Correction: A chemical inhibitor of PPM1D that selectively kills cells overexpressing PPM1D.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Intratumoral aromatase as a prognostic factor in human breast carcinoma.

Intratumoral aromatase activity (AA) was measured in 145 samples of human primary breast carcinoma using the tritiated water release assay which quantifies the tritium lost to water during the aromatization of 1 beta-[3H]androstenedione to estrone. Significant AA was detected in 91/145 (63%) tumors. The possibility of a relationship between AA and a variety of clinical prognostic factors such as estrogen receptors, menopausal status, site, size, and histological grade of tumor was investigated. Possible relationship with time to relapse, overall survival, and survival of patients after relapse were also studied to determine whether intratumoral AA itself was of any prognostic value. There was no relationship between AA and tumor size, site, nodal status, menopausal status or estrogen receptors. However there was a significant correlation between AA and histological grade with an excess of AA-positive tumors having high grade (P = 0.03). There was no significant relationship between AA and overall survival (P greater than 0.1), but there was a marginal inverse correlation between AA and time to relapse (P less than 0.1). A statistically significant correlation was found between AA and survival of patients after relapse (P less than 0.05).

Inhibition of aromatase expression by a psoralen-linked triplex-forming oligonucleotide targeted to a coding sequence.

The cytochrome P450 enzyme aromatase (P450arom) is an important target in breast cancer treatment. We have designed a 20-base pyrimidine oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) which forms a sequence-specific triple helix (triplex) with a purine-rich tract in the P450arom coding sequence. The psoralen-linked ODN (Pso20T) formed photo-induced cross-linked products with target double-stranded DNA. Cross-linked adducts formed in vitro between ODNs and P450arom expression constructs were used to transfect COS and human MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Levels of aromatase transcripts and enzyme activity were significantly lower in cultures transfected with Pso20T-treated cDNA relative to controls. Pso20T had a lesser inhibitory effect on aromatase expression from a mutant P450arom construct, consistent with predicted effects of the mutations on triplex formation. These results are compatible with triplex-mediated interruption of transcription within intact cells.

Conformational analysis of the aromatase inhibitor 3-ethyl-3-(4-pyridyl)piperidine-2,6-dione (rogletimide) and discovery of potent 5-alkyl derivatives.

Analysis of the proton NMR spectra of 3-ethyl-3-(4-pyridyl)piperidine-2,6-dione (rogletimide, 1) shows that it exists in solution with the aromatic ring in an axial position; the same conformation was found for aminoglutethimide. Excess lithium diisopropylamide treatment of 1 formed a dianion which methylated at C-5. The major product with the methyl group trans to the pyridyl ring retained this ring in an axial position and had higher aromatase inhibitory potency than 1. The minor diastereoisomer with an equatorial pyridyl ring had low potency. Upon elongating the alkyl chain, particularly high inhibitory activity was found for the major product isomer having a C-5 octyl, coinciding with the high activity in C-3 and N-1 octyl derivatives of 1, but there was only a small difference in the activity between the enantiomers of 5-octyl-1 and activity was reduced rather than increased when octyl also replaced ethyl at C-3. The results partially support a previously described model comparing binding of androstenedione to aromatase in as much as an axial pyridyl ring is needed to mimic the axial C-19 methyl group of the steroid and bind to the heme component of the enzyme, but for the derivatives bearing a C-5 octyl, the function of the glutarimide ring seems to be simply as a spacer between the hydrophobic chain and the pyridyl ring.

Novel steroidal inhibitors of human cytochrome P45017 alpha (17 alpha-hydroxylase-C17,20-lyase): potential agents for the treatment of prostatic cancer.

