Recent advances in the discovery and development of quinolones and analogs as antitumor agents.

Compounds that interact with DNA or microtubules by multiple mechanisms and cause diverse cytotoxic lesions are potential targets for anticancer drug development. Accordingly, a relatively new approach to the rational design of antitumor agents is based on the quinolone class of antibacterials. Their mechanism of antibacterial action involves inhibition of DNA gyrase, and numerous new quinolones do exhibit antitumor activity. Thus, these new quinolone structures display a novel mode of action for the quinolone class as antitumor agents. The potential for quinolones to be used as topoisomerase II inhibitors, as well as antimitotic agents, is reviewed with a focus on recent discoveries and development of antitumor quinolones, especially related work in the author's laboratory.

Recent progress in the development of tubulin inhibitors as antimitotic antitumor agents.

Tubulin protein is a major target of drug molecules, and consequently, tubulin inhibitors have attracted great attention as antimitotic antitumor agents for chemotherapeutic use. Hundreds of synthetic or semisynthetic tubulin inhibitors have been discovered and developed recently that are related to the natural products colchicine, vinblastine, and taxol. Representatives include allothiocolchicinoids, vinorelbine, and taxotere. This review will describe the recent progress being made in the development of novel antimitotic antitumor tubulin inhibitors. The emphasis has been placed on related research in the author's laboratory, including development of colchicine derivatives and other colchicine binding site drugs, such as flavonoids and quinolone derivatives. Syntheses and modifications of novel compounds, biological activity evaluation, and structural activity relationships will be discussed as well. Further research will undoubtedly lead to the discovery of additional tubulin inhibitors that have potential for use as anticancer drugs.

In vitro evaluation of phosphocholine and quaternary ammonium containing lipids as novel anti-HIV agents.

A series of synthetic lipids containing a two- or three-carbon backbone substituted with a thio, oxy, or amidoalkyl functionality and either a phosphocholine or quaternary ammonium moiety was evaluated as potential anti-HIV-1 agents. Several analogues were identified as possessing activity with the most promising compound being rac-3-octadecanamido-2-ethoxypropylphosphocholine (8). Compound 8 exhibited an IC50 for the inhibition of plaque formation of 0.16 microM which was 84-fold lower than the IC50 value determined for CEM-SS cell growth inhibition. Initial mechanistic studies have indicated that these compounds, unlike AZT, are not reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors, but instead appear to inhibit a late step in HIV replication involving virus assembly and infectious virus production. Since these lipids are acting via a different mechanism, they represent an alternative approach to the chemotherapeutic treatment of AIDS as well as candidates for combination therapy with AZT.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel thymidine analogs as antitumor and antiviral agents.

Two series of thymidine analogs with a hydroxyalkylammonium(amine) moiety have been synthesized and evaluated for antitumor and antiviral activities. The hydroxyalkylammonium-(amine) group was introduced at the 5' position of the 2'-deoxyribose residue of thymidine or at a corresponding position in acyclic thymidine analogs. In order to increase the lipophilicity of these compounds and potentially enable them to cross the cell membrane, the free hydroxy group also was esterified with a long hydrocarbon chain. The hexadecanoyl analogs (compounds 1c, 1d, 7c, and 7d) showed moderate antitumor cytotoxicity against SV-28 and KB cell lines (IC50 approximately 20 microM). Compound 1d showed moderate anti-HIV activity (EC50 = 6.8 microM), while compound 5 showed weak anti-HIV activity (EC50 = 55 microM). None of the compounds showed antiherpes simplex virus activity.

Synthesis of sulfur analogues of alkyl lysophospholipid and neoplastic cell growth inhibitory properties.

Five sulfur-containing phospholipid analogues (compounds 1-5) of alkyl lysophospholipid (1-O-alkyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine, ALP) were synthesized and tested for inhibition of neoplastic cell proliferation with two human ovarian carcinoma cell lines in a clonogenic assay and with the HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cell line. Compared with 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (ET-18-OMe), the most active reference analogue, these thio analogues are at least as active against HL-60 cells, and the 1-S-hexadecyl-2-O-ethyl analogue (2) is twice as active in the clonogenic assays.

