Synthesis, antitumour and antimicrobial activities of new peptidyl derivatives containing the 1,3-benzodioxole system

Two series of 5 and 6-substituted 1,3-benzodioxole peptidyl derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as antitumour and antimicrobial agents. The compounds that could be conveniently prepared in a few steps processes from natural safrole have been characterised by IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. In vivo antitumor activity tests showed that some of the compounds were able to inhibit carcinoma S-180 tumour growth in mice. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of all compounds revealed that they are able to promote the growth of some organisms, including Bacillus subtilis.

[Progress in the studies on antitumor natural product ecteinascidin-743]

The alkaloid ecteinascidin-743, isolated from the marine tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata, binds to DNA and induces cytotoxic effects in several tumors. The drug is being codeveloped by Pharma Mar and Ortho Biotech. In May 2001 and October 2003, it was granted orphan drug status by the European Commission for soft tissue sarcoma and ovarian cancer, respectively. This paper reviews its research progress, including chemical synthesis, in vitro studies and mechanism of action, antitumor activity in vivo, toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and clinical studies.

Use of CFU-GM assay for prediction of human maximum tolerated dose of a new antitumoral drug: Yondelis (ET-743)

Acute cytotoxic exposure causes decreases in bone marrow progenitors that precedes the neutrophil nadir. Experiments in animal models reveal a relationship between the reduction in granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (CFU-GM) and the decrease in absolute neutrophil count [Toxicol. Pathol. 21 (1993) 241]. Recently, the prevalidation of a model for predicting acute neutropenia by the CFU-GM assay has been reported [Toxicol. In Vitro 15 (2001) 729]. The model was based on prediction of human MTD by adjusting the animal-derived MTD for the differential sensitivity between CFU-GM from animal species and humans. In this study, this model has been applied on a new antitumoral drug, Yondelis (Ecteinascidin; ET-743). Preclinical studies showed that hematotoxicity was the main side effect in mice, being the MTD of 600 microg/m2 [Drugs Future 21 (1996) 1155]. The sensitivity of myeloid progenitors was higher in mice than in humans, with IC90 values of 0.69+/-0.22 nM and 1.31+/-0.21 nM for murine and human CFU-GMs respectively. This study predicts a human MTD of 1145 microg/m2. The reported human MTD of ET-743 given as a 24-h continuous infusion every 3 weeks is 1800 microg/m2 [J. Clin. Oncol. 19 (2001) 1256]. Since our predicted MTD is within fourfold of the actual MTD (the interspecies variation in tolerated dose due to differences in clearance rates, metabolism pathways and infusion rate) the result confirms the profit of the prediction model.

Insecticidal activity of chemical constituents from Aristolochia pubescens against Anticarsia gemmatalis larvae

Acetone and ethanol extracts of the tubercula and several compounds isolated from Aristolochia pubescens (Willd) were bioassayed on velvetbean caterpillars, Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner), for evaluation of the insecticidal activities. Of the extracts subjected to bioassay, the acetone extract showed the highest activity. (-)-Cubebin did not show activity against soybean caterpillars, whereas aristolochic acid and ent-kaur-15-en-17-ol increased the larval period. These compounds, and (+)-eudesmin and (+)-sesamin, reduced the viability of this period, giving rise to malformed adults. These extracts and compounds are therefore potential botanical insecticide agents for the control of velvetbean caterpillars in soybean crops.

Toxicological efficacy of some indigenous dill compounds against the flesh fly, Parasarcophaga dux Thomson

The effect of the LC50 of the three isolated compounds (apiol, myristicin and d-carvone) from dill, Anethum graveolus on growth and reproduction of Parasarcophaga dux showed that three compounds especially apiol caused significant reduction in the percentage of adults emergence and females fecundity. The temperature toxicity relation shape of the three compounds and five insect growth regulations (methoprene, hydroprene, teflubenzuron, chlorfluazuron and Precocene I) alone or in combination against P. dux was studied and discussed.

