Discrepancy between cytotoxicity, platinum accumulation, and DNA platination in MCF-7 breast cancer cells treated with diaqua (1,2-diphenylethylenediamine) platinum (II) sulfates and cisplatin.

Cisplatin (cis), raceme-diaqua[1,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine] platinum(II) sulfate (r-4F-PtSO4), meso-diaqua[1,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]platinum(II) sulfate (m-4F-PtSO4), and meso-diaqua[1,2-bis(2,6-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine] platinum(II) sulfate (m-2,6Cl2-4OH-PtSO4) were compared with regard to their growth inhibitory effect on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. At concentrations of 5 microM, cis, r-4F-PtSO4, and m-4F-PtSO4 were essentially equiactive, whereas m-2,6Cl2-4OH-PtSO4 was ineffective. Platinum measurements by neutron activation analysis showed that a 24-h treatment of the MCF-7 cells with r-4F-PtSO4 and m-4F-PtSO4 caused a 22.3- and 10.3-fold accumulation, respectively, whereas the accumulation factors for cis (2.55) and m-2,6Cl2-4OH-PtSO4 (1.83) were very low. The comparison of DNA-associated platinum revealed a similar tendency. After 24 h of drug exposure, the base pair/ platinum ratios were: 2.1.10(4) for r-4F-PtSO4, 3.7.10(4) for m-4F-PtSO4, 6.1.10(4) for cisplatin, and 8.1. 10(4) for m-2,6Cl2-4OH-PtSO4. Thus, the grade of cytotoxicity was correlated neither with the extent of cellular platinum enrichment nor with the degree of genomic DNA platination.

New antagonists of bombesin gastrin-releasing Peptide with C-terminal leu-psi-(ch2n)tac-nh2.

Several new pseudononapeptide bombesin/GRP analogs containing C-terminal Leu Psi(CH2N)Tac-NH2 with variations at the N-terminus, corresponding to position 6 of bombesin, have been synthesized in order to develop more potent Bn antagonists for the hormonal therapy of cancers. The biological activities of the new compounds were evaluated in vitro by investigating their ability to inhibit the binding of [I-125-Tyr(4)]Bn and to suppress the GRP(14-27)-stimulated DNA synthesis in quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells. All compounds investigated inhibited the binding of [I-125-Tyr(4)]Bn, suppressed the GRP(14-27)-induced proliferation of Swiss 3T3 cells in a dose-dependent manner and proved to act as Bn antagonists without agonistic activity. Two of the newly synthesized pseudononapeptides [Hca(6), Leu(13)Psi(CH2N)-Tac(14)]Bn(6-14) (RC-3940-II) and [D-Nal(6), Leu(13)Psi (CH2N)Tac(14)]Bn(6-14) (RC-3965-II) exhibited higher binding affinities to Swiss 3T3 cells than the Bn/GRP antagonist RC-3095 and the recently developed compound [D-Phe(6), Leu(13)Psi(CH2N) Tac(14)]Bn(6-14) (RC-3950-II). RC-3940-II caused 50% inhibition of the specific binding of [I-125-Tyr(4)]Bn to Swiss 3T3 cells at concentrations less than 1 pM and suppressed by 50% the GRP(14-27)-induced proliferation of Swiss 3T3 cells at doses one order of magnitude lower than RC-3095. This study demonstrates the importance of the nature of the N-terminus in addition to the C-terminal Leu Psi(CH2N)Tac-NH. The elimination of the free amino group in the aromatic residue in position 6 appears to increase the antagonistic activity. These findings suggest the merit of further investigations of this class of Bn/GRP antagonists for their antitumor activities in various cancers.

Potent bombesin antagonists with C-terminal Leu-psi(CH2-N)-Tac-NH2 or its derivatives.

