The proliferation rate of HT29 colon carcinoma cells was decreased by the multitargeted antifolate (MTA), LY231514. This effect correlated with a buildup of cells near the G1-S interface after 24 h ...of incubation, and a synchronized progression of the population through S phase during the next 24 h. MTA treatment (0.03-3 microM) was minimally cytotoxic (20-30%) to HT29 cells after a 24-h exposure, and no dose response was observed. In contrast, the nucleoside analogue gemcitabine (GEM) was cytotoxic (IC50, 0.071 +/- 0.011 microM; IC90, 0.648 +/- 0.229 microM) after a 24-h exposure. We hypothesized that pretreatment of these cells with MTA would increase the potency of GEM by synchronizing the population for DNA synthesis. The cytotoxicity of GEM increased 2-7-fold when MTA was administered 24 h before GEM (IC50, 0.032 +/- 0.009 microM; IC90, 0.094 +/- 0.019 microM). In addition, an increase in cell kill for the combination compared with GEM alone (IC99, 12 microM for GEM alone; IC99, 0.331 microM for combination) was observed. No increase in potency or cell kill was observed when the two compounds were added simultaneously. MTA pretreatment also potentiated the cytotoxicity of a 1-h exposure to GEM. These cell-based observations were extended to evaluate the schedule-dependent interaction of these two agents in vivo using a nude mouse HT29 xenograft tumor model. At the doses tested, MTA alone (100 mg/kg) had a marginal effect on tumor growth delay, whereas GEM (80 mg/kg) produced a statistically significant tumor growth delay. In combination, the increase in tumor growth delay was greatest when MTA was administered before GEM, compared with simultaneous drug administration or the reverse sequence, e.g., GEM followed by MTA. The effect of sequential administration of MTA followed by GEM was greater than additive, indicating synergistic interaction of these agents. Thus, in vitro, MTA induced cell cycle effects on HT29 cells that resulted in potentiation of the cytotoxicity of GEM. In vivo, combination of these two drugs also demonstrated a schedule-dependent synergy that was optimal when MTA treatment preceded GEM.
The early demonstrations that prostate cancer was hormone-sensitive initiated a therapeutic strategy of hormone ablation that is still in use today. Although chemical or surgical castration reduces ...androgen stimulation of the androgen receptor (AR) and produces tumor regression, little survival benefit is achieved. Patients with metastatic cancer eventually relapse as their tumors progress to hormone independence. The AR is a member of the steroid receptor family; however, it manifests many unique features including: N-terminal, C-terminal interactions and antiparallel dimerization, unique N-terminal domains for co-factor recruitment, AR-specific co-activators and upstream promoter/enhancer response elements that amplify AR-mediated responses. The AR is regulated by phosphorylation and cross-talk with several signaling pathways, including MAP kinases, PKA and PKC. Non-genomic effects of AR to regulate transcription factors elk-1 and -2 have also been demonstrated. These unique features suggest mechanisms by which novel therapeutics might target and influence AR-mediated actions. Progress in this direction has been realized with the recent synthesis of non-steroidal androgen agonists that may have tissue-selective effects.
Tight-binding inhibition of recombinant human monofunctional glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase by Lometrexol (6R-5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolate) requires polyglutamation. LY254155 and ...LY222306 differ from 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolate in the replacement of the 1',4'- phenylene moiety by a 2',5'-thiophene and a 2',5'-furan, respectively. Compared to Lometrexol, the thiophene and furan analogues had 25- and 75-fold greater inhibitory potencies against human monofunctional glycinamides ribonucleotide formyltransferase (Ki = 2.1 and 0.77 nM, respectively). The binding affinities of the thiophene and furan analogues for membrane folate-binding protein from human KB cells were 6- and 350-fold weaker than Lometrexol, respectively. Both the thiophene analogue and 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolate inhibited the in vivo growth of murine 6C3HED lymphosarcoma, murine C3H mammary carcinoma, and human xenograft HXGC3, HC1, and VRC5 colon carcinomas by 95-100%. The thiophene analogue was efficacious against human xenograft PANC-1, a pancreatic carcinoma which was completely resistant to 5,10- dideazatetrahydrofolate. These novel antifolates represent the first monoglutamated tight-binding inhibitors of glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase. By eliminating the need for polyglutamation, this class of antifolates may have clinical activity in the treatment of solid tumors expressing low levels of folylpolyglutamate synthetase or tumors resistant to antifolate therapy due to increased gamma-glutamyl hydrolase activity.
A series of racemic N-substituted trans-3,4-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidines were evaluated for opioid agonist and antagonist activity at mu and kappa receptors. Several highly potent mu and ...kappa antagonists were discovered; however, no compounds with high selectivity for either the mu or kappa receptor were identified. Importantly, no derivative was found to have significant opioid agonist activity. Two derivatives were resolved, and the activities of the enantiomers were investigated. Only a limited stereochemical effect on opioid receptor selectivities was observed. The structure-activity relationships described establish the existence of an important lipophilic binding site distal to the nitrogen for both mu and kappa receptors and confirm the pure opioid antagonist pharmacophore nature of the trans-3,4-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidine structure.
