Antitumor activity group 12

Several semisynthetic maytansinoids have been prepared by acylating the C-3 hydroxyl group of maytansinol. Some of these derivatives have antiprotozoal and antitumor activity similat to maytansine (104) and ansamitocin P-3 (127) (52,254). 3-Epimaytansinoids have been synthesized and were not biologically active (255). 

The antitumor activity of geldanamycin and its derivatives appears to result from inhibition of DNA synthesis whereas RNA synthesis is not affected (261). The antitumor activity of the maytansinoids also appears to result from the inhibition of DNA synthesis. The mechanism of action of maytansine (104) has been hypothesized to be the acid catalyzed loss of water from the C-9 hydroxyl group of the carbinolamide to form a reactive acyl imine intermediate, which reacts rapidly with nucleophiles on the bases of DNA (262). 

Steroid Antibiotics. The steroid antibiotics are a stmcturaHy diverse class of steroids that have a common biological function, ie, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, or antitumor activities. This group of compounds can overlap with other steroid classes Hsted above. Eusidic acid [6990-06-3] (67), helvohc acid [29400-42-8] (68), and cephalosporin [13258-72-5] (69) exemplify a set of antibacterial steroids that contain a prolanostane skeleton with an... 

The tightly bound chromophore could be extracted from the protein with methanol [186], and the major component of the extract was determined to have the enediyne structure 116 (Figure 11.21), related to chromophores of other chromoprotein antitumor agents such as neocarzinostatin. Additional minor components were extracted, variously containing an OH group instead of OMe attached to the enediyne core, with Cl instead of OMe when chloride was present in the buffer salt, or with OEt instead of OMe when ethanol was used for the extraction. Another byproduct was isolated in the form of structure 117, consistent with a facile cy-doaromatization reaction as observed for all other enediyne antibiotics. Surprisingly, 117 also displayed antibiotic and antitumor activity, perhaps due to alkylation of DNA or protein by the aziridine. The interpretation of these results was that 116 and the other enediyne byproducts were merely artifacts of the extraction procedure and that the true structure of the maduropeptin chromophore is the aziridine 118. 

According to a hypothesis launched by Larionov et al in the 1960s, some new nitrogen mustard derivatives were developed. They contain metabolites and heterocyclic structures as carriers of the cytotoxic chloroethylamine groups. By this way the synthesis of aliylating metabolites started melphalan (sarcolysine) as L- or DL-phenylalanine derivative prospidine with a tricyclic piperazine moiety and chlorambucil as butyric acid derivative. It was proven that each alkylating metabolite has its own spectrum of selective antitumor activity. 

Bis(dicyclohexylammonium) bis(2,6-pyridinedicarboxylato)dibutylstannate is concluded to have sevenfold coordination at the Sn on the basis of its Sn CP/ MAS NMR chemical shift ((5 = —424.9 ppm). The assignment has been corroborated by crystal structure determination of its monohydrate, in which the Sn atom has frflMS-C2SnN04 PBP geometry (Sn-C = 204.0,206.7pm, C-Sn-C = 168.9°). One 2,6-pyiidinedicarboxylato group chelates to the Sn atom (Sn-O = 223.4,226.0 pm Sn-N = 227.9 pm), whereas the other binds through only one carboxyl end (Sn-O = 241.6, 244.1pm). The anhydrous compound displays higher in vitro antitumor activity than those of cisplatin and carboplatin (Table 7). ... 

When the antitumor activity of cisplatin was discovered, several research groups started to investigate the possible therapeutic applications of other metal-based, often organometallic, compounds. The organotin(lV) compounds that were first tested were those that were available or easily synthesized, like tri- or diorganotin(rV) halides. 

FIGURE 8 Antitumor activity of free DXR and DXR entrapped in different liposome types in solid IgM immunocytoraa-bearing Lou/M Wsl rats. 2 mg DXR/kg body weight was injected i.v. daily for 5 days (0-4) followed by one additional injection at day 11 after start of therapy. Results obtained during the first 21 days after start of treatment are shown. Treatment groups consisted of 10 animals. 

The Chilkoti group applied the local injection approach for intratumoral dmg delivery. ELP[V-120], with a transition at 27°C, was designed and labeled with C, 1 or 1 for radiotherapy. The first two labels were used to monitor tumor retention of the ELP and the last label was addressed to equip the ELP with antitumor activity. It was found that mice treated with 1-labeled ELP[V-120] experienced a significantly prolonged survival over those treated with saline [97]. 

Figure 15. Schematic structure of [PtCl2(bmic)2], an antitumor active Pt compound lacking the NH group.

The conversion of the monofunctional adducts into bifunctional lesions depends drastically on the structure of the Pt drug. Obviously, Pt compounds exhibiting trans geometry form different bisadducts than cisplatin and hence, a different spectrum of antitumor activity is expected. Mechanistically, the formation and possible isomerization of bisadducts are not well understood. The assumption that hydrolysis of the second leaving group controls the formation of bisadduct may be an oversimplification. Studies with model compounds as well as with oligonucleotides have indicated that a certain nucleobase may be a powerful nucleophile toward Pt(II) if spatially in a correct position. Unfortunately, our knowledge on these interactions is at present very limited. 

---