Enzyme activity in the flesh fly Parasarcophaga dux Thomson influenced by dill compounds, myristicin and apiol

The newly emerged adults of Parasarcophaga dux were treated topically with various doses of myristicin and apiol isolated from roots of dill plant, Anethum graveolus. The compounds toxicity and the dehydrogenase activities of the treated stage and its subsequent developmental stages were studied. The results indicated that apiol more toxic than myristicin. The spectrophotometric evaluation exhibited changes in dehydrogenase activities after treatments. Compounds increased the activities of both alpha-GPDH and MDH in first half of metamorphosis (immature stages). But, the level of ME activities of the various stages was obviously decreased.

Comparison of four modulators of drug metabolism as protectants against the hepatotoxicity of the novel antitumor drug yondelis (ET-743) in the female rat and in hepatocytes in vitro

PURPOSE

Yondelis (ET-743), a tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from a marine tunicate, is a novel drug with demonstrated anticancer activity in early clinical trials against sarcoma, breast and ovarian carcinoma. Yondelis has myelotoxic and hepatotoxic side effects, the latter reflected by reversible transaminitis and cholangitis. In the female rat pretreatment with high-dose dexamethasone has been shown to abrogate yondelis-mediated hepatotoxicity, an effect tentatively linked to its ability to induce cytochrome P450 CYP3A isoenzymes, which metabolize yondelis. Here we tested the hypothesis that pretreatment of rats with modulators of hepatic drug metabolism, beta-naphthoflavone, phenobarbitone or N-acetylcysteine, protect rat livers against the effects of yondelis.

METHODS

Female rats received yondelis (40 microg/kg intravenously) and liver damage in vivo was assessed in terms of changes in plasma levels of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and by histopathology. In order to investigate yondelis toxicity in vitro, hepatocytes isolated from untreated rats or from rats pretreated with dexamethasone, beta-naphthoflavone or phenobarbitone were maintained in culture and exposed to yondelis.

RESULTS

Pretreatment with beta-naphthoflavone and phenobarbitone ameliorated yondelis-mediated hepatotoxicity in vivo. The former abrogated plasma indicators on day 3, but hardly on day 6, and the latter suppressed elevation of bilirubin, but not of ALP or AST. Pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine did not protect from, but slightly exacerbated, yondelis-induced liver changes. Hepatocytes from naive animals or from pretreated rats did not differ in their susceptibility towards yondelis-induced cytotoxicity in vitro. Nor did inclusion of N-acetylcysteine (1 m M) in the cellular incubation medium affect yondelis-induced hepatocytotoxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that certain inducers of cytochrome P450 enzymes such as dexamethasone and beta-naphthoflavone can protect rat liver against the unwanted effects of yondelis, but such protection cannot be mimicked in in vitro experiments using liver cells in culture.

In vitro toxicity of three new antitumoral drugs (trabectedin, aplidin, and kahalalide F) on hematopoietic progenitors and stem cells

OBJECTIVE

In addition to neutropenias and/or thrombocytopenias as a short-term effect, antineoplastics also can produce long-term effects as a consequence of damage to the hematopoietic stem cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the toxicity of three marine-derived antineoplastics on murine hematopoietic stem cells. These antitumoral compounds currently are being evaluated in patients in phase II (aplidin and kahalalide F) and phase II/III (trabectedin) clinical trials.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Long-term competitive repopulating assays were performed in mice to analyze toxic effects on the hematopoietic stem cells responsible for the multipotential long-term repopulation of hematopoiesis. Furthermore, granulocytic and T- and B-lymphoid lineages were studied, as well as myeloid (CFU-GM) and megakaryocytic (CFU-Meg) progenitors.

RESULTS

When cells were treated in vitro for 24 hours with CFU-GM IC(50) dose of trabectedin (9.59+/-4.96 nM), no significant effects were observed in the stem cells. The dose of trabectedin that produced 90% of inhibition in CFU-GM (IC(90): 23.71+/-1.27 nM) only inhibited 45% survival of stem cells. Doses of aplidin that produced reductions of 50% (56.9+/-13.32 nM) or 90% (195.88+/-21.39 nM) in myeloid progenitors did not show any effect on hematopoietic stem cells. Kahalalide F did not show any toxic effect in either short-term or long-term repopulating cells up to 10 microM.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that the hematopoietic stem cells effects of antitumoral drugs can be properly characterized by the murine competitive repopulating assays. Our results suggest that long-term myelosuppression as a consequence of trabectedin, aplidin, or kahalalide F treatment would not be expected.

