Enhancement of the anticancer activity of bis(2-chloroethyl)nitrosourea in mice by coadministration of 2'-deoxyuridine, 2'-deoxycytidine, or thymidine.

The previous observation that the coadministration of a single dose of thymidine with the 3'-chloroethylnitrosourea analog of thymidine (3'-[3-(2-chloroethyl-3-nitrosoureido]-3'-deoxythymidine, 3'-CTNU) to mice bearing the L1210 or P388 leukemia enhanced the antitumor activity of 3'-CTNU, has led to a similar study of the potential effect on antitumor activity where thymidine, 2'-deoxyuridine, or 2'-deoxycytidine is coadministered with 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. Three levels of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (10, 15, and 20 mg/kg) were coadministered to mice bearing the L1210 leukemia or the B16/F10 melanoma with each of the deoxyribonucleosides (2 g/kg). There was not only an increase in average days of survival of those that perished, but also a marked increase in the number of greater than 60-day survivors. The present report is a result of a determination of whether the augmented anticancer activity produced by a single injection of thymidine with 3'-CTNU was restricted to nitrosourea analogs of thymidine. The present study reveals not only that the phenomena of enhanced anticancer activity by the coadministration of thymidine can be extended to non-thymidine-containing nitrosoureas, but also that the coadministration of thymidine with 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea produced an even more marked enhancement of antitumor activity than that previously observed when thymidine was coadministered with 3'-CTNU.

Effect of thymidine on uptake, DNA alkylation, and DNA repair in L1210 cells treated with 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea or 3'-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-3'-deoxythymidine.

In order to define the mechanism for the enhancement by thymidine (dThd) of the antitumor activity of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) and 3'-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-3'-deoxythymidine (3'-CTNU) in mice, we have investigated the effect(s) of dThd on the uptake of nitrosourea by L1210 cells in culture, DNA alkylation, and repair of the alkyl lesion. Using a rapid centrifugation technique through silicone:paraffin oil, we observe a 1.3- and 1.5-fold increase in the uptake of radioactivity from 0.1 mM [chloroethyl-14C]BCNU in the presence of a 5- and 25-fold excess of dThd, respectively. Similarly, an enhancement of DNA alkylation was observed upon treatment of L1210 cells for up to 3 h with 0.1 mM [chloroethyl-14C]BCNU from 70 pmol 14C/mg DNA in control to 85, 95, and 120 pmol 14C/mg DNA with equimolar 5- and 25-fold excess dThd, respectively. No effect of dThd on the uptake of 0.1 mM [chloroethyl-14C]-3'-CTNU was observed, although a small increase in DNA alkylation at 3 h was evident. DNA repair, as measured by the amount of radioactivity remaining associated with the DNA after an initial 2-h treatment with labeled BCNU was largely unaffected by dThd. Although dThd appears to enhance the cellular uptake of BCNU and the alkylation of DNA by both BCNU and 3'-CTNU, dealkylative repair proceeds unhindered in the presence of dThd.

Inhibition of poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase by thymidine and thymidine analogues in L1210 cells and its relationship to the potentiation of the antitumor activity of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea but not of 3'-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-3'-deoxythymidine.

The coadministration of thymidine (dThd) with either 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) or 3'-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-3'-deoxythymidine (3'-CTNU) to L1210-bearing mice significantly enhanced the antitumor activity of both nitrosoureas (T-S. Lin and W. H. Prusoff, Cancer Res., 47:394-397, 1987, and T-S. Lin, P.H. Fischer, J. C. Marsh, and W. H. Prusoff, Cancer Res., 42:1624-1629, 1982). As a possible mechanism for this observed enhancement, we have investigated the role of dThd as an inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (ADPRP), an enzyme which is activated in response to DNA damage. Exposure of L1210 cells in culture to 50 microM BCNU resulted in a greater than 10-fold increase in ADPRP activity within 3-4 h. The polymerase activity increased with increasing BCNU concentration after a 4-h exposure, reaching apparent saturation at 50 microM BCNU. However, this activation was abolished by 2 mM dThd. Median inhibition of the ADPRP activity elicited by 30 and 75 microM BCNU occurred at 38 and 135 microM dThd, respectively. When BCNU was replaced by 3'-CTNU, no activation of ADPRP was observed, even at or above concentration of 3'-CTNU previously shown to cause DNA damage. 3'-Amino-3'-deoxythymidine, the principal hydrolysis product of 3'-CTNU, was found to be an inhibitor of BCNU-stimulated ADPRP activity with potency similar to dThd. Furthermore, intact 3'-CTNU was found to inhibit BCNU-stimulated ADPRP activity. Although 3'-CTNU should be capable of activating ADPRP by causing DNA damage, our results suggest that no net activation is observed due to inhibition by the various thymidine species present. Thus, inhibition of ADPRP by dThd following DNA damage by BCNU is consistent with the potentiation of antitumor activity previously reported. However, the observed potentiation of 3'-CTNU activity by dThd does not appear to result from such a mechanism.

