In the search for new anticancer drugs. XXIII: Exploration of a predictive design for anticancer drugs of carbohydrates containing N-nitrosochloroethylamino, N-nitrosomethyl, and N-nitrosoaminoxyl components.

The spin-labeled glucose nitrosoureas 13-16, streptozotocin (18), chlorozotocin (31), streptozotocin analogues of galactosyl 24 and mannosyl 28, and their tetra-O-acetyl derivatives 25 and 29, MCNU (Cymerin, 34), and glucamine (21) were synthesized and evaluated in vivo for their anticancer activities against the murine lymphocytic leukemia P388. Compounds 13-16, 18, 24, 28, 31, and 34 possessed activities ranging from 33 to 603% increase in life span (%ILS), whereas 21, 25, and 29 were inactive (%ILS = 9 to 10). All CD2F1 male mice treated with the most active compounds (13, 14, and 34) at 20 mg/kg were alive after 30 days, whereas all mice treated with the clinical drug streptozotocin (18) and clinically tested chlorozotocin (31) succumbed. Compounds 13-16, 18, 31, and 34 were further evaluated for their antineoplastic activity against lymphoid leukemia L1210. Compounds 13 and 34 on day 60 exhibited %ILS values of 557 and 713, respectively, as compared with %ILS values of 646 and 713 for CCNU (1) and the spin-labeled SLCNU (3), respectively. The lipophilicities of 13-16, 18, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 31, and 34 were determined using EPR and/or UV methods. A predictive design pattern was observed, with the most active drug (34) possessing some hydrophobic property (log P = 1.24), followed by 13 (log P = 1.87) and 14 (log P = 1.81) as the more active drugs with higher hydrophobicity than 34. The clinical drugs streptozotocin (18) and chlorozotocin (31) were distinctly hydrophilic and less active. Finally, it was concluded that various scattered results of anticancer activity in the literature can be explained by a linear correlation of activities with lipophilicities.     

In the search for new anticancer drugs. 19. A predictive design of N,N:N',N':N',N'-tri-1,2-ethanediylphosphorothioic triamide (TEPA) analogues

The nitroxyl-labeled analogues of N,N:N',N':N",N"-tri-1,2-ethanediylphosphoric triamide (TEPA), N,N:N',N'-bis(1,2-ethanediyl)-N"-[[(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-oxypiperidi n-4- yl)amino]carbonyl]phosphoric triamide (5a) and N,N:N',N'-bis(1,2-ethanediyl)-N"-[[(2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-oxypyrrolid in-3- yl)amino]carbonyl]phosphoric triamide (11a), possess therapeutic indexes that are 8-12 times higher than those of thio-TEPA (1) and TEPA (2). The introduction of methyl groups into the aziridine ring, or the replacement of the nitroxyl moiety with hydroxylamine or amine derivatives, or with an adamantane moiety, results in compounds of lesser activity. An attempt is made to rationalize these results using a lipophilicity scale. A predictive design pattern is established.     

Phosphonic and phosphinic acid analogues of tyrosine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) as potential antimelanotic agents

Phosphonic acid and phosphinic acid analogues of tyrosine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) were found to influence tyrosinase activity, thus being potential regulators of melanization in mammalian cells. The analogues were tested for their cytostatic activity in vitro, by means of total cell protein determination, on mouse B16 melanoma and, for comparison, on human KB carcinoma cell lines. Four compounds out of 22 revealed promising cytostatic activity for both cell lines, being nearly equipotent with dopa. Those compounds which most effectively suppressed the growth of both tumour cell lines were the same as those which had a significant influence on tyrosinase activity regardless of whether they acted as inhibitors or substrates.     

CNIO cancer conference: targeted search for anticancer drugs

The topics discussed at the conference covered many aspects of cancer research, from the genetic search for new targets, target validation and drug discovery, all the way to preclinical and clinical development of oncology drugs. Here the presentations on new metabolic, angiogenic, cell cycle and other molecular targets, as well as recent developments with experimental drugs with action on some of these targets, are summarised. Particular emphasis is placed on the emerging realisation that changes in the metabolic phenotype lie at the heart of cellular transformation. New insights into the biological links between cancer cell metabolism and the balance between survival and death signalling are likely to lead to the identification of a new category of anticancer targets.     

In search of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi drugs: new leads from a mouse model.

Nine of 25 carefully selected compounds (from a stock of more than 200 000 chemical species amassed principally as a result of testing against other parasitic diseases) were found to have significant suppressive activity against the parasites in the blood of a Trypanosoma cruzi mouse model. Eight of these compounds evaluated in this model had suppressive activity equal to or greater than the reference compound, nifurtimox. For the first time, suppressive activity against T. cruzi is reported for a 7-aminoquinoline, a phosphonium salt, and TAC pamoate; The biological model is believed to be able to serve as a means of identifying other new "leads* in seeking drugs broadly effective against T=ruzi infections in man.     