Effects of fludioxonil and pyrimethanil, two fungicides used against Botrytis cinerea, on carbohydrate physiology in Vitis vinifera L

In Vitis vinifera L, photosynthesis and photosynthate partitioning are affected in the presence of fludioxonil and pyrimethanil, two fungicides commonly used in vineyards against Botrytis cinerea Pers. However, the effects were found to be different according to the model studied: plantlets (cv Chardonnay) grown in vitro, fruiting cuttings (cv Chardonnay) and plants grown in vineyards (cvs Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Pinot Meunier). In the plantlets grown in vitro, both fungicides decreased gas exchanges, photosynthetic pigment and starch concentrations in the leaves, whereas soluble carbohydrates transiently accumulated, suggesting that plantlets mobilised starch in response to photosynthesis inhibition caused by fungicides. In the fruiting cuttings, the fungicides did not affect photosynthesis, although fludioxonil caused starch decrease in parallel with sucrose accumulation, suggesting that the fungicide effects were of lower intensity than in vitro. Conversely, in vineyard, the two fungicides stimulated photosynthesis and increased pigment concentrations in the three vine cultivars tested. In the meantime, glucose, fructose and starch levels of the leaves declined after fungicide exposure, whereas sucrose accumulated, indicating that sucrose synthesis increased in the leaves following the fungicide treatment. Among the three varieties, Chardonnay was the most sensitive to the fungicides as revealed by the intensity of the responses and the longer period for recovery. In vineyard, the results suggested that the two fungicides, in addition to inhibiting B cinerea development, had a beneficial effect on vine physiology through the stimulation of leaf carbon nutrition, which may further enable the plant to rapidly make use of its defence reactions.

Complete protection by high-dose dexamethasone against the hepatotoxicity of the novel antitumor drug yondelis (ET-743) in the rat

Yondelis (ET-743) is a promising antitumor drug with hepatotoxic properties in animals and humans. Here the hypothesis was tested that dexamethasone can ameliorate manifestations of yondelis-induced hepatotoxicity in the female Wistar rat, which is the animal species with the highest sensitivity toward the adverse hepatic effect of yondelis. Hepatotoxicity was adjudged by measurement of plasma levels of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and bilirubin, and by liver histopathology. Yondelis (40 micro g/kg i.v.) alone caused a dramatic elevation of plasma alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and bilirubin levels, and degeneration and patchy focal necrosis of bile duct epithelial cells. Pretreatment of rats with dexamethasone (5-20 mg/kg, p.o.) 24 h before yondelis ameliorated or abrogated the biochemical and histopathological manifestations of yondelis-induced liver changes. In contrast, when dexamethasone was administered simultaneously with yondelis, its toxicity was not reduced. Pretreatment with dexamethasone (10 mg/kg) also reversed the gene expression changes induced by yondelis in rat liver. However, dexamethasone pretreatment did not interfere with the antitumor efficacy of yondelis in rats bearing the 13762 mammary carcinoma or in four murine models. Dexamethasone (10 mg/kg) administered 24 h before yondelis decreased hepatic levels of yondelis dramatically compared with those obtained after administration of yondelis alone, whereas yondelis plasma levels after the drug combination were not markedly different from those in rats on yondelis alone. The results suggest that pretreatment with high-dose dexamethasone effectively protects rats against yondelis-mediated hepatic damage by decreasing hepatic exposure to yondelis, perhaps linked to induction of metabolism by cytochrome P450 enzymes. Pretreatment with high-dose dexamethasone should be investigated in patients who receive yondelis to ameliorate its unwanted effect on the liver.

Putative homologs of SSK22 MAPKK kinase and PBS2 MAPK kinase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encoded by os-4 and os-5 genes for osmotic sensitivity and fungicide resistance in Neurospora crassa

We cloned and characterized Neurospora NcSSK22 and NcPBS2 genes, similar to yeast SSK22 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase kinase and the PBS2 MAP kinase kinase genes, respectively. Disruptants of the NcSSK22 gene were sensitive to osmotic stress and resistant to iprodione and fludioxonil. Their phenotypes were similar to those of osmotic-sensitive (os) mutants os-1, os-2, os-4, and os-5. The os-4 mutant strain transformed with the wild-type NcSSK22 gene grew on a medium containing 4% NaCl and was sensitive to iprodione and fludioxonil. In contrast, the NcPBS2 gene complemented the osmotic sensitivity and fungicide resistance of the os-5 mutant strain. We sequenced the NcPBS2 gene of the os-5 mutant strain (NM216o) and found five nucleotides deleted within the kinase domain. This result suggests that the gene products of os-4 and os-5 are components of the MAP kinase cascade, which is probably regulated upstream by two-component histidine kinase encoded by the os-1/nik1 gene.

