Hydrogen ion-mediated enhancement of cytotoxicity of bis-chloroethylating drugs in rat mammary carcinoma cells in vitro.

Aerobic glycolysis, a metabolic characteristic of malignant cells, can be exploited to increase the concentration of lactic acid selectivity in tumor tissues in vivo by systemic administration of glucose (E. Jähde and M. F. Rajewsky, Cancer Res., 42: 1505-1512, 1982). To investigate whether a more acidic microenvironment can enhance the effectiveness of cytocidal drugs, we have analyzed the colony-forming capacity of M1R rat mammary carcinoma cells exposed to bis-chloroethylating agents in culture as a function of extracellular pH (pHe). At pHe 6.2 the cytotoxicity of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide, as measured by inhibition of colony formation, was potentiated by a factor of approximately 200 as compared to pHe 7.4. Similar results were obtained with mafosfamide, nitrogen mustard, nornitrogen mustard, melphalan, and chlorambucil; not, however, with ifosfamide. As indicated by experiments using the ionophor nigericin for rapid equilibration of pHe and intracellular pH (pHi; measured with pH-sensitive microelectrodes), modulation of drug action by varying pHe primarily resulted from the concomitant decrease in pHi. The acidic microenvironment enhanced cytotoxicity most effectively during the phase of cellular drug uptake and monofunctional alkylation of DNA. DNA cross-link formation appeared to be less affected by pH, and lowering of pHe during the phase of cross-link removal was only marginally effective.

Proton-mediated liberation of aldophosphamide from a nontoxic prodrug: a strategy for tumor-selective activation of cytocidal drugs.

Based on the findings that the pH in malignant tumors can be preferentially decreased by stimulation of their aerobic glycolysis, acid-sensible prodrugs, which are nearly nontoxic at physiological pH, were synthesized. At lower pH, however, these compounds are cleaved with liberation of a cytotoxic species. The prototypic drug compound 2-hexenopyranoside of aldophosphamide was prepared, which releases aldophosphamide by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. Exposure of cultured M1R rat mammary carcinoma cells to this agent at pH 7.4 only resulted in slight toxicity. However, when drug treatment was performed at pH 6.2, the mean pH in malignant tumors of hyperglycemic hosts, the colony-forming fraction of M1R cells decreased to 0.05 and 0.0001 of controls treated at pH 7.4 after exposure for 24 h and 48 h, respectively. The synthesis of the 2-hexenopyranoside of aldophosphamide is described in detail.

Domino reactions for library synthesis of small molecules in combinatorial chemistry.

Domino reactions are highly efficient processes that allow the synthesis of complex molecules starting from simple substrates, in a straightforward fashion. The transformations are extremely useful for the design of small-molecule libraries by combinatorial chemistry if multicomponent domino reactions are employed. The reactions can be performed in solution, as well as on solid support, and give access to highly diverse molecules; in addition, their use in automated synthesis is possible.

Enzyme and proton-activated prodrugs for a selective cancer therapy.

This review is a survey of two approaches for a selective anticancer therapy that are based on a specific cleavage of specially designed non-toxic prodrugs with the liberation of a cytotoxic compound either by antibody-enzyme conjugates targeted to tumor-associated antigens or by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the prodrugs due to the increased concentration of hydronium ions in malignant tissue under hyperglycemic conditions. Herein, the design, synthesis and the biological testing of prodrugs are described.

Binding of T-antigen-bearing neoglycoprotein and peanut agglutinin to cultured tumor cells and breast carcinomas.

Chemical conjugation of appropriate carbohydrate ligands to an inert labeled carrier renders probes available to screen for the presence of respective binding sites. A set with a certain plant lectin and a suitable neoglycoprotein can thus determine complementary parts of a potentially relevant glycobiological interaction system. Owing to the interest in the peanut agglutinin-reactive T-antigen, we performed chemical synthesis of the respective disaccharide structure to serve as glycohistochemical ligand and established refinements of the synthetic patway. Coupling of the derivatized monomers had to be performed in the presence of sodium sulfate for optimal results. Complete removal of the protective groups from the p-nitrophenyl derivative of the N-acetylgalactosamine moiety was achieved under mild conditions with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone without affecting any other functional groups. Specific binding sites for the synthetic neoglycoprotein as well as for the plant lectin were demonstrated in cell lines of human breast carcinoma colon adenocarcinoma, and erythroleukemia. ABC reagents in conjunction with DAB as peroxidase substrate were used to visualize specific binding sites. Binding complied with the accepted criteria for specificity. Moreover, carbohydrate-specific binding sites were detected in sections of nine out of 14 cases with malignant breast lesions. The percentage of positive tumor cells with both neoglycoprotein and lectin was similar in each of the individual sections, regardless of quantitative variations between cases, lectin staining intensity often being more pronounced. The reactivity pattern in sections of primary and metastatic lesions was not significantly correlated with the lymph node status. This study emphasized that custom synthesis of saccharides and histochemical application of the resulting neoglycoprotein has a remarkable potential for complementary assessment of endogenous binding sites for carbohydrate structures, localized by external tools such as plant lectins, as a step to elucidate the importance of a putative proteincarbohydrate interaction.

