Folate analogues. 32. Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-desamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid and related compounds

The chemical synthesis of three close analogues (2-4) of N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolate (PDDF) is described. The quinazoline ring of 2 and 4 was constructed from the pivotal intermediate 9 in a novel and unambiguous manner during the final step of the synthesis under very mild conditions. 2-Desamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolate (DMPDDF) (2) was a strong inhibitor of human and Lactobacillus casei thymidylate synthases, whereas 2-desamino-2-(trifluoromethyl)-N10-propargyl-5,8-didezafolate (3) and 2-desamino-2,3-dimethyl-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolate (4) were only weak inhibitors of this enzyme. DMPDDF exhibited excellent growth inhibition of Manca human lymphoid leukemia and H35 hepatoma cells in culture. The inhibitor activities of 2 were 43- and 65-fold greater than that of PDDF, respectively, in these cell lines. H35R cells that are resistant to methotrexate by virtue of a transport defect were cross resistant to DMPDDF but not to PDDF. H35FF cells which have 70-fold greater amounts of thymidylate synthase compared to H35N cells were 130-fold resistant to DMPDDF. Furthermore, the toxicity of DMPDDF to H35 hepatoma cells could be completely reversed by thymidine, establishing its locus of action as thymidylate synthase. Transport studies in vitro established that DMPDDF effectively inhibits MTX influx into H35 hepatoma cells, whereas PDDF has no effect on MTX transport in this cell line. These data suggest that the greater activity of DMPDDF relative to PDDF is partly due to the ability of the former compound to enter cells via the MTX/reduced folate transport system. Enzyme inhibition data of 4 suggest that the presence of N3H in DMPDDF is essential for binding to thymidylate synthase.     

Quinazoline antifolate thymidylate synthase inhibitors: 2'-fluoro-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid and derivatives with modifications in the C2 position

The synthesis of 2'-fluoro-10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid and its 2-desamino, 2-desamino-2-hydroxymethyl, and 2-desamino-2-methoxy analogues is described. In general the synthetic route involved the coupling of diethyl N-[2-fluoro-4-(prop-2-ynylamino)benzoyl]-L-glutamate with the appropriate 6-(bromomethyl)quinazoline followed by deprotection with mild alkali. These four compounds together with the 2-desamino-2-methyl analogue were tested for their activity against L1210 thymidylate synthase (TS). They were also examined for their inhibition of the growth of the L1210 cell line and of two mutant L1210 cell lines, the L1210:R7A that overproduces dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and the L1210:1565 that has impaired uptake of reduced folates. Compared with their non-fluorinated parent compounds, the 2'-fluoro analogues were all approximately 2-fold more potent as TS inhibitors. Similarly, they also showed improved inhibition of L1210 cell growth (1.5-5-fold), and this activity was prevented by co-incubation with thymidine. All had retained or improved activity against both the L1210:R7A and L1210:1565 cell lines.     

Quinazoline antifolates inhibiting thymidylate synthase: synthesis of four oligo(L-gamma-glutamyl) conjugates of N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid and their enzyme inhibition

The synthesis is described of four oligo(gamma-glutamyl) conjugates of N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid containing a total of two, three, four, and five L-glutamic acid residues. The tert-butyl group was chosen as the carboxyl protecting group in order to obviate the use of alkali and thus the possibility of gamma----alpha transpeptidation. The starting material, di-tert-butyl glutamate, was coupled to N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-glutamic acid alpha-tert-butyl ester via a mixed anhydride with isobutyl chloroformate. Hydrogenolysis of the benzyloxycarbonyl group in the product gave a carboxyl-protected diglutamate, which either was acylated with 4-[(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino] benzoyl chloride to give a protected aminobenzamide or was cycled further by using the above mixed anhydride/hydrogenolysis sequence into tri-, tetra-, and pentaglutamates. Each of the last named was also acylated, as above, to give a benzamide. The benzyloxycarbonyl group in the benzamides was removed by hydrogenolysis and the amino groups thus exposed were N-alkylated with propargyl bromide. The resulting proparglyamines were further alkylated with 2-amino-6-(bromomethyl)-4-hydroxyquinazoline hydrobromide to give the antifolate poly(t-Bu) esters. Deprotection with trifluoroacetic acid in the final step delivered the desired antifolates as their trifluoroacetate salts. The di- to pentaglutamates were, respectively, 31-, 97-, 171-, and 167-fold more inhibitory to WI-L2 human thymidylate synthase than the parent compound.     