Synthesis of phosphocholine and quaternary amine ether lipids and evaluation of in vitro antineoplastic activity.

The in vitro antineoplastic activity of many phosphorus-containing (e.g., phosphocholines) and non-phosphorus-containing (e.g., quaternary ammonium salts) ether lipids has been evaluated in the HL-60 promyelocytic cell line. These compounds are analogues of ET-18-OMe (1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine). Structural modification of 1-(alkylamido)-, -(alkylthio)-, and -(alkyloxy)propyl backbones has provided further insight into the structure-activity relationships of these lipids. In this study, a long saturated C-1 chain and a three-carbon backbone with a single short C-2 substituent were preferred. At the positively charged nitrogen of phosphocholines, fewer than three substituents caused a significant loss of activity, and substituents larger than methyl decreased activity slightly. In the nonphosphorus compounds, many nitrogen heterocycles and also a sulfonium moiety were incorporated without changing the degree of activity; however, a thiazolium group decreased activity. The most active compound, 29 [N-[3-(hexadecyloxy)-2-methoxypropyl]-3-(hydroxymethyl)pyridinium bromide], was approximately twice as active as the reference standard, ET-18-OMe, in a trypan blue dye exclusion assay.

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of 2-acetyl-4,8-dihydrobenzodithiophene-4, 8-dione derivatives.

2-Acetyl-4,8-dihydrobenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-4,8-dione (9) and 2-acetyl-4,8-dihydrobenzo[1,2-b:5,4-b']dithiophene-4,8-dione (19), together with 10 related mono- and disubstituted derivatives, were synthesized and evaluated in vitro by NCI against eight cancer types. All compounds showed significant activity against melanoma, HL-60 leukemia, NCI-H23 non-small-cell lung cancer, OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer, and MDA-MB-435 and MDA-N breast cancer cell lines. Compound 11, 2-(1'-acetoxyethyl)-4,8-dihydrobenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-4, 8-dione, showed the highest overall potency (mean GI50 = 40 nM).

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of 1,2-disubstituted naphth[2,3-d]imidazole-4,9-diones and related compounds.

As part of our continuing search for potential anticancer drug candidates that are selective against slowly growing solid tumors, we have synthesized several series of 1- and 2-substituted derivatives of the lead structure, 1-ethyl-2-methylnaphth[2,3-d]imidazole-4,9-dione (5). Their cytotoxic activity in the National Cancer Institute's in vitro cancer cell line panel is reported. In general, substitution of various alkyl, phenyl, or benzyl moieties did not improve activity, and compound 5 remains the most active naphth[2,3-d]imidazole-4,9-dione derivative. However, high levels of activity and selectivity were found with several related 2-(acylamino)-3-chloro-1,4-naphthoquinones (2f-j). Compound 2i, 2-[(2-fluorophenyl)acetamido]-3-chloro-1,4-naphthoquinone, has been selected for further in vivo testing and as an additional lead compound for further structural modification.

Synthesis of quaternary amine ether lipids and evaluation of neoplastic cell growth inhibitory properties.

Novel quaternary amine ether lipids have been synthesized and tested for inhibition of neoplastic cell proliferation with the HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cell line. These compounds contain a positively charged quaternary amine functional group attached either directly to the glycerol backbone or at the end of an alkoxy chain. The biological testing has identified several analogues with activity equivalent to or greater than that exhibited by the reference compound in this assay, ET-18-OMe (1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine). Among the most active analogues are compounds 11, [N,N,N-triethyl-3-(hexadecyloxy)-2-ethoxy-1-propylammonium bromide] and 22 [N-[4-[3-(hexadecyloxy)-2-ethoxypropoxy]-1-butyl]pyridinium bromide], which are approximately 3 times as active as the reference standard.