Inhibitory effect of a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor on growth and spread of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma evaluated in an orthotopic severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse model.

The present study was aimed at evaluating the effect of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor prinomastat (AG3340) on tumor progression using an orthotopic pancreatic carcinoma model in severe combined immunodeficient mice. In controls, receiving vehicle only, the poorly differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma invaded into adjacent organs and metastasized to different sites in the abdomen and to the lungs. Treatment with prinomastat, intraperitoneally twice daily for 21 days, reduced primary tumor volume significantly to 19.0 (+/-7.7)% of control, with induction of necrosis, differentiation, and fibrotic tissue in the pancreatic tumors. Invasion was not observed in 63% of prinomastat-treated mice, and metastases were reduced markedly. Surprisingly, prinomastat-treated tumors had on average higher microvessel densities as a consequence of an increased angiogenesis in perinecrotic tumor areas. We conclude that prinomastat is highly effective in inhibiting pancreatic carcinoma growth and progression in an orthotopic cancer model. This model appears to be a valuable tool to investigate the potency of novel antimetastatic strategies in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by specifically targeting certain MMPs.

Synthesis of new 16-spirosteroids.

Reaction of estrone methyl ether 1 with sodium hydride and 1,3-dibromopropane, 1,4-dibromobutane, and 1,5-dibromopentane, respectively, gives the 16-spirosteroid derivatives 2-4, which were reduced to the 17 beta-alcohols 7-9. Acetylation afforded the acetates 10-12. In the reaction of 1 and 1,3-dibromopropane a bis-allyl compound 5 and an annulated dihydropyran 6 were also formed. Cleavage of the ether moiety in 2 and 3 was accomplished with diisobutylaluminum hydride to give 3,17 beta-diols 13 and 14, respectively.

Stereoselective synthesis of 1,1-dialkyl-1-methoxymethyl glucosides (acetal-glucosides).

The synthesis is described of highly acid-sensitive, 1,1-dialkyl-1-methoxymethyl glucosides (acetal-glucosides) as potential anti-cancer prodrugs. Reaction of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-O-trimethylsilyl-beta-D-glucopyranose (4) severally with various aliphatic and alicyclic ketones and methyl trimethylsilyl ether, in the presence of catalytic amounts of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, afforded the corresponding acetylated acetal-beta-glucosides, e.g., acetone gave 1-methoxy-1-methylethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7a). Likewise the alpha-anomer (8a) of 7a was obtained from the alpha-anomer of 4. Deacetylation of the tetra-acetates then gave the acetal-alpha- and -beta-glucosides.

Stereoselective synthesis of (1-alkoxyalkyl) alpha- and beta-D-glucopyranosiduronates (acetal-glucopyranosiduronates): a new approach to specific cytostatics for the treatment of cancer.

The reaction of methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-O-trimethylsilyl-beta- and -alpha-D-glucopyranuronate severally with the dimethyl or diethyl acetals of formaldehyde, bromoacetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, 3-benzyloxypropionaldehyde, 5-carboxypentanal, and 2-bromohexanal in the presence of catalytic amounts of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate at -78 degrees gave the corresponding (1-alkoxyalkyl) alpha- and beta-glycosides (acetal-glucopyranosiduronates) with retention of configuration at C-1 in yields of 41-91%. Instead of the dialkyl acetals, the corresponding aldehydes and alkyl trimethylsilyl ether can be used. Deacetylation gave the corresponding methyl (acetal-beta- and -alpha-D-glucopyranosid)uronates in good yield. De-esterification of methyl [(1R)-1-methoxybutyl beta-D-glucopyranosid]uronate with esterase gave the acetal-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid which was an excellent substrate for beta-D-glucuronidase.

Approaches targeting K(V)10.1 open a novel window for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

K(V)10.1 has recently become generally accepted as a promising cancer target, as it is ectopically expressed in the majority of solid tumors. Due to its cell-surface accessibility, K(V)10.1 has a strong potential for tumor treatment and diagnosis. Given that its mode of action is likely independent of conventional cancer pathways such as tyrosine kinases, K(V)10.1 opens a novel window for treating cancer. In this review we will give an overview of the current status of data linking K(V)10.1 to cancer, and propose techniques that could exploit K(V)10.1's properties for the management of cancer.