Comparative analysis of the immunosuppressive properties of two antiviral, iodinated thymidine analogs, 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine and 5-iodo-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine.

5-Iodo-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (AldUrd), given as five single i.p. injections on Days 0 to 4 after antigenic challenge with sheep erythrocytes, had no demonstrable effect on serum hemagglutinin titers in doses as high as 2000 mg/kg/day. This was the maximum feasible single dose, but no 10% lethal dose was determinable. Similarly, 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (IdUrd), 50 mg/kg/day (10% lethal dose), on Days 0 to 4 did not significantly affect this humoral response. However, with a more sensitive assay, immunocytoadherence, reductions in the number of hemagglutinin-forming cells in the spleen were found at several levels of AldUrd and IdUrd, but the same level of inhibition was attained by a course of AldUrd, 2000 mg/kg, or IdUrd, 50 mg/kg. Spleen cell-mediated immunity against lethally irradiated L1210 was measured by 4-hr 51Cr release and 48-hr growth inhibition assays. Both drugs showed dose-related immunosuppression. With AldUrd, 2000 mg/kg/day, and IdUrd, 100 mg/kg/day, on Days 0 to 4, cytotoxicity was inhibited by 35 to 68% and 73 to 90%, respectively. In comparison, a similar course of 1-beta-D arabinofuranosylcytosine, 40 mg/kg/day, completely abrogated both humoral and cell-mediated immunity. When AldUrd and IdUrd were administered on Days -5 to -1, little effect on either type of immunity was found, while pretreatment with the alkylating agent, cyclophosphamide, abolished all T-cell-mediated killing as measured on Day 7. Thus, AldUrd appears to be a very mild and IdUrd a moderate to strong cell cycle-dependent immunosuppressive.

Antitumor activity of the 3'-chloroethylnitrosourea analog of thymidine and the prevention by co-administered thymidine of lethality but not of anticancer activity.

The effect of the 3'-nitrosourea analog of thymidine (3'-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-3'-deoxythymidine; 3'-CTNU) on the growth of the murine L1210 and P388 leukemias in mice was investigated. A single injection of 3'-CTNU (40 mg/kg) was minimally toxic to mice bearing the L1210 leukemia and produced 60-day survivors. The coadministration of thymidine did not prevent the initial loss of weight caused by 3'-CTNU but did prevent the lethality otherwise produced in non-tumor-bearing mice. A single dose of thymidine (2 g/kg) administered to L1210-bearing mice had no anticancer activity and when coadministered with 3'-CTNU had no detrimental effect on the potent antitumor effects of 3'-CTNU. Similar results were obtained against P388 leukemia. The hematopoietic toxicity produced by the administration of 3'-CTNU to non-tumor-bearing mice, as evidenced by changes in the white blood cells, neutrophil, and agar diffusion chamber precursor cell concentrations in the hematocrit and in bone marrow cellularity, could not be prevented by thymidine. Therefore, the lethality produced by 3'-CTNU is probably not related to hematopoietic toxicity since the coadministration of thymidine completely prevented any lethality.

Deoxyribonucleotide metabolism in Herpes simplex virus infected HeLa cells.

The effect of Rolly No. 11 strain herpes simplex virus infection of HeLa cells in culture on deoxynucleotide metabolism and the level of various enzymes concerned with the biosynthesis of DNA has been investigated. Of 18 enzyme activities studied, thymidine kinase, DNA polymerase and deoxyribonuclease were markedly augmented, a finding in agreement with previous reports. Deoxycytidine kinase, ribonucleotide reductase, thymidylate kinase and deoxycytidylate deaminase activities, in contrast with previous reports, did not increase; the activities of the other enzymes studied, also did not increase. Whereas most of the radioactivity derived from [14-C] thymidine in the acid-soluble fraction of the uninfected cells was present as deoxythymidine triphosphate, that present in the infected cells was primarily in the form of deoxythymidine monophosphate. Thus, in the infected cell deoxythymidylate kinase is a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of deoxythymidine triphosphate. A marked increase in the pools of the four naturally occurring deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dTTP, dCTP, dATP, dGTP) was found. The rate of formation of the virus-induced enzymes was determined, as were the various nucleoside triphosphate pools and the other phosphorylated derivatives of thymidine; a maximum was reached for all these csmponents between 6 to 8 h post infection. Although an apparent greater synthesis of DNA occurred in the uninefected cells, when the specific activity of the radioactive deoxythymidine triphosphate was taken into account, there was actually a greater rate of DNA synthesis in the infected cells, with the peak at 8 h post infection.

