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Bhaduri S, Ranjan N, Arya DP. An overview of recent advances in duplex DNA recognition by small molecules. Beilstein J Org Chem 2018; 14:1051-1086. [PMID: 29977379 PMCID: PMC6009268 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.14.93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As the carrier of genetic information, the DNA double helix interacts with many natural ligands during the cell cycle, and is amenable to such intervention in diseases such as cancer biogenesis. Proteins bind DNA in a site-specific manner, not only distinguishing between the geometry of the major and minor grooves, but also by making close contacts with individual bases within the local helix architecture. Over the last four decades, much research has been reported on the development of small non-natural ligands as therapeutics to either block, or in some cases, mimic a DNA–protein interaction of interest. This review presents the latest findings in the pursuit of novel synthetic DNA binders. This article provides recent coverage of major strategies (such as groove recognition, intercalation and cross-linking) adopted in the duplex DNA recognition by small molecules, with an emphasis on major works of the past few years.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nihar Ranjan
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Raebareli 122003, India
| | - Dev P Arya
- NUBAD, LLC, 900B West Faris Rd., Greenville 29605, SC, USA.,Clemson University, Hunter Laboratory, Clemson 29634, SC, USA
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Butler MS, Robertson AAB, Cooper MA. Natural product and natural product derived drugs in clinical trials. Nat Prod Rep 2014; 31:1612-61. [DOI: 10.1039/c4np00064a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 383] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The 25 Natural Product (NP)-derived drugs launched since 2008 and the 100 NP-derived compounds and 33 Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) in clinical trials or in registration at the end of 2013 are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S. Butler
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience
- The University of Queensland
- Brisbane, Australia
| | - Avril A. B. Robertson
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience
- The University of Queensland
- Brisbane, Australia
| | - Matthew A. Cooper
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience
- The University of Queensland
- Brisbane, Australia
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Sabatino MA, Geroni C, Ganzinelli M, Ceruti R, Broggini M. Zebularine partially reverses GST methylation in prostate cancer cells and restores sensitivity to the DNA minor groove binder brostallicin. Epigenetics 2013; 8:656-65. [PMID: 23771052 DOI: 10.4161/epi.24916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Brostallicin is a DNA minor groove binder that shows enhanced antitumor activity in cells with high glutathione S-transferase (GST)/glutathione content. Prostate cancer cells present, almost invariably, methylation of the GSTP1 gene promoter and, as a consequence, low levels of GST-pi expression and activity. In these cells, brostallicin shows very little activity. We tested whether pretreatment of heavily GST-methylated prostate cancer cells with demethylating agents could enhance the activity of brostallicin. Human prostate cancer cells LNCaP and DU145 were used for these studies both in vitro and in vivo. The demethylating agent zebularine was used in combination with brostallicin. Methylation specific PCR and pyrosequencing were used to determine the level of GST methylation. Pretreatment with demethylating agents enhanced the in vitro activity of brostallicin in LNCaP cells. Zebularine, in particular, induced an enhancement of activity in vivo comparable to that obtained by transfecting the human GSTP1 gene in LNCaP cells in vitro. Molecular analysis performed on tumor xenografts in mice pretreated with zebularine failed to detect re-expression of GST-pi and demethylation of GSTP1. However, we found demethylation in the GSTM1 gene, with consequent re-expression of GST-mu at the mRNA level. These results indicate that zebularine, both in vitro and in vivo, enhances the activity of brostallicin and that this enhancement correlates with re-expression of GST-pi and GST-mu. These findings highlight the potential therapeutic value of combining demethylating agents and brostallicin in tumors with GST methylation that poorly respond to brostallicin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonietta Sabatino
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology; Department of Oncology; IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri; Milan, Italy
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Khan GS, Shah A, Zia-ur-Rehman, Barker D. Chemistry of DNA minor groove binding agents. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2012; 115:105-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2012.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2012] [Revised: 07/04/2012] [Accepted: 07/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Zhang W, Modén O, Mannervik B. Differences among allelic variants of human glutathione transferase A2-2 in the activation of azathioprine. Chem Biol Interact 2010; 186:110-7. [PMID: 20434437 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2010.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2010] [Revised: 04/21/2010] [Accepted: 04/22/2010] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Azathioprine has been clinically used for decades in connection with organ transplantation, autoimmune disease, and treatment of cancer. Toxic side-reactions are common and have been linked to the liberation of excessively high concentrations of 6-mercaptopurine and corresponding toxic metabolites. An allelic variant of thiopurine methyltransferase with low activity is associated with elevated concentrations of 6-mercaptopurine. However, other genetic markers remain to be identified in order to fully account for adverse reactions and efficacy failure. In the present study, we studied the five known allelic variants of human glutathione transferase A2-2 (GST A2-2) (EC 2.5.1.18), abundantly expressed in liver and efficiently catalyzing the bioactivation of azathioprine to release 6-mercaptopurine. All five variants exhibited high activity with azathioprine, but allelic variant E of GST A2-2 displayed a 3-4-fold elevated catalytic efficiency compared to the other variants. High GST activity can lead to overproduction of 6-mercaptopurine, and the nature of the multiple forms of GSTs in a patient will obviously affect the metabolism of azathioprine. In addition to GST A2-2, the polymorphic GST M1-1 is also highly active with azathioprine. Considering our findings, it appears that the genotypic and phenotypic variations in the GST complement may influence the presentation of adverse reactions in patients treated with azathioprine. Clinical trials will be required to clarify the impact of the GST expression in comparison with the established biomarker thiopurine methyltransferase as predictors of adverse reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Cai X, Gray PJ, Von Hoff DD. DNA minor groove binders: back in the groove. Cancer Treat Rev 2009; 35:437-50. [PMID: 19328629 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2009.