Boronated dipeptide borotrimethylglycylphenylalanine as a potential boron carrier in boron neutron capture therapy for malignant brain tumors.

Takagaki, M., Ono, K., Masunaga, S-I., Kinashi, Y., Oda, Y., Miyatake, S-I., Hashimoto, N., Powell, W., Sood, A. and Spielvogel, B. F. Boronated Dipeptide Borotrimethylglycylphenylalanine as a Potential Boron Carrier in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy for Malignant Brain Tumors. Radiat. Res. 156, 118-122 (2001).A boronated dipeptide, borotrimethylglycylphenylalanine (BGPA), was synthesized as a possible boron carrier for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for malignant brain tumors. In vitro, at equal concentrations of (10)B in the extracellular medium, BGPA had the same effect in BNCT as p-boronophenylalanine (BPA). Boron analysis was carried out using prompt gamma-ray spectrometry and track-etch autoradiography. The tumor:blood and tumor:normal brain (10)B concentration ratios were 8.9 +/- 2.1 and 3.0 +/- 1.2, respectively, in rats bearing intracranial C6 gliosarcomas using alpha-particle track autoradiography. The IC(50), i.e. the dose capable of inhibiting the growth of C6 gliosarcoma cells by 50% after 3 days of incubation, was 5.9 x 10(-3) M BGPA, which is similar to that of 6.4 x 10(-3) M for BPA. The amide bond of BGPA is free from enzymatic attack, since it is protected from hydrolysis by the presence of a boron atom at the alpha-carbon position of glycine. These results suggest promise for the use of this agent for BNCT of malignant brain tumors. Further preclinical studies of BGPA are warranted, since BGPA has advantages over both BPA and BSH.

New boron analogues of pyrophosphates and deoxynucleoside boranophosphates.

Tetraethyldicyanoborane pyrophosphate (2) and 3'-(diethylphosphite-cyanoborano)-5'-dimethoxytrityl.N(4)-benzoyl-deoxycytidine (3) have been synthesized in 70% and 76% yields, respectively. The compatibility of the substituted boranophosphates with common protecting groups is hereby demonstrated.Boron containing biologically active compounds, such as nucleosides and nucleotides (1-6) and amino acids (7-9) are important due to their potential therapeutic activity, research and diagnostic applications. Many boron containing compounds have shown promising activity as anticancer, (10.) (11.) (12) antiinflammatory,(13) and antiosteoporotic (13)agents. Oligonucleotdes in which a non-bridging oxygen atom is replaced by a borane(BH(3)) group are a very important class of modified nucleic acids. (1.) (3.) (14-16) The BH(3) group is isoelectronic with oxygen in natural oligonucleotides and isoelectronic and isostructural with the oligonucleotide methyl phosphonates, which are nuclease resistant. On the other hand, the alpha-borano triphosphates are good substrates for DNA polymerases and incorporation of boranophosphates into DNA causes an increase in the resistance to exo- and endonucleases (2.) (17a) as compared to non-modified DNA. There are also notable applications of the alpha-borano triphosphates in PCR sequencing (17a) and nucleic acid detection (17b).

The Hypolipidemic and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Boronated Aromatic Amino Acids in CF(1) Male Mice.

The boronated aromatic amino acids were shown to be potent hypolipidemic agents in mice lowering both serum cholesterol and triglycerides after 16 days. Selective compounds were as effective as the clinical standards. Furthermore, the compounds were effective anti-inflammatory agents reducing local and central pain as well as suppressing LPS induced endotoxic shock in mice. These agents inhibited lysosomal and proteolytic enzymes of the liver and macrophages as a part of their mechanism of action.

Relationship between amine-carboxyboranes and TNF alpha for the regulation of cell growth in different tumor cell lines.

