Computational modeling and synthesis of pyridine variants of benzoyl-phenoxy-acetamide with high glioblastoma cytotoxicity and brain tumor penetration.

Glioblastomas are highly aggressive brain tumors for which therapeutic options are very limited. In a quest for new anti-glioblastoma drugs, we focused on specific structural modifications to the benzoyl-phenoxy-acetamide (BPA) structure present in a common lipid-lowering drug, fenofibrate, and in our first prototype glioblastoma drug, PP1. Here, we propose extensive computational analyses to improve the selection of the most effective glioblastoma drug candidates. Initially, over 100 structural BPA variations were analyzed and their physicochemical properties, such as water solubility (- logS), calculated partition coefficient (ClogP), probability for BBB crossing (BBB_SCORE), probability for CNS penetration (CNS-MPO) and calculated cardiotoxicity (hERG), were evaluated. This integrated approach allowed us to select pyridine variants of BPA that show improved BBB penetration, water solubility, and low cardiotoxicity. Herein the top 24 compounds were synthesized and analyzed in cell culture. Six of them demonstrated glioblastoma toxicity with IC50 ranging from 0.59 to 3.24 µM. Importantly, one of the compounds, HR68, accumulated in the brain tumor tissue at 3.7 ± 0.5 µM, which exceeds its glioblastoma IC50 (1.17 µM) by over threefold.

Computational modeling and synthesis of Pyridine variants of Benzoyl-Phenoxy-Acetamide with high glioblastoma cytotoxicity and brain tumor penetration.

Glioblastomas are highly aggressive brain tumors for which therapeutic options are very limited. In a quest for new anti-glioblastoma drugs, we focused on specific structural modifications of benzoyl-phenoxy-acetamide (BPA) present in a common lipid-lowering drug, fenofibrate, and in our first prototype glioblastoma drug, PP1. Here, we propose extensive computational analyses to improve selection of the most effective glioblastoma drug candidates. Initially over 100 structural BPA variations were analyzed and their physicochemical properties such as water solubility (-logS), calculated partition coefficient (ClogP), probability for BBB crossing (BBB_SCORE), probability for CNS penetration (CNS-MPO) and calculated cardiotoxicity (hERG), were evaluated. This integrated approach allowed us to select pyridine variants of BPA that show improved BBB penetration, water solubility, and low cardiotoxicity. Herein the top 24 compounds were synthesized and analyzed in cell culture. Six of them demonstrated glioblastoma toxicity with IC50 ranging from 0.59 to 3.24mM. Importantly, one of the compounds, HR68, accumulated in the brain tumor tissue at 3.7+/-0.5mM, which exceeds its glioblastoma IC50 (1.17mM) by over 3-fold.

Preclinical Activity of 4-Demethyl-4-cholesteryloxycarbonylpenclomedine in Melanoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Temozolomide plays a role in treating melanoma refractory to immunomodulatory and mitogen-activated protein kinase-targeted approaches, but its efficacy is limited. 4-Demethyl-4-cholesteryloxycarbonylpenclomedine (DM-CHOC-PEN) is a polychlorinated pyridine cholesteryl carbonate. Its mechanism of action is considered to be via alkylation/adduct formation with N7-guanine. It demonstrated activity in intracranial implanted human glioma and breast cancer xenograft mouse models. The activity of DM-CHOC-PEN in melanoma models was assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: B-16 melanoma cells were exposed to DM-CHOC-PEN at different concentrations to assess proliferation and survival. B-16 cells were implanted subcutaneously into the flank of adult female C57BL mice which were then were treated with 200 mg/kg DM-CHOC-PEN intraperitoneally daily for 5 days in the setting of palpable subcutaneous tumor. Survival was compared to mice treated with temozolomide or saline. Five mice were treated per group. RESULTS: In vitro, the respective half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of DM-CHOC-PEN and temozolomide were 0.5 and ≥3.0 µg/ml. Floating, heavily melanotic cells formed and these cells were separated, analyzed, and contained 10-90 ng DM-CHOC-PEN per 105 cells. The improvement in survival of mice treated with DM-CHOC-PEN or temozolomide relative to saline controls was 142% and 78%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Longer survival was seen with DM-CHOC-PEN in a C57BL murine model relative to temozolomide and saline-treated controls, supporting the development of clinical trials assessing the efficacy of DM-CHOC-PEN as treatment for metastatic melanoma.

Anti-glioblastoma effects of phenolic variants of benzoylphenoxyacetamide (BPA) with high potential for blood brain barrier penetration.

