Estradiol-16alpha-carboxylic acid esters as locally active estrogens.

We attempted to design analogues of estradiol to act as locally active estrogens without significant systemic action. We synthesized a series of 16alpha-carboxylic acid substituted steroids and their esters and tested their action in several assays of estrogenic action, including estrogen receptor (ER) binding, estrogenic potency in Ishikawa cells (human endometrial carcinoma), rat uterine weight (systemic action), and mouse vaginal reductases (local action). All of the estradiol substituted carboxylic acids (formic, acetic and propionic acids) were devoid of estrogenic action. To the contrary, many of the esters had marked estrogenic potency in the receptor and the Ishikawa assays. The esters of the 16alpha-formic acid series had the highest ER affinity with little difference between the straight-chain alcohol esters (from methyl to n-butyl). However, estrogenic action in the Ishikawa assay decreased precipitously with esters longer than the ethyl ester. This decrease correlated well with the increased rate of esterase hydrolysis of longer esters as determined in incubations with rat hepatic microsomes. The most promising candidates, the methyl, ethyl, and fluoroethyl esters of the formate series, were tested for systemic and local action in the in vivo models. All three, especially the fluoroethyl ester, showed divergence between systemic and local estrogenic action. These metabolically labile estrogens will be extremely useful for the therapeutic treatment of the vaginal dyspareunia of menopause in women for whom systemic estrogens are contraindicated.

[7alpha-18F]fluoro-17alpha-methyl-5alpha-dihydrotestosterone: a ligand for androgen receptor-mediated imaging of prostate cancer.

We have synthesized a 18F-labeled androgen, [7alpha-18F]fluoro-17alpha-methyl-5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, in a no-carrier-added radiosynthesis by exchange of 18F- (tetrabutylammonium fluoride) with the 7beta-tosyloxy of 17alpha-methyl-5alpha-dihydrotestosterone. The nonradioactive steroid binds with high affinity and specificity to the androgen receptor and binds poorly, if at all, to other steroid receptors and plasma sex hormone binding globulin. The 7alpha-18F-androgen concentrates markedly in the prostate of rats by an androgen receptor-dependent mechanism. It is likely that [7alpha-18F]fluoro-17alpha-methyl-5alpha-dihydrotestosterone will be an excellent positron emission tomography imaging agent for prostate cancer.

Regiospecific esterification of estrogens by lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase.

Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), the enzyme that esterifies cholesterol in blood, also esterifies other steroids at the 3beta-hydroxyl. These steroids, like cholesterol, are delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroids, such as pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone. One unusual LCAT substrate is the estrogen, estradiol, which is esterified at the 17beta-hydroxyl. The esterification of estradiol by LCAT has been reported to produce a powerful antioxidant that protects low density lipoprotein (LDL) from oxidation. We investigated the substrate specificity of LCAT, comparing the esterification of four different steroids (estradiol, estriol, testosterone, and 5-androstene-3beta, 17beta-diol) by human LCAT in blood and by acyl-coenzyme A:acyltransferase in tissue (placenta and fat). Estradiol was esterified only at the D ring 17beta-hydroxyl group in both blood and tissue. In contrast, although testosterone has a D ring structure identical to that of estradiol, and it was esterified at the 17beta-hydroxyl by acyl-coenzyme A:acyltransferase in tissue, it was not esterified by LCAT. When 5-androstenediol was the substrate in the tissues, both the 3beta- and 17beta-esters were synthesized, but the major product was the 17beta-ester. Conversely, although 5-androstenediol was an excellent substrate for LCAT, only the 3beta-hydroxyl was esterified. No 17beta-ester was formed. The comparison of the esterification of estriol by acyl-coenzyme A:acyltransferase and LCAT was also surprising. In the tissues, estriol is esterified at both D ring hydroxyls, and both are esterified about equally. Although estriol is an extremely polar estrogen, it is esterified by LCAT, albeit at a very slow rate. Although again both D ring hydroxyls were esterified, the LCAT esterification site was mainly at the 17beta-hydroxyl. Esterification of estriol at the 17beta-hydroxyl in preference to the 16alpha-hydroxyl is especially striking, because the 17beta-hydroxyl group is sterically shielded by the C-18 methyl group, making esterification at this position energetically much more difficult. Furthermore, these studies demonstrate that esterification of the 17beta-hydroxyl group by LCAT is unique to estrogens. It suggests that this unusual regiospecific esterification of C-17 of the estrogens underlies a distinct stereochemical requirement for the powerful antioxidant action that has reported for the estradiol esters formed by LCAT.

7alpha-Iodo and 7alpha-fluoro steroids as androgen receptor-mediated imaging agents.