Synthesis and biological activity of novel quaternary ammonium derivatives of alkylglycerols as potent inhibitors of protein kinase C.

Alkylglycerols such as rac-1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methylglycerophosphochocholine (Et-18-OMe) have shown an inhibitory effect on the metastasis and growth of various cancer cell lines. Alkyl phospholipids have been shown to accumulate at the surface in several cell lines, the selectivity of which is still not clearly understood. A consequence of this action may lead to the inhibition of cell membrane related protein kinase C (PKC). The goal of this research was to develop ether lipid inhibitors of PKC to augment antineoplastic activity. This led to the synthesis and in vitro testing of a series of novel quaternary ammonium derivatives of alkylglycerols. The biological testing of these analogues on PKC stimulated with rac-1-O-oleoyl-2-O-acetylglycerol showed several analogues with inhibition comparable to that of Et-18-OMe.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel ether lipid nucleoside conjugates for anti-HIV-1 activity.

Combinations of an amidoalkylphosphocholine, 8, and AZT have been found to cause an apparent synergistic action in suppressing infectious HIV-1 replication. In addition, amidoalkyl, oxyalkyl, and thioalkyl ether lipids have been chemically linked to anti-HIV-1 nucleosides (AZT and DDI) through phosphate and phosphonate linkages. These conjugates have shown promising in vitro anti-HIV-1 activity. Also, the conjugates have a 5-10-fold reduction in cell cytotoxicity compared to AZT alone. The most active compound, an amidoalkyl ether lipid-AZT conjugates, 4A, was found to have a differential selectivity of 1793 in a syncytial plaque assay. In comparison, AZT alone has a value of 1281.

Membrane-interactive phospholipids inhibit HIV type 1-induced cell fusion and surface gp160/gp120 binding to monoclonal antibody.

Membrane-interactive phospholipids (PLs), previously evaluated for activity against HIV-1 in vitro, are known to affect late steps in viral replication. Studies were done to determine the effects of PL analogs on post-translational processing of HIV-1 proteins, binding of viral surface gp160/gp120 to CD4 receptor, and HIV-1-induced cell fusion. Results of this investigation indicated that PL alone (1-octadecanamido-2-ethoxypropyl-rac-3-phosphocholine, CP-51) and PL-AZT conjugate (1-octadecanamido-2-ethoxypropyl-rac-3-phospho-3'- azido-3'-deoxythymidine, CP-92) have no effect on HIV-1-induced syntheses or processing of gp160/gp120, pr51, p24, or p17 (including myristoylation) in infected cells. Progeny HIV-1 particles made in CP-92-treated H9IIIB cells contained gp120, pr51, and p24; however, these virus particles had reduced capacity to bind to CD4+ cells. Both CP-51 and CP-92 inhibited syncytium (cell fusion) formation between treated HIV-1-infected cells and uninfected CD4+ cells, and, they reduced HIV-1 gp160/gp120 binding to CD4+ cells and monoclonal antibody. These results suggest that anti-HIV-1 activity of PL compounds involves alteration of cell surface membranes and viral envelopes. Phospholipid compounds are a novel class of membrane interactive compounds with potential use in blocking the spread of HIV-1 infection and pathogenesis in AIDS.

Cellular metabolism in lymphocytes of a novel thioether-phospholipid-AZT conjugate with anti-HIV-1 activity.

