Cytotoxic Cyclolignans Obtained by the Enlargement of the Cyclolignan Skeleton of Podophyllic Aldehyde, a Selective Podophyllotoxin-Derived Cyclolignan.

Podophyllotoxin, a cyclolignan natural product, has been the object of extensive chemomodulation to obtain better chemotherapeutic agents. Among the obtained podophyllotoxin derivatives, podophyllic aldehyde showed very interesting potency and selectivity against several tumoral cell lines, so it became our lead compound for further modifications, as described in this work, oriented toward the enlargement of the cyclolignan skeleton. Thus, modifications performed at the aldehyde function included nucleophilic addition reactions and the incorporation of the aldehyde carbon into several five-membered rings, such as thiazolidinones and benzo-fused azoles. The synthesized derivatives were evaluated against several types of cancer cells, and although some compounds were cytotoxic at the nanomolar range, most of them were less potent and less selective than the parent compound podophyllic aldehyde, with the most potent being those having the lactone ring of podophyllotoxin. In silico ADME evaluation predicted good druggability for most of them. The results indicate that the γ-lactone ring is important for potency, while the α,ß-unsaturated aldehyde is necessary to induce selectivity in these cyclolignans.

Quantitative determination of lurbinectedin, its unbound fraction and its metabolites in human plasma utilizing ultra-performance LC-MS/MS.

AIMS: Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) methods to quantify total lurbinectedin, its plasma protein binding to derive the unbound fraction and its main metabolites 1',3'-dihydroxy-lurbinectedin (M4) and N-desmethyl-lurbinectedin (M6) in human plasma, were developed and validated. MATERIALS & METHODS: For lurbinectedin, sample extraction was performed using supported liquid extraction. For metabolites, liquid-liquid extraction with stable isotope-labeled analogue internal standards was used. Plasma protein binding was evaluated using rapid equilibrium dialysis. In vitro investigations at different plasma protein concentrations were carried out to estimate dissociation rate constants to albumin and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG). RESULTS: Calibration curves displayed good linearity over 0.1 to 50 ng/mL for lurbinectedin and 0.5 to 20 ng/mL for the metabolites. Methods were validated in accordance with established guidance. The inter-day precision and accuracy ranged from 5.1% to 10.7%, and from -5% to 6% (lurbinectedin in plasma); from 3.1% to 6.6%, and from 4% to 6% (lurbinectedin in plasma:PBS); from 4.5% to 12.9%, and from 4% to 9% (M4); and from 7.5% to 10.5%, and from 6% to 12% (M6). All methods displayed good linearity (r2 >0.99). Recovery was evaluated for lurbinectedin in plasma:PBS (66.4% to 86.6%), M4 (7.82% to 13.4%) and M6 (22.2% to 34.3%). The method for lurbinectedin in plasma has been applied in most clinical studies, while the plasma:PBS and metabolites methods were used to evaluate the impact of special conditions on lurbinectedin PK. Lurbinectedin plasma protein binding was 99.6% and highly affected by AAG concentration. CONCLUSIONS: These UPLC-MS/MS methods enable the rapid and sensitive quantification of lurbinectedin and its main metabolites in clinical samples.

New Antineoplastic Naphthohydroquinones Attached to Labdane and Rearranged Diterpene Skeletons.

Terpenylquinones are mixed biogenesis primary or secondary metabolites widespread in Nature with many biological activities, including the antineoplastic cytotoxicity, that have inspired this work. Here, we present a cytotoxic structure-activity relationship of several diterpenylhydroquinone (DTHQ) derivatives, obtained from the natural labdane diterpenoid myrceocommunic acid used as starting material. Different structural modifications, that changed the functionality and stereochemistry of the decalin, have been implemented on the bicyclic core through epoxidation, ozonolysis or decarboxylation, and through induction of biomimetic breaks and rearrangements of the diterpene skeleton. All the isomers generated were completely characterized by spectroscopic procedures. The resulting compounds have been tested in vitro on cultured cancer cells, showing their relevant antineoplastic cytotoxicity, with GI50 values in the µM and sub-µM range. The rearranged compound 8 showed the best cytotoxic results, with GI50 at the submicromolar range, retaining the cytotoxicity level of the parent compounds. In this report, the versatility of the labdane skeleton for chemical transformation and the interest to continue using structural modifications to obtain new bioactive compounds are demonstrated.

