Synthesis and antitumor activity of 4'-O-acylanthracyclines

4'-O-Acyl derivatives of doxorubicin, daunorubicin, 13-deoxocarminomycin, 13-deoxo-10-hydroxycarminomycin, 13-deoxo-11-deoxycarminomycin were synthesized through the formation and mild acid hydrolysis of 2-oxazoline intermediates. The antitumor activity of these 4'-O-acyl derivatives against P388 leukemia was similar to or more effective than the parent anthracyclines.

Ascorbic acid and adriamycin toxicity

Adriamycin (ADR) is effective against a wide range of human neoplasms. However, its clinical use is compromised by serious cardiac toxicity, possibly through induction of peroxidation in cardiac lipids. Ascorbic acid, a potent antioxidant, was examined for effect in reducing ADR toxicity in mice and guinea pigs. Ascorbic acid had no effect on the antitumor activity of ADR in mice inoculated with leukemia L1210 or Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, but it significantly prolonged the life of animals treated with ADR. ADR elevated lipid peroxide levels in mouse heart, and ascorbic acid prevented the elevation. The significant prevention of ADR-induced cardiomyopathy in guinea pigs by ascorbic acid was proved by electron microscopy. Ascorbic acid and the derivatives may delay general toxicity of ADR and also prevent the cardiac toxicity. The results also suggest the clinical efficacy of the combined treatment of ADR and ascorbic acid or the derivatives.

Synthesis of 3'-deoxy-3'-fluorokanamycin A and 3',4'-dideoxy-3'-fluorokanamycin A

3'-Deoxy-3'-fluorokanamycin A (14) has been prepared by condensation of 6-azido-2,4-di-O-benzyl-3,6-dideoxy-3-fluoro-alpha-D-glucopyranlsyl++ + bromide (8) and 6-O-(2-O-acetyl-4,6-O-cyclohexylidene-3-deoxy- 3-tosylamino-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-2-deoxy-1,3-di-N-tosylstre ptamine (10). Compound 8 was obtained from 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-glucofuranose in seven steps. 3',4'-Dideoxy-3'-fluorokanamycin A (22) has been prepared from 12 through selective 4'-chlorodeoxygenation, a key reaction. Both 14 and 22 were more active than 3'-deoxykanamycin A against both sensitive and resistant bacteria.

Post-ischaemic treatment with the prostacycline analogue TTC-909 reduces ischaemic brain injury

The effects of stable PGI analogue TTC-909 on CBF and glucose metabolism was studied in the chronic stage of cerebral ischaemia produced by occluding the distal MCA in SHRSP. Administration of TTC-909 (100 ng/kg/day during 7 days) prevented the development of ischaemic oedema and improved secondary metabolic derangement coupled to flow in postischaemic tissues, particularly in the ischaemic rim.

Local cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism in hydrostatic brain oedema

Two hydrostatic factors such as acute hypertension and decompressive craniectomy were chosen and assessment was focused on how the hydrostatic pressure gradient altered the cerebrovascular dynamics and metabolism during the process of development of brain oedema. Hydrostatic oedema was induced by bolus injection of autologous blood through the common carotid artery in Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were divided into two groups, one with craniectomy (Cr+) and the other without craniectomy (Cr-). Animals were sacrificed immediately, 24 and 48 h after the hypertensive insult. Brain water content was determined by the gravimetric method. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and glucose metabolism (1CGU) were measured by quantitative autoradiographic methods using 14C-iodoantipyrine and 14C-deoxyglucose, respectively. The hypertensive insult produced multifocal lesions stained by Evans blue. In the brains of the Cr- group, there was a transient increase in water content and no significant change of rCBF and 1CGU. In the Cr+ group, the increase in water content was pronounced and continued until 48 h later. In addition, misery perfusion was observed at 24 h after the insult and both rCBF and 1CGU were significantly decreased after 48 h. These results indicate that the increased hydrostatic pressure gradient enhances tissue damage and causes the reopening of blood-brain barrier.

Mannostatins A and B: new inhibitors of alpha-D-mannosidase, produced by Streptoverticillium verticillus var. quintum ME3-AG3: taxonomy, production, isolation, physico-chemical properties and biological activities

Mannostatins have been isolated as part of a program designed to find microorganism-produced inhibitors of alpha-D-mannosidase from Streptoverticillium verticillus var. quintum. They were purified by sequential use of active carbon and Dowex resins and then isolated as colorless powders. Mannostatins A and B have the molecular formula, C6H13NO3S and C6H13NO4S, respectively. They were competitive with the substrate, and the inhibition constants (Ki) of mannostatins A and B were 4.8 x 10(-8) M.

