Critical appraisals of approaches for predictive designs in anticancer drugs.

The present review provides a critical appraisal of the most important areas in cancer drug research and, ultimately, in clinical oncology and therapy, with emphasis on the elucidation of possible predictive designs for the development of new anticancer drugs. These assessments encompass the well-established anticancer drugs and congeners which have been employed over the years in clinical therapy, and the more recent exploratory agents still requiring further rigorous scrutiny in the clinical environment. These areas mainly include the bioreversible redox carriers, the boron neutron capture compounds, some new mitosis-interactive agents, cell cycle modifiers, biological-response mpdifiers, oncogene inhibitors, drug-antibody conjugates, cancer cell suppression and destruction agents, antiangiogenesis and antimetastasis agents, apoptosis-promoting agents, and gene therapy and vaccines.

In the search for new anticancer drugs. 29. A study on the correlation of lipophilicities, ionization constants and anticancer activities of aminoxyl labeled TEPA congeners.

Ionization constants for a series of sterically hindered pyrrolidine, pyrroline and piperidine derivatives were determined by potentiometric titrations. The pKa values for the secondary amines as a group ranged from about 7.7 to 11.7, whereby the ring size had no decisive effect on the values. The corresponding hydroxylamine derivatives as a group had distinctly lower pKa values than the amine derivatives ranging between about 4.0 and 6.3. It was shown using the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation that at physiological pH, arbitrarily chosen 6, 7 and 8, the amine derivatives would exist mainly in the protonated form, whereas the hydroxylamine derivatives would be expected to be mainly in the unprotonated form. In contrast, the 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperdin-1-oxyl radical, under analogous conditions, was a neutral species, i.e. it could not be titrated in aqueous media. On the basis of these results, it was hypothesized that the alkylating anticancer drugs of TEPA (N,N:N'N':N",N"-tri-1,2-ethanediylphosphorictriamide) type, containing sterically hindered carrier moieties, would be expected to permeate across cell membranes, and, consequently, exhibit anticancer activities according to the following sequence: spin-labeled drugs containing no titratable components > hydroxylamine derivatives > secondary amine congeners. This assumption is confirmed by good correlations of anticancer activities of these drugs with their pKa values, and the partition coefficients. The conclusion was reiterated that, in the quest for a rational design of anticancer drugs, the aim should be to construct agents with partition coefficients approaching the logarithm of zero, either from the negative or positive side, and pKa values as low as practically possible and applicable.

In the search for new anticancer drugs. 26. A comparison of anticancer activities of several TEPA, thio-TEPA, Seleno-TEPA, and azetidine analogs, including congeners containing an aminoxyl moiety.

A series of TEPA, Thio-TEPA, Seleno-TEPA, and azetidine analogs, including congeners containing an aminoxyl moiety, were synthesized and evaluated in vivo for anticancer activity against the murine lymphocytic leukemia P388. All aziridine derivatives were found to be active with an increase in life span ranging from 42% to 272%, and all azetidine analogs were rated as inactive with one marginal exception. An attempt was made to rationalize the results on the basis of the lipophilic properties of the compounds. The most active compound (8) possessed the most balanced lipophilic properties, corresponding to a log P value near zero.

In the search for new anticancer drugs. 27. Synthesis and comparison of anticancer activity in vivo of amino acids, carbohydrates, and carbohydrate-amino acid conjugates containing the [N'-(2-chloroethyl)-N'-nitrosoamino]carbonyl group.