Highly functionalized ß-lactams and 2-ketopiperazines as TRPM8 antagonists with antiallodynic activity.

The cool sensor transient receptor potential melastatin channel 8 (TRPM8) is highly expressed in trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia, playing a key role in cold hypersensitivity associated to different peripheral neuropathies. Moreover, these channels are aberrantly expressed in different cancers, and seem to participate in tumor progression, survival and invasion. Accordingly, the search for potent and selective TRPM8 modulators attracted great interest in recent years. We describe new heterocyclic TRPM8 antagonist chemotypes derived from N-cloroalkyl phenylalaninol-Phe conjugates. The cyclization of these conjugates afforded highly substituted ß-lactams and/or 2-ketopiperazine (KP) derivatives, with regioselectivity depending on the N-chloroalkyl group and the configuration. These derivatives behave as TRPM8 antagonists in the Ca2+ microfluorometry assay, and confirmed electrophysiologically for the best enantiopure ß-lactams 24a and 29a (IC50, 1.4 and 0.8 µM). Two putative binding sites by the pore zone, different from those found for typical agonists and antagonists, were identified by in silico studies for both ß-lactams and KPs. ß-Lactams 24a and 29a display antitumor activity in different human tumor cell lines (micromolar potencies, A549, HT29, PSN1), but correlation with TRPM8 expression could not be established. Additionally, compound 24a significantly reduced cold allodynia in a mice model of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy.

MI130004, a Novel Antibody-Drug Conjugate Combining Trastuzumab with a Molecule of Marine Origin, Shows Outstanding In Vivo Activity against HER2-Expressing Tumors.

In the search for novel payloads to design new antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), marine compounds represent an interesting opportunity given their unique chemical features. PM050489 is a marine compound that binds ß-tubulin at a new site and disrupts the microtubule network, hence leading to mitotic aberrations and cell death. PM050489 has been conjugated to trastuzumab via Cys residues through a noncleavable linker, and the resulting ADC, named MI130004, has been studied. Analysis of MI130004 delivered data consistent with the presence of two molecules of PM050489 per antibody molecule, likely bound to both sides of the intermolecular disulfide bond connecting the antibody light and heavy chains. The antitumor activity of MI130004 was analyzed in vitro and in vivo in different cell lines of diverse tumor origin (breast, ovary, and gastric cancer) expressing different levels of HER2. MI130004 showed very high in vitro potency and good selectivity for tumor cells that overexpressed HER2. At the cellular level, MI130004 impaired tubulin polymerization, causing disorganization and disintegration of the microtubule network, which ultimately led to mitotic failure, mirroring the effect of its payload. Treatment with MI130004 in mice carrying histologically diverse tumors expressing HER2 induced a long-lasting antitumor effect with statistically significant inhibition of tumor growth coupled with increases in median survival time compared with vehicle or trastuzumab. These results strongly suggest that MI130004 is endowed with remarkable anticancer activity and confirm the extraordinary potential of marine compounds for the design of new ADCs. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(4); 786-94. ©2018 AACR.

The Aplidin analogs PM01215 and PM02781 inhibit angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Novel synthesized analogs of Aplidin, PM01215 and PM02781, were tested for antiangiogenic effects on primary human endothelial cells in vitro and for inhibition of angiogenesis and tumor growth in vivo. METHODS: Antiangiogenic activity of both derivatives was evaluated by real-time cell proliferation, capillary tube formation and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced spheroid sprouting assays. Distribution of endothelial cells in the different phases of the cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. Aplidin analogs were tested in vivo in chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays. RESULTS: Both derivatives inhibited angiogenic capacities of human endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro at low nanomolar concentrations. Antiangiogenic effects of both analogs were observed in the CAM. In addition, growth of human multiple myeloma xenografts in vivo in CAM was significantly reduced after application of both analogs. On the molecular level, both derivatives induced cell cycle arrest in G1 phase. This growth arrest of endothelial cells correlated with induction of the cell cycle inhibitor p16(INK4A) and increased senescence-associated beta galactosidase activity. In addition, Aplidin analogs induced oxidative stress and decreased production of the vascular maturation factors Vasohibin-1 and Dickkopf-3. CONCLUSIONS: From these findings we conclude that both analogs are promising agents for the development of antiangiogenic drugs acting independent on classical inhibition of VEGF signaling.

