Synthesis and antimitotic activity of novel 2-methoxyestradiol analogs. Part III.

The syntheses and antimitotic activity of several novel analogs of 2-methoxyestradiol are described. Structural modifications include ring-D homologation, aromatization of the six-membered ring-D to a chrysine type molecule, and introduction of unsaturation in five-membered ring-D along with substitution of alkyl and ethynyl groups for the 17beta-hydroxy function. Of nine analogs synthesized, five have demonstrated superior antiproliferative activities compared to 2-methoxyestradiol.

Synthesis and antimitotic activity of novel 2-methoxyestradiol analogs--Part II.

The syntheses and antimitotic activity of several novel 18a-homo-analogs of 2-methoxyestradiol are described. Structural modifications of the parent 2-methoxy-18a-homoestradiol include introduction of unsaturation in the D-ring and methylation of the 17-OH. Of seven analogs synthesized, one has demonstrated superior biological activities compared to 2-methoxyestradiol. The relationship between biological activity and the conformational preference of the 13-ethyl group as determined by computational analysis is discussed.

Novel 2-methoxyestradiol analogues with antitumor activity.

2-Methoxyestradiol (2-ME2) is a natural estrogen metabolite that, while devoid of estrogenic effects, has both antiangiogenic and antitumor effects. 2-ME2 is currently being evaluated in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of multiple types of cancer. Novel analogues of 2-ME2 were tested for activities that predict antiangiogenic and antitumor effects. Selected analogues were tested for inhibitory activity against endothelial cell proliferation and invasion. The results show that these analogues are effective inhibitors of endothelial cell activities that may predict antiangiogenic activity, and one analogue, 2-methoxy-14-dehydroestradiol (14-dehydro-2-ME2), was 6-15-fold more potent than the parental compound in these assays. The analogues were also evaluated for inhibition of proliferation and cytotoxicity against multiple tumor cell lines and found to be potent and effective. 14-Dehydro-2-ME2 was approximately 15-fold more potent than 2-ME2 against various tumor cell lines, and 2-methoxy-15-dehydroestradiol was particularly effective against DU 145 and PC3 prostate cancer cell lines. In vivo antitumor activity was observed for the three analogues tested in the murine xenograft MDA-MB-435 model; however, 2-ME2 provided no antitumor activity in this trial. The two most effective analogues, 14-dehydro-2-ME2 and 2-methoxyestradiol-15 alpha,16 alpha-acetonide, provided 29.4% and 26.7% inhibition of tumor burden, respectively. Mechanism of action studies indicate that the analogues cause mitotic spindle disruption, mitotic arrest, microtubule depolymerization, and inhibition of the assembly of purified tubulin similar to the effects of 2-ME2. Consistent with antimitotics that inhibit the dynamic instability of tubulin and initiate apoptosis, these novel 2-ME2 analogues cause Bcl-2 phosphorylation and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways.

A new, practical synthesis of 2-methoxyestradiols.

An efficient and practical approach to synthesize moderate to large amounts of 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME2) is described. The key step in the synthesis is the regioselective introduction of an acetyl group at the C-2 position of estradiol using a zirconium tetrachloride mediated Fries rearrangement carried out on estradiol diacetate. The seven step synthetic procedure readily gave 2-ME2 in 49% overall yield. Application of this method to the synthesis of 2-methoxy-7 alpha-methylestradiol is also described.

Synthesis and antimitotic activity of novel 2-methoxyestradiol analogs.

The syntheses and antimitotic activity of several novel 2-methoxyestradiol analogs are described. Structural modifications investigated include introduction of additional unsaturation in rings B and D; inversion at C-13; and substitution at the C-2, C-15, C-16, and C-7 alpha positions. Of 15 analogs synthesized, 2 have demonstrated superior biological activities compared to 2-methoxyestradiol.

A highly specific heterologous enzyme immunoassay for 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol 17-glucuronide (androstanediol-17G) and developmental patterns of urinary androstanediol-17G excretions.

We established a highly specific enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol 17-glucuronide (androstanediol-17G). Rabbit antisera raised against 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 11 alpha, 17 beta-triol 17-glucuronide 11-glutaryl bovine serum albumin and a heterologous tracer of androstanediol-17G conjugated with horseradish peroxidase at the glucuronic acid group were used. The EIA showed excellent specificity: there were no remarkable cross-reactivities with related androgens. The assay range for urine samples was 0.3-30 ng/ml. Recoveries of standards added to samples were 100-108%. Intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 2.9-4.4% and 5.7-7.9%, respectively. The EIA was applied to urine samples of 407 males and 322 females to determine developmental patterns and normal ranges of androstanediol-17G excretions in 11 age groups (0 y, 1 y, 2-3 y, 4-5 y, 6-7 y, 8-9 y, 10-11 y, 12-13 y, 14-15 y, 16-17 y, and over 18 y). Urinary androstanediol-17G/creatinine (androstanediol-17G/Cre) ratios in both sexes were high in infancy, tended to decrease during childhood, and began to increase near adolescence. While androstanediol-17G/Cre ratio in girls increased at 8-9 y and reached a plateau during adolescence, that in boys increased at 10-11 y and continued to increase throughout adolescence. Androstanediol-17G/Cre ratios in girls were higher than those in boys at 6-7 y (P < 0.05) and at 8-9 y (P < 0.01). Androstanediol-17G/Cre ratios in boys were higher than those in girls at 12-13 y and at older ages (P < 0.01). These developmental patterns are parallel to age-related changes in androgenicity and serum androstanediol-17G, suggesting that urinary androstanediol-17G/Cre ratio could be a good marker for androgenicity in childhood.