We previously synthesized a thioetherphospholipid-AZT conjugate (3'-azido-3'-deoxy-5'-(1-hexadecylthio-2-methoxypropyl)-phosphothymidine, CP-102) with potent anti-HIV-1 activity and significant reduction in cell cytotoxicity compared to AZT alone. To study the cellular metabolism of the conjugate compound we synthesized a double-tritium-labeled thioetherphospholipid-AZT conjugate (3'-azido-3'-deoxy-5'-(1-[9,10-3H]-S-octadecylthio-2-O-methoxypropyl)-phosphothymidine-[methyl-3H], [3H]CP-102). The intracellular radioactive metabolic products of [3H]CP-102 treated human lymphoblastoid CEM-SS cells were analyzed by HPLC and thin-layer chromatography. Results of this investigation provide evidence that a putative intracellular lipid cleavage enzyme metabolizes [3H]CP-102 to form a thioetherdiglyceride compound that migrates with an authentic 1-S-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-thioglycerol standard on TLC. The thioetherdiglyceride metabolite did not react with the ninhydrin reagent indicating it did not contain a primary amine such as that found on serine or ethanolamine containing phospholipids. Also, the product did not contain a phosphatidic acid group based on migration characteristics in the TLC plate. The other major hydrophilic metabolite was 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine-[methyl-3H]-monophosphate (AZT-MP) with lesser amounts of AZT, AZT-DP and AZT-TP. In summary, the best interpretation of these data is that the thioetherphospholipid-AZT conjugate, [3H]CP-102, is cleaved by a putative intracellular lipid cleavage enzyme to release a thioetherdiglyceride compound and AZT-MP. The resulting AZT-MP was either dephosphorylated to AZT or sequentially phosphorylated to AZT-DP and, ultimately, to AZT-TP, the known inhibitory metabolite against HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Phospholipid-nucleoside conjugates may provide a unique approach for developing anti-HIV-1 prodrugs that do not have a strict requirement for a nucleoside kinase for initial activation of the prodrug to an antiviral form.

In vitro evaluation and characterization of newly designed alkylamidophospholipid analogues as anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 agents.

Our laboratories first reported two novel classes of complex synthetic lipids, including alkylamidophosphocholines (PC lipid; CP-51) and alkylamidophosphate ester-linked lipid-AZT conjugates (lipid-AZT conjugates; CP-92), with selective and potent activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). To extend these observations, we synthesized additional PC lipids and lipid-AZT conjugates (INK and INK-AZT conjugate) to evaluate their structure-activity relationships by testing for selectivity against infectious wild-type (wt) and drug-resistant HIV-1 replication, virus fusogenic activity and toxicity for mouse bone marrow cells. PC lipid compounds with medium chain lengths at positions 1 and 2 gave an improved selective index (SI). INK-3, with 12 and 8 carbons and INK-15, with 10 and 12 carbons were among the most selective when evaluated in CEM-SS cells. INK-14, a lipid-AZT conjugate where AZT replaced the choline in PC lipid INK-3, gave the highest SI of > 1250 against both infectious wt HIV-1 replication in CEM-SS cells and a clinical isolate in peripheral blood leukocytes. Notably, the PC lipid compounds INK-3 and INK-15, but not the lipid-AZT conjugate INK-14, were potent inhibitors of matched pairs of AZT-sensitive and AZT-resistant HIV-1 clinical isolates. INK-3 also inhibited replication of HIV-2 and TIBO-resistant HIV-1, and inhibited HIV-1-mediated fusogenic activity by 78, 41 and 9% in a dose-dependent manner. The TC50 for mouse bone marrow cells was > 100 micrograms/ml for INK-3 compared to 9.15-14.17 micrograms/ml for CP-51 and 0.142-0.259 microgram/ml for AZT. These data suggest that optimum PC lipid compounds are significantly less toxic than AZT and have high potential as novel therapeutic agents for AIDS.

Structure-activity relationships for enhancement of paracellular permeability by 2-alkoxy-3-alkylamidopropylphosphocholines across Caco-2 cell monolayers.