The [N'-(2-chloroethyl)-N'-nitrosoamino]carbonyl [(2-chloroethyl)nitrosocarbamoyl, CNC] moiety containing compounds CNC-glycinamide 2d, CNC-amino acid derivatives 7a-d, and carbohydrate-CNC-amino acid conjugates 13, 18, 22, 23, 27, and 28 were synthesized and evaluated in vivo for their anticancer activities against the murine lymphocytic leukemia P388 using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) protocol. The most active compound was 2d with a 520% increase in life span (%ILS) and 6/6 survivors after 60 days. The CNC-amino acid analogs 7a-d possessed high to moderate activities with maximum %ILS values of 270, 174, 141 and 132, respectively. Among the carbohydrate-CNC-amino acid derivatives the alpha-methyl glycoside derivatives 22 and 23 were most active with maximum %ILS values of 277 and 137, respectively, followed by the hemiacetal carbohydrate analogs 13 and 18 with %ILS values of 93 and 149, respectively, and the tetra-O-acetyl derivatives 27 and 28 with %ILS of 110 and 111, respectively. Compounds 7b, 18, 23 and 28 were then tested in vivo against the murine lymphoid leukemia L1210 using the NCI protocol. In this case, the hemiacetal type carbohydrate-CNC-amino analog 18 had the highest activity with a maximum %ILS value of 477 and 4/6 survivors on day 60, followed by 7b (275% ILS), 23 (152% ILS) and 28 (106% ILS). The lipophilicities of all CNC compounds were determined by the partition coefficient using the UV method. A correlation of %ILS values with log P values indicated, in general, an increase in cytotoxicity with a decrease in hydrophilicity for the carbohydrate-CNC-amino acid conjugates 13, 18, 22, 23 and the clinical drugs streptozotocin (1e), chlorozotocin (1f), and cymerin (1g).

In the search for new anticancer drugs. 28. Synthesis and evaluation of highly active aminoxyl labeled amino acid derivatives containing the [N'-(2-chloroethyl)-N'-nitrosoamino]carbonyl group.

The aminoxyl (nitroxyl) labeled (2-chloroethyl)nitrosocarbamoyl (CNC) derivatives of amino acids, i.e., N-[[N'-(2-chloroethyl)-N'-nitrosoamino]carbonyl]-A-(1-oxy-2,2,6,6- tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl)amides, A = glycyl (10a), A = L-alanyl (10b), A = L-valyl (10c), A = L-phenylalanyl (10d), were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their anticancer activities against the murine lymphocytic leukemia P388. Compounds 10a-d possessed activities ranging from 242 to 456% increase in life span (%ILS). All CDF1 male mice treated with the highly active compounds 10b and 10c at 12 mg/kg/day for 9 days were alive after 30 days. Compounds 10a-d were then tested in vivo against the murine lymphoid leukemia L1210. Compounds 10a-d exhibited, on day 60, a %ILS of 496, 663, 663, and 581, respectively. All CDF1 male mice treated with the highly active compounds 10b and 10c at 12 mg/kg/day for 9 days were alive after 60 days. The lipophilicities of compounds 10a-d were determined using the UV method. The %ILS parameters obtained against the P388 and L1210 tumor lines were correlated with the corresponding lipophilicities, and a trend was generally observed toward an increase in cytotoxicity with a concomitant decrease in hydrophobicity.

In the search for new anticancer drugs. XXV: Role of N-nitrosated amadori compounds derived from glucose-amino acid conjugates in cancer promotion or inhibition.

Earlier investigators found that some N-nitrosated Amadori compounds, derived from glucose and amino acid condensation reactions, exhibit mutagenic properties and theorized that these potentially carcinogenic compounds might be formed in the human digestive system. To further investigate these compounds, N-nitrosated Amadori compounds [i.e., N-(1-deoxy-D-fructos-1-yl)-L-N-nitroso-glycine (5a), -threonine (5b), -methionine (5c), -valine (5d), -phenylalanine (5e), and -tryptophan (5f)] were synthesized by modifications of known methods. Acute toxicity tests of 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, and 5f in male Swiss mice produced the following lowest lethal limits of toxicity: 2000, 2000, 4000, 3000, 2000, and 6000 mg/kg, respectively, whereas the highest tolerated doses were 1750, 1500, 3000, 1500, and 5000 mg/kg, respectively. The 50% lethal dose (intraperitoneally) for 5b in mice was approximately 1777 mg/kg. This value is at least three times higher than that for the over-the-counter drug ibuprofen (i.e., 495 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, in mice). Compounds 5b, 5c, 5d, and 5f were evaluated in vitro by the National Cancer Institute primary antitumor screen consisting of 60 cell lines. None of the four compounds caused a significant inhibition of cell growth, even at the maximum dosage of 10(-4) M. Compounds 5a-f were tested in vivo against the lymphocytic leukemia P388, and 5b and 5f were tested against the lymphoid leukemia L1210 in CDF1 male mice following the National Cancer Institute protocol. There were no significant differences in results between the control and drug-treated mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In the search for new anticancer drugs. XXIV: Synthesis and anticancer activity of amino acids and dipeptides containing the 2-chloroethyl- and [N'-(2-chloroethyl)-N'-nitroso]-aminocarbonyl groups.

