Cytopathological and histopathological features of cerebral granular cell astrocytoma: A case report.

This report describes the cytological features of granular cell astrocytoma (GCA), to aid in the diagnosis of intraoperative frozen samples of brain lesions, and discuss cytological similarities and differences between GCA, two significant non-neoplastic central nervous system lesions (brain infarction and demyelinating disorder), and three central nervous system tumours (gemistocytic astrocytoma, pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, and subependymal giant cell astrocytoma).

dUTPase inhibition confers susceptibility to a thymidylate synthase inhibitor in DNA-repair-defective human cancer cells.

Deficiency in DNA repair proteins confers susceptibility to DNA damage, making cancer cells vulnerable to various cancer chemotherapies. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an anticancer nucleoside analog that both inhibits thymidylate synthase (TS) and causes DNA damage via the misincorporation of FdUTP and dUTP into DNA under the conditions of dTTP depletion. However, the role of the DNA damage response to its antitumor activity is still unclear. To determine which DNA repair pathway contributes to DNA damage caused by 5-FU and uracil misincorporation, we examined cancer cells treated with 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (FdUrd) in the presence of TAS-114, a highly potent inhibitor of dUTPase that restricts aberrant base misincorporation. Addition of TAS-114 increased FdUTP and dUTP levels in HeLa cells and facilitated 5-FU and uracil misincorporation into DNA, but did not alter TS inhibition or 5-FU incorporation into RNA. TAS-114 showed synergistic potentiation of FdUrd cytotoxicity and caused aberrant base misincorporation, leading to DNA damage and induced cell death even after short-term exposure to FdUrd. Base excision repair (BER) and homologous recombination (HR) were found to be involved in the DNA repair of 5-FU and uracil misincorporation caused by dUTPase inhibition in genetically modified chicken DT40 cell lines and siRNA-treated HeLa cells. These results suggested that BER and HR are major pathways that protect cells from the antitumor effects of massive incorporation of 5-FU and uracil. Further, dUTPase inhibition has the potential to maximize the antitumor activity of fluoropyrimidines in cancers that are defective in BER or HR.

TAS-114, a First-in-Class Dual dUTPase/DPD Inhibitor, Demonstrates Potential to Improve Therapeutic Efficacy of Fluoropyrimidine-Based Chemotherapy.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antimetabolite and exerts antitumor activity via intracellularly and physiologically complicated metabolic pathways. In this study, we designed a novel small molecule inhibitor, TAS-114, which targets the intercellular metabolism of 5-FU to enhance antitumor activity and modulates catabolic pathway to improve the systemic availability of 5-FU. TAS-114 strongly and competitively inhibited deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase), a gatekeeper protein preventing aberrant base incorporation into DNA, and enhanced the cytotoxicity of fluoropyrimidines in cancer cells; however, it had little intrinsic activity. In addition, TAS-114 had moderate and reversible inhibitory activity on dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), a catabolizing enzyme of 5-FU. Thus, TAS-114 increased the bioavailability of 5-FU when coadministered with capecitabine in mice, and it significantly improved the therapeutic efficacy of capecitabine by reducing the required dose of the prodrug by dual enzyme inhibition. Enhancement of antitumor efficacy caused by the addition of TAS-114 was retained in the presence of a potent DPD inhibitor containing oral fluoropyrimidine (S-1), indicating that dUTPase inhibition plays a major role in enhancing the antitumor efficacy of fluoropyrimidine-based therapy. In conclusion, TAS-114, a dual dUTPase/DPD inhibitor, demonstrated the potential to improve the therapeutic efficacy of fluoropyrimidine. Dual inhibition of dUTPase and DPD is a novel strategy for the advancement of oral fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy for cancer treatment. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(8); 1683-93. ©2018 AACR.

1,2,3-Triazole-containing uracil derivatives with excellent pharmacokinetics as a novel class of potent human deoxyuridine triphosphatase inhibitors.

Deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase) has emerged as a potential target for drug development as a 5-fluorouracil-based combination chemotherapy. We describe the design and synthesis of a novel class of human dUTPase inhibitors, 1,2,3-triazole-containing uracil derivatives. Compound 45a, which possesses 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole moiety that mimics the amide bond of tert-amide-containing inhibitor 6b locked in a cis conformation showed potent inhibitory activity, and its structure-activity relationship studies led us to the discovery of highly potent inhibitors 48c and 50c (IC(50) = ~0.029 µM). These derivatives dramatically enhanced the growth inhibition activity of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine against HeLa S3 cells in vitro (EC(50) = ~0.05 µM). In addition, compound 50c exhibited a markedly improved pharmacokinetic profile as a result of the introduction of a benzylic hydroxy group and significantly enhanced the antitumor activity of 5-fluorouracil against human breast cancer MX-1 xenograft model in mice. These data indicate that 50c is a promising candidate for combination cancer chemotherapies with TS inhibitors.

Discovery of highly potent human deoxyuridine triphosphatase inhibitors based on the conformation restriction strategy.

Human deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase) inhibition is a promising approach to enhance the efficacy of thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor based chemotherapy. In this study, we describe the discovery of a novel class of human dUTPase inhibitors based on the conformation restriction strategy. On the basis of the X-ray cocrystal structure of dUTPase and its inhibitor compound 7, we designed and synthesized two conformation restricted analogues, i.e., compounds 8 and 9. These compounds exhibited increased in vitro potency compared with the parent compound 7. Further structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies identified a compound 43 with the highest in vitro potency (IC(50) = 39 nM, EC(50) = 66 nM). Furthermore, compound 43 had a favorable oral PK profile and exhibited potent antitumor activity in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the MX-1 breast cancer xenograft model. These results suggested that a dUTPase inhibitor may have potential for clinical usage.

Synthesis and discovery of N-carbonylpyrrolidine- or N-sulfonylpyrrolidine-containing uracil derivatives as potent human deoxyuridine triphosphatase inhibitors.

Recently, deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase) has emerged as a potential target for drug development as part of a new strategy of 5-fluorouracil-based combination chemotherapy. We have initiated a program to develop potent drug-like dUTPase inhibitors based on structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of uracil derivatives. N-Carbonylpyrrolidine- and N-sulfonylpyrrolidine-containing uracils were found to be promising scaffolds that led us to human dUTPase inhibitors (12k) having excellent potencies (IC(50) = 0.15 µM). The X-ray structure of a complex of 16a and human dUTPase revealed a unique binding mode wherein its uracil ring and phenyl ring occupy a uracil recognition region and a hydrophobic region, respectively, and are stacked on each other. Compounds 12a and 16a markedly enhanced the growth inhibition activity of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine against HeLa S3 cells in vitro (EC(50) = 0.27-0.30 µM), suggesting that our novel dUTPase inhibitors could contribute to the development of chemotherapeutic strategies when used in combination with TS inhibitors.

Discovery of a novel class of potent human deoxyuridine triphosphatase inhibitors remarkably enhancing the antitumor activity of thymidylate synthase inhibitors.

Inhibition of human deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase) has been identified as a promising approach to enhance the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy. This study describes the development of a novel class of dUTPase inhibitors based on the structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of uracil derivatives. Starting from the weak inhibitor 7 (IC(50) = 100 µM), we developed compound 26, which is the most potent human dUTPase inhibitor (IC(50) = 0.021 µM) reported to date. Not only does compound 26 significantly enhance the growth inhibition activity of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) against HeLa S3 cells in vitro (EC(50) = 0.075 µM) but also shows robust antitumor activity against MX-1 breast cancer xenograft model in mice when administered orally with a continuous infusion of 5-FU. This is the first in vivo evidence that human dUTPase inhibitors enhance the antitumor activity of TS inhibitors. On the basis of these findings, it was concluded that compound 26 is a promising candidate for clinical development.

Dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl adsorbent obtained from enzymatic saccharification residue of lignocellulose.

In this study, the effective utilization of lignocellulose residue as an adsorbent was investigated. Japanese cypress wood flour subjected to hydrothermal pretreatment and ball-mill grinding was saccharified with an enzyme. The residual wood flour was carbonized and activated by physical and chemical activation to produce adsorbents for persistent organic pollutant removal. The adsorption properties were investigated by pore analysis using the N(2) adsorption/desorption isotherm and adsorption tests for dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in a hexane solution. The obtained adsorbents showed high production yields and adsorption properties for dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls.

