenCl2, the complexes were equally active in vitro against both wild-type and cisplatin-resistant P388 lines. The 4-carboxamide complexes showed high levels of in vivo activity (ILS greater than 100%) against wild-type P388 using a single-dose protocol, and one compound was also significantly active in vivo in a cisplatin-resistant line, against which cisplatin and PtenCl2 are inactive.     

DNA-directed alkylating agents: synthesis, antitumor activity and DNA affinity of bis-N,N'-trisubstituted 1,2,4-triazolo-piperazines

A series of 1,4-bis-(1,5-dialkyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-ylmethyl)piperazines and N-methyl-piperazine analogs were prepared spontaneously from the cycloaddition of various reactive cumulenes with the piperazino-1,4-(bis-ethanenitrile) and 1-cyanomethyl-4-methyl-piperazine, respectively. The new compounds were evaluated for their DNA affinity and antitumor activity.     

Structure-activity relationships of C-17-substituted estratriene-3-O-sulfamates as anticancer agents

The synthesis and antiproliferative activities of analogues of 2-substituted estradiol-3,17-O,O-bis-sulfamates (E2bisMATEs) are discussed. Modifications of the C-17 substituent confirm that an H-bond acceptor is essential for high activity; its optimal linkage to C-17 and the local environment in which it resides are defined. In the non-sulfamoylated series 17β-acyl substitution delivers 48b, the most potent compound identified to date. In the sulfamate series a number of permutations of linker and H-bond acceptor deliver excellent activity, with 55, 61, 65, 49a, and 49b proving especially promising. The in vivo potential of these compounds was explored in the NCI hollow fiber assay and also in a mouse Matrigel model of antiangiogenesis in which 49 and 55 show significant inhibitory activity.     

Anti-inflammatory agents III: Structure-activity relationships of brusatol and related quassinoids

A series of quassinoids were observed to be potent inhibitors of induced inflammation and arthritis in rodents. Brusatol afforded the most potent activity followed by brucein-D. A 3-hydroxy-delta 3-2-oxo moiety in brusatol or a 1-hydroxy-delta 3-2-oxo moiety in brucein-D, as well as a C-15 ester-bearing delta-lactone ring in brusatol and C-11 and C-12 free hydroxyl groups are required in both quassinoids for potent anti-inflammatory activity. Preliminary studies indicate that one of the modes of action of quassinoids as anti-inflammatory agents is to stabilize lysosomal membranes, reducing the release of hydrolytic enzymes that cause damage to surrounding tissues.     

Structure-activity relationships of L-dioxolane uracil nucleosides as anti-Epstein Barr virus agents.

A series of 1,3-dioxolanyluracil analogues was prepared from the dioxolane intermediates 2, and their anti-Epstein Barr virus (anti-EBV) activities were determined. The potency of L-dioxolane uracil nucleosides against EBV replication is dependent on the substituents at the 5-position in the following decreasing order: I > Br > Cl > CH3 > CF3 > F. The most active and selective analogue was the iodo derivative (L-I-OddU) with an EC50 value of 0.03 microM and an EC90 value of 0.16 microM. There was no cytotoxicity or depletion of mitochondrial DNA in cells after exposure to L-I-OddU at 50 microM. The action against EBV replication in H1 cells is time-dependent, and EBV DNA in cells treated with L-I-OddU could rebound to pretreatment levels once the drug was removed. In view of the potent antiviral activity plus favorable toxicity profiles, L-I-OddU may be potentially useful for the treatment of EBV-related infectious diseases as well as for delaying the onset or decreasing the incidence of EBV-associated cancers.     

Potential antitumor agents. 42. Structure-activity relationships for acridine-substituted dimethyl phosphoramidate derivatives of 9-anilinoacridine

Replacement of the 1'-methanesulfonamide group of the 9-anilinoacridine class of antitumor agents with the 1'-(dimethyl phosphoramidate) group provides compounds that are generally more lipophilic and bind more tightly to DNA. On the average, the dimethyl phosphoramidates are twice as dose potent as the corresponding methanesulfonamide (AMSA) compounds against P388 leukemia in vivo, but also show about twice the acute toxicity and no resultant improvement in tumor cell selectivity (ILSmax values) is seen. A pairwise comparison of a range of acridine-substituted compounds shows that structure-activity relationships within each series are similar and dominated by the acridine substitution pattern.     