Steroidal compounds having a 17-(3-pyridyl) substituent together with a 16,17-double bond have been synthesized, using a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of a 17-enol triflate with diethyl(3-pyridyl)borane, which are potent inhibitors of human testicular 17 alpha-hydroxylase-C17,20-lyase. The requirement for these structural features is stringent: compounds having 2-pyridyl (9), 4-pyridyl (10), or 2-pyridylmethyl (11) substituents instead of the 3-pyridyl substituent were either poor inhibitors or noninhibitory. Reduction of the 16,17-double bond to give 17 beta-pyridyl derivatives diminished potency with 3-pyridyl substitution (3-->27; IC50 for lyase, 2.9-->23 nM) but increased it with a 4-pyridyl substituent present (10-->28; IC50 1 microM-->53 nM). In contrast, a variety of substitution patterns in rings A-C of the steroid skeleton afforded inhibitors having potencies similar to those most closely related structurally to the natural substrates pregnenolone and progesterone, respectively 17-(3-pyridyl)androsta-5,16-dien-3 beta-ol (3, Kiapp < 1 nM; IC50 for lyase, 2.9 nM) and 17-(3-pyridyl)androsta-4,16-dien-3-one (15; IC50 for lyase, 2.1 nM). Thus compounds having variously aromatic ring A (18), saturated rings A/B (21, 22), and oxygenated ring C (26) exhibited IC50 values for lyase (1.8-3.0 nM) falling within a 2-fold range. The most potent compounds are candidates for development as drugs for the treatment of hormone-dependent prostatic carcinoma.

Inhibition of enzymes of estrogen and androgen biosynthesis by esters of 4-pyridylacetic acid.

A variety of esters of 4-pyridylacetic acid have been prepared by base mediated exchange from the methyl ester. Several of the esters of alcohols that contained a cyclohexyl ring were potent inhibitors of human placental aromatase and of the rat testicular 17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17-20lyase complex. The most potent agents found against both enzyme complexes were the borneyl, isopinocampheyl, and 1-adamantyl esters. These were over 100 times more potent than aminoglutethimide against aromatase and of greater potency than ketoconazole against hydroxylase/lyase. Potency against either enzyme complex was reduced if the ester function was borne on the cyclohexyl ring in an axial rather than an equatorial position. Some differential selectivity could be introduced since whereas methyl substitution adjacent to the carbonyl group reduced the inhibition of aromatase, it increased that against hydroxylase/lyase.

Analogues of aminoglutethimide based on 1-phenyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,4-dione: selective inhibition of aromatase activity.

In exploring the structural features responsible for the inhibitory activity of aminoglutethimide [3-(4-aminophenyl)-3-ethylpiperidine-2,6-dione] (1) toward the cholesterol side chain cleavage (CSCC) enzyme from bovine adrenals and the human placental aromatase enzyme, analogues have been synthesized in which the piperidine-2,6-dione ring is replaced by substituted or unsubstituted azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,4-dione rings. The unsubstituted analogue 1-(4-aminophenyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,4-dione (9a) is a slightly more potent inhibitor of aromatase than 1 (Ki = 1.2 microM, cf. 1.8 microM for 1) but is noninhibitory toward the CSCC enzyme. The substituted analogues 1-(4-aminophenyl)-3-butyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,4-dione (9e) and 1-(4-aminophenyl)-3-pentyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,4-dione (9f) are approximately 100 times more potent than 1 (Ki values of 1, 9e, and 9f are 1.8, 0.015, and 0.02 microM, respectively) in inhibiting aromatase, with no significant activity toward the CSCC enzyme. Type II difference spectra were exhibited by 1, 9a, and 9f in their interaction with the aromatase enzyme (respective Ks values of 1, 9a, and 9f are 0.13, 0.08, and 0.01 microM). Modification of the para amino function by alkylation, its relocation, replacement by H, or replacement by a methyl, aldehyde, or secondary alcohol group produced analogues that were inactive toward both enzyme systems.

Analogues of aminoglutethimide: selective inhibition of cholesterol side-chain cleavage.

In our probing of the structural features responsible for the inhibitory activity of aminoglutethimide [1, 3-(4-aminophenyl)-3-ethylpiperidine-2,6-dione] toward the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme system desmolase and the estrogen-forming system aromatase, targets in the action of 1 against hormone-dependent mammary tumors, analogues in several categories have been synthesized and evaluated. Of the known monoamino derivatives, the meta derivative [2, 3-(3-aminophenyl)-3-ethylpiperidine-2,6-dione] was as inhibitory toward desmolase as 1, and the N-amino analogue [4, 1-amino-3-ethyl-3-phenylpiperidine-2,6-dione] was three times as inhibitory (respective Ki values of 1, 2, and 4 are 14, 13, and 4.6 microM), but 2 was a weak inhibitor and 4 was a noninhibitor of aromatase. Another amino analogue [5, 5-amino-3-ethyl-3-phenylpiperidine-2,6-dione] inhibited neither enzyme system. Reaction of glutethimide (11) with hydrazine and thermal cyclization of the resulting amide hydrazide (15) afforded an improved synthesis of 4. Analogues having a second amino substituent, either at C-5 (10) or at N-1 (14) of the piperidine-2,6-dione residue, were less inhibitory than was 1 toward desmolase and aromatase. Among analogues having little or no inhibitory activity were hydroxy derivatives of 1 and 2, namely, 3-(4-amino-3-hydroxyphenyl)-3-ethylpiperidine-2,6-dione (20) and the 3-amino-4-hydroxy analogue (21).