A series of L,L- (42, 44, 46, and 60) and D,D- (43, 45, 47, and 61) dipeptide derivatives composed of phenylglycine, phenylalanine, homophenylalanine, and valine and containing a 2-chloroethylamino group at the C-terminus and an N'-(2-chloroethyl)-N'-nitroso-aminocarbonyl group at the N-terminus of the dipeptides were prepared. The dipeptide derivatives (42-47, 60, and 61) were first evaluated in vivo for their anticancer activities against the murine lymphocytic leukemia P388. Compounds 42, 44, 46, and 60 possessed activities ranging from 46 to 111 percent increase in life span (%ILS), whereas 43 was marginal (%ILS = 31) and 45, 47, and 61 were inactive. In general, the L,L-series exhibited low to good activity (%ILS = 46-111), whereas the corresponding D, D-series, except for 43 (%ILS = 31), was devoid of activity. The analogously structured monoamino acid derivatives of L-alanine (74), L-phenylalanine (75), and L-aspartic acid (76) exhibited higher activity against P388 than the dipeptide derivatives (i.e., 481, 297, and 481 %ILS, respectively). The more active representatives of dipeptides (i.e., 42, 44, and 60) and the amino acids derivatives 74-76 were then tested in vivo against the murine lymphoid leukemia L1210. Compounds 42, 44, and 60 exhibited either low or marginal activity (i.e., the %ILS values were 46, 31, and 26, respectively). Compounds 74, 75, and 76 possessed low to moderate activity, as evidenced by the %ILS values of 56, 48, and 64, respectively. The %ILS parameters obtained against the P388 and L1210 tumor lines were correlated with the corresponding lipophilicities, and there is a trend towards higher activity with concomitant decrease in hydrophobicity.

Simultaneous measurements of the intra- and extra-cellular oxygen concentration in viable cells.

An EPR method that can measure the intra- and extra-cellular oxygen concentration [O2] simultaneously in vitro has been developed using specially designed nitroxides. In the presence of Fe(CN)6(3-) in the medium, intracellular [O2] is measured by a neutral 15N-nitroxide and extracellular [O2] is measured by a negatively charged 14N-nitroxide, since charged species do not enter cells and the EPR spectrum of a 15N-nitroxide does not overlap with that of a 14N-nitroxide. The method is based in part on the minimal broadening of negatively charged nitroxides by Fe(CN)6(3-) and the very effective broadening of neutral nitroxides by the same paramagnetic ions. Results with this method confirm the existence of gradients in [O2] between the extracellular and intracellular compartments in CHO cells and M5076 tumor cells, even without stimulation of cellular respiration by CCCP. The nature of the barrier that needs to be involved to account for the experimental results raises some significant questions.

A critical evaluation of the present status of toxicity of aminoxyl radicals.

The literature on the toxicity of aminoxyl radicals was critically reviewed. It was concluded that, in general, the aminoxyl radicals possess a very low toxicity and are not mutagenic. In support of this contention, several aminoxyl radicals were evaluated in vitro. Thus, aminoxyl radicals 3-carboxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrroline-1-oxyl (1), 3-carboxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-1-oxyl (PCA; 2), 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (Tempol;3), and N-(1-hydroxymethyl-2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-3-carboxyamino-2,2,5,5- tetramethylpyrrolidine-1-oxyl (NAT; 4) were evaluated using Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA 102 and TA 104, with a supplement of xanthine oxidase enzyme. 1, 2, and 4 were found to be nonmutagenic, while 3 elicited in TA 104 only about a twofold increase in the number of revertants above the control. This response is considered to be, at best, marginal in view of wide fluctuations of experimental scores. The results of the present study are in agreement with those of other studies confirming the nonmutagenicity of aminoxyl radicals investigated to date. However, these conclusions are different from those of a study where 3 was tested in the presence of a generated toxic oxygen species that can cause mutagenic changes of the environment.