Various pseudononapeptide bombesin (BN)-(6-14) antagonists with a reduced peptide bond (CH2-NH) between positions 13 and 14 can suppress the mitogenic activity of BN or gastrin-releasing peptide in 3T3 fibroblast cells and small cell lung carcinoma. In the search for more potent BN antagonists, 10 modified nonapeptide BN antagonists containing N-terminal D-Phe, D-Cpa, and D- or L-Tpi and C-terminal Leu-psi(CH2-N)-Tac-NH2, Leu-psi(CH2-N)-MeTac-NH2, or Leu-psi(CH2-N)-Me2Tac-NH2 have been synthesized by incubating [13 psi 14,CH2-NH,Cys14]BN-(6-14) or [13 psi 14-CH2-NH,Pen14]BN-(6-14) with formaldehyde or acetaldehyde (Cpa = 4-chlorophenylalanine, Tac = thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, Tpi = 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H- pyrido[3,4-b]indol-3-carboxylic acid, and Pen = penicillamine). The biological activities of these compounds were then evaluated. [D-Phe6,13 psi 14,CH2-N,Tac14]BN-(6-14) (RC-3950-II) and [D-Phe6,13 psi 14,CH2-N,Me2Tac14]BN-(6-14) (RC-3985-II) exhibited greater potency in inhibition of 125I-labeled [Tyr4]BN binding to Swiss 3T3 cells than their parent compounds [D-Phe6,13 psi 14,CH2-NH,Cys14]BN-(6-14) (RC-3950-I) and [D-Phe6,13 psi 14,CH2-NH,Pen14]BN-(6-14) (RC-3985-I). The order of binding affinities of these compounds was as follows: [13 psi 14,CH2-N,Tac14]BN-(6-14) > [13 psi 14,CH2-N,Me2Tac14]BN-(6-14) > [13 psi 14,CH2-N,MeTac14]BN-(6-14). In most cases, the analogs with C-terminal Leu-psi(CH2-N)-Tac-NH2 were also more potent growth inhibitors of 3T3 cells than compounds containing C-terminal Leu-psi(CH2-N)-Me2Tac-NH2 or Leu-psi(CH2-N)-MeTac-NH2. The best BN antagonists of this series, RC-3950-II and [D-Cpa6,13 psi 14,CH2-N,Tac14]BN- (6-14) (RC-3925-II), inhibited gastrin-releasing peptide-stimulated growth of Swiss 3T3 cells with IC50 values of 1 nM and 6 nM, respectively. Since antagonists of this class inhibit growth of various tumors in animal cancer models, some of them may have clinical applications.

Inhibitory effects of analogs of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone on the growth of the androgen-independent Dunning R-3327-AT-1 rat prostate cancer.

The effects of treatment with the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) antagonist SB-75 and agonist [D-Trp6] LH-RH were investigated in Copenhagen rats bearing the anaplastic, androgen-independent Dunning R-3327-AT-1 prostatic adenocarcinoma implanted orthotopically into the ventral lobes of prostate glands. The LH-RH antagonist SB-75 and the LH-RH agonist [D-Trp6] LH-RH were administered from osmotic minipumps and the survival time of animals bearing this cancer was evaluated. Treatment with SB-75 and [D-Trp6] LH-RH significantly prolonged the mean survival time of rats by 4.1 days and 4.5 days, respectively. In cell cultures, proliferation of the AT-1 cell line was strongly inhibited by the antagonist SB-75, but only a moderate suppression of tumor cell growth in vitro was observed with the agonist [D-Trp6] LH-RH. Receptor assays on Dunning R-3327-AT-1 tumor membranes showed high-affinity binding sites for LH-RH, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Receptors for EGF were significantly down-regulated by treatment with SB-75. Therapy with SB-75 also decreased EGF levels in tumor tissue to non-detectable levels, as measured by specific RIA. Our results demonstrate that the LH-RH antagonist SB-75 and agonist [D-Trp6] LH-RH inhibit the growth of androgen-independent Dunning R-3327-AT-1 prostatic cancer in vivo and in vitro.

Characterization of high-affinity receptors for bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide on the human prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and DU-145: internalization of receptor bound 125I-(Tyr4) bombesin by tumor cells.

Specific receptors for bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) on the androgen-independent human prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and DU-145 were characterized. No specific binding of 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin to the androgen-dependent human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP was detectable. The binding of 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin to PC-3 and DU-145 cells was found to be time- and temperature-dependent, saturable, and reversible. Scatchard analysis revealed a single class of binding sites with high affinity (Kd 9.8 x 10(-11) M for PC-3, and 9.1 x 10(-11) M for DU-145 cells at 25 degrees C) and with a binding capacity of 44,000 binding sites/cell and 19,000 binding sites/cell, respectively. Bound 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin was rapidly internalized by PC-3 cells. The nonhydrolyzable GTP analog GTP-gamma-S caused a dose-dependent inhibition of 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin binding to PC-3 and DU-145 cells, indicating that a G-protein (guanine nucleotide-binding protein) couples the bombesin receptor to intracellular effector systems. Bombesin and GRP(14-27) inhibited the binding of 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin to both cell lines in a dose-dependent manner with inhibition constants (Ki) of 0.5 nM and 0.4 nM, respectively. Both cell lines express the bombesin/GRP preferring bombesin receptor subtype, since, in displacement studies, neuromedin B was more than 200 times less potent than bombesin and GRP(14-27) in inhibiting the binding of 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin. Two synthetic bombesin/GRP antagonists, RC-3095 and RC-3110, powerfully inhibited the specific binding of 125I-[Tyr4]-bombesin with Ki 0.92 nM and 0.26 nM on PC-3 cells, and 3.3 nM and 0.89 nM on DU-145 cells, respectively. These findings indicate that the PC-3 and DU-145 human prostate cancer cell lines possess specific high-affinity receptors for bombesin/GRP, and are suitable models for the evaluation of the antineoplastic activity of new bombesin/GRP antagonists in the treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Inhibitory effects of antagonists of bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) and somatostatin analog (RC-160) on growth of HT-29 human colon cancers in nude mice.