Synthesis and biological activity of cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose analogs: structure-activity relationship and conformational analysis of N-1-carbocyclic-ribose moiety.

Several cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose analogs 3-10 modified in the N-1-carbocyclic-ribose moiety were synthesized. Their Ca2+-releasing activity was estimated in sea urchin eggs to show that the 3"-deoxy analog 6 shows 5 times more potent activity than cADPcR, but the 2",3"-didieoxy-2",3"-unsunsaturated analog 3 has very weak activity. We also calculated their stable conformation and found that 3 and 6 were significantly different in their stable conformation.

Amplification of depolarization-induced and ryanodine-sensitive cytosolic Ca2+ elevation by synthetic carbocyclic analogs of cyclic ADP-ribose and their antagonistic effects in NG108-15 neuronal cells.

We synthesized analogs modified in the ribose unit (ribose linked to N1 of adenine) of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), a Ca2+-mobilizing second messenger. The biological activities of these analogs were determined in NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells that were pre-loaded with fura-2 acetoxymethylester and subjected to whole-cell patch-clamp. Application of the hydrolysis-resistant cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose (cADPcR) through patch pipettes potentiated elevation of the cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) at the depolarized membrane potential. The increase in [Ca2+]i evoked upon sustained membrane depolarization was significantly larger in cADPcR-infused cells than in non-infused cells and its degree was equivalent to or significantly greater than that induced by cADPR or beta-NAD+. 8-Chloro-cADPcR and two inosine congeners (cyclic IDP-carbocyclic-ribose and 8-bromo-cyclic IDP-carbocyclic-ribose) did not induce effects similar to those of cADPcR or cADPR. Instead, 8-chloro-cADPcR together with cADPR or cADPcR caused inhibition of the depolarization-induced [Ca2+]i increase as compared with either cADPR or cADPcR alone. These results demonstrated that our cADPR analogs have agonistic or antagonistic effects on the depolarization-induced [Ca2+]i increase and suggested the presence of functional reciprocal coupling between ryanodine receptors and voltage-activated Ca2+ channels via cADPR in mammalian neuronal cells.

Synthesis of stable and cell-type selective analogues of cyclic ADP-ribose, a Ca(2+)-mobilizing second messenger. Structure--activity relationship of the N1-ribose moiety.

We previously developed cyclic ADP-carbocyclic ribose (cADPcR, 2) as a stable mimic of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR, 1), a Ca(2+)-mobilizing second messenger. A series of the N1-ribose modified cADPcR analogues, designed as novel stable mimics of cADPR, which were the 2"-deoxy analogue 3, the 3"-deoxy analogue 4, the 3"-deoxy-2"-O-(methoxymethyl) analogue 5, the 3"-O-methyl analogue 6, the 2",3"-dideoxy analogue 7, and the 2",3"-dideoxydidehydro analogue 8, were successfully synthesized using the key intramolecular condensation reaction with phenylthiophosphate-type substrates. We investigated the conformations of these analogues and of cADPR and found that steric repulsion between both the adenine and N9-ribose moieties and between the adenine and N1-ribose moieties was a determinant of the conformation. The Ca(2+)-mobilizing effects were evaluated systematically using three different biological systems, i.e., sea urchin eggs, NG108-15 neuronal cells, and Jurkat T-lymphocytes. The relative potency of Ca(2+)-mobilization by these cADPR analogues varies depending on the cell-type used: e.g., 3"-deoxy-cADPcR (4) > cADPcR (2) > cADPR (1) in sea urchin eggs; cADPR (1) >> cADPcR (2) approximately 3"-deoxy-cADPcR (4) in T-cells; and cADPcR (2) > cADPR (1) > 3"-deoxy-cADPcR (4) in neuronal cells, respectively. These indicated that the target proteins and/or the mechanism of action of cADPR in sea urchin eggs, T-cells, and neuronal cells are different. Thus, this study represents an entry to cell-type selective cADPR analogues, which can be used as biological tools and/or novel drug leads.