Glioblastomas are the most aggressive brain tumors for which therapeutic options are limited. Current therapies against glioblastoma include surgical resection, followed by radiotherapy plus concomitant treatment and maintenance with temozolomide (TMZ), however, these standard therapies are often ineffective, and average survival time for glioblastoma patients is between 12 and 18 months. We have previously reported a strong anti-glioblastoma activity of several metabolic compounds, which were synthetized based compounds, which were synthetized based on the chemical structure of a common lipid-lowering drug, fenofibrate, and share a general molecular skeleton of benzoylphenoxyacetamide (BPA). Extensive computational analyses of phenol and naphthol moieties added to the BPA skeleton were performed in this study with the objective of selecting new BPA variants for subsequent compound preparation and anti-glioblastoma testing. Initially, 81 structural variations were considered and their physical properties such as solubility (logS), blood-brain partitioning (logBB), and probability of entering the CNS calculated by the Central Nervous System-Multiparameter Optimization (MPO-CNS) algorithm were evaluated. From this initial list, 18 compounds were further evaluated for anti-glioblastoma activity in vitro. Nine compounds demonstrated desirable glioblastoma cell toxicity in cell culture, and two of them, HR51, and HR59 demonstrated significantly improved capability of crossing the model blood-brain-barrier (BBB) composed of endothelial cells, astrocytes and pericytes.

Exploring anticancer activity of structurally modified benzylphenoxyacetamide (BPA); I: Synthesis strategies and computational analyses of substituted BPA variants with high anti-glioblastoma potential.

Structural variations of the benzylphenoxyacetamide (BPA) molecular skeleton were explored as a viable starting point for designing new anti-glioblastoma drug candidates. Hand-to-hand computational evaluation, chemical modifications, and cell viability testing were performed to explore the importance of some of the structural properties in order to generate, retain, and improve desired anti-glioblastoma characteristics. It was demonstrated that several structural features are required to retain the anti-glioblastoma activity, including a carbonyl group of the benzophenone moiety, as well as 4'-chloro and 2,2-dimethy substituents. In addition, the structure of the amide moiety can be modified in such a way that desirable anti-glioblastoma and physical properties can be improved. Via these structural modifications, more than 50 compounds were prepared and tested for anti-glioblastoma activity. Four compounds were identified (HR28, HR32, HR37, and HR46) that in addition to HR40 (PP1) from our previous study, have been determined to have desirable physical and biological properties. These include high glioblastoma cytotoxicity at low µM concentrations, improved water solubility, and the ability to penetrate the blood brain barrier (BBB), which indicate a potential for becoming a new class of anti-glioblastoma drugs.

Anticancer potential of aminomethylidene-diazinanes I. Synthesis of arylaminomethylidene of diazinetriones and its cytotoxic effects tested in glioblastoma cells.

Diazinane and aryl moieties with vinylamine linkers were synthesized to investigate the importance of their structural variations as potential anti-glioblastoma agents. Structural variations incorporated on to the diazinane moiety included oxa and thio derivatives, each with a variety of nitrogen-bound substituents. The size and shape of the aromatic moiety was varied, with the final variation introducing two carbonyl groups, yielding a substituted anthraquinone. Readily available diazinanes and aryl amines were used asan advantageous foundation. Several parameters were calculated whilst engineering these compounds, including: ClogP, molecular polarizability, polar surface area, minimal molecular projected area, and pKa. In addition, a simple and efficient procedure was developed to synthesize these compounds. It was demonstrated that a vinylamine with 1,3-diazinane-2,4,6-trione and 1-anthraquinone moiety is the most promising drug candidate causing almost 70% of LN229 tumor cell death at 1µg/ml. In addition, its molecular polarizability, polar surface area and minimal molecular projected area indicate a possible potential of this molecule for crossing BBB.

Synthesis of N-aryl and N-arylcarbamoylamino derivatives of 1,3-diazinane-5-carboxamide and their activity against glioblastoma LN-229 cell line.

Six structural motifs based on the initial (lead) structure of merbarone were designed, prepared, and tested against the glioblastoma LN-229 cell line. Three different structural moieties were modified in the search for optimal glioblastoma activity: the 1,3-diazinane moiety, the aryl moiety, and the heteroatom linker. Calculated molecular descriptors such as lipophilicity (ClogP), acidic strength (calculated pKa), and polar surface area (PSA) were used to design a diverse structural library of these compounds. From six different structural motifs and 136 compounds, a handful of examples with moderate (100µg/ml), good (10µg/ml) and excellent (1µg/ml) glioblastoma activity were elucidated.