The effect of the nitrosourea analog of thymidine, 3'-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-3'-deoxythymidine, on Escherichia coli thymidine kinase.

Escherichia coli thymidine kinase (ATP:thymidine 5'-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.21) is irreversibly inactivated by incubation with 3'-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-3'-deoxythymidine (3'-CTNU). The inactivation of the enzyme followed first-order kinetics even after loss of 96% of the original activity. This indicates that the inactivation process is a one-kill phenomenon and not a generation of less active enzyme. The addition of a preincubated aqueous solution of 3'-CTNU to the enzyme reaction mixture did not inactivate the enzyme. ATP . Mg2+ but not thymidine protects the enzyme from inactivation by 3'-CTNU. The allosteric regulators, dTTP, dCTP and dCDP also afforded complete protection of the enzyme from inactivation by 3'-CTNU. These data indicate that the dimer form of the enzyme is completely resistant to inactivation by 3'-CTNU, but the monomer form of the enzyme is sensitive. The specificity of the protection is supported by the finding that neither ATP . Mg2+ nor thymidine protect yeast alcohol dehydrogenase from inactivation by this nitrosourea analog of thymidine.

The incorporation of 5-iodo-5'-amino-2',5-dideoxyuridine and 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine into herpes simplex virus DNA. Relationship between antiviral activity and effects on DNA structure.

Isopycnic centrifugation in CsCl gradients was used to quantify the incorporation of 5-iodo-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine and 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine into herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA. A parallelism between the degree of incorporation into viral DNA and the inhibition of herpes simplex virus type I replication was found for both thymidine analogs. A concentration of 5-iodo-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine approximately 100 times greater than 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine was required to achieve similar levels of antiviral activity. However, the inhibitory effects of these compounds are similar when compared with respect to the percent of substitution for thymidine in herpes simplex virus type I DNA. Damage to the viral DNA, as indicated by the presence of single or double-stranded breaks, was assessed by centrifugation in alkaline and neutral sucrose gradients. The incorporation of 5-iodo-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine into herpes simplex virus type I DNA produced single and, to a lesser extent, double-stranded breaks in a dose-dependent manner. 5-Iodo-2'-deoxyuridine did not, however, induced DNA breakage. These data indicate that the additional presence of a phosphoramidate bond in the DNA produced the extensive damage detected under these conditions, but that such damage is not required for antiviral activity.

A novel synthesis and biological activity of several 5-halo-5'-amino analogues of deoxyribopyrimidine nucleosides.

A novel synthetic procedure has been developed for the large-scale synthesis of 5-chloro-, 5-bromo-, and 5-iodo-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (4c-e) as well as of two new analogues, 5-iodo-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxycytidine and 5-fluoro-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (4a and 4b), in good yield. The starting materials, 5-halo-2'-deoxyuridine and 5-halo-2'-deoxycytidine, are readily available and the method is straightforward. This report describes the synthesis and the biologial activities of these compounds.

Synthesis and biological activity of several amino analogues of thymidine.

3',5'-Diamino-3',5'-dideoxythymidine (7) was synthesized via a nine-step synthesis from thymidine in good overall yield. 3'-Amino-3'-deoxythymidine (8) and 5'-amino-5'-deoxythymidine (12) were prepared with a minor modification of the procedure reported by Horwitz and co-workers. Although the 5'-amino analogue 12 had potent antiviral activity relative to the 3'-amino analogue 8, the latter is a potent inhibitor of the replication of both murine sarcoma 180 cells (ED50 = 5 micrometer) and of murine L1210 cells (ED50 = 1 micrometer) in vitro. Most unexpectedly, however, was the finding of complete lack of either antiviral or antineoplastic activity by the 3',5'-diamino analogue 7 which appears to have acquired the undesirable qualities of both the 3'-amino and 5'-amino analogues of thymidine.

Synthesis and biological activities of 5-trifluoromethyl-5'-azido-2',5'-dideoxyuridine and 5-trifluoromethyl-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine.