In the search for new anticancer drugs. XXIII: Exploration of a predictive design for anticancer drugs of carbohydrates containing N-nitrosochloroethylamino, N-nitrosomethyl, and N-nitrosoaminoxyl components.

The spin-labeled glucose nitrosoureas 13-16, streptozotocin (18), chlorozotocin (31), streptozotocin analogues of galactosyl 24 and mannosyl 28, and their tetra-O-acetyl derivatives 25 and 29, MCNU (Cymerin, 34), and glucamine (21) were synthesized and evaluated in vivo for their anticancer activities against the murine lymphocytic leukemia P388. Compounds 13-16, 18, 24, 28, 31, and 34 possessed activities ranging from 33 to 603% increase in life span (%ILS), whereas 21, 25, and 29 were inactive (%ILS = 9 to 10). All CD2F1 male mice treated with the most active compounds (13, 14, and 34) at 20 mg/kg were alive after 30 days, whereas all mice treated with the clinical drug streptozotocin (18) and clinically tested chlorozotocin (31) succumbed. Compounds 13-16, 18, 31, and 34 were further evaluated for their antineoplastic activity against lymphoid leukemia L1210. Compounds 13 and 34 on day 60 exhibited %ILS values of 557 and 713, respectively, as compared with %ILS values of 646 and 713 for CCNU (1) and the spin-labeled SLCNU (3), respectively. The lipophilicities of 13-16, 18, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 31, and 34 were determined using EPR and/or UV methods. A predictive design pattern was observed, with the most active drug (34) possessing some hydrophobic property (log P = 1.24), followed by 13 (log P = 1.87) and 14 (log P = 1.81) as the more active drugs with higher hydrophobicity than 34. The clinical drugs streptozotocin (18) and chlorozotocin (31) were distinctly hydrophilic and less active. Finally, it was concluded that various scattered results of anticancer activity in the literature can be explained by a linear correlation of activities with lipophilicities.

Chemical and electrochemical reduction rates of cyclic nitroxides (nitroxyls).

The reduction rates of five-membered pyrrolidine and pyrroline, and six-membered piperidine nitroxides (alternatively termed nitroxyls) containing various substituents were determined under homogeneous conditions using ascorbate, and electrochemically under heterogeneous conditions. The results were compared with data from the literature. It was shown that the increased rates of reduction of six-membered nitroxides, compared with those of the five-membered nitroxides, cannot be explained on the basis of differences in electrochemical potentials but, rather, can be ascribed to differences in the accessibility of the nitroxide group. A double bond in the five-membered nitroxyls increases the reduction rate. Within any ring system, the reduction rates of nitroxides using ascorbate can be correlated with the inductive substituent constants. The half-way potentials for electrochemical reduction within a series of nitroxides based on the same ring correlate with logarithms of the rates using ascorbate and with the inductive constants. The potentials for one-electron oxidation of the nitroxides were related to the inductive constants.

Development of nitroxides for selective localization inside cells.

The use of nitroxides to measure intracellular phenomena, especially oxygen concentrations, is a new and potentially important approach to a number of physiological and pathophysiological studies. This study provides data indicating the feasibility of developing nitroxides that localize selectively in the intracellular compartment; it is based on the use of readily hydrolysed ester linkages, such that the nitroxides become converted intracellularly to ionic derivatives that do not cross cell membranes readily. Up to 120-fold increased concentrations of intracellular nitroxides (and their one electron reduction product, the hydroxylamines) were obtained. The ESR spectra of the intracellular nitroxides were consistent with their conversion to the ionic species. Preliminary studies indicate that these nitroxides have the properties needed for their use as probes of intracellular concentrations of oxygen and that it should be feasible to synthesize nitroxides that will be even more effective for this purpose.