Potent antimicrobial agents against azole-resistant fungi based on pyridinohydrazide and hydrazomethylpyridine structural motifs.

Schiff base derivatives have recently been shown to possess antimicrobial activity, and these derivatives include a limited number of salicylaldehyde hydrazones. To further explore this structure-activity relationship between salicylaldehyde hydrazones and antifungal activity, we previously synthesized and analyzed a large series of salicylaldehyde and formylpyridinetrione hydrazones for their ability to inhibit fungal growth of both azole-susceptible and azole-resistant species of Candida. While many of these analogs showed excellent growth inhibition with low mammalian cell toxicity, their activity did not extend to azole-resistant species of Candida. To further dissect the structural features necessary to inhibit azole-resistant fungal species, we synthesized a new class of modified salicylaldehyde derivatives and subsequently identified a series of modified pyridine-based hydrazones that had potent fungicidal antifungal activity against multiple Candida spp. Here we would like to present our synthetic procedures as well as the results from fungal growth inhibition assays, mammalian cell toxicity assays, time-kill assays and synergy studies of these novel pyridine-based hydrazones on both azole-susceptible and azole-resistant fungal species.

Trafficking through the late endosome significantly impacts Candida albicans tolerance of the azole antifungals.

The azole antifungals block ergosterol biosynthesis by inhibiting lanosterol demethylase (Erg11p). The resulting depletion of cellular ergosterol and the accumulation of "toxic" sterol intermediates are both thought to compromise plasma membrane function. However, the effects of ergosterol depletion upon the function of intracellular membranes and organelles are not well described. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of azole treatment upon the integrity of the Candida albicans vacuole and to determine whether, in turn, vacuolar trafficking influences azole susceptibility. Profound fragmentation of the C. albicans vacuole can be observed as an early consequence of azole treatment, and it precedes significant growth inhibition. In addition, a C. albicans vps21Δ/Δ mutant, blocked in membrane trafficking through the late endosomal prevacuolar compartment (PVC), is able to grow significantly more than the wild type in the presence of several azole antifungals under standard susceptibility testing conditions. Furthermore, the vps21Δ/Δ mutant is able to grow despite the depletion of cellular ergosterol. This phenotype resembles an exaggerated form of "trailing growth" that has been described for some clinical isolates. In contrast, the vps21Δ/Δ mutant is hypersensitive to drugs that block alternate steps in ergosterol biosynthesis. On the basis of these results, we propose that endosomal trafficking defects may lead to the cellular "redistribution" of the sterol intermediates that accumulate following inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis. Furthermore, the destination of these intermediates, or the precise cellular compartments in which they accumulate, may be an important determinant of their toxicity and thus ultimately antifungal efficacy.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of substituted salicylaldehyde hydrazones, hydrazides and sulfohydrazides.

Efficient synthetic procedures for the preparation of acid hydrazines and hydrazides were developed by converting the corresponding carboxylic acid into the methyl ester catalyzed by Amberlyst-15, followed by a reaction with hydrazine monohydrate. Sulfohydrazides were prepared from the corresponding sulfonyl chlorides and hydrazine monohydrate. Both of these group of compounds were condensed with substituted salicylaldehydes using gradient concentration methods that generated a large library of hydrazone, hydrazide and sulfohydrazide analogs. Antifungal activity of the prepared analogs showed that salicylaldehyde hydrazones and hydrazides are potent inhibitors of fungal growth with little to no mammalian cell toxicity, making these analogs promising new targets for future therapeutic development.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of substituted 2,4,6-pyrimidinetrione carbaldehyde hydrazones.

Opportunistic fungal infections caused by the Candida spp. are the most common human fungal infections, often resulting in severe systemic infections-a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in at-risk populations. Azole antifungals remain the mainstay of antifungal treatment for candidiasis, however development of clinical resistance to azoles by Candida spp. limits the drugs' efficacy and highlights the need for discovery of novel therapeutics. Recently, it has been reported that simple hydrazone derivatives have the capability to potentiate antifungal activities in vitro. Similarly, pyrimidinetrione analogs have long been explored by medicinal chemists as potential therapeutics, with more recent focus being on the potential for pyrimidinetrione antimicrobial activity. In this work, we present the synthesis of a class of novel hydrazone-pyrimidinetrione analogs using novel synthetic procedures. In addition, structure-activity relationship studies focusing on fungal growth inhibition were also performed against two clinically significant fungal pathogens. A number of derivatives, including phenylhydrazones of 5-acylpyrimidinetrione exhibited potent growth inhibition at or below 10µM with minimal mammalian cell toxicity. In addition, in vitro studies aimed at defining the mechanism of action of the most active analogs provide preliminary evidence that these compound decrease energy production and fungal cell respiration, making this class of analogs promising novel therapies, as they target pathways not targeted by currently available antifungals.