The amine-carboxyboranes were shown to be synergistic with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) in cytotoxicity and inhibition of DNA synthesis in select types of cancer cells depending on the presence of a TNF alpha high affinity receptor on the membrane of the cell. Initially both TNF alpha and the amine-carboxyboranes reduce the influx of calcium but later cause a significant increase intracellularly. This influx is not linked with the amine-carboxyborane activating the calcitonin receptor in the tumor cells. Neither the agents nor TNF alpha directly inhibits DNA topoisomerase II activity but both did cause decreased phosphorylation of the enzyme by protein kinase C (PKC). The two agents caused synergistic inhibition. This event correlated with increased DNA protein linked breaks, DNA fragmentation and cell death. These protein linked breaks are additive with etoposide's effects but the latter agent's mechanism is different than phosphorylation of topoisomerase II. There was no evidence that the DNA fragmentation was caused by a calcium induced endonuclease enzyme in these cancer cells. The low-molecular weight amine-carboxyboranes appear to play an identical function as TNF alpha in its role to cause DNA breaks and fragmentation to cause apoptosis.

Substituted carboranes and polyhedral hydroborate salts as anti-neoplastics.

Substituted carboranes and polyhedral hydroborate salts were observed to be potent anti-neoplastic/cytotoxic agents inhibiting the growth of mouse and human leukemias, human uterine, colon adenocarcinoma, lung bronchogenic and gliomas. Amino-o-carborane-hydrochloride 7, one of the more potent compounds, preferentially inhibited Tmolt3 DNA synthesis. The target of the agent appears to be de novo purine synthesis with significant inhibition of the activities of both regulatory enzymes, PRPP-amido transferase and inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase as well as dihydrofolate reductase. The agent also inhibited nucleoside kinase activities leading to reductions in deoxyribonucleotide pools. The DNA molecule itself was not a target of the agent.

Effects of alkyl amine carboxyboranes on L1210 DNA fragmentation and nucleic acid metabolism.

Amine-carboxyboranes with varying alkyl chain lengths were observed to be potent cytotoxic agents inhibiting the growth of a number of histological types of murine, rat, and human tumors. These agents preferentially reduced L1210 DNA synthesis with marked inhibition of the activities of regulatory enzymes of the purine pathway. Other enzyme activities which were marginally reduced were DNA polymerase alpha, ribonucleoside reductase, dihydrofolate reductase, t-RNA polymerase, and nucleoside kinases. Pyrimidine nucleotide pools were not reduced but DNA strand scission occurred after 24 h incubation with the agents. The amine-carboxyboranes were not DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors at 100 microM. The agents did not cause DNA protein linked breaks themselves; nevertheless, VP-16 [etoposide] induced DNA protein linked breaks were increased two fold in the presence of the agents suggesting synergistic effects. The amine-carboxyboranes decreased protein kinase C mediated phosphorylation of L1210 topoisomerase II protein, potentially decreasing its enzymatic catalytic activity. Thus, the amine-carboxyboranes did not function like VP-16 in affording cleavable products but were synergistic with VP-16 in causing DNA fragmentation. The agents were also additive with VP-16 in reducing tumor cell number, soft-agar colony growth and DNA synthesis and in producing DNA strand scission.

The Synthesis and Antitumor Activity of the Sodium Salt and Copper (II) Complex of N-[(Trimethylamineboryl)-Carbonyl]-L-Phenylalanine Methyl Ester.

Sodium N-[(trimethylamineboryl)-carbonyl]-L-phenylalanine 2 and {N-[(trimethylamineboryl)-carbonyl]-L-phenylalanyl- carbxylato}-bis-{N-[(trimethylaminebryl)-carbonyl]-L-phenylalanine} dicopper (II) 3 were successfully synthesized. The agents blocked L(1210) leukemic cell DNA and RNA syntheses by inhibiting multiple enzyme activities for nucleic acid synthesis, e.g. PRPP amido transferase, IMP dehydrogenase, DNA polymerase alpha, thymidine kinase, and TMP kinase. The copper (II) complex 3 demonstrated improved ability to inhibit L(1210) partially purified DNA topoisomerase II compared to the parent compound while the sodium salt was inactive at 100 muM.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of boronated dipeptides containing aromatic amino acids.

