Pharmacological profile of RU 58642, a potent systemic antiandrogen for the treatment of androgen-dependent disorders

Has Ferrocene Really Delivered Its Role in Accentuating the Bioactivity of Organic Scaffolds?

Ferrocene is an important structural core in bioorganometallic chemistry because of its inherent stability, excellent redox properties, and low toxicity. Ferroquine and ferrocifen are two of the most notable contributions of ferrocene to medicinal chemistry with remarkable antimalarial and anticancer properties. The improved medicinal properties of these drug candidates highlight the impact that ferrocene can have on the molecular and biological properties of the bioactive compounds. In this Perspective, we investigate the scope and limitations of ferrocene incorporation into organic compounds/natural products on their mode of action and biological activities. We have also discussed the detailed role of ferrocene modifications in influencing the anticancer, antimalarial, and antimicrobial properties of various bioactive moieties to design safer and promising ferrocene-based drugs.

Revisiting the SAR of the Antischistosomal Aryl Hydantoin (Ro 13-3978)

The aryl hydantoin 1 (Ro 13-3978) was identified in the early 1980s as a promising antischistosomal lead compound. However, this series of aryl hydantoins produced antiandrogenic side effects in the host, a not unexpected outcome given their close structural similarity to the antiandrogenic drug nilutamide. Building on the known SAR of this compound series, we now describe a number of analogs of 1 designed to maximize structural diversity guided by incorporation of substructures and functional groups known to diminish ligand–androgen receptor interactions. These analogs had calculated polar surface area (PSA), measured LogD_7.4, aqueous kinetic solubility, and estimated plasma protein binding values in ranges predictive of good ADME profiles. The principal SAR insight was that the hydantoin core of 1 is required for high antischistosomal activity. We identified several compounds with high antischistosomal efficacy that were less antiandrogenic than 1. These data provide direction for the ongoing optimization of antischistosomal hydantoins.

Recent discoveries and developments of androgen receptor based therapy for prostate cancer

The main focus of this review is to discuss the discoveries and developments of various therapies for prostate cancer.

Potential targets in the discovery of new hair growth promoters for androgenic alopecia

INTRODUCTION

Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is the major type of scalp hair loss affecting 60 - 70% of the population worldwide. It is caused by two potent androgens, namely testosterone (T) and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT). Till date, only two FDA-approved synthetic drugs, minoxidil and finasteride, are used to cure AGA with only 35 and 48% success, respectively; therefore, a search for new drug based on the mechanism of androgens action is still needed.

AREAS COVERED

Relevant literature was reviewed to identify current therapeutic targets and treatments for AGA. The potential targets are classified into three categories: i) 5α-reductase; ii) androgen receptor and iii) growth-factor-producing genes related to hair growth.

EXPERT OPINION

Relevant assay systems using the right targets are required in order to obtain specific and effective drugs for AGA treatment. It is unlikely that single targeted agents will be sufficient for treating AGA, and therefore, it would be a challenge to obtain compounds with multiple activities.

Alternative synthesis of the anti-baldness compound RU58841

A bromine-nitro substitution at tertiary carbon and using 2-nitropropane as leaving group enable a short phosgene-free synthesis of RU58841.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of the first ferrocenyl-aryl-hydantoin derivatives of the nonsteroidal antiandrogen nilutamide

We present here the first synthesis of organometallic complexes derived from the nonsteroidal antiandrogen nilutamide, bearing a ferrocenyl substituent at position N(1) or at C(5) of the hydantoin ring; for comparison, we also describe the C(5) p-anisyl organic analogue. All of these complexes retain a modest affinity for the androgen receptor. The N-substituted complexes show a weak or moderate antiproliferative effect (IC 50 around 68 microM) on hormone-dependent and -independent prostate cancer cells, while the C(5)-substituted compounds exhibit toxicity levels 10 times higher (IC 50 around 5.4 microM). This strong antiproliferative effect is probably due to a structural effect linked to the aromatic character of the ferrocene rather than to its organometallic feature. In addition, it seems connected to a cytotoxic effect rather than an antihormonal one. These results open the way toward a new family of molecules that are active against both hormone-dependent and hormone-independent prostate cancer cells.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nonsteroidal androgen receptor ligands

Testosterone and structurally related anabolic steroids have been used to treat hypogonadism, muscle wasting, osteoporosis, male contraception, cancer cachexia, anemia, and hormone replacement therapy in aging men or age-related frailty; while antiandrogens may be useful for treatment of conditions like acne, alopecia (male-pattern baldness), hirsutism, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. However, the undesirable physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of steroidal androgen receptor (AR) ligands limited their clinical use. Nonsteroidal AR ligands with improved pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties have been developed to overcome these problems. This review focuses on the pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and pharmacology of clinically used and emerging nonsteroidal AR ligands, including antagonists, agonists, and selective androgen receptor modulators.