Changes in relationship between blood glucose level and plasma 1,5-anhydroglucitol level in KK mice

We compared the relationship of the blood glucose level to the plasma 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5AG) level between KK mice with abnormal glucose metabolism and ICR mice as controls. Although the plasma 1,5AG level did not show any significant correlation with the blood glucose level in the controls, it tended to logarithmically decrease with the rise in the blood glucose level in KK mice. Thus it is possible that the plasma 1,5AG level is specifically related to the abnormal glucose metabolism in this model of diabetes mellitus and that its routine examination in diabetic patients may help delineate the metabolic derangement in the disease.

Multiple enzymes related to differentiation of lymphocyte subpopulations in man

We studied the relation of various enzymes to subpopulations of lymphocytes in man. T cell-rich fractions were separated with a nylon column from mononuclear cells in the buffy coat. Comparing the enzymatic profiles of the two fractions, we found that the difference between the two groups came from the dominancy of B cells and/or macrophages in the former fraction, and from that of T cells in the latter. The enzymes characterizing T cells included N-Ac-beta-D-glucosaminidase (GlcNAc-ase), prolyl endopeptidase (Post-Pro-Enz), and dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV (DAP-IV), whereas those characterizing B cells and/or macrophages include poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase, leucine aminopeptidase (Leu-AP), AP-B, cathepsin B, sialidase, and AP-A. Inhibitors of these enzymes may lead to modification of the function of T and B cells.

The differentiation-promoting potential of a cytostatic fluoro-pyranosyl adriamycin analog (FAD 104)

Acute toxicity to the hematopoietic cell renewal system is a critical side effect of most anticancer agents. Here we compared the effects of FAD-104 to those of the parent compound adriamycin (ADM) and of epi-adriamycin (epi-ADM) on the growth and differentiation of normal as well as leukemic human myeloid progenitor cells. FAD-104 was less toxic to myeloid colony-forming cells (GM-CFU) than ADM or epi-ADM. In addition, FAD-104 but not ADM induced a clonal down-grading in both normal and leukemic blast cells, and it stimulated the terminal differentiation of myeloid leukemia cells. Therefore, FAD-104 may be useful in the treatment of some forms of myeloid leukemia.

Benadrostin, new inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase, produced by actinomycetes. II. Structure determination

Benadrostin, a new inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase, has been isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces flavovirens MH499-O'F1. The structure of benadrostin was defined as 8-hydroxy-2H-1,3-benzoxazine-2,4-dione by an analysis of spectral properties and chemical studies of benadrostin and its derivatives.

Benadrostin, new inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase, produced by actinomycetes. I. Taxonomy, production, isolation, physico-chemical properties and biological activities

Benadrostin, a new inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase was discovered in the fermentation broth of Streptomyces flavovirens MH499-O'F1. It was purified by chromatography followed by solvent extraction and then isolated as colorless prisms. Benadrostin has the molecular formula of C8H5NO4. It was competitive with the substrate, and the inhibition constant (Ki) was 34 microM.

Strong binding of ditrisarubicin B to DNA

DNA binding characteristics of ditrisarubicin B were studied by the fluorescence titration technique. Ditrisarubicin B bound to calf thymus DNA with an affinity higher than any we have ever seen among anthracyclines. The apparent association constant (Kapp) of ditrisarubicin B was 2.36 X 10(8) M-1, which is 22.7 times larger than that of doxorubicin. The apparent number of binding sites (napp) of ditrisarubicin B per nucleotide of DNA was 0.164, and this value is identical with that of doxorubicin. Betaclamycin A, which has a trisaccharide chain at C-7 but no carbohydrate at C-10 in the aglycone, interacted with DNA to give a Kapp of 5.92 X 10(6) M-1 and napp of 0.178. These results suggest to us that the high affinity of ditrisarubicin B for DNA is caused by the existence of a glycosidic chain at C-10.

Antitumor activity of new morpholino anthracyclines

Antitumor activity of 3'-deamino-3'-morpholino anthracyclines was examined. Morpholino derivatives of 13-deoxocarminomycins, MX2 (1), MX (2) and MY5 (3) shown in Fig. 1, administered iv showed increase in life span (ILS) values over 110% against ip-inoculated P388 leukemia. The ranges of effective doses of these compounds were broader than those of their parent drugs. The morpholino derivatives of doxorubicin and carminomycin, however, were not so effective as their parent drugs. Among these compounds, MX2 administered orally showed nearly the same effects as those obtained by iv administration against P388 leukemia. MX2 administered iv showed 89% ILS against intracerebrally-inoculated L1210 leukemia. The highly lipophilic nature of MX2 could contribute partly to achieving chemotherapeutic responses against intracerebrally-inoculated tumors or by oral administration.