Nude mice bearing xenografts of HT-29 human colon cancer cell line were treated for 4 weeks with somatostatin analog (RC-160), bombesin/gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) antagonists (RC-3095 and RC-3440). In three separate experiments somatostatin analog RC-160 (50 micrograms/day) released from microgranules significantly reduced tumor growth. Bombesin/GRP antagonists, RC-3095 and RC-3440 injected subcutaneously (s.c.) twice daily at a dose of 10 micrograms had the greatest and consistently significant inhibitory effect on tumor growth. RC-3095 given once daily s.c. at a dose of 20 micrograms was less effective. RC-3095 also inhibited metastatic tumor growth after intrasplenic injection of HT-29 cells in nude mice. Specific binding sites of somatostatin, bombesin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were detected on intact HT-29 cells or on the membranes from HT-29 tumor xenografts. The inhibitory effects of bombesin antagonists on tumor growth were consistently linked with a significant down-regulation of EGF receptors. Bombesin/GRP antagonists and somatostatin analogs could be considered for the development of new hormonal therapies for colon cancer.

Inhibitory effects of somatostatin analogue RC-160 and bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide antagonist RC-3095 on the growth of the androgen-independent Dunning R-3327-AT-1 rat prostate cancer.

The effects of somatostatin analogue RC-160 and bombesin/gastrin releasing-peptide (GRP) antagonist RC-3095 were evaluated in Copenhagen rats bearing the anaplastic, androgen-independent Dunning R3327-AT-1 prostatic adenocarcinoma. In the first experiment, RC-160 was given in the form of microcapsules releasing 60 micrograms/day/rat. RC-3095 was administered from implanted Alzet osmotic minipumps liberating 100 micrograms/day/rat. After 32 days, tumor volumes and weights were significantly reduced by RC-160 as compared with the control group. Tumor doubling time in rats treated with RC-160 was significantly longer than in controls. Bombesin/GRP antagonist RC-3095 also significantly reduced tumor volume after 7 days of treatment, but after 18 days the inhibition in tumor volume was no longer significant. Tumor growth was not suppressed by castration. In the second experiment, 3-mm3 fragments of Dunning R-3327-AT-1 tumor were implanted orthotopically into the prostates of Copenhagen rats in order to evaluate the survival time of animals bearing this cancer during treatment with RC-160 released from Alzet osmotic minipumps at a dose of 100 micrograms/day/rat. Treatment with RC-160 significantly (P < 0.05) prolonged the mean survival time of rats by 5.3 days as compared to control animals. In both experiments, therapy with RC-160 significantly decreased serum growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor I levels. In the first experiment, receptor assays on R-3327-AT-1 tumor membranes showed high affinity binding sites for somatostatin, bombesin, and epidermal growth factor. At the end of the treatment, receptors for epidermal growth factor were significantly down-regulated by treatment with RC-160 but not with RC-3095. The binding capacity of bombesin receptors was reduced to nondetectable levels after the treatment with RC-3095. In cell cultures, high affinity binding sites for bombesin/GRP were found on intact Dunning R-3327-AT-1 cells, but receptors for somatostatin could not be detected. Proliferation of the AT-1 cell line was significantly inhibited by antagonist RC-3095. However, no effect on tumor cell growth in vitro was observed with analogue RC-160. Our results demonstrate that somatostatin analogue RC-160 and bombesin/GRP antagonist RC-3095 can inhibit the growth of the androgen-independent Dunning R-3327-AT-1 prostatic cancer in rats, although the remission produced by RC-3095 may be of short duration due to a down-regulation of bombesin receptors. Our work suggests the merit of further investigation as to whether these analogues can induce a possible delay in relapse and prolong survival in prostate cancer.

