Synthesis of 2,8-disubstituted imidazo[1,5-a]pyrimidines with potent antitumor activity

Seventeen 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroimidazo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives bearing electron-withdrawing substituents were designed and synthesized by novel ring closure as potential antitumor agents. They were screened for their activities against mouse leukemia L1210 and human oral epidermoid carcinoma KB cell lines, and relationships of structure and antitumor activity in vitro are discussed. It was found that 8-thiocarbamoyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroimidazo[1, 5-a]pyrimidin-2(1H)-thione (8c) exhibited activity comparable to that of 5-fluorouracil against both L1210 and KB cells. The existence of both 2-thioxo and 8-substituent with a thioxo group in the molecule is crucial for the cytotoxicity against L1210 and KB cells. A novel procedure for introduction of a double bond between C-3 and C-4 in 8c was developed. Introduction of the 3,4-double bond increased the activity against L1210, but against KB cells the activity decreased by 4-fold. Cytotoxicity of compounds 8c and 8-thiocarbamoyl-1,2-dihydroimidazo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-2(1H)-thione (11c) against human solid tumor and leukemia cell lines was further evaluated. The saturation of the 3,4-double bond led to a significant increase in cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines tested.     

Syntheses and antiproliferative activities of new rebeccamycin derivatives with the sugar unit linked to both indole nitrogens

The synthesis of new rebeccamycin derivatives, in which the carbohydrate moiety is attached to both indole nitrogens, is described. The newly synthesized compounds were tested for their abilities to block the cell cycle of murine leukemia L1210 cells and their in vitro antiproliferative activities against four tumor cell lines (murine L1210 leukemia and human HT29 colon carcinoma, A549 non-small-cell lung carcinoma, K-562 leukemia). Their biological activities are compared with those of the parent compound rebeccamycin. Some of the new compounds exhibit potent antiproliferative activities, either against the four cell lines or mostly the two leukemias (L1210 and K-562 cell lines). The 3,9-diformyl analogue 9 was selective toward L1210 cells, whereas the 3,9-dibromo 16 was strongly cytotoxic toward the four cell lines tested. Nonselective compound 16 and 3,9-dinitro 13, which exhibited selectivity toward leukemia tumor cell lines, were selected for in-depth evaluation, including in vivo experiments.     

The anti-neoplastic activity of 2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione and N-butyl-2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione in human and murine tumor cells.

2,3-Dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione derivatives demonstrated potent cytotoxicity against the growth of murine leukemia cells and human single cell suspension, i.e. Tmolt3 leukemia and HeLa-S3, as well as colon adenocarcinoma and KB nasopharynx. However, only select compounds demonstrated activity against bronchogenic lung, osteosarcoma and glioma growth. 2,3-Dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione was active in vivo against L1210 leukemia, Lewis lung and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma growth. In L1210 cells the agents inhibited both DNA and RNA synthesis, and a few of the compounds were capable of inhibiting protein synthesis at 3 times their ED50 values. When 2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione and N-butyl-2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione were examined for their mode of action in the L1210 lymphoid leukemia cells, the sites of inhibition by the agents appear to be the de novo purine pathway at the enzymes IMP dehydrogenase and PRPP amido transferase. IMP dehydrogenase activity was inhibited at least 45% by 45 min at 100 microM concentration of drugs whereas the remaining enzymes that were affected by the drugs were not inhibited as early. Secondary sites were dihydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthetase. The d(NTP) levels were also reduced specifically dATP and dCTP levels.     

Synthesis of new 1-phenyl-6H-pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole derivatives with potential cytostatic activity

A number of new 1-substituted-6H-pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole derivatives have been synthesized. Nine of the newly obtained compounds were subjected to preliminary in vitro cytostatic activity screening against murine leukemia (L1210), human lung cancer (A549) and human colon cancer (HT29) cell lines. One particular compound 6f exhibited over 20 times better activity against L1210 tumor cell line than the reference ellipticine.     