N-[(Trimethylamine-boryl-carbonyl]-L-tryptophan methyl ester and N[(trimethylamine-boryl)-carbonyl]-L-histidine methyl ester were obtained by synthesis using triphenyl-phosphine/carbon tetrachloride or dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide as coupling agents, respectively. Both agents reduced L1210 lymphoid leukemia DNA, RNA, and protein syntheses with the largest reductions occurring in DNA synthesis. Reductions in DNA synthesis appear to be mediated by inhibition of key enzyme activities (i.e., DNA polymerase a, IMP dehydrogenase, and PRPP amido transferase). These agents had little effect on in vitro L1210 DNA topoisomerase II activity at 100 microM but were able to cause synergistic increases in protein-linked DNA breaks when combined with etoposide (VP16). It was shown that these agents significantly reduced protein kinase C mediated phosphorylation of human topoisomerase II in vitro. Thus, inhibition of topoisomerase II phosphorylation may be a mechanism by which these agents and VP-16 are synergistic in causing protein-linked DNA breaks.

The cytotoxicity of 1-(phenylmethyl)-4,7,10-tris-[(4'methylphenyl) sulfonyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane in human Tmolt3 T leukemic cells.

1-(phenylmethyl)-4,7,10-tris-[(4'methylphenyl)-sulfonyl]-1,4,7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane proved to possess potent in vivo antineoplastic and in vitro cytotoxicity in murine and human tissue cultured cells. In Tmolt3 leukemic cells 1-(phenylmethyl)-4,7,10-tris-[(4'methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-1,4,7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane inhibited the activities of the regulatory enzymes of the purine pathway leading to significant reductions in both RNA and DNA synthesis. Other sites of action of the compound which led to reductions of nucleic acid synthesis were suppression of nucleoside kinase and thymidylate synthetase activities and reductions in the d[NTP] pool levels. DNA fragmentation occurred which should be linked directly with cancer cell death.

The cytotoxicity of adenosine 5'-[N,N-di-(gamma-o-carboranyl)propyl] phosphorodiamidate in human Tmolt3 leukemic cells.

Adenosine 5'[N,N-di-(gamma-o-carboranyl)propyl] phosphorodiamidate 1 was successfully synthesized and characterized. The compound demonstrated potent in vivo antineoplastic activity and in vitro cytotoxicity in murine and human leukemia and uterine carcinoma tumor cell lines. In human T cell leukemia DNA preferentially was inhibited with key enzymes in the purine pathway being effectively inhibited by the agent. Marginal inhibition of the activities DNA polymerase a, carbamyl phosphate synthetase, nucleoside kinases, and thymidylate synthetase was observed. Tmolt3 DNA strand scission was observed after 24 hr. incubation with compound I at 100 microM.

Cytotoxic action of carboxyborane heterocyclic amine adducts.

The heterocyclic carboxyborane amines were found to be potent cytotoxic agents in the murine L1210 lymphoid leukemia and human HeLa suspended carcinoma cells. These agents were observed to inhibit HeLa DNA topoisomerase II activity ~ 200 muM and L1210 topoisomerase II activity >/= 100 muM. These agents did not cause DNA protein linked breaks themselves, but upon incubation for 14-24 hr did enhance the ability of VP-16 to cause cleavable complexes. The heterocyclic amineboranes inhibited DNA synthesis and caused DNA strand scission. They were additive with VP-16 in affording these results as well as inhibiting colony growth of L1210 cells after co-incubation for 1 hr. The agents inhibited in vitro PKC phosphorylation of both L1210 lymphoid leukemia and human topoisomerase II enzyme.

Boron substituted deoxyribonucleosides as cytotoxic agents.

Base substituted boronated nucleosides and phosphate modified nucleotides were examined for their cytotoxic activity in both murine and human tissue cultured cancer cells. These derivatives demonstrated better activity against the growth of single cell suspensions than solid cell tumor cell growth. A detailed mode of action study showed that 2'deoxyriboadenosine-N7-cyanoborane 6 suppressed Tmolt3 DNA synthesis preferentially with the major target of the agent being the purine de novo pathway. The activities of one of the regulatory enzymes of the pathway were reduced by the agents, i.e. PRPP-amido transferase. Other sites in the cell which were moderately affected by the agent were nucleoside kinase activities. DNA polymerase alpha and dihydrofolate reductase activities. The DNA molecule itself did not appear to be a target of the compound.