Kinetics and mechanism of interaction of 10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolate with thymidylate synthase

The interaction of Lactobacillus casei thymidylate synthase (TS) with 10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolate (NPQ) in the presence of 2'-deoxyuridylate (dUMP) has been investigated. After formation of a rapidly reversible dUMP-NPQ-enzyme complex, a slow isomerization occurs to provide a ternary complex that can be isolated on nitrocellulose membranes or by gel filtration. Unusual features of the isolable complex are the slow rate by which it is formed (t1/2 = 0.88 h) and the slow rate at which it dissociates (t1/2 = 26.5 h). The ternary complexes contain 2 mol of dUMP and 2 mol of NPQ bound per mol of dimeric enzyme. Ultraviolet difference spectra of the dUMP-NPQ-TS complex shows a high wavelength maximum that has been attributed to perturbations of the enzyme and/or ligand chromophores that occur upon binding. Data are presented that suggest that the formation of the isolable ternary complex involves nucleophilic attack by a catalytic thiol group of the enzyme to the 6-position of dUMP. Evidence for this is as follows: first, there is a decrease in the absorbance of the pyrimidine chromophore at 265 nm that occurs at the same rate as the formation of the isolable complex; second, using [6-3H]dUMP there is a large, inverse alpha-secondary kinetic isotope effect (kappa H/kappa T = 0.83) upon formation of the complex that is in accord with sp2 to sp3 rehybridization of the 6-carbon of the heterocycle. Treatment of the complex with sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDodSO4) results in the dissociation of both ligands in an unmodified form, which is consistent with proposed structure of the complex. Isolable ternary complexes are also formed when the enzyme is incubated with 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridylate (FdUMP) and NPQ. Interestingly, the dissociation of FdUMP from these complexes is biphasic, with one-half of the bound nucleotide dissociating at an exceedingly slow rate (t1/2 congruent to 100 h). The findings are discussed with relationship to the possible use of NPQ as an anticancer agent.     

Folate analogues. 26. Syntheses and antifolate activity of 10-substituted derivatives of 5,8-dideazafolic acid and of the poly-gamma-glutamyl metabolites of N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (PDDF)

The poly-gamma-glutamyl derivatives of n10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (PDDF) with a chain length of up to five glutamate residues were synthesized from N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazapteroic acid by the solid-phase procedure. These compounds were evaluated for their antifolate activity using folate-requiring microorganisms and intact and permeabilized L1210 cells and as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthase derived from L. casei. The polyglutamylated derivatives of PDDF (1) were more active than the parent compound in inhibiting the growth of L. casei, thymidylate synthesis in permeabilized L1210 cells, and L. casei thymidylate synthase. Two analogues of 5,8-dideazafolic acid (2 and 3), one with a 2-butyne and another with a cyclopropylmethyl substituent at N10, were also synthesized and evaluated for their antifolate activities using the above-mentioned test systems. They were considerably less active than PDDF or its polyglutamylated derivatives. N10-Propargyl-5,8-dideazapteroyl tri-, tetra-, and pentaglutamates were equipotent with 5-fluorodeoxyuridylate as inhibitors of thymidylate synthesis in permeabilized L1210 cells. The polyglutamyl metabolites of PDDF were shown to be the most potent antifolate inhibitors of L. casei and L1210 thymidylate synthases yet described.     

Synthesis of 10-acetyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid: a potent inhibitor of glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase

10-Acetyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid has been synthesized in good yield from the parent compound, 5,8-dideazafolic acid. This quinazoline folate analogue showed no activity as a substrate for the folate-requiring de novo purine biosynthetic enzyme glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase isolated from the murine lymphoma cell line L5178Y, but proved to be a potent competitive inhibitor, Ki = 1.3 microM, of the purified enzyme.     

Formation and retention and biological activity of N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (CB3717) polyglutamates in L1210 cells in vitro