Hepatobiliary damage and changes in hepatic gene expression caused by the antitumor drug ecteinascidin-743 (ET-743) in the female rat

Ecteinascidin-743 (ET-743) is a novel marine-derived anticancer drug with clinical activity in soft tissue sarcoma and ovarian cancer. Reversible transaminitis and subclinical cholangitis have frequently been described in patients who receive ET-743. To facilitate understanding of this adverse effect and help design suitable therapeutic rescue strategies, we characterized the hepatic effects of ET-743 in rats. Female rats received ET-743 (single dose, 40 microg/kg) i.v., and liver changes were assessed from 6 h up to 3 months after dosing by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, hepatic and plasma biochemistry, and DNA microarray analysis. At 24 h posttreatment and beyond, livers displayed degeneration and patchy focal necrosis of bile duct epithelial cells associated with mild inflammation followed by fibrosis. Sporadic and focal zones of hepatic necrosis and hemorrhage were observed from day 2 onward, although the majority of hepatocytes appeared normal as judged by electron microscopy. Pathological alterations persisted up to 3 months after dosing. Plasma levels of total bilirubin were elevated up to 7-fold over those in untreated rats from day 2 onward and returned to control values by day 24. Activities of alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase in plasma were elevated for 2 and 3 months, respectively. Activities of the hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes cytochrome P-450 A1/2, CYP2E1, and CYP3A2 were decreased. DNA microarray analysis of livers from ET-743-treated animals showed a dramatic increase in the expression of ATP binding cassette transport genes Abcb1a and Abcb1b, which impart resistance to anticancer drugs, and of Cdc2a and Ccnd1, the rodent homologues of human cell cycle genes CDC2 and cyclin D1, respectively. The cell cycle gene expression changes mirrored ET-743-induced increases in liver weight and Ki-67 labeling of liver nuclei. The results suggest that the toxicity exerted by ET-743 in the rat liver is a consequence of biliary rather than hepatocellular damage and that it is accompanied by a wave of mitogenic activity, which may be driven by the transcriptional increase in Cdc2a expression.

Synthesis and evaluation of oxodioxolenylmethyl carbamate prodrugs of pseudomycins

With the aim of increasing therapeutic indexes of novel cyclic depsinonapeptide pseudomycins, we synthesized and evaluated a series of mono-, di-, and trioxodioxolenylmethyl carbamate prodrugs (2 and 4) of pseudomycin B 1 and pseudomycin C' 3. It is rather encouraging to note that several members of the newly synthesized prodrugs described herein (e.g., 2a, 2e, and 4e) exhibited comparable in vivo efficacy to that achieved by the parent compounds, yet free of tail vein irritation and histamine induced toxicity in vivo.

Effects of procymidone, fludioxonil and pyrimethanil on two non-target aquatic plants

Procymidone, fludioxonil, and pyrimethanil are widely used to control the pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea in Champagne's vineyards. These fungicides may end up in surface waters and present potential risks for aquatic vascular plants and algae. Therefore, their toxicity was evaluated on Lemna minor and Scenedesmus acutus in six-day or 48-h tests, respectively. Based on growth and chlorophyll (Chl) content of L. minor and S. acutus cultures, the results showed that the alga was the most sensitive to the fungicides. Among the fungicides, pyrimethanil was the most toxic for L. minor, its nominal IC50 was 46.16 mg l(-1) and that of the other two was >100 mg l(-1). In contrast, pyrimethanil appeared the least toxic for S. acutus at low concentration, nominal IC50 were 22.81, 4.85, and 4.55 mg l(-1) for pyrimethanil, fludioxonil, and procymidone, respectively. Fate of the fungicides in the media was also investigated and acute toxicity of the agrochemicals is discussed in regard to concentration in the culture media. Poor solubility of procymidone and fludioxonil appeared to be partly responsible for the low toxicity of these fungicides. Based on these toxicity data and the concentrations found in ponds collecting vineyard runoff water, these pesticides should not impair the establishment of pioneer plants.