Dichloro-[1-(hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylethylenediamine]platinum(II) complexes: testing on the human ovarian cancer cell lines NIH: OVCAR3 and SK OV 3.

The diastereoisomeric dichloro-[1-(2-, 3- and 4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylethylenediamine]platinum(II) complexes were tested on two human ovarian cancer cell lines NIH: OVCAR-3 and SK-OV-3, both resistant against cisplatin. Dichloro-[threo-1-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylethylenediamine]platinum(II) (threo-5-PtCl2) proved to be the most active representative of the new series, producing cytocidal effects at a concentration range of 2.5 to 5.0 microM on the NIH: OVCAR-3 cell line. On the more resistant SK-OV-3 cell line, threo-5-PtCl2 was only moderately active, while in combination with BSO, a GSH level lowering compound, threo-5-PtCl2 showed a strong synergistic effect.

[1,2-Bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II), a new compound for the therapy of ovarian cancer. II. Synthesis and preliminary testing of the enantiomeric complexes.

The enantiomeric [1,2-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II) complexes were synthesized and their configuration assessed. A preliminary test in the cisplatin-resistant human NIH:OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cell line, which was previously characterized by its sensitivity against several therapeutically used drugs, showed that both enantiomers produce cytocidal effects in a concentration of 2.5 microM. A difference between the enantiomers became evident from the faster onset of cytocidal activity of the S,S-configurated compound.

[1,2-Bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II), a new compound for the therapy of ovarian cancer. III. Detailed evaluation of the antitumor activity of the enantiomeric complexes on the human NIH:OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cell line.

The stereoisomeric [1,2-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II) complexes were thoroughly tested on the cisplatin-resistant human NIH:OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cell line. The racemate and its enantiomers produced cytocidal effects at a concentration of 2.5 microM (incubation time 256 h). The meso form, however, was merely cytostatically active. Differences between the enantiomers became evident after a short drug incubation time (1 h) followed by an incubation in drug-free medium (243 h). The S,S-configurated enantiomer (-)-3-PtCl2 proved to be the most active compound. To achieve cytocidal effects concentrations of 2.5-5.0 microM and incubation times of about 3 h were necessary for (-)-3-PtCl2. This compound is also sufficiently stable under test conditions as shown by the preincubation in cell-free medium for 3 h. These results and the augmentation of its antitumor activity by buthionine sulfoximine recommend the further preclinical development of (-)-3-PtCl2 for clinical use.

Chemosensitivity of human MCF-7 breast cancer cells to diastereoisomeric diaqua(1,2-diphenylethylenediamine) platinum(II) sulfates and specific platinum accumulation.

Cisplatin, raceme-diaqua[1,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]platinu m(II) sulfate (compound I), meso-diaqua[1,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]-platinum(II) sulfate (compound II), and meso-diaqua[1,2-bis(2,6-dichloro-4- hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]platinum(II) sulfate (compound III) were compared with regard to their effect on the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line in vitro. At equimolar concentrations (5 microM), cisplatin, compound I, and compound II were equiactive after 231 h drug exposure, whereas compound III was ineffective. Although compounds I and II showed markedly greater inactivation than did cisplatin after 6 h incubation with culture medium, compound I (but not compound II) exhibited antitumor activity equivalent to that of cisplatin when cells were exposed to the drugs for 6 h. Platinum measurements by neutron-activation analysis revealed that compound I was selectively and rapidly accumulated by MCF-7 cells, resulting in a high degree of DNA platination within the first few hours of drug exposure. However, when the drug-exposure period was long enough, platinum enrichment was not reflected in an overall difference in the cytotoxicity of compound I vs cisplatin. Nevertheless, compound I should be superior to cisplatin in vivo, provided that effective plasma levels can be maintained for about 6 h.

Standardized kinetic microassay to quantify differential chemosensitivity on the basis of proliferative activity.