Design of new oxazaphosphorine anticancer drugs

The oxazaphosphorines including cyclophosphamide (CPA, Cytoxan, or Neosar), ifosfamide (IFO, Ifex) and trofosfamide (Ixoten) represent an important group of therapeutic agents due to their substantial antitumor and immunomodulating activity. However, several intrinsic limitations have been uncounted during the clinical use of these oxazaphosphorines, including substantial pharmacokinetic variability, resistance and severe host toxicity. To circumvent these problems, new oxazaphosphorines derivatives have been designed and evaluated with an attempt to improve the selectivity and response with reduced host toxicity. These include mafosfamide (NSC 345842), glufosfamide (D19575, beta-D-glucosylisophosphoramide mustard), S-(-)-bromofosfamide (CBM-11), NSC 612567 (aldophosphamide perhydrothiazine) and NSC 613060 (aldophosphamide thiazolidine). Mafosfamide is an oxazaphosphorine analog that is a chemically stable 4-thioethane sulfonic acid salt of 4-hydroxy-CPA. Glufosfamide is IFO derivative in which the isophosphoramide mustard, the alkylating metabolite of IFO, is glycosidically linked to a beta-D-glucose molecule. Phase II studies of glufosfamide in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NCSLC), and recurrent glioblastoma multiform (GBM) have recently completed and Phase III trials are ongoing, while Phase I studies of intrathecal mafosfamide have recently completed for the treatment of meningeal malignancy secondary to leukemia, lymphoma, or solid tumors. S-(-)-bromofosfamide is a bromine-substituted IFO analog being evaluated in a few Phase I clinical trials. The synthesis and development of novel oxazaphosphorine analogs with favourable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties still constitutes a great challenge for medicinal chemists and cancer pharmacologists.     

Safety profile of new anticancer drugs

Importance of the field: The development of targeted anticancer therapies stems from advances in molecular biology. New agents range from antibodies that form complexes with antigens on the surface of the cancer cell to small molecules that have been engineered to block key enzymatic reactions. The interaction of the antibody or drug with its target inhibits key pathways involved in cell proliferation or metastasis, or activates pathways leading to cell death. Such pathways constitute ideal pharmacological targets. Clinical benefits from these novel therapeutic strategies are striking for patients with metastatic diseases.

Areas covered: This review analyses the main toxicities among most common targeted therapies that have been approved by the FDA or European Medicines Agency for their clinical utilisation in solid tumours treatment.

What the reader will gain: Here, the main toxicity and safety data among new anticancer targeted therapies are described. Data are organised through the pathways targeted by the drugs.

Take home message: The emergence of new targeted anticancer therapies promises more efficient and less toxic therapies. Generally, they are well tolerated, toxicities are commonly mild to moderate and can be handled rapidly. However, if most of these adverse events are manageable, life threatening and fatal complications can still occur.     

In vivo microdialysis for PK and PD studies of anticancer drugs

In vivo microdialysis technique has become one of the major tools to sample endogenous and exogenous substances in extracellular spaces. As a well-validated sampling technique, microdialysis has been frequently employed for quantifying drug disposition at the desired target in both preclinical and clinical settings. This review addresses general methodological considerations critical to performing microdialysis in tumors, highlights selected preclinical and clinical studies that characterized drug disposition in tumors by the use of microdialysis, and illustrates the potential application of microdialysis in the assessment of tumor response to cancer treatment.     

Review. The endoplasmic reticulum: a target for new anticancer drugs

In eukaryotic cells, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the principal site for the folding and maturation of transmembrane, secretory and ER-resident proteins. Functions of the ER are affected by various intracellular and extracellular stimuli, which include inhibition of glycosylation, reduction of disulfide bonds, calcium depletion from the ER lumen, impairment of protein transport to the Golgi, and expression of mutated proteins in the ER. Under ER stress, unfolded/misfolded proteins accumulate in the ER lumen, which induces conflicting cellular activities: survival and apoptosis. To cope with this stress, cells activate intracellular signalling pathways, such as the unfolded protein response (UPR) and the ER-associated degradation (ERAD). However, under conditions of severe ER stress or when the UPR has been compromised, the cell may be incapable of maintaining ER homeostasis, which may eventually activate programmed cell death (PCD) pathways. Clinical data support the potential of drugs that inhibit the normal functions and homeostasis of the ER and the proteasome in treatment of malignancies like cancer. It is therefore reasonable to assume that manipulation of ER stress might enhance the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs and provide new anticancer targets like the ER and the proteasome.     