Biological effects of acetomycin. I. Activity against tumor cells in vitro and in vivo

The antibiotic acetomycin was active in vitro against HCT-8 human colon adenocarcinoma cells (IC50, 1.5 microgram/ml) and L1210 murine leukemia cells (IC50, 2.2 micrograms/ml). Acetomycin also had marked activity in the human tumor stem cell assay, with a 33% overall response rate (less than or equal to 30% survival) against 49 primary tumors. However, acetomycin was inactive in four in vivo tumor assay systems (L1210 and P388 leukemias, B16 melanoma and the MX-1 mammary xenograft system). This lack of in vivo activity may result from metabolic inactivation of acetomycin.     

Structure-activity relationship of anthracyclines in vitro

The cytotoxic activities of several natural and semisynthetic anthracyclines against L1210 leukemia and two human colon tumor cells (Colon 4, HT 29) in vitro were examined after short (1 h) and long (7 days) incubation times and correlated with the water/octanol partition coefficients and the DNA-binding affinity of the compounds. Analysis of equation in which cytotoxicity against L1210 (1-h incubation) was parabolically related to the partition coefficient revealed an almost exclusive correlation (r = 0.80) between the cytotoxicity and the parameters, and this correlation was only slightly improved by addition of DNA-binding affinity (r = 0.85). On the other hand, cytotoxic activities displayed after continuous incubation were partially related to both partition coefficients (parabolic dependence) and DNA-binding affinities (linear dependence). In this case the correlation between the activity and partition coefficient (r = 0.67) was significantly improved by addition of DNA-binding affinity (r = 0.90). Similar results were also obtained for human colon tumor cells although the corresponding correlation coefficients were generally of lower value, indicating that cytotoxic activity of anthracyclines against these primary resistant cells may be influenced by additional factors not yet determined.     

Synthesis, cytotoxicity, hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory activities of amine-boranes and esters of boron analogues of choline and thiocholine.

Boron analogues of carbamoylcholine and thiocholine and esters of these analogues were prepared. These compounds were fairly stable toward hydrolysis and demonstrated moderate anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic activities in mice. The hypolipidemic activity of the compounds at a dose of 8 mg/kg/day was equivalent in reducing lipid levels in serum to those of clofibrate at 150 mg/kg/day and lovastatin at 8 mg/kg/day. The compounds demonstrated significant cytotoxic activity against the growth of murine and human tumor cells; all were active against the growth of human HeLa-S3 uterine suspended cells, and some were active against murine L1210 lymphoid leukemia, human Tmolt3 leukemia cells, colorectal adenocarcinoma, KB nasopharynx, osteosarcoma, and glioma. These studies demonstrated that antimetabolite analogues of acetylcholine exhibit the same types of pharmacological activity as other boron-substituted betaine and amino acids. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation exists between hypolipidemic activity and cytotoxicity for these new choline derivatives, as has previously been demonstrated for other boron-containing amino acids, amides, esters, and peptides.     

In vitro cytostatic activity of 8-substituted and tricyclic analogues of acyclovir

Out of a series of twenty 8-substituted or/and 1,N-2-bridged (tricyclic) derivatives of acyclovir (a selective antiherpetic drug), known to be nontoxic to normal cells, seven compounds were found to exhibit moderate cytostatic activity in KB human tumor tissue culture system with ED50 activity values ranging from 0.052-0.094 x 10(-3) mole/l. The structure-activity relationship analysis indicated that the primary factors determining their cytotoxicity were: 1) bromine atom at the C-8 position of the bicyclic derivatives and 2) unsubstituted appended ring in the tricyclic derivatives. Combination of two structural elements carrying the cytotoxicity gave diverse effects, enhancement or decrease in activity depending on particular cases. Two compounds (of four selected), 8-bromoacyclovir and 1,N-2-etheno-acyclovir, having unsubstituted 9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl] chain, showed approximately 2-fold increase in their cytotoxicity against HeLa tumor cells in the presence of the induced microsomal generating system suggesting that their cytotoxicity depends on the drug metabolic transformation into their active metabolites (intermediates) via MFO-system, and that structural unit of this chain is essential for abovementioned activation. Presently found remarkable cytotoxic selectivity of acyclovir analogues against KB and HeLa tumor cells together with previously reported in the literature specific cytotoxic activity of acyclovir against murine leukemia L 1210 cells seem to be encouraging for further investigation of this class of compounds in other tumor systems.     