Homologs of idoxifene: variation of estrogen receptor binding and calmodulin antagonism with chain length.

A series of homologs of idoxifene [1a, (E)-1-[4-(N-pyrrolidinoethoxy)phenyl]-1-(4-iodophenyl)-2-phenyl-1-butene ] and selected homologs of 4-iodotamoxifen [2a,(E)-1-[4-(N-dimethylamino)-ethoxy]phenyl]-1-(4-iodophenyl)-2-phenyl -1-butene] with the side chain (CH(2))(n) varying in length from n=3 (1b,2b) to n=10(1i,2i) have been synthesized and tested for antagonism of of the calmodulin-dependent activity of cAMP phosphodiesterase and for binding affinity to rat uterine estrogen receptor. Compared with 1a (IC(50) =1.5 microM), the homologs showed a progressive increase in calmodulin antagonism with a maximum inhibition at n=7-9 (1f-h)(IC(50)=0.2 microM), declining at n=10 (1i) to IC(50) =1.6 microM. In the pyrrolidino series, estrogen receptor binding affinity peaked at n=3 (1b, RBA= 23; estradiol = 100), declining by n=10 (1i) to RBA = 0.4, but the homolog n=8 (1g, RBA = 3.5) was still comparable to tamoxifen (RBA = 3.9). A similar pattern of activity was seen for the dimethylamino counterparts. These compounds represent a new class of antiestrogens with potent calmodulin antagonism.

Crystallographic and molecular modeling studies on 3-ethyl-3-(4-pyridyl)piperidine-2,6-dione and its butyl analogue, inhibitors of mammalian aromatase. Comparison with natural substrates: prediction of enantioselectivity for N-alkyl derivatives.

Inhibitors of the cytochrome P450 enzyme aromatase, which is involved in the biosynthesis of estrogens from androgens, are of proven utility in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer. The determination of the crystal structure of one such inhibitor, 3-ethyl-3-(4-pyridyl)piperidine-2,6-dione (2) and its 3-butyl analogue (3) is described. In the absence of three-dimensional structural information for the enzyme, conformational analysis and comparison with natural substrates has been performed in order to define possible "active" conformations. The enhanced inhibitory activity of 3 may be linked to hydrophobic interactions between the side chain and that portion of the enzyme that normally interacts with the B and C rings of a steroid substrate. Information gained from this study and previous studies by other workers has been combined in order to produce a hypothesis to explain the pattern of activity of N(1)-alkyl derivatives of 2. The successful application of this hypothesis to the prediction of the relative aromatase inhibitory activities of the two enantiomers of the N-octyl derivative (4) is described.

Hydroxyperfluoroazobenzenes: novel inhibitors of enzymes of androgen biosynthesis.

In a search for inhibitors of 17 alpha-hydroxylase-C17,20-lyase and testosterone-5 alpha-reductase, target enzymes in the development of drugs to treat hormone-dependent prostatic cancer, we have identified certain compounds chemically derived by the hydrolysis of decafluoroazobenzene (4) as novel inhibitors for these two enzymes. Hydrolysis of 4 gave the known 4-hydroxynonafluoroazobenzene (1) and the novel 2-hydroxynonafluoroazobenzene (2). By AlI3 demethylation of 4,4'-dimethoxyoctafluoroazobenzene (5) or by hydrolysis of 4 under phase-transfer conditions 4,4'-dihydroxyoctafluoroazobenzene (3) was obtained. Compounds 1 and 2 were inhibitors of the hydroxylase (IC50 values, respectively, 30 and 63 microM) and of the lyase (IC50 values 33 and 16 microM) steps on the pathway of androgen biosynthesis. The 2-hydroxy compound 2 underwent spontaneous conversion into octafluorodibenz[b,f][1,4,5]oxadiazepine (6) which had IC50 values, respectively, of 50 and 15 microM for the hydroxylase and lyase steps and which contributed to the observed activity of 2. Effective inhibitors of the 5 alpha-reductase were 1 (Ki 10 microM) and 3 (Ki4 microM): the activities of 1 and 3 were markedly pH dependent, with respective IC50 values of 14 and 5 microM at pH 7.4 and of 2 and 0.8 microM at pH 6.6.