Evaluation of spin labeled TEPA and CCNU analogs against osteosarcoma and MNU-induced mammary carcinoma of the SD-rat.

The effectiveness to reduce tumor growth by 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl)- 1-nitrosourea (SLCNU) and N,N,N,'N'- bis(1,2-ethanediyl)-N"-(1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl- 2-piperidinylaminocarbonyl)-phosphoric triamide (SLDU) was studied in osteosarcoma and MNU-induced mammary carcinoma in the SD-rat. Both compounds elicited neither an inhibitory effect on these tumors nor an increase in the mean/median life span as compared to the control group.

Cellular pharmacology of N,N',N''-triethylene thiophosphoramide.

N,N',N''-triethylene thiophosphoramide (Thio-TEPA) is an alkylating agent whose antineoplastic activity has been known for nearly 30 years. Human plasma pharmacokinetic studies revealed the presence of TEPA, a Thio-TEPA metabolite which after 4 h achieved plasma concentrations equal to those of the parent compound. We studied the activity of both Thio-TEPA and TEPA against murine leukemia P388 cells in culture. We found that Thio-TEPA is approximately two-fold more active than TEPA in arresting cell growth (IC50 = 2.8 microM for TEPA and 1.5 microM for Thio-TEPA). In inhibiting [3H]thymidine incorporation, Thio-TEPA and TEPA have the same activity (IC50 = 2 microM for both compounds). Experiments in which drug was removed from cell cultures which were further incubated in drug-free media, revealed that the bulk of the cell damage occurs during the first 4 h of incubation. Cell cultures exposed to 0.5 microM Thio-TEPA for 22 h fully recovered their [3H]thymidine incorporation ability after 24 h of drug-free incubation. Cells exposed to 2.5 microM Thio-TEPA for 22 h partially recovered their ability to incorporate [3H]thymidine. Cells exposed to 10 microM Thio-TEPA for 22 h did not recover their ability to incorporate [3H]thymidine. Gas liquid chromatographic analysis of the media from incubated cells showed that the concentration of Thio-TEPA remained unchanged during the incubations and that TEPA was not present. In Thio-TEPA doses ranging from 0.1 microM to 100 microM, [3H]uridine and [3H]-leucine incorporation were less affected than [3H]thymidine incorporation. This may indicate that a longer observation time may be needed to allow the DNA damage to be expressed in terms of protein or RNA synthesis.

In the search for new anticancer drugs, XXI. Spin labeled nitrosoureas.

The spin labeled nitrosoureas 7a-e and 12 were synthesized and evaluated in vivo for their anticancer activities against the murine lymphocytic leukemia P388. Compounds 7a-c, 7e and 12 possessed activities ranging from 31 to 542 percent increase in life span (%ILS), whereas compound 7d was marginal (%ILS = 21). All CD2F1 male mice treated with the most active compounds (7a and 12) at 35 mg/kg for 9 days were alive after 30 days, whereas all mice treated with the clinical drug CCNU (1c) succumbed. Compounds 7a-e and 12 were further evaluated for their antineoplastic activity against lymphoid leukemia L 1210. Compounds 7a and 12 exhibited, on day 60, a %ILS of 713 and 620, respectively. The lipophilicities of compounds 7a-e and 12 were determined using the EPR and UV methods. Compounds 7a and 12 which differ from CCNU and MeCCNU by the replacement of the cyclohexyl and methylcyclohexyl groups with six and five membered nitroxyl radical moieties were more hydrophilic than the clinical drugs.

In the search for new anticancer drugs. XX: A comparison of the in vitro growth inhibition of P388 cells by TEPA and N,N;N',N'-bis (1,2-ethanediyl)-N''-(1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4- piperidinylaminocarbonyl) phosphoric triamide and congeners.