Convergent synthesis and unexpected Ca(2+)-mobilizing activity of 8-substituted analogues of cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose, a stable mimic of the Ca(2+)-mobilizing second messenger cyclic ADP-ribose.

Cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose (cADPcR, 2) is a biologically and chemically stable equivalent of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR, 1), a Ca(2+)-mobilizing second messenger. In this study, a series of 8-substituted analogues of cADPcR, namely the 8-chloro analogue 6 (8-Cl-cADPcR), the 8-azido analogue 7 (8-N(3)-cADPcR), the 8-amino analogue 8 (8-NH(2)-cADPcR), and the 8-phenylthio analogue 9 (8-SPh-cADPcR), were designed as effective pharmacological tools for studies on cADPR-modulated Ca(2+) signaling pathways. These target compounds were synthesized by a convergent route via 8-Cl-cADPcR bisacetonide (14) as the common intermediate, in which a method for forming the intramolecular pyrophosphate linkage by activation of the phenylthiophosphate type substrate 15 with AgNO(3) to produce 14 was used as the key step. The carbocyclic analogues were tested for activity in the sea urchin egg homogenate system. Compounds were assessed for their calcium-mobilizing effects and their ability to cross-desensitize with calcium release induced by a normally maximal concentration of cADPR, as well as cADPR antagonism of cADPR-evoked calcium release. While cADPcR was 3-4 times more potent than cADPR, the 8-substituted analogues were less efficacious, with 8-SPh-cADPcR largely acting as a competitive antagonist. Most surprisingly, given that 8-N(3)-cADPR and 8-NH(2)-cADPR are known as potent antagonists, 8-N(3)-cADPcR and 8-NH(2)-cADPcR were full agonists, but ca. 80 and 2 times less potent than cADPR, respectively. These data contribute to developing structure-activity relationships for the interaction of cADPR with its receptor.

Novel hydrolysis-resistant analogues of cyclic ADP-ribose: modification of the "northern" ribose and calcium release activity.

Three novel analogues modified in the "northern" ribose (ribose linked to N1 of adenine) of the Ca(2+) mobilizing second messenger cyclic adenosine diphosphoribose, termed 2"-NH(2)-cyclic adenosine diphosphoribose, cyclic adenosine diphospho-carbocyclic-ribose, and 8-NH(2)-cyclic adenosine diphospho-carbocyclic-ribose, were synthesized (chemoenzymatically and by total synthesis) and spectroscopically characterized, and the pK(a) values for the 6-amino/imino transition were determined in two cases. The biological activity of these analogues was determined in permeabilized human Jurkat T-lymphocytes. 2"-NH(2)-cyclic adenosine diphosphoribose mediated Ca(2+) release was slightly more potent than that of the endogenous cyclic adenosine diphosphoribose in terms of the concentration-reponse relationship. Both compounds released Ca(2+) from the same intracellular Ca(2+) pool. In addition, the control compound 2"-NH(2)-adenosine diphosphoribose was almost without effect. In contrast, only at much higher concentrations (> or =50 microM) did the "northern" carbocyclic analogue, cyclic adenosine diphospho-carbocyclic-ribose, significantly release Ca(2+) from permeabilized T cells, whereas the previously reported "southern" carbocyclic analogue, cyclic aristeromycin diphosphoribose, was slightly more active than the endogenous cyclic adenosine diphosphoribose. Likewise, 8-NH(2)-cyclic adenosine diphospho-carbocyclic-ribose, expected to antagonize Ca(2+) release as demonstrated previously for 8-NH(2)-cyclic adenosine diphosphoribose, did not inhibit cyclic adenosine diphosphoribose mediated Ca(2+) release. This indicates that the 2"-NH(2)-group substitutes well for the 2"-OH-group it replaces; it may be oriented toward the outside of the putative cyclic adenosine diphosphoribose receptor binding domain and/or it can potentially also engage in H bonding interactions with residues of that domain. In sharp contrast to this, replacement of the endocyclic furanose oxygen atom by CH(2) in a carbocyclic system obviously interferes with a crucial element of interaction between cyclic adenosine diphosphoribose and its receptor in T-lymphocytes.