We have synthesized several 7alpha-fluoro (F) and 7alpha-iodo (I) analogues of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5alpha-DHT) and 19-nor-5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5alpha-NDHT) and tested them for binding to the androgen receptor and for their biological activity in an in vitro assay with cells that have been engineered to respond to androgens. The relative binding affinity to the androgen receptor determined in competition assays showed that in the androstane series the fluoro steroids have the highest affinity and that F-17alpha-CH3-DHT (4) has a higher affinity than 5alpha-DHT. All other steroids were somewhat less potent than 5alpha-DHT with F-DHT (2) = I-17alpha-CH3-DHT (3) >/= F-NDHT (6) > F-17alpha-CH3-NDHT (8) = I-DHT (1) >/= I-NDHT (5) > I-17alpha-CH3-NDHT (7). The relative biological activity in cells transfected with the androgen receptor and an androgen responsive reporter gene is 4 >> 5alpha-DHT > 2 > 6 > 3 >/= 1 >/= 8 >/= 5 > 7. The iodinated compound, I-17alpha-CH3-DHT (3), with the highest binding activity was synthesized labeled with 125I and was shown to bind with high affinity, Ka = 1.9 x 10(10) L/mol, and low nonspecific binding to the androgen receptor in rat prostatic cytosol. However, when radiolabeled [125I]-17alpha-CH3-DHT ([125I]3) was injected into castrated male rats, it showed very poor androgen receptor-mediated uptake into the rat prostate. This was unexpected in light of its superior receptor binding properties and its protection by the 17alpha-methyl group from metabolic oxidation at C-17. However, the biological potency of I-17alpha-CH3-DHT (3) was not as high as would have been expected. When I-DHT (1) and I-17alpha-CH3-DHT (3) were incubated in aqueous media at 37 degrees C they rapidly decomposed, but they were stable at 0 degrees C. The fluorinated analogue 4 treated similarly at 37 degrees C was completely stable. The products of the decomposition reaction of I-DHT (1) at 37 degrees C were identified as iodide and principally 17beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androst-7-en-3-one. The temperature dependence of this elimination reaction explains the inconsistency between the high binding to the androgen receptor (measured at 0 degrees C) and the low biological activity, as well as the poor androgen receptor mediated concentration in vivo. The fluorinated analogue F-17alpha-CH3-DHT (4) has both high affinity for the androgen receptor and high stability in aqueous media. Of the compounds tested, 4 has the highest affinity for the androgen receptor as well as the highest androgenic activity. Thus it is likely that F-17alpha-CH3-DHT 4 labeled with 18F will be an excellent receptor-mediated diagnostic imaging agent.

Iodinated and fluorinated steroid 2'-aryl-[3,2-c] pyrazoles as potential glucocorticoid receptor imaging agents.

We have synthesized several halogenated steroids as potential glucocorticoid receptor mediated imaging agents. These compounds are analogs of aryl-pyrazolo steroids, similar to the potent glucocorticoid, cortivazol. Compounds containing the halogens, iodine, bromine, and fluorine, as well as the E- and Z-iodovinyl side chain at the para position of 2'-phenyl-11 beta,17,21-trihydroxy-16 alpha-methyl-20-oxo-pregn-4-eno[3,2-c] pyrazole were prepared. They were tested as ligands for the glucocorticoid receptor by competition for the binding of [3H]dexamethasone and for glucocorticoid potency by the induction of alkaline phosphatase in HeLa cells. None of the iodinated steroids were good ligands for the glucocorticoid receptor or potent glucocorticoids. The bromo analog was only slightly better than the iodinated steroids as a ligand, and it had a potency in the HeLa cell assay about half that of dexamethasone. The fluoro analog good binding to the glucocorticoid receptor and was a very potent glucocorticoid, approximately seven times that of dexamethasone. Consequently, it appears that the fluoro steroid, 2'-(4-fluorophenyl)-11 beta,17,21-trihydroxy-16 alpha-methyl-20-oxo-pregn-4-eno[3,2-c] pyrazole, when labeled with 18F, would make an excellent glucocorticoid receptor-mediated imaging agent for positron emission tomography.

7 alpha-iodine-125-iodo-5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone: a radiolabeled ligand for the androgen receptor.