Analogues of 3-ethyl-3-(4-pyridyl)piperidine-2,6-dione as selective inhibitors of aromatase: derivatives with variable 1-alkyl and 3-alkyl substituents.

3-Ethyl-3-(4-pyridyl)piperidine-2,6-dione (1) is a strong competitive inhibitor of human placental aromatase (Ki = 1.1 microM; testosterone as substrate) that, unlike the structurally related aromatase inhibitor aminoglutethimide (2), is not also an inhibitor of the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme desmolase. An improved synthesis of 1 is described, which was readily adapted to the preparation of homologues in a series of 3-alkyl-3-(4-pyridyl)-piperidine-2,6-diones (6-13). Alkylation of 1 afforded a second series, comprising 1-alkyl-3-ethyl-3-(4-pyridyl)-piperidine-2,6-diones (14-23). Inhibitory activity toward aromatase was maximal in both series for the octyl derivatives. Respective Ki values for the competitive inhibition exerted by the 3-octyl (12) and the 1-octyl (21) analogues with testosterone as substrate were 0.09 and 0.12 microM. The compounds 1, 2, 12, and 21 differed in their relative potencies as inhibitors of the aromatization of testosterone and androstenedione. Respective Ki values were as follows: for 1, 1.1 and 14 microM (ratio 12.7); for 2, 0.6 and 1.8 microM (3); for 12, 0.09 and 0.20 microM (2.2); and for 21, 0.12 and 0.48 microM (4).

Synthesis and biochemical evaluation of analogues of aminoglutethimide based on phenylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione.

A series of (aminophenyl)pyrrolidine-2,5-diones has been prepared that bear structural similarities to aminoglutethimide (1, 3-(4-aminophenyl)-3-ethylpiperidine-2,6-dione). The inhibitory activity of these compounds was evaluated toward human placental aromatase and bovine adrenal cholesterol side chain cleavage (CSCC) enzyme assay systems. Selective, competitive inhibition of the aromatase enzyme system was demonstrated by 5 (3-(4-aminophenyl)-1-methyl-pyrrolidine-2,5-dione, Ki = 1.75 microM), 6 (3-(4-aminophenyl)-1,3-dimethylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione, Ki = 1.75 microM), 7 (3-(4-aminophenyl)-3-methylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione, Ki = 0.8 microM), and 8 (3-(4-aminophenyl)-3-ethylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione, Ki = 1.0 microM). Compound 15 (3-(4-aminophenyl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione) proved unexpectedly difficult to prepare following standard methods and was only moderately inhibitory toward aromatase (IC50 = 20 microM). Compound 16 (3-(4-aminophenyl)-3-ethyl-1-methylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione) was weakly inhibitory toward testosterone aromatization and totally inactive toward androstenedione aromatization. These compounds were either weak or ineffective inhibitors of the CSCC enzyme systems, while 1 gave Ki values toward aromatase and CSCC enzymes of 0.68 and 14 microM, respectively. The unsubstituted phenylpyrrolidinediones were inactive in either system, and the 4-nitrophenyl derivatives exhibited weak, nonselective inhibition, indicating the importance of the primary amine moiety for potent inhibition of aromatase activity.

3- and 4-pyridylalkyl adamantanecarboxylates: inhibitors of human cytochrome P450(17 alpha) (17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase). Potential nonsteroidal agents for the treatment of prostatic cancer.