In vitro cytotoxicity against fresh human tumors and P388 leukemia predicts the differential in vivo activity of a series of anthracene anticancer drugs

To date, random anticancer drug screening has proven to be relatively inefficient and non-specific with respect to selecting active compounds for most tumor types (except for leukemia/lymphoma). Although large numbers of compounds from diverse sources were evaluated for many years in the P388 mouse leukemia model, only a few clinically useful drugs have been identified by this in vivo screening method. Thus, there is intense interest in the development of more effective in vitro screening models for new anticancer drugs. In the present paper we have compared the discriminating power for fresh human tumors from patients, human tumor cell lines developed from 11 patients and murine P388 leukemia in tumor colony forming assays as indicators of cytotoxicity for a series of anthracene antitumor agents. Two of a series of 21 novel bisantrene analogs, R6 (N,N1-bis[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-9,10-anthracene-bis(methylamine)) and R26 (N,N1-bis(1-ethyl-3-piperidinyl)-9,10-anthracene-bis(methylamine] produced significant cytotoxicity against the 11 human tumor cell lines and were therefore selected for additional in vitro and in vivo studies. R26 was specifically selected for further testing since it had similar in vitro potency as mitoxantrone, but showed no cross-resistance against mitoxantrone-resistant WiDr colon or doxorubicin-resistant 8226 myeloma cell lines. In contrast to the cell line data, only of the 22 fresh human tumors showed significant in vitro sensitivity (i.e. less than 50% survival of tumor colony forming units) to either R6 or R26 tested at high concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Antitumor agents. 16. Steroidal alpha-methylene-gamma-lactones.

Several novel steroidal alpha-methylene-gamma-lactones and related derivatives have been synthesized as potential steroid alkylating antitumor agents. The synthesis of these compounds involved the convenient Reformatsky-type reaction between ethyl-alpha-(bromomethyl)acrylate and the proper steroidal ketones. In vitro assay for the cytotoxicity of these compounds against the growth of tissue culture cells originating from human epidermoid carcinoma of the larynx (H.Ep.-2) has shown significant activity. Cytotoxicity was improved at least sixfold with the introduction of lipophilic steroidal character. Preliminary in vivo tumor assay also indicated that these compounds were active against Walker 256 carcinosarcoma in rats and were inactive against both L1210 lymphoid leukemia and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice. However, the simple alpha-methylene-beta,beta-dicarbethoxy-gamma-butyrolactone significantly inhibited Ehrlich ascites tumor growth.     

The cytotoxicity of helenalin, its mono and difunctional esters, and related sesquiterpene lactones in murine and human tumor cells.

Naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactones and their semisynthetic derivatives, such as the O = C-C = CH-bearing helenalin and its esters, have been shown to demonstrate potent cytotoxicity against the growth of murine L1210 lymphoid leukemia and human Tmolt3 leukemia, colon adenocarcinoma, HeLaS3, lung bronchogenic, KB, osteosarcoma, and glioma cells. The modes of action of helenalin in L1210 cells are the inhibition of DNA, RNA, and protein syntheses. This study confirms that thiol bearing enzymes of nucleic acid metabolism were significantly inhibited, e.g. DNA polymerase alpha, IMP hydrogenase, and ribonucleoside reductase. The addition of GSH to the reaction medium demonstrated total recovery of L1210 ribonucleoside reductase activity. Helenalin reduced cellular GSH levels in L1210 cells. Helenalin also reduced all four pool levels of d(NTP)s which would account for part of the observed inhibition of DNA synthesis. Reductions in the ribonucleotide pool levels were also generally evident after drug treatment. Thus, the sesquiterpene lactones appear to have more than one mode of action in L1210 cells. All of the modes of actions of helenalin are feasible mechanisms to lower nucleic acid synthesis and cause cell death of the L1210 leukemia cells.     

