Synthesis and biological evaluation of neutral and zwitterionic 3-carboranyl thymidine analogues for boron neutron capture therapy

Novel 3-carboranyl thymidine analogues (3CTAs) were synthesized as potential boron delivery agents for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). This library includes six zwitterionic NH(3)(+)-nido-m-carborane-substituted thymidine analogues (Thds) and the corresponding neutral NH(2)-closo-m-carborane-substituted counterparts. All compounds of this library were good substrates for recombinant human thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) with phosphorylation rates up to 89% relative to that of Thd. One compound out of this library, 3-[3-(7-NH(3)(+)-nido-m-carboran-1-yl)propan-1-yl]thymidine (19b), showed selective retention in TK1-expressing murine L929 wild-type tumors versus L929 TK1 (-) tumors in biodistribution studies. The biological evaluation of the zwitterionic NH(3)(+)-nido-m-carborane-substituted Thds indicated improved aqueous solubility and similar or even superior potential as BNCT agents compared with different classes of 3CTAs (Cancer Res. 2004, 64, 6280-6286 and 6287-6295). To complete previous structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, 3-[(closo-o-carboranyl)methyl]thymidine (4) was also synthesized and evaluated.