Stellatolides, a new cyclodepsipeptide family from the sponge Ecionemia acervus: isolation, solid-phase total synthesis, and full structural assignment of stellatolide A.

The marine environment is a rich source of metabolites with potential therapeutic properties and applications for humans. Here we describe the first isolation, solid-phase total synthesis, and full structural assignment of a new class of cyclodepsipeptides from the Madagascan sponge Ecionemia acervus that shows in vitro cytotoxic activities at submicromolar concentrations. Seven structures belonging to a new family of compounds, given the general name stellatolides, were characterized. The sequence and stereochemistry of all the amino acids in these molecules were established by a combination of spectroscopic analysis, chemical degradation, and derivatization studies. Furthermore, the complete structure of stellatolide A was confirmed by an efficient solid-phase method for the first total synthesis and the full structural assignment of this molecule, including the asymmetric synthesis of the unique ß-hydroxy acid moiety (Z)-3-hydroxy-6,8-dimethylnon-4-enoic acid.

Tanjungides A and B: new antitumoral bromoindole derived compounds from Diazona cf formosa. isolation and total synthesis.

Tanjungides A (1) (Z isomer) and B (2) (E isomer), two novel dibrominated indole enamides, have been isolated from the tunicate Diazona cf formosa. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods including HRMS, and extensive 1D and 2D NMR. The stereochemistry of the cyclised cystine present in both compounds was determined by Marfey's analysis after chemical degradation and hydrolysis. We also report the first total synthesis of these compounds using methyl 1H-indole-3-carboxylate as starting material and a linear sequence of 11 chemical steps. Tanjungides A and B exhibit significant cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines.

The first total synthesis of the cyclodepsipeptide pipecolidepsin A.

Pipecolidepsin A is a head-to-side-chain cyclodepsipeptide isolated from the marine sponge Homophymia lamellosa. This compound shows relevant cytotoxic activity in three human tumour cell lines and has unique structural features, with an abundance of non-proteinogenic residues, including several intriguing amino acids. Although the moieties present in the structure show high synthetic difficulty, the cornerstone is constituted by the unprecedented and highly hindered γ-branched ß-hydroxy-α-amino acid D-allo-(2R,3R,4R)-2-amino-3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethylhexanoic acid (AHDMHA) residue, placed at the branching ester position and surrounded by the four demanding residues L-(2S,3S,4R)-3,4-dimethylglutamine, (2R,3R,4S)-4,7-diamino-2,3-dihydroxy-7-oxoheptanoic acid, D-allo-Thr and L-pipecolic acid. Here we describe the first total synthesis of a D-allo-AHDMHA-containing peptide, pipecolidepsin A, thus allowing chemical structure validation of the natural product and providing a robust synthetic strategy to access other members of the relevant head-to-side-chain family in a straightforward manner.

Isolation and first total synthesis of PM050489 and PM060184, two new marine anticancer compounds.

Microtubules continue to be one of the most successful anticancer drug targets and a favorite hit for many naturally occurring molecules. While two of the most successful representative agents in clinical use, the taxanes and the vinca alkaloids, come from terrestrial sources, the sea has also proven to be a rich source of new tubulin-binding molecules. We describe herein the first isolation, structural elucidation and total synthesis of two totally new polyketides isolated from the Madagascan sponge Lithoplocamia lithistoides . Both PM050489 and PM060184 show antimitotic properties in human tumor cells lines at subnanomolar concentrations and display a distinct inhibition mechanism on microtubules. The development of an efficient synthetic procedure has solved the supply problem and, following pharmaceutical development, has allowed PM060184 to start clinical studies as a promising new drug for cancer treatment.

