Chromatographic analysis and decomposition product characterization of compound SR16157 (NSC 732011).

SR16157 (21-(2-N,N-diethylaminoethyl)oxy-7alpha-methyl-19-norpregna-1,3,5(10)-triene-3-O-sulfamate) is a novel, dual-acting estrone sulfatase inhibitor currently in preclinical development for use in breast cancer therapy. The compound has a dual mechanism of action: the sulfamate-containing parent compound SR16157 inhibits estrogen biosynthesis by irreversibly inhibiting the enzyme estrone sulfatase. The phenolic metabolite, SR16137, generated by the sulfatase enzyme is a potent antiestrogen in breast tissues and has beneficial effects in bone and the cardiovascular system. As part of the ongoing preclinical studies, an HPLC assay method has been developed and validated for SR16157. The assay method is specific, accurate (recovery=99.4-101.1), linear (r(2)> or =0.9999), precise (intraday R.S.D.< or =1.1%, intermediate R.S.D.< or =0.8%), and sensitive (limit of detection=1.0 microg/ml). It separates SR16157 from its impurities and forced decomposition products, which have been characterized by LC coupled with mass and UV spectral data. Major decomposition pathways are hydrolysis, hydroxylation, and oxidation.

HPLC method development, validation, and impurity characterization of a potent antitumor indenoisoquinoline, LMP776 (NSC 725776).

An HPLC method for the assay of a DNA topoisomerase inhibitor, LMP776 (NSC 725776), has been developed and validated. The stress testing of LMP776 was carried out in accordance with International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines Q1A (R2) under acidic, alkaline, oxidative, thermolytic, and photolytic conditions. The separation of LMP776 from its impurities and degradation products was achieved within 40 min on a Supelco Discovery HS F5 column (150 mm × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm) with a gradient mobile phase comprising 38-80% acetonitrile in water, with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in both phases. LC/MS was used to obtain mass data for characterization of impurities and degradation products. One major impurity was isolated through chloroform extraction and identified by NMR. The proposed HPLC assay method was validated for specificity, linearity (concentration range 0.25-0.75 mg/mL, r = 0.9999), accuracy (recovery 98.6-100.4%), precision (RSD ≤ 1.4%), and sensitivity (LOD 0.13 µg/mL). The validated method was used in the stability study of the LMP776 drug substance in conformance with the ICH Q1A (R2) guideline.

Direct liquid chromatography determination of the reactive imine SJG-136 (NSC 694501).

SJG-136 (NSC 694501), 8,8'-[[(propane-1,3-diyl)dioxy]bis[(11aS)-7-methoxy-2-methylidene-1,2,3,11a-tetrahydro-5H-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepin-5-one], which is being developed as a DNA-interactive antitumor agent, contains highly reactive imines in the diazepinone portions of the molecule. Water or alcohol adds readily to the imino moiety to form the corresponding carbinolamine or its alkyl ether, respectively. This sensitivity to protic substances poses a formidable challenge to the formulation and HPLC assay development for the compound. After studying the solution chemistry of SJG-136 and its potential interaction with various stationary phases, two reversed-phase liquid chromatographic assays for the compound have been developed. A direct assay that separates SJG-136 from its water or methanol adducts and an indirect assay that quantifies SJG-136 as its dihydrate adduct are reported. The latter method, which is more practical for drug development, has been validated. It is reproducible (R.S.D.<2%), linear (r2=0.9999) and accurate (within 98-102% recovery), with a lower detection limit of 2.5 ng.

Characterization, HPLC method development and impurity identification for 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO), a potent actinide chelator for radionuclide decorporation.

3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO), 1,5,10,14-tetra(1-hydroxy-2-pyridon-6-oyl)-1,5,10,14-tetraazatetradecane), is a potent octadentate chelator of actinides. It is being developed as a decorporation treatment for internal contamination with radionuclides. Conventional HPLC methods exhibited speciation peaks and bridging, likely attributable to the agent's complexation with residual metallic ions in the HPLC system. Derivatization of the target ligand in situ with Fe(III) chloride, however, provided a single homogeneous iron-complex that can readily be detected and analyzed by HPLC. The HPLC method used an Agilent Eclipse XDB-C18 column (150 mm × 4.6mm, 5 µm) at 25°C with UV detection at 280 nm. A gradient elution, with acetonitrile (11% to 100%)/buffer mobile phase, was developed for impurity profiling. The buffer consisted of 0.02% formic acid and 10mM ammonium formate at pH 4.6. An Agilent 1200 LC-6530 Q-TOF/MS system was employed to characterize the [Fe(III)-3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO)] derivative and impurities. The proposed HPLC method was validated for specificity, linearity (concentration range 0.13-0.35 mg/mL, r = 0.9999), accuracy (recovery 98.3-103.3%), precision (RSD ≤ 1.6%) and sensitivity (LOD 0.08 µg/mL). The LC/HRMS revealed that the derivative was a complex consisting of one 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) molecule, one hydroxide ligand, and two iron atoms. Impurities were also identified with LC/HRMS. The validated HPLC method was used in shelf-life evaluation studies which showed that the API remained unchanged for one year at 25°C/60% RH.

HPLC method development, validation and impurity characterization for an antitumor Hsp90 inhibitor-PU-H71 (NSC 750424).

An HPLC method for the assay of the heat shock protein 90 inhibitor, PU-H71 (NSC 750424), has been developed and validated. The stress testing of PU-H71 was carried out in accordance with ICH guidelines Q1A (R2) under aqueous, acidic, alkaline, oxidative, thermolytic and photolytic conditions. The separation of PU-H71 from its impurities and degradation products was achieved within 50min on a Mac-Mod ACE 3 C18 column (150mm×4.6mm i.d., 3µm) with a gradient mobile phase comprising 20-95% acetonitrile in water, with 0.1% trifluroacetic acid in both phases. LC-quadrupole TOF/MS was used to obtain accurate mass data on various components as well as on their fragments for characterization of impurities and degradation products. The proposed HPLC assay method was validated for specificity, linearity (concentration range 0.1-0.3mg/mL, r≥0.9998), accuracy (recovery 99.7-101.1%), precision (intra-lab RSD≤1.39%, inter-lab RSD≤0.91%), sensitivity (LOD 0.08µg/mL), and ruggedness. The developed method was suitable for the assay and stability monitoring of PU-H71 drug substance.

LC/MS characterization of impurities and degradation products of a potent antitumor peptidic dimer, CU201.

Compound CU201 [SUIM-(d-Arg-Arg-Pro-Hyp-Gly-Igl-Ser-d-Igl-Oic-Arg)(2), where SUIM=suberimidyl; Hyp=trans-4-hydroxyproline; Igl=alpha-(2-indanyl)-glycine; Oic=octahydroindole-2-carboxylic acid], is a dimeric analog of the potent bradykinin antagonist peptide B9430. It blocks the G(alphaq,11) signal of the heterotrimeric G proteins, stimulates c-Jun kinases, and induces apoptosis in lung cancer cells with neuroendocrine features. CU201 shows potent inhibition for small-cell lung cancer cells in vitro (ED(50)=0.15microM), as well as for small-cell lung cancer SHP-77 tumor growth in vivo. An HPLC method was developed, as part of a study supported by the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Rapid Access to Interventional Development (RAID) program, to assess the purity and stability of CU201. Impurities and degradation products were characterized by LC/MS. The identity of a major impurity, with 1 mass unit different from CU201, was confirmed by high resolution LC/MS and the investigation of model compounds. Susceptible linkages in the peptide chains were revealed by the degradation study.