Synthesis and Cytotoxic Action of 3,5-Isoxazolidinediones and 2-Isoxazolin-5-ones in Murine and Human Tumors

The 3,5-isoxazolidinediones and 2-isoxazolin-5-ones demonstrated potent cytotoxicity against the growth of human Tmolt₃ T cell leukemia, murine P388 and L1210 leukemias, as well as human HeLa-S³ uterine carcinoma and glioma tumor cell growth. The specificity of the 3,5-isoxazolidinedione and 2-isoxazoline-5-one derivatives as cytotoxic agents varied with the histological type of tumor cell. Selected compounds were active against solid HeLa uterine, KB nasopharynx, skin A431, SW-480 adenocarcinoma, osteosarcoma and glioma growth. Selected compounds demonstrated in vivo antineoplastic activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma growth. In L-1210 leukemia cells, the agents blocked DNA and protein synthesis at 25,50 and 100 μM over 60 min. The agents were effective in reducing rate limiting enzymes in the de novo purine and pyrimidine pathways. In addition they suppressed dihydrofolate reductase and ribonucleoside reductase activities with moderate inhibition of DNA and RNA polymerase activities. DNA itself was not a target of the agents.     

Drug sensitivity of ten human tumor cell lines compared to mouse leukemia (L1210) cells

L1210 leukemia cells, because of their rapid growth rate in suspension culture and high growth fraction, are ideally suited to screen in vitro for cytotoxic compounds. Although L1210 cells may mimic rapidly growing tumors, they have not been effective in selecting agents active against slow growing solid tumors. We expected that cell lines originating from human solid tumors, because of their slower growth rate and lower S phase fraction, would be more drug resistant than L1210. Therefore, we compared ten human tumor cell lines (5 melanomas, 4 colon carcinomas and 1 small cell lung carcinoma) to L1210 growth inhibition by 9 anti-tumor drugs. Not one human tumor cell line was consistently more resistant to all nine drugs than L1210 when the cells were exposed to drugs for about 2 doubling times. The drug sensitivity of 2 cell lines (L1210 and SK MEL 28) was again determined after a short term (2 hr) exposure and using growth inhibition and cell survival as end points. For both end points these two cell lines exhibited a random pattern of sensitivity to the drugs tested. Cell kill showed an order of sensitivity different than growth inhibition. The implication of these findings for drug-screening is discussed.     

Protodioscin (NSC-698 796): its spectrum of cytotoxicity against sixty human cancer cell lines in an anticancer drug screen panel

Protodioscin (NSC-698 796) is a furostanol saponin isolated from the rhizome of Dioscorea collettii var. hypoglauca (Dioscoreaceae), a Chinese herbal remedy for the treatment of cervical carcinoma, carcinoma of urinary bladder and renal tumor for centuries. To systematically evaluate its potential anticancer activity, protodioscin was tested for cytotoxicity in vitro against 60 human cancer cell lines in the NCI's (National Cancer Institute, USA) anticancer drug screen. As a result, protodioscin was cytotoxic against most cell lines from leukemia and solid tumors in the NCI's human cancer panel, especially selectively against one leukemia line (MOLT-4), one NSCLC line (A549/ATCC), two colon cancer lines (HCT-116 and SW-620), one CNS cancer line (SNB-75), one melanoma line (LOX IMVI), and one renal cancer line (786 - 0) with GI50 < or = 2.0 microM. In the general view of mean graphs, leukemia, colon cancer and prostate cancer are the most sensitive subpanels, while ovarian cancer is the least sensitive subpanel. Based on an analysis of COMPARE computer program with protodioscin as a seed compound, no compounds in the NCI's anticancer drug screen database have cytotoxicity patterns (mean graphs) similar to those of protodioscin, indicating that a potential novel mechanism of anticancer action is involved.     

The antineoplastic activity of trimethylamine carboxyboranes and related esters and amides in murine and human tumor cell lines

Trimethylamine carboxyboranes including their esters and amides were shown to have antineoplastic activity in vivo against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma growth. The derivatization to the ester or amide did not necessarily improve activity. Cytotoxicity of the derivatives was observed against the growth of murine and human tumor cells. Selectivity was demonstrated by the boron derivatives in the human solid tumor screens. Almost all the compounds demonstrated cytotoxicity against single-cell suspension growths, eg Tmolt3, L1210, HeLa-S3. Selection of two compounds to examine their mode of action in L1210 lymphoid leukemia cells showed that the agents perferentially inhibited DNA synthesis followed by protein and RNA synthesis. The d(TTP) pools were markedly reduced because of inhibition of nucleotide kinase activity. The agents also inhibited regulatory enzymes in the de novo purine pathway and afforded DNA strand scission. These effects by the agents were probably additive to bring about tumor cell death.     