Androgen receptor is responsible for rat organic cation transporter 2 gene regulation but not for rOCT1 and rOCT3

PURPOSE

Organic cation transporters 1-3 (OCT1-3; Slc22a1-3) mediate the membrane transport of organic cations in the kidney. We previously reported that rat (r)OCT2 expression in the kidney was regulated by testosterone. In this study, we examined the transcriptional mechanisms underlying the testosterone-dependent regulation of rOCT2 expression.

METHODS

Approximately 3000-bp fragments of the rOCT1-3 promoter region were isolated, and promoter activities were measured in the renal epithelial cell line LLC-PK1 with the coexpression of rat androgen receptor.

RESULTS

Among reporter constructs tested, only rOCT2 promoter activity was stimulated by testosterone. This stimulation was suppressed by nilutamide, an antiandrogen drug. Reporter assays using deletion constructs and mutational constructs of putative androgen response elements (ARE) in the rOCT2 promoter region suggested that two AREs, located at approximately -3000 and -1300, respectively, play an important role in the induction by testosterone.

CONCLUSIONS

Testosterone induces the expression of rOCT2, but not of rOCT1 and rOCT3, via the AR-mediated transcriptional pathway. This is the first study to address the transcriptional mechanisms of testosterone-dependent gene regulation of the Slc22 family.

Synthesis and structure–activity investigation of iodinated arylhydantoins and arylthiohydantoins for development as androgen receptor radioligands

A series of side-chain derivatives of the arylhydantoin RU 58841 and the arylthiohydantoin RU 59063, wherein the aromatic trifluoromethyl group was replaced with iodine, was synthesized for possible development as radioiodinated androgen receptor (AR) ligands. Derivatives containing the cyanomethyl, methoxyethyl and propenyl side-chains displayed moderately high affinity (K(i)=20-59nM) towards the rat AR. Side-chains containing bulky lipophilic groups such as, benzyl and phenylpropyl, were poorly tolerated (K(i)>219nM). Superior AR binding affinities (0.71nM<K(i)<11nM) were displayed by arylhydantoins and arylthiohydantoin derivatives containing hydroxybutyl or methyl side-chains. The latter compounds are potential candidates for development as radioiodinated AR ligands.

Screening of some anti-androgenic endocrine disruptors using a recombinant cell-based in vitro bioassay

The present work describes the development and optimization of a cell-based androgen reporter assay using the Chinese hamster ovarian cell line (CHO K1) in the 96-well format. The recent reports on increasing exposure of humans and wild-life to environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (ED) prompt the need for high throughput screening systems for such compounds in environmental and biological samples. To this end, CHO cells were cotransfected with plasmids encoding mouse mammary tumour virus-neomycin-luciferase and human androgen receptor (hAR), and a stable cell line was established. After selection with neomycin, a highly active clone was obtained which stably expressed both the hAR and the androgen-responsive luciferase reporter. Stimulation of the cells with androgens for 24 h resulted in about 15-fold stimulation of luciferase activity, with the minimum effective dose of testosterone being 0.1 nmol/l. Potent steroidal and non-steroidal anti-androgens, such as hydroxyflutamide and cyproterone acetate, significantly inhibited the androgen-induced transactivation. Non-androgenic steroids like estradiol, progesterone, dexamethasone and cortisol showed weak activity at high concentrations. RT-PCR and western blot confirmed proper transcription and translation as well as stable expression of the AR gene in the cells. About 60 different chemicals (mostly pesticides or their metabolites, and common industrial chemicals) were screened with the cell line for their ability to stimulate luciferase activity or inhibit that evoked by 0.1 nmol/l R1881, used as a positive androgenic control. About 10 highly potent anti-androgenic chemicals were identified. The most potent anti-androgenic compounds identified in our assay included bisphenol A, alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane, vinclozolin and 4,4-DDE. These compounds had alone either no effect or were weak agonists (with cytotoxic effects at very high concentrations), but none showed any significant agonistic activity. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the bioassay based on this cell line provides a reliable test for detecting androgenic and anti-androgenic compounds. The 96-well plate format makes the assay suitable for high throughput screening.