The formation, retention and biological activity of the polyglutamate metabolites of the thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (CB3717) has been investigated in L1210 murine leukaemia cells grown in vitro. CB3717 polyglutamates were measured by HPLC using high specific activity 3H-CB3717. Following the exposure of cells to 50 microM CB3717 for 6, 12 and 24 hr total cellular radioactivity corresponded to 4.5 +/- 1.5, 6.8 +/- 3.6 and 5.9 +/- 3.4 microM drug derived material, respectively. Of this material, greater than 70%, 57 +/- 3% and 51 +/- 5% was in the form of unchanged CB3717 at 6, 12 and 24 hr respectively. The remaining radioactivity was associated with polyglutamate metabolites of CB3717, predominantly the tetra and pentaglutamate forms. Following the removal of extracellular drug after incubation for 24 hr and resuspension in drug free medium, unchanged CB3717 was lost rapidly from the cells such that after 6 hr it accounted for only 5% of total cellular radioactivity. In contrast, levels of CB3717 tetra and pentaglutamates declined solely due to dilution during cell division. Measurement of the whole cell TS activity by 3H-deoxyuridine incorporation into DNA indicated that, despite the loss of unchanged CB3717 from the cell, enzyme activity remained suppressed (less than 10% of control) for at least 24 hr after resuspension in drug free medium. The TS inhibitory activity of the polyglutamated metabolites of CB3717 was investigated using enzyme purified from L1210 cells. As inhibitors, the metabolites were 26-, 87-, 119- and 114-fold more potent than CB3717 as the di-, tri-, tetra- and pentaglutamate forms, respectively. However, as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase prepared from rat liver, CB3717 polyglutamates were no more than 5-fold More potent than the parent compound. This study has shown that CB3717 can undergo polyglutamation in tumour cells and that the metabolites are preferentially retained giving rise to prolonged TS inhibition. By virtue of their potent TS inhibitory activity these metabolites are, therefore, most probably the intracellular effectors of CB3717 cytotoxicity.     

Folate analogues. 35. Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1-deaza, 3-deaza, and bridge-elongated analogues of N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid

Structural modifications at the pyrimidine ring and at the C9,N10-bridge region of the thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitors N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolate (1; PDDF; CB 3717), 2-desamino-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolate (2, DPDDF), and 2-desamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolate (3, DMPDDF) have been carried out. Methods for the synthesis of 2-desamino-N10-propargyl-1,5,8-trideazafolate (4), 2-desamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-3,5,8-trideazafolate (5a), and 2-desamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideaza-1,2-dihydrofolate (6) have been developed. The bridge-extended analogues isohomo-PDDF (7) and isohomo-DMPDDF (8) contain an additional methylene group interposed between N10 and the phenyl ring of 1 and 3, respectively. All new compounds were evaluated as inhibitors of TS and the growth of tumor cells in culture. Selected analogues were tested as substrates of folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS) and striking differences in substrate activity were observed among these compounds, indicating that structural modifications at the pyrimidine ring of classical antifolates profoundly influence their polyglutamylation. Enzyme inhibition data established that both N1 and N3-H of the pyrimidine ring are essential for efficient binding of quinazoline-type antifolates to human TS.     

The in vitro pharmacology of xamoterol (ICI 118,587).

The effect of xamoterol and (-)-isoprenaline have been compared for their activity at beta-adrenoceptor sites in a number of in vitro cardiac and smooth muscle preparations. Xamoterol produced weak positive chronotropic effects in guinea-pig, rat and cat atria (intrinsic activity less than 0.55, (-)-isoprenaline = 1). Positive inotropic effects were obtained in driven left atria of the cat but were absent in guinea-pig left atrial and right ventricular strip preparations. Agonistic effects were due to beta 1-adrenoceptor stimulation. Xamoterol was without beta-adrenoceptor-mediated inhibitory effects in guinea-pig ileal, tracheal and uterine preparations and in the rat vas deferens and oestrogen-primed uterus. Weak beta 2-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation was obtained in progesterone-primed rat uteri. Xamoterol produced non-specific inhibitory effects in guinea-pig ileal and tracheal preparations. Xamoterol acted as a competitive antagonist at beta 1-(pA2 range = 7.4 to 7.8) and beta 2-adrenoceptors (pA2 range 5.2 to 6.2) and displaced [125I]-iodocyanopindolol from guinea-pig left atrial (pKD = 7.25) and uterine (pKD 5.24) membrane preparations. It is concluded that xamoterol displays a selective affinity for beta 1-adrenoceptors. Although its partial agonistic actions are more evident at beta 1-adrenoceptor sites, like prenalterol, xamoterol displays a degree of tissue rather than receptor-dependent selectivity.     