5-Trifluoromethyl-2'-deoxyuridine (1) was tosylated with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in dry pyridine at 3 degrees to give 5-trifluoromethyl-5'-O-(p-tolylsulfonyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (2), which was converted to 5-trifluoromethyl-5'-azido-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (3) by reacting with lithium azide in N,N-dimethylformamide at 85-90 degrees for 2 h. Compound 3 was then hydrogenated in ethanol-water (1:1, v/v) at room temperature and 35 psi of hydrogen pressure, using 10% palladium on charcoal as cstalyst, to yield 5-trifluoromethyl-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (4). Compound 4 is about fourfold less potent than compound 1 as an antiviral agent but is about 40-fold less toxic to the host Vero cells. Thus the therapeutic index of compound 1 has been improved by a factor of 10 by replacement of the 5'-hydroxyl with an amino group. Compound 1, however, is more than 100-fold more inhibitory to Sarcoma 180 cells in culture relative to compound 4. Compound 3 is markedly less potent than compound 1 or 4 as either an antiviral or an antineoplastic compound.

Synthesis and antineoplastic activity of a novel series of phosphoramide mustard analogues of pyrimidine deoxyribonucleosides.

A novel series of cyclophosphamide derivatives of pyrimidine deoxyribonucleosides (6-9) has been synthesized from the corresponding amino nucleosides. Our preliminary findings have shown that three of these cyclophosphamide nucleoside analogues, 6, 7, and 9, have potent inhibitory effects on the replication of L1210 cells in vitro (ED50 = 1.2-1.5 x 10(-5) M). Since cyclophosphamide (cytoxan) has no cytotoxicity under these conditions, our findings indicate that these novel phosphamide derivatives have unusual biological properties which may include a unique mode of activation.

Synthesis and biological activities of some uronic acids, uronates, uronamides, and urononitriles of pyrimidine nucleosides.

The 5'-hydroxymethylene function of several uracil and cytosine nucleosides has been modified to produce a variety of uronic acids, uronates, uronamides, and urononitriles of 2'-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl- and beta-D-arabino-pentofuranosylpyrimidines. In addition, the 5 position in many of these nucleosides has been substituted by a halogen atom. Twenty-one of the 35 compounds synthesized and examined for biological activity have not been previously reported. The purity of the products was measured by a high-pressure liquid chromatographic method. They were then evaluated as potential growth inhibitors of murine Sarcoma 180 cells in culture, of herpes simplex virus type 1 in vitro, and of Streptococcus faecium, a folic acid or deoxythymidine dependent bacterial strain. The ability of these nucleoside analogues to inhibit the phosphorylation of deoxythymidine by herpes simplex virus type 1 encoded pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside kinase was also investigated and a structure-activity relationship examined.

Synthesis and antiviral activity of various 3'-azido, 3'-amino, 2',3'-unsaturated, and 2',3'-dideoxy analogues of pyrimidine deoxyribonucleosides against retroviruses.

Various 3'-azido, 3'-amino, 2',3'-unsaturated, 2',3'-dideoxy, and 5-substituted analogues of pyrimidine deoxyribonucleosides have been prepared and tested against Moloney-murine leukemia virus (M-MULV), a mammalian T-lymphotropic retrovirus in vitro. Among these compounds, the 3'-azido analogues of thymidine, 2'-deoxy-5-bromouridine, and 2'-deoxy-5-iodouridine, the 2',3'-unsaturated analogue of thymidine and and 2'-deoxycytidine, and 2',3'-dideoxycytidine were found to be most active, with ED50 values of 0.02, 1.5, 3.0, 2.5, 3.7, and 4.0 microM, respectively. These active compounds were nontoxic to the host SC-1 cells up to 100 microM concentration. The 3'-azido analogues of thymidine and 2'-deoxy-5-bromouridine were also tested in vitro against HTLV-III/LAV/AAV ("AIDS" virus) and found to be significantly active, with ED50 values of 0.23 and 2.3 microM, respectively. The structure-activity relationships are discussed.

Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of carbocyclic analogues of 2'-azido- and 2'-amino-2'-deoxycytidine.

Carbocyclic analogues of 2'-azido- and 2'-amino-2'-deoxycytidine, compounds 8 and 9, were synthesized by an eight-step synthesis from (+/-)-(1 alpha,2 alpha,3 beta,5 beta)-3-amino-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2- cyclopentanediol (1), which was prepared from cyclopentadiene via an eight-step route. These compounds were tested in vitro against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The 2'-amino analogue was found to show moderate antiviral activity, with an ED50 of 50 microM. However, the 2'-azido analogue was not active at a concentration up to 400 microM.

Antineoplastic activity of 3'-(chloroethyl)nitrosourea analogues of 2'-deoxyuridine and 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine.