Enhanced tumor therapy using vaccinia virus strain GLV-1h68 in combination with a ß-galactosidase-activatable prodrug seco-analog of duocarmycin SA.

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide, thus remaining a crucial health problem among women despite advances in conventional therapy. Therefore, new alternative strategies are needed for effective diagnosis and treatment. One approach is the use of oncolytic viruses for gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy. Here, the lacZ-carrying vaccinia virus (VACV) strain GLV-1h68 was used in combination with a ß-galactosidase-activatable prodrug derived from a seco-analog of the natural antibiotic duocarmycin SA. Tumor cell infection with the VACV strain GLV-1h68 led to production of ß-galactosidase, essential for the conversion of the prodrug to the toxic compound. Furthermore, drug-dependent cell kill and induction of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway in tumor cells was also observed on combination therapy using the prodrug and the GLV-1h68 strain, despite the fact that VACV strains encode antiapoptotic proteins. Moreover, GI-101A breast cancer xenografts were effectively treated by the combination therapy. In conclusion, the combination of a ß-galactosidase-activatable prodrug with a tumor-specific vaccinica virus strain encoding this enzyme, induced apoptosis in cultures of the human GI-101A breast cancer cells, in which a synergistic oncolytic effect was observed. Moreover, in vivo, additional prodrug treatment had beneficial effects on tumor regression in GLV-1h68-treated GI-101A-xenografted mice.

Synthesis of the deoxyaminosugar (+)-D-forosamine via a novel domino-Knoevenagel-hetero-Diels-Alder reaction.

A synthesis of (+)-D-forosamine was developed. The sugar-scaffold was constructed by a new domino-Knoevenagel-hetero-Diels-Alder reaction from easily available starting materials.

Multicomponent domino reactions for the synthesis of biologically active natural products and drugs.

A main issue in modern synthetic organic chemistry, which deals with the preparation of natural products, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, agrochemicals, and other important materials, is the improvement of efficiency, the avoidance of toxic reagents, the reduction of waste, and the responsible treatment of our resources. One of the ways to fulfill these goals is the development and use of domino processes, which consist of several bond-forming reactions and which allow the highly efficient synthesis of complex molecules starting from simple substrates. Herein, the combination of several catalytic bond-forming transformations is clearly most appropriate. The synthesis of the enantiopure alkaloid (-)-hirsutine 22, which has a strong inhibitorial effect on influenza A viruses, was accomplished using a biomimetic domino Knoevenagel-hetero-Diels Alder-solvolysis-hydrogenation process. In a similar way the alkaloids (+)-dihydrocorynantheine 23 and (-)-dihydroantirhine 24 as well as heterosteroids 62, D-homosteroids 65 and 68, and azasteroids 25 are prepared. In addition, novel steroid alkaloids 26 are accessible by a combination of the formation of an iminium salt, a hydride shift, and an alkylation. The anti-leukemic pentacyclic (-)-cephalotaxine 27 is obtained by a combination of two Pd-catalyzed reactions.

Preparation of a new carboranyl lactoside for the treatment of cancer by boron neutron capture therapy: synthesis and toxicity of fluoro carboranyl glycosides for in vivo 19F-NMR spectroscopy.

The synthesis of new ortho-carboranyl lactosides 8, 17, 19 and glucosides 22 and 23 for the use in boron neutron capture therapy is reported. Carboranyl lactosides 17 and 19 as well as the glucosides 22 and 23 contain a fluorine atom to allow a noninvasive determination of these compounds in tumor cells by 19F-NMR spectroscopy. In cloning efficiency tests on human bronchial carcinoma cells the carboranyl lactosides 17 and 19 displayed almost no cytotoxicity. Thus, the considerably cytotoxic carboranyl alcohol 11 is detoxified when linked to a sugar moiety such as in carboranyl glucoside 22.

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of cephalotaxine analogues.

The synthesis of cephalotaxine ring analogues 10 was achieved by two successive intramolecular palladium-catalyzed reactions of 12 via 11, namely an allylic amination and a Heck reaction. The substrates 12 were obtained by alkylation of primary amines 13 with tosylates 14.

Highly efficient synthesis of linear pyrrole oligomers by twofold Heck reactions.

The twofold Heck reaction of the vinylpyrroles 3a and 3b with the iodobenzenes 4a-c led to the linear pyrrole oligomers 5, 6, and 7. The synthesis of both symmetrical and unsymmetrical oligomers, such as 10a and 10b, was also accomplished by a Heck reaction of 8 and 9 and by a Heck reaction of 3a and 11 followed by a Wittig reaction and a second Heck reaction with 8. The pentacyclic oligomers 14 and 19 were prepared by a twofold Heck reaction of 13 with 4 and by a twofold Heck reaction of 15 with 16 followed by a Wittig reaction and a twofold Heck reaction with 8.