Studies on the mechanism of antitumor action of 2-desamino-2-methyl-5,8-dideazaisofolic acid

The new folate analogue, 2-desamino-2-methyl-5,8-dideazaisofolic acid, 2c, was synthesized and evaluated using a variety of biochemical and antitumor assays. For purposes of comparison, its 2-desamino, 2b, and 2-amino, 2a, counterparts, as well as N10-propargly-5,8-dideazafolic acid, 1a, and the corresponding 2-desamino, 1b, and 2-desamino-2-methyl, 1c, modifications were included in these studies. Compound 2c was found to be a potent inhibitor of the growth of L1210 and MCF-7 cells in culture, being only 2-fold and 5-fold less effective than 1c, respectively. However, although analogue 2c was 189-fold less inhibitory toward L1210 thymidylate synthase (TS) than 1c, its cytotoxicity was reversed completely by thymidine alone which suggests that the compound behaves as a TS inhibitor in cells. Enzymatically synthesized polyglutamates of 2c were substantially more inhibitory toward human TS than the parent compound. Compound 2c was the most efficient substrate for mammalian folyl-polyglutamate synthetase of the compounds studied having a Vmax/Km nearly 12-fold larger than 1c. Both 1c and 2c were effective inhibitors of the uptake of [3H]methotrexate into MOLT-4 cells, implying that each is efficiently transported into tumor cells. These results suggest that a weak inhibitor of TS in vitro can be a potent cytotoxic agent if it can readily gain entry into target cells and be converted to polyglutamated metabolites.     

N-[4-[[(3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-1,2,3-benzotriazin-6- yl)methyl]amino]benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid, a novel A-ring analogue of 2-desamino-5,8-dideazafolic acid.

N-[4-[[(3,4-Dihydro-4-oxo-1,2,3-benzotriazin-6- yl)methyl]amino]benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid ("2-aza-2-desamino-5,8- dideazafolic acid", ADDF) was synthesized from 2-amino-5-methylbenzamide via a four-step sequence consisting of diazotization, benzylic bromination, condensation with dimethyl N-(4-aminobenzoyl)-L-glutamate, and ester hydrolysis. ADDF was an inhibitor of recombinant mouse thymidylate synthase; inhibition was competitive with 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate as variable substrate (Ki = 2.3 microM). It was a substrate for murine folylpolyglutamate synthetase with kinetic characteristics (Km = 28 microM) comparable to those of aminopterin, and it inhibited the growth of L1210 cells in culture (IC50 = 0.52 microM). The structural modification of the A-ring embodied in ADDF appears to offer a novel, heretofore unexplored approach to the design of TS inhibitors.     

Folate analogues. 21. Synthesis and antifolate and antitumor activities of N10-(cyanomethyl)-5,8-dideazafolic acid

A close analogue of the antileukemic agent 5,8-dideaza-N10 propargylfolic acid (2) was synthesized by replacing the propargyl moiety of 2 with a cyanomethyl group. This compound, N10-(cyanomethyl)-5,8-dideazafolic acid (3), was evaluated for its antifolate and antitumor activities in several biological test systems. Alkylation of diethyl N-(4-aminobenzoyl)-L-glutamate with bromoacetonitrile gave diethyl N-[4-[(cyanomethyl)amino]benzoyl]-L-glutamate (7). Reaction of 7 with 2 amino-6-(bromomethyl)-4-hydroxyquinazoline (9) in dimethylacetamide gave the corresponding diethyl ester 11, which was hydrolyzed to the target compound 3. The known antileukemic agent 2 was also synthesized for comparative studies by employing a modified procedure, which resulted in a better yield of this product. Both compounds 2 and 3 were evaluated for their antifolate activities by using two folate-requiring microorganisms, Streptococcus faecium and Lactobacillus casei. They were further evaluated as inhibitors of thymidylate synthase and dihydrofolate reductase derived from the above organisms, as well as for their antitumor activity by using selected tumor cells in culture. Compound 2 was found to be as equally potent as methotrexate (MTX) against S. faecium, and it was an excellent inhibitor of L. casei thymidylate synthase. The cyanomethyl analogue 3 was less active than 2 in all the test systems, except the inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase.     

Syntheses and thymidylate synthase inhibitory activity of the poly-gamma-glutamyl conjugates of N-[5-[N-(3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxoquinazolin-6-ylmethyl)-N-methylamino ]-2-thenoyl]-L-glutamic acid (ICI D1694) and other quinazoline antifolates.