The (chloroethyl)nitrosourea analogues of 2'-deoxyuridine and 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine, 3'-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-2',3'-dideoxyuridine (3'-CdUNU, 7) and 3'-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-2,3'-dideoxy-5-fluorouridine (3'-CFdUNU, 8), have been synthesized by treatment of the corresponding 3'-amino nucleosides with chloroethyl isocyanate, followed by nitrosation of the resulting ureas. Nucleoside nitrosoureas 7 and 8 exhibited marked anticancer activity against L1210 leukemia in tumor-bearing mice. At an optimum dosage level of 40 mg/kg, 7 and 8 produced 90% and 60% "cures" (greater than 60-day survivors), respectively. The structure-activity relationships are discussed.

Syntheses and biological evaluations of 3'-deoxy-3'-C-branched-chain-substituted nucleosides.

Various 3'-deoxy-3'-C-(hydroxymethyl)-, 3'-deoxy-3'-C-(fluoromethyl)-, 3'-deoxy-3'-C-(azidomethyl)-, and 3'-deoxy-3'-C-(aminomethyl)-substituted nucleosides (total 12 compounds) have been synthesized and evaluated against L1210, P388, S-180, and CCRF-CEM cells and HSV-1, HSV-2, and HIV-1 in culture. Only 3'-deoxy-3'-C-(hydroxymethyl)thymidine (36) was found to show significant anticancer activity against L1210, P388, S-180, and CCRF-CEM cells with ED50 values of 50, 5, 10, and 1 microM, respectively. None of these compounds demonstrated significant antiviral activity against HSV-1, HSV-2, or HIV-1. These compounds were also evaluated against thymidine kinases derived from HSV-I (strain KOS), HSV-2 (strain 333), and mammalian (K562) cells. The thymidine kinase (HSV-1 strain KOS) was inhibited significantly by both 3'-deoxy-3'-C-(hydroxymethyl)- and 3'-deoxy-3'-C-(fluoromethyl)thymidine.

Synthesis and biological activities of chloroethylurea, methylurea, and nitrosourea analogues of N-deacetylmethylthiocolchicine.

A series of urea and nitrosourea analogues of N-deacetylmethylthiocolchicine (1) has been synthesized, and their antineoplastic and antiviral activities were evaluated. The objective for combination of two active moieties, such as thiocolchicine and nitrosourea, into one molecule was the generation of compounds with potential improved biological and pharmacological properties. The ED50 for 2, 3, 4, and 5 was 1.6, 1.2, 3.3, and 1.8 X 10(-8) M for L1210 cells and 3.0, 2.7, 2.9, and 2.6 X 10(-8) M for S-180 cells, respectively. The synthesis and cytotoxic and antiviral properties of these compounds are discussed.

Synthesis and biological activities of 5-(hydroxymethyl, azidomethyl, or aminomethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine and related 5'-substituted analogues.

The synthesis of 5-(azidomethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (10) has been accomplished by two independent methods. The first involved tosylation of 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (1) to furnish a mixture of two mono- and a ditosyl nucleosides which were converted into the corresponding 5-(azidomethyl) (10), 5-(azidomethyl)-5'-azido (14), and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-5'-azido (15) derivatives of 2'-deoxyuridine. The second method was more selective and required the formation of the intermediate 5-(bromomethyl)-3',5'-di-O-acetyl-2'-deoxyuridine (8), followed by displacement of the bromo group by lithium azide and deacetylation. Catalytic hydrogenation of the azides 9, 10, 14, and 15 gave the corresponding amines 16, 2, 6, and 7, respectively. Compounds 1, 2, 10, and 16 inhibited the growth of murine Sarcoma 180 and L1210 in culture, and the activity of 2 was prevented by 2'-deoxypyrimidine nucleosides but not by purine nucleosides. The replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was strongly inhibited only by 1 and 10. Studies on the binding of the various thymidine analogues to HSV-1 encoded pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside kinase indicate that 1 and 10 have good affinity for the enzyme.

Antineoplastic agents. 1. Synthesis and antineoplastic activities of chloroethyl- and methylnitrosourea analogues of thymidine.

A new class of chloroethyl- and methylnitrosourea analogues of thymidine, 5a,b, 6, 10, and 11, has been synthesized from the corresponding amino nucleosides, 2 and 7. The 3'-chloroethyl and 3'-methyl derivatives, 10 and 11, inhibited L1210 cell growth in culture (ED50 = 1.5 and 1.0 micrometer, respectively) more effectively than 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) (ED50 = 4 micrometer) and the 5'-nitrosourea analogues. Neither the alkylating nor the carbamoylating activities of these compounds correlated with their biological activity.