The Effects of Amine-Carboxyborane Related Derivatives on UMR-106 Bone Metabolism.

The amine-carboxyboranes and related derivatives have been shown to be potent anti-inflammatory and anti-osteoporosis agents. Their action in part appears to be mediated by the modulation of cytokines, e.g. TNFalpha or IL-1. Previous studies have demonstrated that LPS induced macrophages release of TNFalpha maximally at 60 to 90 min. and IL-1 from 5 to 8 hr. The amine-carboxyboranes reduced significantly the release of these cytokines but also blocked TNFalpha high affinity binding to UMR-106 receptor at 90 min. at 10 muM, and IL-1 high affinity binding at 5 hr. at 12.5 muM. In addition, the agents suppressed IL-8 binding to CHO K1 high affinity receptor at 24 hr. at 50 muM and IL-2 binding to HuT-8 receptors at 25 muM at 90 min. and 5 hr. Correlation of metabolic events associated with osteoporosis showed that at 90 min., when TNFalpha receptor binding was reduced by the agents, calcium uptake into UMR-106 cells was reduced at 10 muM as well as the acid and alkaline phosphatases, and the prostaglandin cyclo-oxygenase activities and adhesion of leukocytes and macrophages to UMR-106 cell monolayers. At 5hr. when the agents reduced IL-1 binding to UMR-106 receptors, calcitonin and 1,25-dihydrovitamin D(3) binding was reduced by the agents as was acid and alkaline phosphatase, and 5'-lipoxygenase activities and white blood cell adhesion. At this time calcium uptake and proline incorporation was increased significantly by the agents. At later times e.g. 18-48 hr. calcium uptake was still increased, and NAG activity was inhibited in the presence of the agents. These effects may be related more to the inhibition of other cytokine receptor binding, e.g. IL-8. Thus, many of the observed metabolic effects of amine-carboxyboranes as antiosteoporosis agents can be correlated with their inhibition of cytokine high affinity binding to target cell receptors.

Boronated pyrimidines and purines as cytotoxic, hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory agents.

The simple boronated bases, e.g. cytosine, adenine and guanine, containing no sugar residues retained good pharmacological activity as hypolipidemic, anti-neoplastic and anti-inflammatory agents in mice at 8 mg/kg. Their activities were generally identical to their respective nucleoside derivatives. Interestingly the boronated acyclovir derivative was a very potent hypolipidemic agent achieving better activity than clofibrate and lovastatin. The boronated adenine derivatives appeared to have the best anti-inflammatory activity in reducing local edema and analgesic effects. The agents were active against the growth of murine and human leukemias and human HeLa-S(3) suspended uterine carcinoma. Only the boronated adenine derivatives were effective in blocking the growth of human SW480 adenocarcinoma and the KB nasopharynx.

The pharmacological activities of the metabolites of N-[(trimethylamineboryl)-carbonyl]-L-phenylalanine methyl ester.

The metabolites of N-[(trimethylamineboryl)-carbonyl]-L-phenylalanine methyl ester 1 proved to be active in a number of pharmacological screens where the parent had previously demonstrated potent activity. The proposed metabolites demonstrated significant activity as cytotoxic, hypolipidemic, and anti-inflammatory agents. In cytotoxicity screens several of the proposed metabolites afforded better activity than the parent compound against the growth of suspended and solid tumor cell lines. Evaluation of in vivo hypolipidemic activity demonstrated that the proposed metabolites of 1 were only moderately active and were generally less effective than the parent compound. Interestingly, L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride 3, which contains no boron atom, demonstrated equivalent hypolipidemic activity as the parent at 8 mg/kg/day in CF(1) male mice. As anti-inflammatory agents the proposed metabolites demonstrated variable capacities to reduce foot pad inflammation. These compounds were similarly effective as the parent 1 at blocking local pain and were generally better than the parent at protecting CF(1) male mice from LPS induced sepsis.

The hypolipidemic activity of boronated nucleosides in male mice and rats.