The oral route is the preferred route of delivery for a large number of drug molecules. However, the intestinal epithelium presents a formidable barrier for delivery of drugs into systemic circulation. Phospholipids are among compounds that enhance the absorption of drugs across the intestinal epithelium. In this paper, we describe structure-activity relationships for phospholipid derivatives as enhancers of paracellular permeability across Caco-2 cell monolayers. In a series of 2-alkoxy-3-alkylamidopropylphosphocholine derivatives, compounds with a long chain at C-3 (R3) and short chain at C-2 (R2) were potent in causing a decrease in transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and an increase in mannitol transport, but also showed significant cytotoxicity. Compounds with 9-11 carbons at C-3 and 6-10 carbons at C-2 provided good separation (up to 2.7-fold) between activity and cytotoxicity. Notably, a good correlation (r2 = 0.93) was observed between EC(50) (TEER) [concentration that caused a drop in TEER to 50% of its control (untreated) value] and EC10x (mannitol) [concentration that caused 10-fold increase in mannitol transport over the control (untreated) value], confirming that a decrease in TEER is associated with enhanced permeability of the hydrophilic compounds across Caco-2 cell monolayers. Compounds with medium to long carbon chains at C-2 and C-3, and the total carbons in the alkyl chains > 20, showed poor activity and no cytotoxicity.

Multigram synthesis of 1-alkylamido phospholipids.

Phospholipids containing a 1-alkylamido linkage have shown promising in vitro neoplastic cell growth inhibitory properties and anti-human immunodeficiency viral activity. We have synthesized a series of alkylamido ether lipid analogues on a milligram scale for initial evaluation, but for further in vivo testing of these bioactive phospholipids, synthesis on a larger scale is required. The multigram synthesis of 1-alkylamido ether phospholipids was accomplished by modifying reaction conditions in the amidation step and changing reagents and solvent systems in both the detritylation and phosphorylation steps. This was most crucial in the phosphorylation step, where in the multigram synthesis 2-bromoethyl dichlorophosphate in diethyl ether/tetrahydrofuran (7:3, vol/vol) gave much improved yields as compared to the 2-chloro-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane reagent. The modifications also resulted in a product that could be more easily purified in sufficient quantities for use in in vivo inhibition studies.

Ether lipids inhibit the effects of phorbol diester tumor promoters.

Recent studies have shown that the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulates protein kinase C (PKC), whereas the ether-linked phospholipid 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (ET-18-OCH3) inhibits PKC activity in vitro. Therefore, the antitumor effects of ET-18-OCH3 could be due to its inhibition of PKC activity and the effects of tumor promotion. TPA stimulates arachidonic acid release, prostaglandin synthesis, phosphatidylcholine synthesis and the degradation of phosphatidylcholine by phospholipase C in Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Therefore, we have determined the effects of ET-18-OCH3 on these consequences of TPA stimulation. Preliminary experiments determined that ET-18-OCH3 inhibited PKC partially purified from MDCK cells by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. In addition, ET-18-OCH3 inhibited the TPA-stimulated phosphorylation of a 40,000-dalton protein in intact MDCK cells. These data indicate that ET-18-OCH3 is an effective inhibitor of PKC activity in MDCK cells. In addition, ET-18-OCH3 was found to inhibit arachidonic acid release and prostaglandin synthesis. The inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis appears to be secondary to inhibition of arachidonic acid release, since ET-18-OCH3 does not inhibit TPA-stimulated synthesis of prostaglandin H synthase or the activity of the enzyme directly (Parker, J., Daniel, L. W., and Waite, M. [1987] J. Biol. Chem. 262, 5385-5393). ET-18-OCH3 also inhibits TPA-stimulated phosphatidylcholine synthesis and phosphatidylcholine degradation by phospholipase C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Selective priming of rate and duration of the respiratory burst of neutrophils by 1,2-diacyl and 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl diglycerides. Possible relation to effects on protein kinase C.