Synthesis, cytotoxicity and antiplasmodial activity of novel ent-kaurane derivatives.

This paper reports on the syntheses and spectrometric characterisation of eleven novel ent-kaurane diterpenoids, including a complete set of (1)H, (13)C NMR and crystallographic data for two novel ent-kaurane diepoxides. Moreover, the antineoplastic cytotoxicity for kaurenoic acid and the majority of ent-kaurane derivatives were assessed in vitro against a panel of fourteen cancer cell lines, of which allylic alcohols were shown to be the most active compounds. The good in vitro antimalarial activity and the higher selectivity index values observed for some ent-kaurane epoxides against the chloroquine-resistant W2 clone of Plasmodium falciparum indicate that this class of natural products may provide new hits for the development of antimalarial drugs.

Lignopurines: a new family of hybrids between cyclolignans and purines. Synthesis and biological evaluation.

A new family of hybrids between cyclolignans related to podophyllic aldehyde, a non-lactonic cyclolignan, and purines were prepared and evaluated against several human tumour cell lines. Both fragments, cyclolignan and purine, were linked through aliphatic and aromatic chains. The influence on the cytotoxicity of the purine substitution and the nature of the linker is analyzed. The new family was slightly less cytotoxic than the parent podophyllic aldehyde, although the selectivity is maintained or even improved and among the linkers used, the presence of an aromatic ring gave the most potent and selective derivatives within the new series tested. Cell cycle and confocal studies demonstrate that these derivatives interfere with the tubulin polymerization and arrest cells at the G(2)/M phase, in the same way than the parent compounds podophyllotoxin and podophyllic aldehyde do.

Synthesis and antimitotic and tubulin interaction profiles of novel pinacol derivatives of podophyllotoxins.

Several pinacol derivatives of podophyllotoxins bearing different side chains and functions at C-7 were synthesized through reductive cross-coupling of podophyllotoxone and several aldehydes and ketones. While possessing a hydroxylated chain at C-7, the compounds retained their respective hydroxyl group with either the 7α (podo) or 7ß (epipodo) configuration. Along with pinacols, some C-7 alkylidene and C-7 alkyl derivatives were also prepared. Cytotoxicities against neoplastic cells followed by cell cycle arrest and cellular microtubule disruption were evaluated and mechanistically characterized through tubulin polymerization inhibition and assays of binding to the colchicine site. Compounds of the epipodopinacol (7ß-OH) series behaved similarly to podophyllotoxin in all the assays and proved to be the most potent inhibitors. Significantly, 7α-isopropyl-7-deoxypodophyllotoxin (20), without any hydroxyl function, appeared as a promising lead compound for a novel type of tubulin polymerization inhibitors. Experimental results were in overall agreement with modeling and docking studies performed on representative compounds of each series.

Optically active 1,3,4,4-tetrasubstituted ß-lactams: synthesis and evaluation as tumor cell growth inhibitors.

The in vitro cytotoxicity assays of several enantiopure (3S,4S)- and (3R,4R)-1,3,4,4-tetrasubstituted ß-lactams derived from amino acids have shown that the (3S,4S)-4-benzyl-1-p-methoxybenzyl-3-methyl-4-methoxycarbonyl derivative 2a, obtained from Phe, displays significant activity, which is comparable to that of the anticancer drug Doxorubicin against HT29 cell lines. Modifications at positions 1 and 4 of the ß-lactam ring led to identify the Tyr(2,6-ClBz) analogu 26d with similar activity data to those of 2a. The synthesis and SAR of all these tetrasubstituted ß-lactams are reported here.

Plumisclerin A, a diterpene with a new skeleton from the soft coral Plumigorgia terminosclera.