Conventionally in vitro cytotoxicity assays are performed as single-end-point determinations. To compensate for the diversity of growth rates among different cell lines in this report we describe a computerized kinetic chemosensitivity assay based on quantification of biomass by staining cells with crystal violet. As a prerequisite four human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, T-47-D and ZR-75-1) were characterized with regard to oestrogen and progesterone receptor content, modal chromosome number and proliferation kinetics depending on the number of passages in culture. With prolonged time in culture for ZR-75-1 exposed to various concentrations of cisplatinum a dose-related increase in drug effect was observed. Owing to a correction of the T/C values for the initial cell mass (at the time when drug is added) a sharp distinction between cytostatic and cytocidal drug effects becomes obvious in plots of corrected T/C values versus time of incubation. The influence of the untreated control on the corrected T/C values and possible time courses of theoretical inhibition profiles (reflecting cytostatic, transient cytotoxic or cytocidal drug effects as well as development of resistance) and their relationship to the corresponding growth curves of drug-treated cells are discussed. Chemosensitivity assays with diethylstilbestrol dipropionate, tamoxifen, melphalan, cisplatinum, vinblastine, Adriamycin and 5-fluorouracil prove the theoretical considerations to be true for MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, T-47-D and ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cell lines in practice.

Tumor inhibiting [1,2-bis(difluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum (II) complexes, I: Synthesis.

The synthesis of the diastereomeric 1,2-bis(2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, 3,4-, 3,5-difluorophenyl)ethylenediamine (meso, D/L 8-13) from meso 1,2-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine and the respective difluorobenzaldehyde by a diaza-Cope-rearrangement and their conversion into the [1,2-bis(2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, 3,4-, 3,5-difluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]dihaloplatinum(II)- complexes (meso, D/L 8-13 PtCl2; meso D/L 9- and 11-PtI2) with K2PtHal4 (Hal = Cl, I) is described. From the diiodoplatinum(II)-complexes (meso D/L 9- and 11-PtI2) the better water soluble diaqua[1,2-bis(2,4- and 2,6-difluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]platinum(II) sulfates (meso, D/L 9- and 11-PtSO4) are obtained by reaction with Ag2SO4.

Computerized determination of growth kinetic curves and doubling times from cells in microculture.

In this paper we describe the microcomputer-aided determination of cell proliferation kinetics and doubling times utilizing a crystal violet assay and a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay in microtitration plates. The analysis of spectrophotometric data provides the doubling times at any time of incubation. Plots of doubling time versus time of incubation give reproducible information on the exact duration of the logarithmic growth phase. This method is applicable to anchorage-dependent as well as anchorage-independent cells when colorimetric or fluorometric data are accessible.

Tumor inhibiting [1,2-bis(fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]platinum(II) complexes, III: Evaluation of the mammary tumor inhibiting properties.

Diastereomeric diaqua[1,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]platinum(II) sulfates and nitrates produce a strong inhibition of the hormone-dependent MXT-M 3.2 mammary carcinoma of the B6D2F1 mouse. Besides an interference in the DNA synthesis in analogy to cisplatin a lowering of the estrogen level due to an interference in steroid biosynthesis is suggested as the mode of action. In contrast to the R,R/S,S configurated diaqua[1,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]platinum(II) salts the corresponding R,S configurated compounds are also markedly active on the hormone-independent MXT-Ovex mammary carcinoma of the B6D2F1 mouse.

Tumor inhibiting [1,2-bis(fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]platinum(II) complexes. Part II: Biological evaluation-in vitro studies on the P 388 D1 leukemia cell line.

Experiments on the P 388 D1 cell line (48 h exposure) demonstrate that [1,2-bis-(fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]platinum(II) complexes are comparably active on the cell number and 3H-thymidine incorporation, irrespective of the position of the fluorine atom (ortho, meta, or para) and the nature of the "leaving group" (Cl- or H2O). However, the compounds of the R,R/S,S series are more active than those of the R,S series and comparable to cisplatin. In the "tumor colony forming assay" the R,R/S,S configurated compounds are about ten times as active as cisplatin. The R,R/S,S configurated diaqua[1,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]platinum(II) salts reach their half maximum effect more readily (t1/2 approximately equal to 1.6 h) than their R,S configurated analogues (t1/2 approximately equal to 20 h). A time limited contact of the cells with R,R/S,S configurated diaqua[1,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]platinum(II) salts (-1h) leads to a similar inhibition like a permanent drug exposure indicating a fast uptake of the complex by the tumor cell. In experiments on the Ehrlich ascites tumor of the mouse and on the L 1210 leukemia cell line R,R/S,S-[1,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II) turns out to be equipotent with cisplatin.

Tumor-inhibiting [1,2-bis(fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]platinum(II) complexes. V. Synthesis and evaluation of enantiomeric [1,2-bis-(4-fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II) complexes.

The enantiomeric [1,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II) complexes were synthesized and tested on the hormone-sensitive human MCF7 breast cancer cell line and on the P388 leukemia of the mouse. They showed a strong and comparable activity on both tumor models.