UNLABELLED: We describe the preparation of 7 alpha-[125I]iodo-5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (7 alpha-[125I]IDHT) and its characterization as a ligand for the androgen receptor. METHODS: We designed a route to prepare the radioiodine-labeled androgen on microscale through treatment of the 7 beta-tosylate of 7 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone-17 beta-p-nitro-benzoate with Na125I, followed by alkaline hydrolysis. The radiolabeled steroid was tested as a ligand for the androgen receptor in cytosol from MCF-7 cells, and for its in vivo tissue distribution in the rat. In addition, we tested 7 alpha-[125I]IDHT as a ligand in a novel assay for the detection and quantification of the ligand activated androgen receptor by in vitro autoradiography. RESULTS: The above synthetic route produced the 17 beta-p-nitrobenzoate of 7 alpha-[125I]IDHT in carrier-free form and in good yield. The 17 beta-ester was removed with alkali and the resulting 7 alpha-[125I]IDHT was purified by HPLC. 7 alpha-[125I]IDHT bound with high affinity, Kd = 0.26 nM, to the androgen receptor and showed low nonspecific binding. Since the ligand was carrier free and thus of very high specific activity, approximately 2,200 Ci/mmole, the sensitivity of the assay was much greater than with [3H]R1881, the classical androgen receptor ligand with which it was compared. When tested as a ligand for in vitro autoradiography, 7 alpha-[125I]IDHT produced excellent autoradiograms of the activated receptor with very low nonspecific binding and with only overnight exposure of the film. CONCLUSION: These studies demonstrate that 7 alpha-[125I]IDHT is an excellent ligand for the androgen receptor.

Characteristics of bleomycin-resistant phenotypes of human cell sublines and circumvention of bleomycin resistance by liblomycin.

Three bleomycin (BLM)-resistant sublines were isolated from a human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line (A-253); these sublines (C-10, D-10, and G-11) were 4-, 9-, and 21-fold resistant to BLM A2, respectively. These sublines were selectively resistant to other members of the BLM class, namely BLM B2, peplomycin, talisomycin S10b, and bleomycinic acid; none of the sublines displayed cross-resistance to vincristine, doxorubicin, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum or melphalan; only one subline (G-11) was cross-resistant to X-irradiation. None of the BLM-resistant cell lines demonstrated resistance to the novel BLM analogue liblomycin, which contains a lipophilic terminal amine. The cell cycle distributions of the clonally derived BLM-resistant cell populations were similar to the distribution of the parental cell population. In vitro BLM hydrolase activity in homogenates of D-10 and G-11 BLM-resistant cell lines was two- to threefold higher than that in homogenates of A-253 or C-10 cells. Nonetheless, no deamido BLM A2 was found associated with any cell type or in the culture medium and more than 80% of the radioactivity in all cells appeared as unmetabolized BLM A2 by high pressure liquid chromatography. Thus, the appearance of large quantities of the deamido BLM metabolite was not a prominent feature of acquired resistance to BLM in these human tumor cells. The cellular accumulation of radiolabeled BLM A2 by C-10 and G-11 cells during a 1-h incubation with [3H]BLM A2 was 1/2 that seen with A-253 and D-10 cells. C-10 cells maintained a lower nuclear content of radioactivity than A-253, G-11, or D-10 cells. Initial single strand DNA damage, based upon alkaline elution analysis, also was lower in C-10 cells compared to A-253 cells. D-10 cells, in contrast, exhibited high initial genomic DNA damage but demonstrated a greater repair rate than either A-253 or C-10 cells. Thus, multiple BLM-resistant phenotypes can be obtained from a population of human squamous carcinoma cells, and modification of the terminal amine in the BLM molecule can produce compounds capable of circumventing all of these BLM-resistant phenotypes. Liblomycin, which appears to be a nonclassical BLM, may be a useful therapeutic agent with a spectrum of activity distinct from other members of the BLM class.

Antiproliferative actions of tamoxifen to human ovarian carcinomas in vitro.

The cytosolic estrogen receptor (ERc) and progestin receptor (PRc) levels were measured in 56 human epithelial ovarian tumors. The maximum ERc content in a tumor sample was 163 fmol/mg cytosolic protein. Forty-six of the tumor samples were evaluable for clonogenic growth in soft agar, and 19 samples produced 15 or more colonies per 10(5) cells plated. Four of the samples that grew had ERc levels of greater than 30 fmol/mg cytosolic protein. No correlation, however, between growth in soft agar and ERc or PRc content was observed. The antiproliferative properties of the antiestrogen, tamoxifen, were studied. Although no decrease in colony formation was observed after a 1-hr exposure to 0.2 or 2 microM tamoxifen, continuous exposure of cells to 2 microM tamoxifen reduced clonogenicity in 8 of 18 solid ovarian carcinomas examined. The maximum diminution in colony formation was approximately 50% of that of the control and was seen in 2 tumor samples. Both tumors that displayed the maximum response to continuous tamoxifen treatment had ERc and PRc levels greater than 30 fmol/mg cytosolic protein. None of the 14 tumors with ERc levels less than or equal to 30 fmol/mg cytosolic protein exhibited a decrease in colony formation of more than 50%. Exposure of cells for 1 hr to the combination of doxorubicin and tamoxifen produced a significant antagonism of the individual doxorubicin or tamoxifen antiproliferative effects in 7 of 9 samples examined. These data suggest that in a subset of human ovarian epithelial carcinomas tamoxifen alone can have some direct antiproliferative action on the clonogenic cells. The maximum antiproliferative effect of tamoxifen observed was related to ERc content in ovarian tumors.