Phase I study of CNTO 95, a fully human monoclonal antibody to αv integrins, docetaxel, and prednisone in hormone refractory prostate cancer patients (HRPCP)

15595

Background: CNTO 95 has demonstrated preclinical antitumor activity through binding to multiple av integrins, resulting in growth inhibition indirectly through anti-angiogenic effects as well as directly by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. The target, av integrins, has been demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in a large proportion of human prostate cancer tissues. Docetaxel and prednisone have become a standard of care for HRPCP. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of combining CNTO 95 with this standard. Methods: Patients received day 1 infusions of 75 mg/m2 docetaxel together with twice daily oral prednisone in every 3 week cycles, with weekly infusions of either 5 or 10 mg/kg of CNTO 95 for 7 weeks beginning with the second docetaxel cycle, then CNTO 95 on the days of docetaxel thereafter. Patients were monitored for safety and PSA. Radiologic tumor assessments were performed at least every 4 cycles. Results: Six patients have received docetaxel and prednisone with CNTO 95 at either 5 mg/kg (n=3) or 10 mg/kg (n=3). In the 5 mg/kg group, 1 received 8 cycles then withdrew consent because of fluctuating PSA levels; 1 received 9 cycles then had soft tissue disease progression; and 1 has completed 9 cycles and remains on study treatment. In the 10 mg/kg group, all patients remain on study and have received 7, 6, and 6 cycles of treatment, respectively. There were no unexpected toxicities and only one Grade 3 toxicity (febrile neutropenia) attributed to docetaxel. A 50% decline in PSA occurred in 1 patient treated in the 10 mg/kg group. Conclusions: The combination of standard dose docetaxel and prednisone with 10 mg/kg of CNTO 95 was well tolerated and 3 new patients are planned to be treated with these doses on this study. Further study is warranted.

[Table: see text]

[Three dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship of heterocyclic-compounds with di-tert-bultylphenyl inhibitors]

AIM

To quatitatively disclose the relationship between activity and structure of a new class of COX-II inhibitors containing dialkylphenyl-linked heterocyclic moieties.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Seventeen COX-II inhibitors from literature as a training set were investigated with the aim of developing a 3D-QSAR model using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA). To reveal the pharmacophoric pattern, several modes of superimposition were explored. The significant model shows a higher ability to explain and predict the activity of COX-II inhibitors, with the cross-validation RCV2 = 0.718, non cross-validation R2 = 0.992, F = 260,624, and SEE (standard error of estimate) = 0.072. Three compounds were selected as a predicting set, the low deviations of calculated values from the measured ones suggesting a powerful predictive ability of the model.

CONCLUSION

The 3D-QSAR explains the dependence of COX-2 inhibition upon the structures of the compounds. Some structure information for design of new COX-II inhibitors with higher activity has been given.

[Synthesis of triphenylethylene with aliphatic cyclic moiety and its antagonism on estrogen receptor]

AIM

In order to improve the biological activity and reduce the side effects and toxicity, a series of novel estrogen receptor antagonists were designed.

METHODS

The key triphenylethylene intermediates were obtained by the McMurry reaction. The target compounds were prepared by etherification. The binding affinities of the target compounds for the estrogen receptor in rat uterine cytosol were measured by a competitive binding assay and their estrogen agonistic/antagonistic properties were investigated in the 3-day uterine weight assay in the immature rats.

RESULTS

Thirty-five new compounds have been synthesized and their geometric configuration were determined by X-ray crystallography and 1HNMR spectral data.

CONCLUSION

All of the test compounds showed affinity for the estrogen receptor (IC50 < 10(-6) mol.L-1), especially compound 35 with IC50 1.07 x 10(-8) mol.L-1. Some compounds are antagonists, inhibiting uterus growth; others are agonists, promoting uterus growth. Compounds 14 and 27 are superior antagonists to tamoxifen.

[Studies on retinoids. IV. Design, synthesis and structure-activity relationships of di-t-butylphenyl compounds]

Retinoic acid and its analogues play important roles in modulating cell growth, differentiation, immunity and apoptosis. Clinically they are used for cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy. Based upon the moiety of 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxy phenyl ring, a series of substituted aromatic amide, ester and chalcones were designed and synthesized, which mimic the molecular shape, size, and spacial disposition of functional groups of retinoic acid. The general structure is as follows: [formula: see text] where R stands for hydrogen atom or methyl group, Y is the linkage -CONH-, -NHCO-, -COO-, -COCH = CH-, or a member of a heterocycle, X represents various substituents at different positions. The SAR indicates that the presence of hydrophobic group(s) at one end of the molecule, and a carboxyl group at the other end, and a conjugative system of molecule are necessary and full prerequisite for exhibiting activity. Loss of any one factor of them will abolish the activity. Being obligatory for anti-oxidative effect, the phenolic hydroxy group does not convey biological activity, because after methylation of the hydroxy group the compound increases the differentiation-inducing activity and loses the anti-oxidative effect, indicating that there is no correlation between the two activities. With a stable conformation of two phenyl rings with cis-conformation N-methylated acyl amide (No. 30) features in bent shape of the molecule, instead of an extended conformer, which is taken by the non-N-methylated partner and all-trans retinoic acid. A bent conformer of No. 30 accounts for the inactivity. In this paper compounds No. 4f, 4g, 5a, 7, 13, 32, 37, and 38 exhibited significant activity among them 4-[3-(3, 5-di-t-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxo-1-propenyl] benzoic acid (No. 38) showed high activity comparable to that of retinoic acid. The pharmacological action of No. 38 is under investigation.