A series of (3R*,4R*)-3,4-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidine opioid antagonists with varying substituents on the nitrogen were evaluated for their effect on food consumption in obese Zucker rats. ...Opioid affinity (mu, kappa, and delta for selected compounds) and opioid antagonist activity (mu and kappa) were characterized and compared to effects on food consumption. No compounds with high selectivity for either mu or kappa receptors were discovered. However, compounds in the series had exceptional potency as opioid antagonists and in reducing food consumption in the obese Zucker rat. In contrast, a few compounds with high potency as opioid antagonists had much weaker potency for inhibiting food consumption. (3R,4R)-3,4-Dimethyl-1-(3S)-3- hydroxy-3-cyclohexyl-propyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidine (11,LY255582) emerged as having the best activity profile, both in reducing food consumption and as an opioid antagonist. Compound 11 is a highly potent mu, kappa-, and delta-opioid antagonist with possible clinical utility as an appetite suppressant for weight loss.
Compounds exemplified by 2-2-(5-bromo-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl-3-3-(1- methylethoxy)phenyl-4(3H)-quinazolinone (3, IC50 = 0.0093 microM using mouse brain membranes) represent a structurally novel series ...of non-peptide cholecystokinin B receptor ligands. Since asperlicin, a selective CCK-A receptor antagonist, may be regarded as a conformationally constrained 2-substituted-3-phenyl-4(3H)-quinazolinone, the progenitor of compound 3 (compound 2, 2-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl-3-phenyl-4(3H)- quinazolinone) might therefore represent a conformationally flexible pharmacophore of the natural product. To probe possible conformational preferences for this class of receptor ligands, in particular the spatial relationship between the indole and quinazolinone rings, we prepared a series of analogues with methyl substituents on the ethylene bridge as well as congeners with different linkers. The X-ray crystal structure conformation for compound 22 (2-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl-3--3-(1-methylethoxy) phenyl-4(3H)-quinazolinone, IC50 = 0.026 microM) is extended with the two heteroaromatic rings adopting an antiperiplanar arrangement around the central sigma bond of the ethane linker, whereas the solid-state conformation for a less active analogue 19 (2-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1-methylethyl-3-3-(1- methylethoxy)phenyl-4(3H)-quinazolinone, IC50 = 9.1 microM) is folded with the two heteroaromatic systems adopting a synclinal orientation. However, MM2 force field calculations (MacroModel, v 3.0) suggest that the energy difference between the folded and extended conformation is small. Thus, other factors such as unfavorable steric interactions may account for the difference in receptor affinity. For derivatives with one to three methylene units separating the indole and quinazolinone rings, maximal receptor binding activity was found when the distance separating the two heteroaromatic systems is defined by an ethyl group. Introducing unsaturation into the ethylene bridge of compound 3 limited the conformational flexibility of the molecule and decreased its receptor affinity greater than 2 orders of magnitude.
A novel series of dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors was uncovered during an expansion of the SAR of 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolic acid, and their biological activity was evaluated. These new analogs ...do not possess an oxygen at the 4 position and contain a monocyclic pyrimidine ring.
A novel series of dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors was uncovered during an expansion of the SAR of 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolic acid, and their biological activity was evaluated. These new analogs do not possess an oxygen at the 4 position and contain a monocyclic pyrimidine ring.
Cell cycle-related events in CCRF-CEM lymphocytic leukemia cells were examined subsequent to inhibition of thymidylate synthase (TS) or GAR formyltransferase (GARFT) and prior to cell death or ...stasis.
Cell populations were treated with the GARFT inhibitors 6R-5, 10-dideazatetrahydrofolate (Lometrexol) or LY309887, the TS inhibitor ZD1694, or the multitargeted antifolate LY231514. DNA content, nucleoside precursor incorporation and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression as functions of drug treatment were assessed by multiparameter flow cytometry. Cellular respiration was measured by MTT analysis and apoptosis was detected by extraction of DNA fragments.
Cell populations treated for up to 96h with lometrexol or LY309887 did not replicate and maintained a cell cycle distribution with distinct G1, S and G2/M regions. The number of S phase cells in treated populations was slightly elevated relative to control as measured by DNA content and PCNA. However, these cells were unable to incorporate 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Throughout treatment, cells incubated with GARFT inhibitors maintained intact membranes and respired at a level comparable to untreated cells. In contrast, ZD1694 as well as LY231514, induced synchronization of the treatment population at the G1/S interface within 12h of drug addition. This was followed by synchronous entry of the population into S phase. After 24 h of treatment, more than 90% of the cells were capable of incorporating BrdU and stained positive for PCNA. DNA fragmentation occurred in cells treated with ZD1694 or LY231514 but not in those treated with GARFT inhibitors. In addition, the viable cells remaining after 24-48 h of treatment with ZD1694 or LY231514 were respiring at twice the level of untreated cells.
These results demonstrate that the distinct endpoints of GARFT and TS inhibition are preceded by distinct cell cycle and metabolic alterations.