The boronated nucleosides with varying bases and sugar moieties were shown to be potent hypolipidemic agents in rodents. The 3'- aminocynaoborane dideoxythymidine derivative caused reductions in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, tissue lipids, VLDL and LDL cholesterol levels while elevating HDL cholesterol levels in rodents. The agents suppressed rat hepatic acetyl CoA synthetase, HMG-CoA reductase, acyl-CoA cholesterol acyl transferase, phosphatidylate phosphohydrolase and lipoprotein lipase activities while elevating cholesterol-7alpha-hydroxylase activity from 25 to 100 muM.

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of amine-borane adducts of cyclohexylamines and toluidines.

A series of cyano- and carboxyborane adducts of cyclohexylamines and toluidines were shown to be cytotoxic towards suspended single cell tumors. The carboxyborane adducts of cyclohexylamine were more potent than the cyanoborane adducts of cyclohexylamine or any of the toluidine derivatives. A number of the compounds were active at 8 mg/kg/day i.p. in the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma screen in vivo. The mode of action study with N-methylcyclohexylaminecyanoborane 10 in L-1210 lymphoid leukemia cells showed that RNA synthesis was markedly reduced followed by DNA synthesis. Purine de novo synthesis was suppressed at PRPP-amido transferase, IMP dehydrogenase, and dihydrofolate reductase enzyme sites. The agent also interfered with DNA template activity causing reduction of DNA polymerase alpha, and RNA polymerase I, II and III activities. The d[NTP] pools were marginally reduced while DNA viscosity was reduced and DNA fragmentation occurred.

The disposition, tissue distribution, and cellular transport of N-[[(trimethylamino)boryl]carbonyl]-L-phenylalanine methyl ester in CF1 mice.

The disposition and tissue distribution of 14C-labeled N-[[(trimethylamino)boryl]carbonyl]-L-phenylalanine methyl esther (1) determined in CF1 mice following i.v., p.o., and i.p. administration. Compound 1 was found to undergo rapid and extensive metabolism, and the majority of the radioactivity was found in the skin and carcass regardless of the route of administration. Approximately 55% of the radioactivity was recovered in urine and feces after 78 h; however, excretion via these routes was not complete. Degradation of compound 1 occurred at the amide bond at low pH (0.8) but at the ester bond a physiological pH. This difference in degradation was reflected in elevation of the blood radioactivity levels after p.o. administration compared to i.p. and i.v. administration.

The cytotoxicity of 3'-aminocyanoborane-2', 3'-dideoxypyrimidines in murine and human tissue cultured cell lines.

3'-Aminocyanoborane-2', 3'-dideoxythymidine (VIIa) and 3'-aminocyanoborane-2', 3'-dideoxyuridine (VIIIb) were successfully synthesized. The thymidine derivative (VIIIa) was shown to be a potent cytotoxic agent in murine and selected human suspended and solid tumor cell lines. Compound VIIIa inhibited L-1210 leukemia DNA and RNA synthesis with the protein synthesis requiring a higher concentration of drug for inhibition within 60 min. The purine pathway appeared to be the major target of Compound VIIIa with inhibition of IMP dehydrogenase and dihydrofolate reductase activities. The compound affected metabolic enzyme activities in the pyrimidine pathway as well as the nucleoside kinase activities. The DNA molecule did not appear to be target of the 3'-aminocyanoborane-2', 3'-dideoxythymidine (VIIIa), in that there was no change in ct-DNA viscosity, thermal denaturation or absorption of nucleosides of DNA nor was there any L-1210 DNA strand scission or inhibition of L-1210 DNA topoisomerase II activity when compound VIIIa was incubated at 100 microM.

Anti-inflammatory activity of amine-carboxyboranes in rodents.

Amine-carboxyboranes are potent anti-inflammatory agents reducing induced edema and pleural effusion at 8 mg/Kg, i.p. They protect against LPS (Salmonella) induced septic shock from 2-8 mg/Kg/day and are effective in blocking pain mediated both locally and centrally. The mode of action of these agents is by blocking release of cytokines from macrophages, thus reducing lysosomal hydrolytic and proteolytic enzyme activities of affected cells. The agents also reduce prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis by blocking the activities of regulatory enzymes of the respective pathways.