Studies on coronary arteriopathy in dogs following administration of CI-1020, an endothelin A receptor antagonist

A selective nonpeptide endothelin A (ETA) receptor antagonist, CI-1020, was administered to beagle dogs intravenously (i.v.) for 4 hours to 4 weeks. One animal/sex received CI-1020 at 1 mg/kg/hr intravenously for 4, 8, or 24 hours to investigate onset of arteriopathy. Control animals (1/sex) received the vehicle only. To determine reversibility of arteriopathy, 8 dogs/sex were given CI-1020 at 1 mg/kg/hr for 4 days. Two dogs/sex were sacrificed 1, 3, 8, and 29 days following cessation of infusion. Lesion development with prolonged exposure was investigated in 1 male dog. It was given CI-1020 by i.v. bolus at 120 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks and Monastral blue dye was administered i.v. to facilitate localization of vascular lesions. Coronary blood flow was determined in 4 dogs infused with CI-1020 at 0.3, 3, and 30 mg/kg for one hour at each dose. Macroscopically, hemorrhage or blue discoloration of Monastral blue was noted in the extramural coronary arteries along the coronary groove and atrium. Histologically, the earliest coronary changes were noted in animals sacrificed after 24 hours of treatment and characterized by medial hemorrhage and necrosis with a few infiltrating neutrophils. In the reversibility study, incidence and severity of arteriopathy was dependent on time of sacrifice following cessation of infusion. Acute necrotizing inflammation of arteries was present in all animals (n = 4) on day 1 postinfusion, whereas on day 8 postinfusion, lesions characterized by medial small pockets of trapped red cells, cell debris, and adventitial thickening were seen in 1 dog/sex. By day 29 postinfusion, coronary arteries were similar to controls. In the dog given daily i.v. bolus injections of CI-1020 for 4 weeks, arterial inflammatory lesions varied from acute to chronic, although most lesions were considered chronic active. Monastral blue pigments were noted in the wall of most arteries with chronic or chronic active lesions. Acute lesions were similar to those noted in day 1 postinfusion of the reversibility study. Medial smooth muscle necrosis and/or fibrosis with mixed inflammatory cell infiltrates characterized chronic or chronic active lesions. Smooth muscle proliferation and migration into the intima were also noted. There were no significant changes in coronary blood flow, coronary vascular resistance, or mean arterial blood pressure following CI-1020 infusion for 3 hours. In the 24-hour infusion study, plasma endothelin 1 (ET-1) levels were mildly elevated (1.5-4 fold) during CI-1020 infusion when compared to either pretest or control values. These results indicate that administration of endothelin antagonist (CI-1020) to dogs was associated with development of coronary arteriopathy, which was completely resolved within 29 days following cessation of treatment. With prolonged (4-week) CI-1020 treatment, arterial lesions at varying stages of development (acute, chronic active, chronic) were seen, suggesting that tolerance to treatment (up to 4 weeks) does not occur.

Inhalation toxicity of Dioxole and Dioxolane compounds in the rat

Four chemicals (Dioxole 418, Dioxolane 418, Dioxolane 416 and Dioxolane 456) which are used as stabilizers in highresolution image were tested or both their acute and repeated inhalation toxicity in the rat using nose-only exposures. Acute studies determined the lethal concentrations following a single 4-hour exposure; repeated exposure inhalation studies determined the potency and target tissue(s) following 6-hour/day exposures, 5 days/week for 2 weeks. Each of the chemicals was at least mildly toxic acutely with approximate lethal concentrations of > 1,500 ppm for Dioxole 418, 1,300 ppm for Dioxolane 418, 1,700 ppm for Dioxolane 416, and 4,300 ppm for Dioxolane 456. No specific unusual clinical signs of response were seen in the rats exposed acutely. Repeated exposures with Dioxole 418 and Dioxolane 418 resulted in no evidence of toxicity with NOAEL's being 440 and 500 ppm respectively (the highest concentrations tested). Repeated exposures to 250 ppm Dioxolane 456 were not tolerated with mortalities observed after exposure. Severe bone marrow hypoplasia along with reductions in platelet and neutrophil counts were observed at this concentration with less severe hemopoietic changes seen also at 10 and 51 ppm. The no-effect level for Dioxolane 456 was determined to be 10 ppm in female rats and I ppm in males. The same hemopoietic effects were seen with Dioxolane 416 at exposures of 53 ppm or greater in males but not in females exposed to 53 ppm Dioxolane 416. Hepatocellular hypertrophy and depression of serum alkaline phosphatase activity were seen in male rats exposed to 500 but not 53 ppm Dioxolane 416. Testicular degeneration was also seen in rats exposed to 500 ppm Dioxolane 416. The NOAEL was 5 ppm for the chemical.