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2009] [Accepted: 02/16/2009] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
With recent approval of the minor groove binding agent trabectidin in Europe for the treatment of patients with soft tissue sarcomas, there has been renewed interest in minor groove binders. Though previously considered to be without clinical value due to their initial significant toxicities, new minor groove binders are emerging which are challenging that perception. Toxicities in the most recently completed and ongoing trials have been easily manageable. These agents have demonstrable anti-tumor activity against a wide variety of tumor types including leukemias, sarcomas, melanomas, breast and ovarian cancers. Applying these agents according to a particular tumor's context of vulnerability might reveal previously unconsidered applications for this diverse class of agents. This review provides a look at how minor groove binding agents have progressed from the lab through the clinic with particular emphasis on identifying the contexts of vulnerabilities of patient tumors which increase the effectiveness of these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Cai
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
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Pulido D, Sánchez A, Robles J, Pedroso E, Grandas A. Guanine-Containing DNA Minor-Groove Binders. European J Org Chem 2009. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.200800892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Butler MS. Natural products to drugs: natural product-derived compounds in clinical trials. Nat Prod Rep 2008; 25:475-516. [PMID: 18497896 DOI: 10.1039/b514294f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 510] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Natural product and natural product-derived compounds that are being evaluated in clinical trials or are in registration (as at 31st December 2007) have been reviewed, as well as natural product-derived compounds for which clinical trials have been halted or discontinued since 2005. Also discussed are natural product-derived drugs launched since 2005, new natural product templates and late-stage development candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Butler
- MerLion Pharmaceuticals, 1 Science Park Road, The Capricorn 05-01, Singapore Science Park II, Singapore 117528.
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Butler MS. Natural products to drugs: natural product derived compounds in clinical trials. Nat Prod Rep 2005; 22:162-95. [PMID: 15806196 DOI: 10.1039/b402985m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 339] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Natural product and natural product-derived compounds that are being evaluated in clinical trials or in registration (current 31 December 2004) have been reviewed. Natural product derived drugs launched in the United States of America, Europe and Japan since 1998 and new natural product templates discovered since 1990 are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Butler
- MerLion Pharmaceuticals, 1 Science Park Road, The Capricorn #05-01, Singapore Science Park II, Singapore 117528.
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Lockhart AC, Howard M, Hande KR, Roth BJ, Berlin JD, Vreeland F, Campbell A, Fontana E, Fiorentini F, Fowst C, Paty VA, Lankford O, Rothenberg ML. A Phase I Dose-Escalation and Pharmacokinetic Study of Brostallicin (PNU-166196A), a Novel DNA Minor Groove Binder, in Adult Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors. Clin Cancer Res 2004; 10:468-75. [PMID: 14760067 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-0658-03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study was performed to determine the maximum tolerated dose, dose-limiting toxicities, and pharmacokinetics of brostallicin, a nonalkylating DNA minor groove binder and a synthetic derivative of distamycin A, given as a weekly i.v. infusion. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Using an accelerated dose escalation design, patients with advanced solid tumor malignancies were treated with brostallicin administered as a 10-min i.v. infusion on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. The starting dose of brostallicin was 0.3 mg/m(2)/week. To study the pharmacokinetic behavior of brostallicin, serial blood samples were obtained before and after the first and last infusions during cycle 1, and in cycles 2 and 4 in a limited number of patients. RESULTS Fourteen patients received 32 complete cycles of brostallicin. Dose-limiting toxicity was febrile neutropenia and was observed in 3 of 5 patients treated at 4.8 mg/m(2)/week. The maximum tolerated dose and recommended Phase II dose was 2.4 mg/m(2)/week. The mean +/- SD terminal half-life at the maximum tolerated dose was 4.6 +/- 4.1 h. There was moderate distribution of brostallicin into tissues, and the clearance was approximately 20% of the hepatic blood flow. The area under the concentration time curve(0- infinity ) of brostallicin increased in a dose-linear fashion. No significant relationship was observed between any plasma pharmacokinetic parameter and clinical toxicities. There were no objective responses during the trial, but 5 patients had stable disease after two cycles of treatment. CONCLUSIONS The dose-limiting toxicity of weekly brostallicin was neutropenia. Systemic exposure increases linearly with dose. The recommended dose for Phase II studies is 2.4 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle.