Potential CNS antitumor agents VI: aziridinylbenzoquinones III.

Thirty-one aziridinylbenzoquinones were compared against five murine tumor models in vivo. Two intracerebral (ependymoblastoma and L-1210 leukemia) and three intraperitoneal (P-388 and L-1210 leukemia and B16 melanoma) systems were utilized. Excellent activity was observed for many compounds. Multiple long-term survivors were produced in the ependymoblastoma, P-388, and intraperitoneal L-1210 systems. Diethyl 2,5-bis(1-aziridinyl)-3,6-dioxo-1,4-cyclohexadiene-1,4-dicarbamate demonstrated superior activity in all five test systems. This compound also was reproducibly active against two colon tumors, a mammary tumor, and the intracerebrally implanted P-388 leukemia model.     

Relationship of hypolipidemic and antineoplastic activities of tricyclohexyl- and triphenylphosphine boranes, carboxyboranes, cyanoboranes, and related derivatives.

A series of tricyclohexyl- and triphenylphosphine boranes, carboxyboranes and cyanoboranes were synthesized. These compounds have potent hypolipidemic effects, antineoplastic and antiinflammatory activities in rodents. Furthermore, they demonstrated potent cyctotoxicity against standard human tissue culture lines. The compounds which afforded the best hypolipidemic activity, i.e. greater than 40% reduction of serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, were diphenyl-(4-methylphenyl)-phosphine borane and triphenylphosphine carboxyborane. Other derivatives demonstrated more potent antineoplastic activity against the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma growth including triphenylphosphine cyanoborane, 2-amino-4-methyl-pyridine cyanoborane and 2-amino-pyridine cyanoborane. Most of the derivatives showed good activity against murine L1210 lymphoid leukemia, Tmolt3 human leukemia, uterine HeLaS cells, and human glioma cell growth. Select compounds were active against colon adenocarcinoma, KB nasopharynx, lung bronchogenic and osteosarcoma cell growth. Tricyclohexyl- and triphenylphosphine boranes and the carboxy derivatives of the latter borane demonstrated good antiinflammatory activity.     

4-烷硫基-4-脱氧-4′-去甲表鬼臼毒素的合成和抗肿瘤活性

对4’-去甲表鬼臼毒素的C₄位进行化学修饰,合成和筛选了10个4-烷硫基-4-脱氧-4’-去甲表鬼臼毒素衍生物以进一步研究C₄位不同的原子和取代基与活性之间的关系及寻找结构简单、活性更强的抗肿瘤新药。4’-去甲表鬼臼毒素与硫醇在三氟化硼·乙醚或三氟乙酸存在下生成相应的硫醚,也可用硫醇与4β-溴-4-脱氧-4’-去甲表鬼臼毒素反应生成相应的硫醚。在体外筛选中,化合物10和12抑制L1210白血病细胞的活性与依托泊甙相当或更强,化合物9,10,12和15抑制KB细胞的活性与依托泊甙相当或更强。     

Synthesis, antitumor activity, and mechanism of action of benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h]acridin-7-one analogues of acronycine

Twenty-two derivatives belonging to the cis-1,2-diacyloxy-6-methoxy-3,3,14-trimethyl-1,2,3,14-tetrahydro-7H-benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h]acridin-7-one series were synthesized in nine steps starting from 3,5-dimethoxyacetanilide (5) and 2-methoxy-1-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (7). Most of them exhibited submicromolar cytotoxicity when tested against murine leukemia (L1210) and human epidermoid carcinoma (KB-3-1) cell lines. The cytotoxic activity correlated strongly with the ability of the compounds to form covalent adducts with purified DNA. Among the most active compounds, 25, with IC50 values of 0.7 and 0.15 microM against L1210 and KB-3-1, respectively, was selected for evaluation in vivo against Colon 38 adenocarcinoma implanted in mice. This compound was active at 3 mg/kg i.v. (day 12 and 24) with 3/7 tumor free mice by day 80.