Antifungal activity of 2α,3ß-functionalized steroids stereoselectively increases with the addition of oligosaccharides.

Invasive fungal infections pose a significant problem to the immune-compromised. Moreover, increased resistance to common antifungals requires development of novel compounds that can be used to treat invasive fungal infections. Naturally occurring steroidal glycosides have been shown to possess a range of functional antimicrobial properties, but synthetic methodology for their development hinders thorough exploration of this class of molecules and the structural components required for broad spectrum antifungal activity. In this report, we outline a novel approach to the synthesis of glycoside-linked functionalized 2α,3ß-cholestane and spirostane molecules and present data from in vitro screenings of the antifungal activities against human fungal pathogens and as well as mammalian cell toxicity of these derivatives.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of functionalized 2,3-spirostane isomers.

Invasive fungal infections are a major complication for individuals with compromised immune systems. One of the most significant challenges in the treatment of invasive fungal infections is the increased resistance of many organisms to widely used antifungals, making the development of novel antifungal agents essential. Many naturally occurring products have been found to be effective antimicrobial agents. In particular, saponins with spirostane glycosidic moieties-isolated from plant or marine species-have been shown to possess a range of antimicrobial properties. In this report, we outline a novel approach to the synthesis of a number of functionalized spirostane molecules that can be further used as building blocks for novel spirostane-linked glycosides and present results from the in vitro screenings of the antifungal potential of each derivative against four fungal species, including Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida glabrata, and the filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus.

Novel and efficient synthesis and antifungal evaluation of 2,3-functionalized cholestane and androstane derivatives.

Synthetic modifications of cholesterol and other traditional steroid molecules have become a promising area for the exploration and development of novel antifungal agents, especially with respect to the development of fatty-acid esters of steroids. In addition, 2,3-functionalized steroids are also compounds with potentially interesting biological properties and proper functionalization of 2,3-steroids can lead to the development of efficient syntheses of building blocks for novel fatty-acid esters of steroids. In this Letter, we outline a novel and efficient approach to the synthesis of 2,3-functionalized cholestane and androstane derivatives and present their promising preliminary antifungal activities against a number of fungal species.

Electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry study of cyclodextrin complexes with A007 prodrugs.

Electrospray-ionization mass spectrometric (ESIMS) studies of several A007 prodrugs in aqueous cyclomaltohexaose (alpha-cyclodextrin, alpha-CD), cyclomaltoheptaose (beta-cyclodextrin, beta-CD), and cyclomaltooctaose (gamma-cyclodextrin, gamma-CD) were performed. The acetic acid derivative of A007 should metabolize in vivo before becoming the A007 prodrug, while on the other hand, the glycine-modified A007 prodrug has surfactant-like physical properties and slowly hydrolyzed in the aqueous cyclodextrins by releasing free A007. ESIMS studies give insight into the process of prodrug hydrolysis in the presence of cyclodextrins and, hence, the influence of cyclodextrins on the timely release of the A007 prodrug. Formation of various molecular aggregates and cyclodextrin inclusion complexes of A007 prodrugs and their hydrolyzed products was demonstrated by ESIMS.

Carbonate and carbamate derivatives of 4-demethylpenclomedine as novel anticancer agents.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to synthesize a series of carbonate and carbamate derivatives of 4-demethylpenclomedine (DM-PEN), the major plasma non-toxic metabolite of penclomedine (PEN) seen in patients. DM-PEN has been observed to be an active antitumor agent in mouse human xenograft tumor models and non-neurotoxic in a rat model, however, activity in intracranially implanted human glioma xenograft models have not been reported. The major goal was to identify derivatives that are active in brain tumors. METHODS: Derivatives were prepared from DM-PEN and evaluated in vivo against human U251 glioblastoma, D54 glioblastoma and MX-1 breast tumor xenografts and mammary tumor 16/C that were implanted in the mammary fat pad or intracranially (IC). RESULTS: Carbonate and carbamate derivatives were found to be superior to DM-PEN against IC growing human glioblastoma xenografts. CONCLUSION: The activity of the carbonates and carbamates against human tumor xenografts in vivo suggests consideration of these two series of derivatives of DM-PEN for clinical development.