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Broggini M, Marchini S, Fontana E, Moneta D, Fowst C, Geroni C. Brostallicin: a new concept in minor groove DNA binder development. Anticancer Drugs 2004; 15:1-6. [PMID: 15090736 DOI: 10.1097/00001813-200401000-00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Brostallicin is a bromoacryloyl derivative of distamycin A, which has shown very promising preclinical activity against a variety of human tumors both in vitro and in vivo. The drug has a limited toxicity towards bone marrow precursor cells in vitro resulting in a therapeutic index much higher than those achieved with other distamycin A derivatives. It retains activity against cancer cells resistant to alkylating agents, topoisomerase I inhibitors and cells with mismatch repair deficiency. Brostallicin has a peculiar mechanism of action involving activation upon binding to glutathione (GSH) catalyzed by glutathione-S-transferase (GST). As a consequence, cells expressing relatively high GST/GSH levels are more susceptible to treatment with brostallicin. Considering that increased levels of GST/GSH are often found in human tumors, this could represent an advantage for the drug in the clinic. Initial clinical studies indicate the tolerability of the drug and allow the determination of the optimal dose for subsequent studies. Some partial response were obtained in these initial phase I studies. Altogether, the results suggest brostallicin to be a new promising anticancer agent with a new mechanism of action. It also raises the possibility to use it in combination with other anticancer drugs currently used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Broggini
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy.
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Gossauer A. Monopyrrolic natural compounds including tetramic acid derivatives. FORTSCHRITTE DER CHEMIE ORGANISCHER NATURSTOFFE = PROGRESS IN THE CHEMISTRY OF ORGANIC NATURAL PRODUCTS. PROGRES DANS LA CHIMIE DES SUBSTANCES ORGANIQUES NATURELLES 2003; 86:1-188. [PMID: 12899123 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7091-6029-9_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Albert Gossauer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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Calderoli S, Colombo E, Frigerio E, James CA, Sibum M. LC-MS-MS determination of brostallicin in human plasma following automated on-line SPE. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2003; 32:601-7. [PMID: 12899950 DOI: 10.1016/s0731-7085(03)00167-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
LC-MS-MS method using automated on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) has been developed and validated for the quantitation of brostallicin (I), a new distamycin derivative, in human plasma. I is a DNA minor groove binder currently under phase I-II clinical evaluation as an anticancer drug. Plasma (0.4 ml) was spiked with 0.2 ml stable label IS solution and placed in a 96-well plate maintained at +4 degrees C. Aliquots of 0.1 ml of prepared samples were loaded into the on-line SPE HySphere Resin SH cartridges (10 mm x 2 mm ID) and the analytes back eluted with the mobile phase into LC-MS-MS system. A Platinum Cyano column (100 mm x 4.6 mm, 3.6 microm) was used to perform the chromatographic analysis. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-ammonium formate buffer (pH 3.5; 20 mM) (70:30, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. LC flow was split so that 300 microl/min was directed toward the mass spectrometer interface. Retention time of I was 2.6 min and the total cycle time was 8 min. MS detection used an Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX API 365 with a TurboIonSpray interface and MRM (m/Z: 725/257 for I and m/Z: 729/257 for IS) operated in positive ion mode. The method was validated over the calibration range 0.124-497 ng/ml. A negligible carry-over effect from the system was observed. In spite of the known instability of I in human plasma (about 20% decrease over 12 h), the ratio analyte/IS peak area showed good stability over the analysis time required for 96 samples. The automated on-line SPE method can be considered as a valid alternative to the off-line manual SPE procedure previously developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Calderoli
- Pharmacia Corp., Viale Pasteur 10, Nerviano, Milan 20014, Italy.