A novel compound, named plumisclerin A (1), was isolated from samples of the soft coral Plumigorgia terminosclera collected at Mayotte Island. The compound possesses the novel plumisclerane carbon skeleton, including a tricyclo[4,3,1,0(1,5)]decane ring. Its structure and relative stereochemistry were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including HREIMS, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, TOCSY, and NOESY experiments. In addition, the novel compound displayed in vitro cytotoxicity against selected cancer cell lines.

Stolonoxides E and F, cytotoxic metabolites from the marine ascidian Stolonica socialis.

Two new members of the stolonoxide family, stolonoxides E (1) and F (2), were isolated from samples of the marine ascidian Stolonica socialis collected in Cádiz (Spain). Their structures were determined by a combination of techniques, including (+)-HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and comparison with published data for the structurally related stolonoxides A-D (3-6). Both compounds displayed cytotoxicity against a panel of three human tumor cell lines.

Total synthesis and antiproliferative activity screening of (+/-)-aplicyanins A, B and E and related analogues.

The first total synthesis of the indole alkaloids (+/-)-aplicyanins A, B, and E, plus 17 analogues, all in racemic form, is reported. Modifications to the parent compound included changing the number of bromine substituents on the indole, the nature of the substituents on the indole nitrogen (H, Me, or OMe), and/or the oxidation level of the heterocyclic core tetrahydropyrimidine. Each compound was screened against three human tumor cell lines, and 14 of the newly synthesized compounds showed considerable cytotoxicity. The assay results were used to establish structure-activity relationships. These results suggest that the presence of the bromine at position 5 of the indole is critical to activity, as well as the acetyl group on the imine nitrogen does in some compounds.

In vitro studies on the metabolism of trabectedin (YONDELIS) in monkey and man, including human CYP reaction phenotyping.

Trabectedin (YONDELIS) is a potent anticancer agent which was recently approved in Europe for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma. The drug is currently also in clinical development for the treatment of ovarian carcinoma. In vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the hepatic metabolism of [(14)C]trabectedin in Cynomolgus monkey and human liver subcellular fractions. The biotransformation of trabectedin was qualitatively similar in 12,000 x g supernatants of both species, and all human metabolites were also produced by the monkey. The trabectedin metabolites were identified by QTOF mass spectrometry, and HPLC co-chromatography with reference compounds. Trabectedin was metabolized via different biotransformation pathways. Most of the metabolic conversions occurred at the trabectedin A domain including mono-oxidation and di-oxidation, carboxylic acid formation with and without additional oxidation, and demethylation either without (N-demethylation to ET-729) or with additional mono-, di- or tri-oxidation. Another metabolite resulted from O-demethylation at the trabectedin C subunit, and in addition, aliphatic ring opening of the methylene dioxybridge at the B domain was detected. Overall, demethylation and oxidation played a major role in phase I metabolism of the drug. Human cDNA expressed CYPs 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C18, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4 and 3A5 in E. coli membranes, but not CYP1B1, 2C19, and 4A11 were able to metabolize [(14)C]trabectedin. Experiments with chemical inhibitors and CYP inhibitory antibodies indicated that, at therapeutic levels, CYP3A4 is the main human CYP isoform involved in trabectedin's hepatic metabolism. In monkey and human liver microsomes, trabectedin was not substantially metabolized by glucuronidation.

Lamellarin D bioconjugates I: Synthesis and cellular internalization of PEG-derivatives.

Herein is reported the design and synthesis of poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives of Lamellarin D with the aim of modulating their physicochemical properties and improving the biological activity. Mono-, di-, and tri-PEG conjugates with improved solubility were obtained in 18-57% overall yields from the corresponding partially protected phenolic derivatives of Lamellarin D. Conjugates 1-9 were tested in a panel of three human tumor cell lines (MDA-MB-231 breast, A-549 lung, and HT-29 colon) to evaluate their cytotoxicity. Several compounds exhibited enhanced cellular internalization, and more than 85% of the derivatives showed a lower GI(50) than Lam-D. Furthermore, cell cycle arrest at G2 phase and apoptotic cell-death pathways were determined for Lamellarin D and these derivatives.