Structure-activity relationships for 4-nitrobenzyl carbamates of 5-aminobenz[e]indoline minor groove alkylating agents as prodrugs for GDEPT in conjunction with E. coli nitroreductase

Twelve substituted 4-nitrobenzyl carbamate prodrugs of the 5-aminobenz[e]indoline class of DNA minor groove alkylating agents were prepared and tested as prodrugs for gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) using a two-electron nitroreductase (NTR) from E. coli B. The prodrugs and effectors were tested in a cell line panel comprising parental and transfected human (SKOV/Skov-NTR(neo), WiDr/WiDr-NTR(neo)), Chinese hamster (V79(puro)/V79-NTR(puro)), and murine (EMT6/EMT6-NTR(puro)) cell line pairs. In the human cell line pairs, several analogues bearing neutral methoxyethoxy-, 2-hydroxyethoxy-, or 3-hydroxypropoxy-substituted side chains were good substrates for NTR as measured by cytotoxicity ratios, with NTR-ve/NTR+ve ratios similar to the established NTR substrates CB1954 (an aziridinyl dinitrobenzamide) and the analogous bromomustard. Selectivity for NTR decreased with increasing side-chain size or the presence of a basic amine group. Low to modest selectivity was observed in the Chinese hamster-derived cell line pair; however, in the murine EMT6/EMT6-NTR(puro) cell line pair, the above hydroxyalkoxy analogues again showed significant selectivity for NTR. The activity of the 2-hydroxyethoxy analogue was evaluated against NTR-expressing EMT6 tumors comprising ca. 10% NTR+ve cells at the time of tumor treatment. A small decrease in NTR+ve cells was observed after treatment, with a lesser effect against NTR-ve target cells, but these effects were not statistically significant and were much less than for the dinitrobenzamides. These results suggest that useful GDEPT prodrugs based on the 4-nitrobenzyl carbamate and 5-aminobenz[e]indoline motifs may be developed if optimization of pharmacokinetics can be addressed.     

Structure-activity relationships for substituted bis(acridine-4-carboxamides): a new class of anticancer agents.

A series of acridine-substituted bis(acridine-4-carboxamides) linked by a (CH2)3N(Me)(CH2)3 chain have been prepared by reaction of the isolated imidazolides of the substituted acridine-4-carboxylic acids with N,N-bis(3-aminopropyl)methylamine. These dimeric analogues of the mixed topoisomerase I/II inhibitor N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide (DACA), currently in clinical trial, show superior potencies to the corresponding monomeric DACA analogues in a panel of cell lines, including wild-type (JLC) and mutant (JLA and JLD) forms of human Jurkat leukemia. The latter mutant lines are resistant to topoisomerase II targeted agents because of lower levels of the enzyme. Analogues with small substituents (e.g., Me, Cl) at the acridine 5-position were clearly superior, with IC50's as low as 2 nM against the Lewis lung carcinoma and 11 nM against JLC. Larger substituents at any position caused a steady decrease in potency, likely due to lowering of DNA binding affinity. A small series of analogues of the most potent bis(5-methylDACA) compound, with second substituents (Me and Cl) in the 1- or 8- position had broadly similar potencies to the 5-Me compound, indicating that, while the 1- and 8-substituents are acceptable, they add little to the enhancing effect of the 5-methyl group. All of the compounds were at least equitoxic (some up to 4-fold more cytotoxic) against the mutant Jurkat lines than in the wild-type, consistent with a relatively greater effect on topoisomerase I compared with topoisomerase II. The bis(5-methylDACA) compound was found to inhibit the action of purified topoisomerase I in a cell-free assay. Compounds were on average 10-fold less cytotoxic in an MCF7 breast cancer line overexpressing P-glycoprotein than in the wild-type line and showed some selectivity for colon tumor lines in the NCI human tumor cell line panel. Several analogues produced significant growth delays in the relatively refractory subcutaneous colon 38 tumor model in vivo at substantially lower doses than DACA. The bis(acridine-4-carboxamides) represent a new and interesting class of potent topoisomerase inhibitors.     

Structure-activity studies of antitumor agents based on pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazoles: new reductive alkylating DNA cleaving agents

Described herein are structure-activity studies of new antitumor agents based on the pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole (PBI) ring system. These compounds were designed as new DNA cross-linkers mimicking the mitomycin antitumor agents. Actually, the PBI derivatives were found to have anthracycline-like features: (i) shared cross resistance with doxorubicin in a human myeloma line, (ii) cardiotoxicity, and (iii) excellent DNA strand cleaving capability. The DNA strand cleavage is thought to result from reductive alkylation of DNA followed by the generation of reactive oxygen radicals. The best antitumor agent studied is 6-N-aziridinyl-3-hydroxy-7-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo- [1,2-a]benzimidazole-5,8-dione 3-acetate (PBI-A), which possesses nanomolar IC50 values against various human ovarian and colon cancer cell lines.