A functional androgen receptor is not sufficient to allow estradiol to protect bone after gonadectomy in estradiol receptor-deficient mice

Although the role of estradiol in maintaining bone mass is well established, the relative contributions of the estradiol receptors ERalpha and ERbeta and of the androgen receptor (AR) remain controversial. To determine the role of ERalpha-mediated, ERbeta-mediated, and non-ER-mediated mechanisms in maintaining bone mass, gonadectomy and estradiol treatment were studied in ER-knockout mice. Estradiol treatment of ovariectomized ERalphabeta(-/-) mice failed to prevent bone loss, precluding significant effects of estradiol on bone through non-ER-signaling pathways. In contrast, estradiol prevented ovariectomy-induced bone loss in ERbeta(-/-) mice, as in WT males and females, indicating that ERalpha is the major mediator of estradiol effects in bone. No response of bone to estradiol was detected in orchidectomized ERalpha(-/-) mice, suggesting estradiol cannot protect bone mass via the AR in vivo. In contrast to female ERalphabeta(-/-) and male ERalpha(-/-) mice, female ERalpha(-/-) mice were partially protected against ovariectomy-induced bone loss by estradiol, confirming that ERbeta mediates estradiol effects in bone, but only in females and with a lower efficacy than ERalpha. We conclude that ERalpha is the main effector of estradiol's protective function in bone in both male and female mice, and that, in its absence, AR is not sufficient to mediate this response.

Novel yeast bioassay system for detection of androgenic and antiandrogenic compounds

Recently, certain environmental endocrine disrupters have shown to act as antiandrogens. This suggests that environmental antiandrogens may also be crucial contributors to the increasing incidence of male reproductive abnormalities, requesting the screening and classification of antiandrogenic chemicals. Here, we report the development of a rapid, simple and effective yeast detection system for androgenic and antiandrogenic compounds, which is based on the yeast two-hybrid protein interaction. A yeast strain, ARhLBD-ASC1, was established by co-transformation of yeast cells harboring a lacZ reporter plasmid with two vectors expressing each of LexA fused hinge-ligand binding domain (hLBD) of androgen receptor (AR) and B42 fused ASC-1 that interacts with the AR-hLBD in an androgen-dependent manner. In this yeast strain, androgens, but not other hormones, strongly stimulated the beta-galactosidase activity in a dose-dependent manner. The AR antagonists flutamide, cyproterone acetate and spironolactone, and environmental antiandrogens p,p'-DDE and vinclozolin all inhibited the response of the yeast cells to 10 nM testosterone, qualitatively similar to their inhibition reported in mammalian cell systems. Furthermore, the bioassay can be performed with the simple X-gal staining on microtiter plates, suggesting this system as a powerful tool for practical and efficient screening of environmental compounds for their androgenic and antiandrogenic activities.

Pharmacodynamics of selective androgen receptor modulators

The present study aimed to identify selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) with in vivo pharmacological activity. We examined the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activity of four chiral, nonsteroidal SARMs synthesized in our laboratories. In the in vitro assays, these compounds demonstrated moderate to high androgen receptor (AR) binding affinity, with K(i) values ranging from 4 to 37 nM, and three of the compounds efficaciously stimulated AR-mediated reporter gene expression. The compounds were then administered subcutaneously to castrated rats to appraise their in vivo pharmacological activity. Androgenic activity was evaluated by the ability of these compounds to maintain the weights of prostate and seminal vesicle, whereas levator ani muscle weight was used as a measure of anabolic activity. The maximal response (E(max)) and dose for half-maximal effect (ED(50)) were determined for each compound and compared with that observed for testosterone propionate (TP). Compounds S-1 and S-4 demonstrated in vivo androgenic and anabolic activity, whereas compounds S-2 and S-3 did not. The activities of S-1 and S-4 were tissue-selective in that both compounds stimulated the anabolic organs more than the androgenic organs. These two compounds were less potent and efficacious than TP in androgenic activity, but their anabolic activity was similar to or greater than that of TP. Neither S-1 nor S-4 caused significant luteinizing hormone or follicle stimulating hormone suppression at doses near the ED(50) value. Thus, compounds S-1 and S-4 were identified as SARMs with potent and tissue-selective in vivo pharmacological activity, and represent the first members of a new class of SARMs with selective anabolic effects.

Pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and metabolism of acetothiolutamide, a novel nonsteroidal agonist for the androgen receptor