NMR spectroscopic study of cyclodextrin inclusion complexes with A-007 prodrugs.

One- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy was used to demonstrate the formation of inclusion cyclodextrin complexes with several A-007 prodrugs. These complexes are comprised from the encapsulation of the two phenol moieties of the A-007 prodrugs within the cyclodextrin cavity. Considering the size of the two phenol moieties of the A-007 prodrugs compared to the sizes of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrin cavities, we observed complementary binding of the A-007 prodrug with only beta-cyclodextrin, which was also demonstrated spectroscopically. The beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes increased the prodrug solubility and modified the prodrug half-life in water. Therefore, beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes can be used as an essential form of A-007 prodrug delivery.

Cyclomaltooligosaccharide-assisted spectroscopic discrimination of phthalimido-derived amino acids through the formation of molecular aggregates.

Spectroscopic evidence was used to demonstrate the formation of molecular associates in an aqueous solution of phthalimido tryptophan. These molecular associates are loosely formed through pi-pi aromatic stacking, properties that are not sufficient to cause NMR spectroscopic enantiomeric discrimination. A cyclomaltooligosaccharide with a larger cavity, such as cyclomaltooctaose (gamma-cyclodextrin), is capable of forming a ternary complex with these molecular associates and enhances pi-pi aromatic stacking interactions, resulting in NMR enantiomeric discrimination. Electrospray-ionization mass spectroscopy (ESIMS) and NOESY two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic methods were used to study these complexes. Association constants and thermodynamic data for these cyclomaltooligosaccharide complexes were also estimated.

Cyclomaltooligosaccharide (cyclodextrin)-assisted enantiomeric recognition of benzo[lmn][3,8]phenanthroline-derived amino acids.

Formation of self-assembly molecular aggregates and cyclomaltooligosaccharide (cyclodextrin) molecular aggregates with benzo[lmn][3,8]phenanthroline-derived amino acids is presented. The nature of the molecular aggregates was studied by negative-ion electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS). The enantiomeric recognition was demonstrated by NMR enantiomeric discrimination of the amino acid derivatives in aqueous solutions of cyclodextrins.

Comparative preclinical toxicology and pharmacology of isophosphoramide mustard, the active metabolite of ifosfamide.

BACKGROUND: Isophosphoramide mustard (IPM) is the cytotoxic alkylating metabolite of Ifosfamide (IFOS). IPM is being readied for a phase I clinical trial. In the present preclinical study, IPM was evaluated for usage in multidose intravenous (IV) infusion protocols. METHODS: Mice and dogs received IV IPM daily for 3 days. Single-day dosing-oral and IV-to mice, rats, and monkeys is also reviewed for comparison. Complete toxicology studies were completed in the mice and dogs. For mice, dogs and monkeys, IV pharmacokinetic studies were conducted and compared. RESULTS: For mice, the LD(10) for the 3-day IV schedule for IPM was calculated to be 119 mg/kg (with 95% confidence limits of 87-134 mg/kg) (combined sexes), and for adult male dogs the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was 5 mg/kg. Pharmacokinetic studies in mice, dogs and monkeys were compared and projected to human dosing. For dogs that received 10 mg/kg of IPM, T(1/2beta) was 0.99 h, and clearance was constant (1.01 l/h/kg). IPM was detected from 0 h to 1.5 h after the 5 mg/kg dose and from 0 h to 2 h after the 10 mg/kg dose; none was detected after 2 h. The IV MTD in dogs was 5 mg/kg per day for 3 days. Renal tubular necrosis and bone marrow failure were the causes of death. Transient liver, renal and bone marrow toxicity and gastrointestinal dysfunction were seen at low doses (<5 mg/kg) in dogs. In mice (receiving 100 mg/kg IV) plasma concentrations disappeared in less than 1 h (T(1/2alpha) 2 min), with a clearance of 8.44 l/h/kg. For monkeys, the mean T(1/2) was 4.2 h. Median clearance was 1.65 l/h/kg and no IPM was detected 4 h after dosing. No potential IPM metabolites could be detected in any of the studies. In vitro, plasma protein bound 90% of IPM within 5 min of incubation. CONCLUSIONS: Predictions for human pharmacokinetic parameters and dosing are made from allometric analysis using the above three species. Data predicted an acceptable starting dose of 30 mg/m(2) with a clearance of 39.5 l/h, and a T(1/2) of 1 h 45 min for a 70-kg patient.