Aza-retinoids as novel retinoid X receptor-specific agonists.

A new structurally simple series of potent lipophilic aza-retinoids RXR agonists has been developed. SAR studies for the N-alkyl-azadienoic acids described here demonstrate that the RXR activity profile is sensitive to the N-alkyl chain length. Further, we have expanded the work to include azadienoic acids, which exhibited many accessible conformations leading to a better understanding of the SAR around the series.

Novel poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 inhibitor, AG14361, restores sensitivity to temozolomide in mismatch repair-deficient cells.

PURPOSE: Mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency confers resistance to temozolomide, a clinically active DNA-methylating agent. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the reversal mechanism of temozolomide resistance by the potent novel poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-1 inhibitor, AG14361, in MMR-proficient and -deficient cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The effects of AG14361, in comparison with the methylguanine DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, benzylguanine, on temozolomide-induced growth inhibition were investigated in matched pairs of MMR-proficient (HCT-Ch3, A2780, and CP70-ch3) and -deficient (HCT116, CP70, and CP70-ch2) cells. RESULTS: AG14361 enhanced temozolomide activity in all MMR-proficient cells (1.5-3.3-fold) but was more effective in MMR-deficient cells (3.7-5.2-fold potentiation), overcoming temozolomide resistance. In contrast, benzylguanine only increased the efficacy of temozolomide in MMR-proficient cells but was ineffective in MMR-deficient cells. The differential effect of AG14361 in MMR-deficient cells was not attributable to differences in PARP-1 activity or differences in its inhibition by AG14361, nor was it attributable to differences in DNA strand breaks induced by temozolomide plus AG14361. MMR-deficient cells are resistant to cisplatin, but AG14361 did not sensitize any cells to cisplatin. PARP-1 inhibitors potentiate topotecan-induced growth inhibition, but AG14361 did not potentiate topotecan in MMR-deficient cells more than in MMR-proficient cells. CONCLUSIONS: MMR defects are relatively common in sporadic tumors and cancer syndromes. PARP-1 inhibition represents a novel way of selectively targeting such tumors. The underlying mechanism is probably a shift of the cytotoxic locus of temozolomide to N(7)-methylguanine and N(3)-methyladenine, which are repaired by the base excision repair pathway in which PARP-1 actively participates.

Anticancer chemosensitization and radiosensitization by the novel poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 inhibitor AG14361.

BACKGROUND: Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) facilitates the repair of DNA strand breaks. Inhibiting PARP-1 increases the cytotoxicity of DNA-damaging chemotherapy and radiation therapy in vitro. Because classical PARP-1 inhibitors have limited clinical utility, we investigated whether AG14361, a novel potent PARP-1 inhibitor (inhibition constant <5 nM), enhances the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in human cancer cell cultures and xenografts. METHODS: The effect of AG14361 on the antitumor activity of the DNA alkylating agent temozolomide, topoisomerase I poisons topotecan or irinotecan, or x-irradiation or gamma-radiation was investigated in human cancer cell lines A549, LoVo, and SW620 by proliferation and survival assays and in xenografts in mice by tumor volume determination. The specificity of AG14361 for PARP-1 was investigated by microarray analysis and by antiproliferation and acute toxicity assays in PARP-1-/- and PARP-1+/+ cells and mice. After intraperitoneal administration, the concentration of AG14361 was determined in mouse plasma and tissues, and its effect on PARP-1 activity was determined in tumor homogenates. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: AG14361 at 0.4 micro M did not affect cancer cell gene expression or growth, but it did increase the antiproliferative activity of temozolomide (e.g., in LoVo cells by 5.5-fold, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.9-fold to 5.9-fold; P =.004) and topotecan (e.g., in LoVo cells by 1.6-fold, 95% CI = 1.3-fold to 1.9-fold; P =.002) and inhibited recovery from potentially lethal gamma-radiation damage in LoVo cells by 73% (95% CI = 48% to 98%). In vivo, nontoxic doses of AG14361 increased the delay of LoVo xenograft growth induced by irinotecan, x-irradiation, or temozolomide by two- to threefold. The combination of AG14361 and temozolomide caused complete regression of SW620 xenograft tumors. AG14361 was retained in xenografts in which PARP-1 activity was inhibited by more than 75% for at least 4 hours. CONCLUSION: AG14361 is, to our knowledge, the first high-potency PARP-1 inhibitor with the specificity and in vivo activity to enhance chemotherapy and radiation therapy of human cancer.

Novel tricyclic poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 inhibitors with potent anticancer chemopotentiating activity: design, synthesis, and X-ray cocrystal structure.

A series of novel compounds have been designed that are potent inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), and the activity and physical properties have been characterized. The new structural classes, 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-azepino[5,4,3-cd]indol-6-ones and 3,4-dihydropyrrolo[4,3,2-de]isoquinolin-5-(1H)-ones, have conformationally locked benzamide cores that specifically interact with the PARP-1 protein. The compounds have been evaluated with in vitro cellular assays that measure the ability of the PARP-1 inhibitors to enhance the effect of cytotoxic agents against cancer cell lines.