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Baraldi PG, Beria I, Cozzi P, Bianchi N, Gambari R, Romagnoli R. Synthesis and growth inhibition activity of alpha-bromoacrylic heterocyclic and benzoheterocyclic derivatives of distamycin A modified on the amidino moiety. Bioorg Med Chem 2003; 11:965-75. [PMID: 12614881 DOI: 10.1016/s0968-0896(02)00533-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The design, synthesis and in vitro activities of novel alpha-bromoacryloyl pyrazole, imidazole and benzoheterocyclic derivatives of distamycin A, in which the amidino moiety has been replaced by moieties of different physico-chemical features are described, and the structure-activity relationships are discussed. In spite of the relevance of these modifications on the distamycin frame, these derivatives showed significant growth inhibitory activity against mouse leukemia L1210 cells. Therefore, the presence of the amidino moiety, and in general of a basic moiety, is not an absolute requirement for biological activity of alpha-bromoacrylic derivatives of distamycin.
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Cozzi P. The discovery of a new potential anticancer drug: a case history. FARMACO (SOCIETA CHIMICA ITALIANA : 1989) 2003; 58:213-20. [PMID: 12620417 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-827x(03)00014-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
DNA minor groove binders (MGB) represent a class of anticancer agents whose DNA sequence specificity was hypothesized to lead to high selectivity of action. Tallimustine (TAM), a benzoyl nitrogen mustard derivative of distamycin A (DST), showed excellent antitumor activity in preclinical tests, but also a severe myelotoxicity. Novel nitrogen mustard, nitrogen half-mustard and sulfur mustard derivatives of DST showing excellent activity were recently identified and SAR reported. In particular nitrogen half-mustard and sulfur mustard derivatives, as one-arm alkylating agents, represent interesting structural novelties. A further new class of cytotoxic anticancer agents is that of alpha-halogenoacrylamido derivatives of DST-like oligopeptides, which show an activity profile substantially improved in comparison to TAM. In particular brostallicin (PNU-166196), alpha-bromo-acrylamido tetra-pyrrole derivative ending with a guanidino moiety, showed high cytotoxic potency and myelotoxicity dramatically reduced in comparison to TAM and other MGB. Brostallicin binds to the minor groove but appears unreactive in classical in vitro DNA alkylation assays. About the apparent lack of DNA alkylation we speculated that an intracellular nucleophile, e.g. glutathione (GSH), could activate the reactivity of the compound leading to alkylation of DNA in vivo. Evidence of both covalent interaction of brostallicin with plasmidic DNA in the presence of GSH and of enhanced cytotoxicity in cancer cells characterized by high levels of GSH were obtained. Brostallicin was selected for clinical development and is now undergoing Phase II studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Cozzi
- Department of Chemistry, Pharmacia, Global Chemistry, Discovery Research Oncology, Viale Pasteur 10, 20014 Nerviano, Milan, Italy.
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Beria I, Caldarelli M, Geroni C, Mongelli N, Reinach B, Vignati L, Cozzi P. Cytotoxic alpha-bromoacrylic derivatives of low molecular weight. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2002; 12:1467-71. [PMID: 12031321 DOI: 10.1016/s0960-894x(02)00177-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In vitro and in vivo activities of a small series of alpha-bromoacrylic derivatives of low molecular weight (MW) are described and compared with those of alpha-bromoacrylic derivatives of distamycin-like frames. Low MW compounds, when lacking of a strong basic moiety, are potent cytotoxics, while analogues bearing a strong basic moiety are not. This suggests the existence of an active transport mechanism for distamycin-derived cytotoxics characterized by strong basic amidino or guanidino moieties. Low MW compounds are inactive in vivo, possibly because of the metabolic lability of alpha-bromoacrylic moiety. The same moiety is however present in a series of potent anticancer distamycin-like minor groove binders, for example, PNU-166196 (brostallicin), a fact that underlines the features of the latter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Italo Beria
- Chemistry Department, Pharmacia Discovery Research Oncology, Viale Pasteur 10, 20014 Nerviano, Milan, Italy.