Both 1,2-diacyl- and 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycerols are released during stimulation of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL). 1,2-Diacylglycerols have received intense interest as intracellular "second messengers" due to their ability to activate protein kinase C (Ca2+ phospholipid-dependent enzyme). However, little is known about bioactivities of the alkylacylglycerols. This study compared the ability of 1,2-diacyl- and 1-O-alkyl-2-acylglycerols to modulate the respiratory burst of stimulated PMNL, a response which depends on the activation of an NADPH oxidase to generate bactericidal species of reduced oxygen. Direct stimulation by N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe caused an abrupt release of H2O2 which ceased within 2.5 min. Preincubation with diacylglycerols (1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol,5-30 microM, and 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol,2-5 microM) caused a decrease in lag time, 3-fold increase in initial rate of H2O2 release, and marked prolongation of the response to N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (features characteristic of a priming effect). Preincubation with alkylacylglycerols (1-O-delta 9-octadecenyl-2-acetylglycerol, 5-30 microM, and 1-O-octyl-2-octanoylglycerol, 20-50 microM) primed initiation (shortened lag time and increased velocity) but, in contrast to diacylglycerols, did not alter duration of H2O2 release. While low concentrations of diacylglycerols (5-30 microM) primed PMNL, higher concentrations (greater than or equal to 70 microM) stimulated the cells directly. In contrast, higher (70-100 microM) concentrations of alkylacylglycerols did not prime the responses but, in fact, inhibited priming (especially of duration) induced by diacylglycerol. The high concentrations of alkylacylglycerol also inhibited direct stimulation induced by high concentrations of diacylglycerol. Direct stimulation by high concentrations of diacylglycerol probably involves activation of protein kinase C, whereas alkylacylglycerol was found to inhibit activation of protein kinase C by diacylglycerol in vitro. Thus, diacylglycerols are complete priming agonists, altering both rate and duration of the response. In contrast, alkylacylglycerols may have biphasic, concentration-related effects in modulation of functions of PMNL. At low concentrations, they may facilitate initiation of functional events; however, as their concentration increases, they may serve to terminate responses. The distinct priming effects of these diglycerides also reveal that priming can involve at least two distinct events: 1) initiation and 2) prolongation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Synthesis and anti-HIV activity of 3-alkylamido-3-deoxy-betulinic acid derivatives.

3-Alkylamido-3-deoxy-betulinic acids were synthesized and evaluated for anti-HIV activity as part of the structure-activity relationship study of the potent anti-HIV agent 3-O-(3',3'-dimethyl)-succinyl-betulinic acid (DSB) (2). 3Alpha-diglycorylamide-3-deoxy-betulinic acid demonstrated relatively potent anti-HIV activity (EC50 0.24 microm, TI 728). However, replacing the ester group at C-3 in 2 and its analogues with an amido group yielded inactive or much less potent compounds against HIV replication, indicating that the ester group at C-3 in 2-4 is essential for potent anti-HIV activity.

Antitumor agents--CLXVII. Synthesis and structure-activity correlations of the cytotoxic anthraquinone 1,4-bis-(2,3-epoxypropylamino)-9,10-anthracenedione, and of related compounds.

1,4-Bis-(2,3-epoxypropylamino)-9,10-anthracenedione (3) was synthesized in this laboratory and was found to be a potent antitumor agent. Derivatives of this compound containing anthraquinone, naphthoquinone, and quinone skeletons were also prepared and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity in several cell lines. These molecules were designed as bifunctional antitumor agents with the potential to act as (1) intercalating agents due to their planar backbones, and (2) alkylating agents due to the presence of alkylating moieties in their side chains. Compounds with an anthraquinone skeleton and propylamino side chains containing epoxides or halohydrins as the alkylating species showed greater activity than similar compounds with naphthoquinone or quinone skeletons. Compounds without these alkylating functionalities (e.g., with alkene or amino groups) were generally inactive. Hydroxy substitution on the planar skeleton in conjunction with alkylating side chains gave compounds with the most potent cytotoxic activity. The position of the hydroxy groups and side chains could be varied without substantially affecting activity. Activity was retained when an epoxypropyloxy side chain was substituted for the epoxypropylamino side chain in the parent compound.