We tested the in vitro growth inhibitory activity of TEPA, and three analogs against P388 murine lymphocytic leukemia cells in culture. The analogs consist of spin-labeled TEPA and two reduced forms containing the NH and NOH groups instead of the nitroxyl function. Spin label TEPA was obtained by replacing one of the aziridine groups in TEPA with spin-labeled urea. In a concentration range of 10(-6)-10(-5) M, only the reduced analog containing the NH group was active. That is, to achieve a 50% inhibition of cell growth, a five-fold excess in concentration of this analog (IC50 = 10 X 10(-6) M) was needed as compared to the parent compound TEPA (IC50 = 2 X 10(-6) M). These results are in contrast with those obtained in vivo against the same leukemia cell line, indicating inherent discrepancies between in vivo and in vitro evaluation of antitumor agents.

In the search for new anticancer drugs. 19. A predictive design of N,N:N',N':N'',N''-tri-1,2-ethanediylphosphorothioic triamide (TEPA) analogues.

The nitroxyl-labeled analogues of N,N:N',N':N",N"-tri-1,2-ethanediylphosphoric triamide (TEPA), N,N:N',N'-bis(1,2-ethanediyl)-N"-[[(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-oxypiperidi n-4- yl)amino]carbonyl]phosphoric triamide (5a) and N,N:N',N'-bis(1,2-ethanediyl)-N"-[[(2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-oxypyrrolid in-3- yl)amino]carbonyl]phosphoric triamide (11a), possess therapeutic indexes that are 8-12 times higher than those of thio-TEPA (1) and TEPA (2). The introduction of methyl groups into the aziridine ring, or the replacement of the nitroxyl moiety with hydroxylamine or amine derivatives, or with an adamantane moiety, results in compounds of lesser activity. An attempt is made to rationalize these results using a lipophilicity scale. A predictive design pattern is established.

In the search for new anticancer drugs. XVIII. Various mono- and bis-anthraquinone hydrazones containing the N,N;N',N'-bis(1,2-ethanediyl)phosphoric diamide moiety.

The structure-anticancer activity and the activity-lipophilicity relationship of 8 mono- and bis-anthraquinone hydrazones containing the N,N;N',N'-bis(1,2-ethanediyl) phosphoric diamide moiety were evaluated. These compounds were tested in vivo, using murine lymphocytic leukemia P388. Seven of these compounds were active and one was marginal at optimum doses. The highest activity was exhibited by the bis[N,N;N',N'-bis(1,2-ethanediyl)-[N2-(1',4',5',8'-tetrahydroxy anthracenylidene)-N1-methyl hydrazin-1-yl]]-phosphoric triamide, bis[N,N;N',N'-bis(1,2-ethanediyl)-[N2-(1',4'-dihydroxy anthracenylidene)-N1-methylhydrazin-1-yl]]phosphoric triamide and bis-[N,N;N',N'-bis(1,2-ethanediyl)-[N2-(1',4',5',8'-tetrahydroxy anthracenylidene)-N1-phenylhydrazin-1-yl]]phosphoric triamide as is evidenced by their percent T/C of 183, 175 and 172, respectively. The correlation of the anticancer activities of these compounds with their lipophilicities leads to the general hypothesis that the intercalating and alkylating capabilities of a potential drug may play only a secondary role as compared to the selective permeability of the drug through normal and cancerous membranes.

In the search for new anticancer drugs. 17. Linear and cyclic polyether analogues of N,N:N',N':N'',N''-tri-1,2-ethanediylphosphoric triamide and N,N:N',N':N'',N''-tri-1,2-ethanediylphosphorothioic triamide.

Linear and cyclic polyether derivatives of N,N:N',N':N'',N''-tri-1, 2-ethanediylphosphoric triamide (TEPA) and N,N:N',N':N'',N''-tri-1,2-ethanediylphosphorothioic triamide (thio-TEPA) are synthesized and evaluated for their antineoplastic activity against the murine lymphocytic leukemia P388. All compounds, except for 7d, were active ranging from 42% to 287% increase in life span (% ILS). All CD2F1 male mice treated with the most active compound (7a) at 90 mg/kg per day for 9 days were alive after 30 days, whereas all mice treated with the clinical drug thio-TEPA were dead. The % ILS for compound 7a on day 60 was 525. A correlation is presented between the structural features of compounds and their lipophilicities and antineoplastic activities.