The present study characterized the in vitro androgen receptor (AR) binding affinity, in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activity, and in vivo pharmacokinetics and metabolism of acetothiolutamide, a nonsteroidal AR ligand. AR binding was determined by a competitive binding assay. In vitro AR agonist activity was examined by a cotransfection assay. Acetothiolutamide displayed high AR binding affinity (K(i) = 4.9 +/- 0.2 nM) and full agonist activity in the in vitro studies. Next, the androgenic, anabolic, and antiandrogenic activity of acetothiolutamide was evaluated in a castrated immature rat model. In this animal model, acetothiolutamide exhibited an overall negligible androgenic effect, but a statistically significant anabolic effect at high subcutaneous doses. Also, acetothiolutamide demonstrated a noticeable antiandrogenic effect in castrated rats supplemented with testosterone propionate. To understand the causes for the observed disparity between in vitro and in vivo activities, pharmacokinetics and metabolism of acetothiolutamide were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Acetothiolutamide was rapidly cleared from rat plasma (clearance of about 45 ml/min/kg) in a concentration-independent manner after i.v. dosing. Acetothiolutamide was completely absorbed after subcutaneous administration, but not bioavailable after oral dose. In the metabolism study, the unchanged molecule and its metabolites in urine and fecal samples were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The structures of major metabolites were elucidated with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. After i.v. administration, acetothiolutamide was excreted in urine and feces as unchanged drug and a variety of metabolites. Oxidation, hydrolysis, and sulfate conjugation of phase I metabolites were the major metabolic pathways of acetothiolutamide in rats. Overall, the high plasma clearance of acetothiolutamide, due to its extensive hepatic metabolism, likely contributed to its lack of androgenic activity in vivo.

Development of an androgen reporter gene assay (AR-LUX) utilizing a human cell line with an endogenously regulated androgen receptor

The aim of the work described in this report is to develop and characterize a cell-based androgen reporter assay. For this purpose, the androgen receptor (AR) expressing human breast cancer cell line T47D was stably transfected with a luciferase gene under transcriptional control of the PB-ARE-2 androgen response element. The application of this cell line in an endogenous Androgen Receptor-mediated LUciferase eXpression assay (AR-LUX) was validated. An EC50 value of 86 pM was determined for the standard androgen R1881 with a detection limit of 46 pM. Other androgens like dihydrotestosterone, 17beta-trenbolone, and bolasterone also induced luciferase expression, while anti-androgens suppressed these responses. As expected, AR-mediated responses were also elicited by high concentrations of the steroids progesterone, 17beta-estradiol, d-aldosterone, and dexamethasone, with observed EC50 values 10 to 350,000 times higher than that for R1881. A unique feature of the AR-LUX assay is that effects on modulation of active endogenous AR-levels are reliably reflected in the luciferase induction response, as exemplified by vitamin D, all-trans-retinoic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, and forskolin. This feature is especially useful when assessing complex mixtures, e.g., environmental samples or natural compound libraries. From these data it is concluded that the AR-LUX assay is a reliable in vitro test system for the detection and quantification of AR-mediated biological effects. The 96-well plate format makes the assay particularly suitable for high-throughput screening.

Synthesis and structure-activity studies of side-chain derivatized arylhydantoins for investigation as androgen receptor radioligands

A series of arylhydantoin derivatives modeled after the antiandrogen RU 58841 was generated to identify potential candidates for development as androgen receptor (AR) radioligands. Side-chain modified derivatives of RU 58841, suitable for labeling with either carbon-11 or radiohalogens (fluorine-18, iodine-123), were synthesized and tested for their AR binding affinities. The N-(iodopropenyl) derivative 13 (Ki = 13 nM) is a potential candidate for development as a radioiodinated AR ligand.

A stable prostatic bioluminescent cell line to investigate androgen and antiandrogen effects

We developed a new stable prostatic cell line expressing the human androgen receptor (AR) and the AR-responsive reporter gene to generate a powerful tool for investigating androgen action and for rapid screening of agonists and antagonists. The AR-deficient PC-3 cells were stably transfected with pSG(5)-puro-hAR and pMMTV-neo-Luc. After selection with puromycin and neomycin, one highly inducible clone was isolated and named PALM, for PC-3-Androgen receptor-Luciferase-MMTV. The expression of hAR was confirmed by western blot and steroid-binding assays on the whole cells. The transcriptional activity of the clone was measured after incubation of cells with increasing concentrations of synthetic R1881 or natural androgens (DHT and testosterone). The three agonists had the same maximal activity at 0.1 microM and the fold induction was equal to 20. The agonist and antagonist activities of the steroidal antiandrogens (cyproterone acetate and RU2956) and the non-steroidal antiandrogens (nilutamide, bicalutamide, inocoterone and hydroxyflutamide) measured with the PALM cells were in good correlation with the results obtained with transiently transfected cells. The selectivity in steroid transactivation was demonstrated with estradiol, progesterone, cortisol, dexamethasone and aldosterone. Spironolactone and RU486 showed partial agonist and antagonist activities, whereas R5020 presented only a partial antagonist activity. We here demonstrate that this stable transfectant provides an accurate tool for studying wild-type human AR activation and its regulation by androgens and antiandrogens in a human prostatic epithelial cell, which is routinely available and remains androgen-responsive in vitro.