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Fontana E, Pignatti A. Synthesis of Brostallicin (PNU-166196A) Labelled with2H and14C. J Labelled Comp Radiopharm 2002. [DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Marchini S, Broggini M, Sessa C, D'Incalci M. Development of distamycin-related DNA binding anticancer drugs. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2001; 10:1703-14. [PMID: 11772279 DOI: 10.1517/13543784.10.9.1703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The relatively low therapeutic index of the clinically used alkylating agents is probably related to the fact that these compounds cause DNA damage in a relatively unspecific manner, mainly involving guanine-cytosine rich stretches of DNA present in virtually all genes, therefore inducing unselective growth inhibition and death, both in neoplastic and in highly proliferative normal tissues. These considerations explain why in the last twenty years there has been an increasing interest in the identification of compounds which can target DNA with a much higher degree of sequence specificity than that of conventional alkylators. Minor groove binders (MGBs) are one of the most widely studied class of alkylating agents characterised by a high level of sequence specificity. The prototype of this class of drugs is distamycin A which is an antiviral compound able to interact, non-covalently, in theminor groove of DNA in A-T rich regions. It is not cytotoxic against tumour cells and thus has been used as a carrier for targeting cytotoxic alkylating moieties in theminor groove of DNA. The benzoyl mustard derivative of distamycin A, tallimustine, was found to be able to alkylate the N(3) of adenine in theminor groove of DNA only in the target hexamer 5'-TTTTGA or 5'-TTTTAA. Tallimustine was investigated in the clinic and was not successful because it causes severe bone marrow toxicity. The screening of other distamycin derivatives, which maintain antitumour activity and exhibit much lower toxicity against human bone marrow cells than tallimustine led to the identification of brostallicin (PNU-166196) which is currently under early clinical investigation. Although MGBs which bind DNA in A-T rich regions have not fulfilled the expectations, it is too early to draw definitive conclusions on this class of compounds. The peculiar bone-marrow toxicity observed in the clinic both with tallimustine or with CC-1065 derivatives is not necessarily a feature of all MGBs, as indicated by recent evidence obtained with brostallicin and other structurally unrelated MGBs (e.g., ET-743).
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Affiliation(s)
- S Marchini
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Via Eritrea, 62- 20157 Milan, Italy
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Cozzi P. A new class of cytotoxic DNA minor groove binders: α-halogenoacrylic derivatives of pyrrolecarbamoyl oligomers. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2001; 56:57-65. [PMID: 11347968 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-827x(01)01009-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
DNA minor groove binders represent a class of cytotoxic antitumor agents whose DNA sequence specificity may lead to a high selectivity of action. Tallimustine, benzoyl nitrogen mustard derivative of distamycin A, showed excellent antitumor activity in preclinical tests but also a severe myelotoxicity. Novel nitrogen mustard derivatives of distamycin showing improved activity profile were recently identified. In particular, cinnamic nitrogen mustard and cinnamic ethyl half-mustard analogs of tallimustine showed increased potency and more favorable cytotoxicity/myelotoxicity ratio. However a series of alpha-halogenoacrylamido derivatives of distamycin-like frames showed an activity profile substantially improved in comparison to tallimustine. In particular PNU-166196, alpha-bromo-acrylamido derivative of four pyrrole distamycin-like frame ending with a guanidino moiety, showed high cytotoxic potency even on tumor cell lines resistant to alkylating agents and camptothecin, broad antitumor activity and myelotoxicity dramatically reduced in comparison to tallimustine. This compound was found to bind to minor groove TA-rich sequences but appeared unreactive in classical in vitro DNA alkylation assays. With respect to the apparent lack of DNA alkylation we speculated that an intracellular reactive nucleophilic species, e.g. glutathione (GSH), could activate the reactivity of the compound leading to alkylation of DNA in vivo. Recent evidence of both covalent interaction of PNU-166196 with plasmidic DNA in the presence of GSH and of enhanced cytotoxicity in tumor cells characterized by high levels of GSH were obtained. PNU-166196, in view of its excellent activity profile and its outstanding favorable cytotoxicity/myelotoxicity ratio, was selected for clinical development and is undergoing phase I studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Cozzi
- Pharmacia, Department of Chemistry, Discovery Research Oncology, Nerviano, Milan, Italy.
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Cozzi P, Beria I, Caldarelli M, Capolongo L, Geroni C, Mongelli N. Cytotoxic halogenoacrylic derivatives of distamycin A. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2000; 10:1269-72. [PMID: 10866397 DOI: 10.1016/s0960-894x(00)00204-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The design, synthesis, in vitro and in vivo activities of a series of halogenoacrylic derivatives of distamycin A are described. The structure-activity relationships indicate a key role of the reactivity of alpha-halogenoacrylic moiety. The reactivity and the putative alkylating mechanism of these compounds are different from those of the nitrogen mustards and possibly based on a Michael type reaction. This supports the hypothesis that these compounds represent a class of minor groove binders mechanistically different from tallimustine.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Cozzi
- Department of Chemistry, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Discovery Research Oncology, Milan, Italy.
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