Various 3- and 4-pyridylalkyl 1-adamantanecarboxylates have been synthesized and tested for inhibitory activity toward the 17 alpha-hydroxylase and C17,20-lyase activities of human testicular cytochrome P450(17 alpha). The 4-pyridylalkyl esters were much more inhibitory than their 3-pyridylalkyl counterparts. The most potent was (S)-1-(4-pyridyl)ethyl 1-adamantanecarboxylate (3b; IC50 for lyase, 1.8 nM), whereas the (R)-enantiomer 3a was much less inhibitory (IC50 74 nM). Nearly as potent as 3b was the dimethylated counterpart, the 2-(4-pyridylpropan-2-yl) ester 5 (IC50 2.7 nM), which was also more resistant to degradation by esterases. In contrast to their 4-pyridyl analogs, the enantiomers of the 1-(3-pyridyl)ethyl ester were similarly inhibitory (IC50 for lyase; (R)-isomer 8a 150 nM, (S)-isomer 8b 230 nM). Amides corresponding to the 4-pyridylmethyl ester 1 and the (S)-1-(4-pyridyl)ethyl ester 3b, respectively 11 and 15b, were much less inhibitory than their ester counterparts. On the basis of a combination of inhibitory potency and resistance to esterases, the ester 5 was the best candidate for further development as a potential nonsteroidal inhibitor of cytochrome P450(17 alpha) for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Esters of 3-pyridylacetic acid that combine potent inhibition of 17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase (cytochrome P45017 alpha) with resistance to esterase hydrolysis.

Esters of 3- and 4-pyridylacetic acid have been prepared and tested for inhibitory activity toward the human testicular 17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase and human placental aromatase enzymes. The structural features required for optimal inhibition of the hydroxylase/lyase enzyme were a 3-pyridine ring, methyl substitution alpha to the carbonyl group, and a bulky alkoxycarbonyl substituent. The compounds with the greatest selectivity were isopinocampheyl 2-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)propanoate, 9, 1-adamantyl 2-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)propanoate, 12, and 2-methyl-2-adamantyl 2-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)propanoate, 14, which, while inhibiting the aromatase activity with IC50 values of 30, 35, and 40 microM, respectively, exhibited IC50 values toward hydroxylase/lyase of between 13 and 90 nM. For comparison, ketoconazole gave an IC50 value of 15 microM against aromatase and values of 65 and 26 nM for inhibition of the hydroxylase and lyase activities, respectively. Some of the structural features required for enzyme inhibition also conferred resistance to esterase hydrolysis, in vitro using rat liver microsomes as a source of the esterase activity. Therefore these esters are lead compounds in the development of inhibitors of androgen biosynthesis for the treatment of hormone-dependent prostatic cancer.

Analogues of aminoglutethimide: selective inhibition of aromatase.

In exploring further the structural features that influence the relative efficacy of analogues of aminoglutethimide [1, 3-(4-aminophenyl)-3-ethylpiperidine-2,6-dione] as inhibitors of the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme system desmolase and the estrogen forming system aromatase, analogues have been synthesized in which the aminophenyl substituent is replaced by pyridyl or substituted pyridyl. The 4-pyridyl analogue 5 [3-ethyl-3-(4-pyridyl)-piperidine-2,6-dione] is a strong competitive inhibitor of aromatase (Ki = 1.1 microM; value for 1, 0.60 microM), which exhibits a type II difference spectrum (Ks = 0.28 microM; value for 1, 0.13 microM) but is noninhibitory toward desmolase. The 2- and 3-pyridyl analogues (3 and 4) inhibit neither enzyme system. 1-Amino-3-ethyl-3-phenylpiperidine-2,6-dione (2) is a strong and selective inhibitor of desmolase but the 4-pyridyl analogue 10 [1-amino-3-ethyl-3-(4-pyridyl)-piperidine-2,6-dione] is a weak inhibitor of desmolase and aromatase. Analogues of 5 having a less basic aromatic substituent, namely, the N-oxide 11 and the 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro derivative 13, were also prepared. The latter is a weak inhibitor of aromatase and the former inhibits neither enzyme system.

Rationally designed analogues of tamoxifen with improved calmodulin antagonism.