In the search for new anticancer drugs. 17. Linear and cyclic polyether analogues of N,N:N',N':N',N'-tri-1,2-ethanediylphosphoric triamide and N,N:N',N':N',N'-tri-1,2-ethanediylphosphorothioic triamide

Linear and cyclic polyether derivatives of N,N:N',N':N',N'-tri-1, 2-ethanediylphosphoric triamide (TEPA) and N,N:N',N':N',N'-tri-1,2-ethanediylphosphorothioic triamide (thio-TEPA) are synthesized and evaluated for their antineoplastic activity against the murine lymphocytic leukemia P388. All compounds, except for 7d, were active ranging from 42% to 287% increase in life span (% ILS). All CD2F1 male mice treated with the most active compound (7a) at 90 mg/kg per day for 9 days were alive after 30 days, whereas all mice treated with the clinical drug thio-TEPA were dead. The % ILS for compound 7a on day 60 was 525. A correlation is presented between the structural features of compounds and their lipophilicities and antineoplastic activities.     

The search for new antifungal drugs and strategies continues

Much of the research presented at the 4th Congress of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology involved new ways of combating the problem of resistance to antifungal agents. Among the possible ways forward in medical mycology are improvements in the bioavailability of existing agents, more clinical testing of new agents and further development of the lipid formulations of amphotericin B. A current major concern of clinicians is that they are now seeing the appearance of cross-resistance between a number of previously very effective antifungals drugs. New in vitro results of terbinafine were presented at this congress, along with the latest information on voriconazole. There is little doubt that the only way to combat emerging drug resistance is at a subcellular level. This will require a much more detailed understanding than we have at present of how fungi and yeasts work.     

改良溴化四唑蓝法在筛选抗癌新药的应用

目的 探讨筛选抗癌新药的良好方法。方法 用溴化四唑蓝改良法对１０株体外培养的各类肿瘤细胞筛选抗癌新药。结果 改良法对筛选中草药野荞根提限物“金Ｅ”获得稳定和重复性好的实验结果。结论ＭＴＴ改良法灵敏度高，特异性强，是筛选有效药物的良好方法。     

RSV infections: developments in the search for new drugs

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children, and is also a significant threat to other populations including the immunosuppressed, the elderly and those with chronic chest or cardiac disease. To expand the scope of available antiviral drugs, presently limited to ribavirin, a variety of different structural formats have been explored in the past half-dozen years. Interesting leads for future discovery and lead development include a group of biphenyl relatives (represented by CL-387626) that bind the RSV fusion (F) protein; 2-5A-antisense oligonucleotides that target the RSV genomic RNA; Rho A-derived peptides that block Rho A GTPase interaction with RSV fusion (F) protein; and several compounds of presently unknown mechanisms of action, such as benzodithiins.     

Geminin as a molecular target for the development of new anticancer drugs

The unique biological properties of Geminin, particularly as an inhibitor of DNA replication initiation, have been recognized, and this has prompted a number of investigations into this molecule to explore its potential therapeutic as well as diagnostic usefulness. This review summarizes the possibility of Geminin serving as a new molecular target in the development of new anticancer drugs.     

Recent advances in the search for new drugs for treatment of toxoplasmosis

Although the combination of pyrimethamine with a sulfonamide is still very effective for treatment of toxoplasmosis the use of these two drugs immunocompromised individuals, particularly AIDS patienst, often results in a remarkable incidence of adverse reactions. There is, therefore, an urgent need for alternative drugs and newer therapeutic regimens for treatment of human toxoplasmosis. In this review, the in vitro and in vivo activities of a number of new drugs and new therapeutic regimens that have shown promising results in vartious experimental models for toxoplasmosisared discussed.     

Incretins and their analogues as new antidiabetic drugs

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a gut (incretin) hormone with multiple actions that could potentially contribute to an antidiabetic effect. This includes: (a) glucose-dependent insulinotropic actions; (b) glucagonostatic actions; (c) a reduction in appetite/promotion of satiety leading to reduced food intake and weight reduction; (d) the deceleration of gastric emptying; and (e) the stimulation of islet growth, differentiation and regeneration. Thus, multiple aspects of the type 2 diabetic phenotype can potentially be improved or even corrected by GLP-1. The native gut hormone, however, after intravenous injection or absorption from subcutaneous depots, is proteolytically degraded and eliminated from the circulation too quickly to be useful for the treatment of diabetes. GLP-1 derivatives (receptor agonists) with prolonged pharmacokinetics that promise a potential for clinical use in the near future are being developed.