A strategy for tumor-selective chemotherapy by enzymatic liberation of seco-duocarmycin SA-derivatives from nontoxic prodrugs.

Immuno-conjugates obtained by linking enzymes with appropriate monoclonal antibodies, which bind to tumor-associated antigens, can be employed in a tumor-selective antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT). For this strategy the glycosides 17a--c were prepared as prodrugs of CI-TMI 14 which is a structurally simplified analogue of the highly potent antitumor agent duocarmycin SA 2. Exposure of 17a--c to cultured carcinoma cells of line A549 displayed a very low toxicity; however, after addition of the corresponding enzymes and exposure for 24 h at prodrug concentrations of <0.1 microM the proliferation of the carcinoma cells was inhibited almost completely with ED(50prodrug)/ED(50drug) of up to 270 in the presence and in the absence of the enzyme. The synthesis of 17a--c was achieved by transformation of nitroanisidine 6 into 12 which was glycosidated to give 16a--c. Removal of the silyl groups, introduction of a chlorine atom and solvolysis of the acetal groups led to 17a-c, of which 17a and 17c are promising candidates for further elaboration.

Highly selective glycosylated prodrugs of cytostatic CC-1065 analogues for antibody-directed enzyme tumor therapy.

Novel prodrugs of the cytotoxic antibiotic CC-1065 for an antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT) were prepared that show an excellent selectivity with a high toxicity of the corresponding drug. In particular, the seco-CBI analogue of CC-1065, 1-chloromethyl-5-hydroxy-1,2-dihydro-3H-benz[e]indole, as well as the novel methyl-seco-CBI analogue 1-(1'-chloroethyl)-5-hydroxy-1,2-dihydro-3H-benz[e]indole, were synthesized and transformed into their galactosides 10 a and 10 b, respectively. These galactosides can be cleaved with beta-D-galactosidase to give the free cytotoxic compounds. They were tested in in vitro cytotoxicity assays by using human bronchial carcinoma cells of line A549 in the presence and in the absence of beta-D-galactosidase. While the seco-CBI prodrugs revealed only modest selectivity, prodrugs of the methyl-seco-CBI analogue bearing an anti orientation of the substituents at the two stereogenic centers of the N-heterocycle displayed an excellent selectivity with an ED(50) quotient of about 750. The cytotoxicity of the corresponding phenol was rather high, with an ED(50) of 1.3 nM. The diastereomer with a syn orientation at the stereogenic centers was much less toxic.

Synthesis of enantiopure homoallylic ethers by reagent controlled facial selective allylation of chiral ketones.

The stereoselective allylation of chiral methyl ketones to give tertiary homoallylic ethers, which can easily be transformed into homoallylic alcohols, is described. Reaction of the enantiopure ketones 8a-d and the racemic ketones 26a-d with the norpseudoephedrine derivative 2 or ent-2 and allylsilane in the presence of a catalytic amount of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, led to a series of homoallylic ethers with good to excellent diastereoselectivity (85:15 to > 97:3). The allylation is reagent controlled and nearly independent from the stereogenic centers in the substrates. A partial kinetic resolution was observed using the racemic ketones 26a-d. In the reaction of the chiral ketones 8a-d with the achiral reagents ethoxytrimethylsilane and allylsilane only a low diastereoselectivity was observed.

Synthesis of a novel ether-bridged GM3-lactone analogue as a target for an antibody-based cancer therapy.

We describe herein the synthesis of a new analogue of the GM3-lactone containing a cyclic ether moiety. The ether moiety was chosen as a replacement for the regular lactone group since it shows high resemblance with the lactone and is completely stable under biological conditions. The cyclic ether moiety was formed by reduction of the corresponding lactone to give the lactol followed by formation of the S,O-hemiacetal and hydrogenation. In addition, we have prepared haptens with a hexanoic acid moiety, which can be used for the preparation of poly- and monoclonal antibodies after binding to BSA or KLH. This is the first example of an analogue of the GM3-lactone which is stable under hydrolytic conditions in vitro and probably also in vivo. Reaction of lactone 18 with a Red/Al derivative led to the lactol 19 which was transformed into the S,O-hemiacetal 20 using 2,2'-bis(pyridinium) disulfide in quantitative yield. Hydrogenation with Raney Nickel gave 21 from which after removal of the protecting group at C-1a the trichloroacetimidate 25 was prepared. Reaction with azidosphingosine to give 26 followed by reduction of the azido group with NHEt3+[(PhS)3Sn], acylation with stearic acid using EDC and removal of the protecting groups led to the desired ether analogue of GM3 lactone 4. In addition the trichloroacetimidate 25 was glycosidated with 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid methyl ester, which was deprotected to give 29. The compound will be used for the preparation of poly- and monoclonal antibodies after coupling with BSA and KLH.