Thirteen poly-gamma-glutamates derived from several novel antifolates have been synthesized by a convergent route. The syntheses of poly-gamma-glutamyl conjugates of N-[5-[N-(3,4-dihydro-2- methyl-4-oxoquinazolin-6-ylmethyl)-N-methylamino]-2-theno yl]-L-glutamic acid (8) (ICI D1694), 2-desamino-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (6), 2-desamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (7), 2-desamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-2'-fluoro-5,8-dideazafolic acid (9), and 2-desamino-2-methyl-4-chloro-N10-propargyl-2'-fluoro-3,5,8-trideazafo lic acid (11) are described. A key step in the route involves coupling of an alpha-tert-butyl-protected poly-gamma-glutamate of the required chain length to the appropriate 5,8-dideazapteroic acid, obtained by carboxypeptidase G2 cleavage of the parent monoglutamate, if available, or by chemical synthesis. Deprotection with trifluoroacetic acid in the final step gave the desired poly-gamma-glutamyl antifolates as their trifluoroacetate salts. As inhibitors of thymidylate synthase, these polyglutamates were more potent in every case than the corresponding non-polyglutamylated drug.     

Modulation of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine response by folinic acid in human colonic tumor cell lines: the role of thymidylate synthase

Recent investigations have revealed a significant increase in cytotoxic response to (5-fluoropyrimidine, FP) agents in the presence of the folate folinic acid (CF). It has been suggested that CF provides a source of intracellular reduced folates which, in turn, enhances the inhibition of the cellular target thymidylate synthase (TS) by the FP metabolite 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridylate (FdUMP). The extent of variation in the response to FP-CF combinations is unknown but it is an important consideration in view of the utilization of these combinations for the therapy of colorectal carcinoma. In the present study, variation in the response to 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd)-CF combinations was observed between two human colorectal tumor cell lines, RCA and C. The response of both cell lines to FdUrd increased with increasing CF, but the effect was more pronounced in cell line RCA. RCA was 4-fold less responsive than cell line C to FdUrd at low CF concentrations, whereas both cell lines exhibited similar sensitivity at high CF concentrations. RCA accumulated lower levels of TS folate cosubstrates after CF than did C; however, this was not the sole mechanism accounting for the differential response to FdUrd-CF. The two cell lines responded differently to equivalent intracellular levels of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (CH2H4PteGlu) derivatives, the folate ligands involved in tight-binding inhibition of TS by FdUMP. The differential response to CH2H4PteGlu was not due to lack of folate polyglutamation; the predominant CH2H4PteGlu derivative in both cells was the hexaglutamate form. The difference in response to CH2H4PteGlu was associated with a reduction in the affinity of the RCA TS for CH2H4PteGlu, relative to the C enzyme. Thus, a cell line has been identified that responds poorly to FdUrd at physiological levels of CF and that contains a variant TS enzyme.     

The pharmacology of sildenafil, a novel and selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase (PDE) type 5

Sildenafil (1-[4-ethoxy-3-(6,7-dihydro-1-methyl-7-oxo-3-propyl-1H-pyrazolo [4,3-d]pyrimidin-5-yl) phenylsulphonyl]-4-methylpiperazine) has been shown to be an effective oral treatment for male erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil is a potent competitive inhibitor of PDE5 (IC50 3.5 nM) and is selective over PDE1 to 4 (80 to 19,000-fold) and retinal PDE6 (10-fold). Sildenafil enhanced cGMP accumulation driven with sodium nitroprusside in the corpus cavernosum of rabbits without affecting cAMP formulation. In the absence of nitric oxide drive, sildenafil had no functional effect on the human and rabbit isolated corpus cavernosum, but potently potentiated the relaxant effects of nitric oxide on these tissues. In the anaesthetised dog, sildenafil (ED50: 12 to 16 micrograms/kg i.v.) enhanced the increase in intracavernosal pressure induced by electrical stimulation of the pelvic nerve or intracavernosal injection of sodium nitroprusside in the absence of meaningful effects on blood pressure. Consistent with its mode of action, sildenafil potentiated the vasorelaxant effects of glyceryl trinitrate on rabbit isolated aortic rings. However, unlike milrinone, sildenafil had no inotropic effects on the dog isolated trabeculae carneae. Thus it is unlikely to have the deleterious effects on cardiac function associated with PDE3 inhibitors. As a consequence of inhibition of PDE6 in the retina, sildenafil (1 to 100 microM) altered the kinetics of the light response of the dog isolated retina. In the anaesthetised dog, sildenafil modified the a- and b-wave of the electroretinogram induced by a flash of blue light. These effects were proportional to plasma concentrations, were fully reversible and only occurred following plasma concentrations higher (approximately 30-fold) than those active on intracavernosal pressure. These studies have shown that sildenafil is a potent and selective inhibitor of PDE5. It enhances the effect of nitric oxide on the corpus cavernosum and has been shown to be an effective oral treatment of erectile dysfunction.