Computerized molecular modeling studies on the interactions of the antiestrogen tamoxifen (1) and its analogues bound to the calcium-binding protein calmodulin have guided the rational design of more potent antagonists. Compounds with either three or four methylene units in the basic side chain or slim lipophilic 4-substituents were expected to be more potent. All compounds were tested for antagonism of the calmodulin-dependent activity of cAMP phosphodiesterase and for binding affinity to the estrogen receptor from rat uteri. Some compounds were assayed for cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast tumor cells in vitro. Introduction of lipophilic 4-substituents was accomplished by using palladium(0)-catalyzed coupling reactions with a 4-iodinated precursor. Both the 4-ethynyl (16 and 17) and 4-butyl (18 and 19) compounds were more potent calmodulin antagonists than tamoxifen. Extension of the basic aminoethoxy side chain of 4-iodotamoxifen (3) and idoxifene (2) ((E)-1-[4-[2-(N-pyrrolidino)ethoxy]phenyl]-1-(4-iodophenyl)-2-phen yl-1- butene) by one or two methylene units resulted in modest gains in calmodulin antagonism (10-13). All the compounds assayed retained estrogen receptor binding characteristics. The compound possessing the optimal combination of calmodulin antagonism and estrogen receptor binding was 12 ((E)-1-[4-[3-(N-pyrrolidino)propoxy]phenyl]-1-(4-iodophenyl)-2-phe nyl-1 - butene) (IC50 = 1.1 microM, RBA = 23). Correlation between calmodulin antagonism and cytotoxicity was demonstrated for selected compounds.

Evidence that tamoxifen binds to calmodulin in a conformation different to that when binding to estrogen receptors, through structure-activity study on ring-fused analogues.

A ring-fused analogue of tamoxifen, which had previously been shown to have practically identical estrogen receptor (ER) affinity and antitumour potency against estrogen responsive cells as tamoxifen, failed to inhibit calmodulin-dependent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. The substitution of an extra methyl group into the ring-fused analogue, at a position which the ethyl group of tamoxifen can occupy in one of its conformations, restored the calmodulin inhibition. Also, the replacement of the tamoxifen ethyl group by methyl diminishes calmodulin inhibition. Direct interaction of these tamoxifen analogues with calmodulin was demonstrated through the use of the fluorescent probe, 2-p-toluidinyl-naphthalene-6-sulfonic acid (TNS). These findings lead to the conclusion that tamoxifen binds to calmodulin in a conformation not accessible to the fused analogue and therefore likely to be different to that which binds to the ER. Also, the results on the ring-fused analogues indicate that the calmodulin binding cannot be essential for antitumour activity.

Antagonism of estrogen receptor and calmodulin association by antiestrogens is not dependent on an interaction with calmodulin.

Previously, two antiestrogens estradiol derivatives (3 and 4) bearing the basic side chain of tamoxifen were shown to impede the binding of the estrogen receptor (ER) to calmodulin (CaM)-Sepharose. In this study, the interaction of these and related compounds with calmodulin was examined using the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (cAMP-PDE) assay. Neither of the steroids gave any significant inhibition of the calmodulin dependent cAMP-PDE activity up to a final concentration of 20 microM. For comparison, tamoxifen and nafoxidine produced IC50 values of 6.7 microM +/- 1.0 and 7.4 microM +/- 1.1, respectively. In addition, a comparison was made of the activity of some triphenylethylene derivatives against CaM dependent cAMP-PDE and the ER-CaM Sepharose assays, but no relationship was observed. Overall, these results demonstrate that inhibition of the ER-CaM association by various steroidal and triphenylethylene antiestrogens does not relate to antagonism of calmodulin function or their binding affinity for the estrogen receptor.

1-Alkyl analogues of aminoglutethimide. Comparative inhibition of cholesterol side chain cleavage and aromatase and metabolism of the 1-propyl derivative, a highly selective inhibitor of aromatase.

A homologous series of 1-n-alkyl-derivatives of aminoglutethimide (AG) has been synthesised and tested for inhibitory activity towards the cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (desmolase) from bovine adrenals and human placental aromatase in an attempt to find a selective aromatase inhibitor. Activity against desmolase declined from an IC50 value of 30 microM for the parent drug to 220 microM for the n-propyl derivative but increased again thereafter. Against aromatase, activity was least for the methyl and ethyl derivatives and highest (IC50 = 1.6 microM) for the hexyl and octyl analogues. The optimal ratio IC50 (desmolase):IC50 aromatase of 44 was found for the n-propyl derivative, which was therefore selected for preliminary metabolism studies using rat and mouse liver microsomes and hepatocytes and in these species in vivo. There were parallels with AG, most notably in the analogous formation from the n-propyl derivative of an arylhydroxylamine in the mouse.