Enhanced anticancer activity of glutamate prodrugs of all‐trans retinoic acid

Objectives All‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA), an active metabolite of vitamin A, is widely used in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. However, its high lipophilicity is thought to be responsible for the slow dissolution and low bioavailability following oral administration. In order to obtain compounds with better solubility characteristics to improve the transportation and bioavailability of ATRA, derivatives of ATRA containing glutamic acid or its sodium salt were synthesised. Methods The ATRA derivatives synthesised – all‐trans retinoyl glutamate (RAE) and all‐trans retinoyl sodium glutamate (RAENa₂) – were characterised in terms of melting point, optical rotation, mass spectrometry, NMR and partition coefficient. A liposomal preparation formed from RAE was characterised by particle size and zeta potential. The anti‐tumour activity of RAE and RAENa₂ was compared with that of ATRA in mice bearing S₁₈₀ tumours and their effects on the cell cycle were determined in human pro‐myelocytic leukaemia HL‐60 cells. Key findings RAE and RAENa₂ were more active than ATRA against tumour growth. Flow cytometry indicated that RAE and RAENa₂ induced HL‐60 cell cycle arrest, similar to ATRA. DNA fragmentation studies suggested that apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms responsible for the anti‐tumour activities. Conclusions The two derivatives of ATRA, RAE and RAENa₂, exhibited improved aqueous solubility and were more effective in mice bearing S₁₈₀ tumours.