Constituents and cytotoxicity of Zanthoxylum rhesta stem bark

3,5-Dimethoxy-4-geranyloxycinnamyl alcohol (1), 8-methoxy-N-methylflindersine (2), xanthyletin and sesamin have been isolated from petroleum ether extract of the stem bark of Zanthoxylum rhesta. The petroleum ether extract and 8-methoxy-N-methylflindersine showed cytotoxicity on brine shrimp nauplii.

Coronary arterial lesions induced by endothelin antagonists

Endothelins are potent vasoconstrictors and pressor peptides and are important mediators of cardiac, renal and endocrine functions. Increased ET-1 levels in disease states such as congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, and renal failure suggest the endothelin system as an attractive target for pharmacotherapy. A non-peptidic, selective, competitive endothelin receptor antagonist with an affinity for the ET(A) receptor in the subnanomolar range was administered by continuous intravenous infusion to beagle dogs, rats, and Goettingen minipigs. It caused mild arteriopathy characterised by segmental degeneration in the media of mid- to large-size coronary arteries in the heart of dog, but not rat or minipig. The lesions only occurred in the atrium and ventricle. Frequency and severity of the vascular lesions was not sex or dose related. No effects were noted in blood vessels in other organs or tissue. Plasma concentrations at steady state, and overall exposure in terms of AUC((0-24h)) were higher in minipig and rat than the dog but did not cause cardiac arteriopathy. These findings concur with those caused by other endothelin anatagonists, vasodilators and positive inotropic/vasodilating drugs such as potassium channel openers, phosphodiesterase inhibitors and peripheral vasodilators, and confirm that dogs appear to be uniquely sensitive to the development of cardiac vascular lesions.

Synergistic interactions between ampakines and antipsychotic drugs

Tests were made for interactions between antipsychotic drugs and compounds that enhance synaptic currents mediated by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid-type glutamate receptors ("ampakines"). Typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs decreased methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity in rats; the effects of near or even subthreshold doses of the antipsychotics were greatly enhanced by the ampakines. Interactions between the ampakine CX516 and low doses of different antipsychotics were generally additive and often synergistic. The ampakine did not exacerbate neuroleptic-induced catalepsy, indicating that the interaction between the different pharmacological classes was selective. These results suggest that positive modulators of cortical glutamatergic systems may be useful adjuncts in treating schizophrenia.

Phthalascidin, a synthetic antitumor agent with potency and mode of action comparable to ecteinascidin 743

A series of totally synthetic molecules that are structurally related to the marine natural product ecteinascidin 743 (Et 743) has been prepared and evaluated as antitumor agents. The most active of these, phthalascidin, is very similar to Et 743 with regard to in vitro potency and mode of action across a variety of cell types. The antiproliferative activity of phthalascidin (IC50 = 0.1-1 nM) is greater than that of the agents Taxol, camptothecin, adriamycin, mitomycin C, cisplatin, bleomycin, and etoposide by 1-3 orders of magnitude, and the mechanism of action is clearly different from these currently used drugs. Phthalascidin and Et 743 induce DNA-protein cross-linking and, although they seem to interact with topoisomerase (topo) I (but not topo II), topo I may not be the primary protein target of these agents. Phthalascidin and Et 743 show undiminished potency in camptothecin- and etoposide-resistant cells. Phthalascidin is more readily synthesized and more stable than Et 743, which is currently undergoing clinical trials. The relationship of chemical structure and antitumor activity for this class of molecules has been clarified by this study.

In vitro schedule-dependency of myelotoxicity and cytotoxicity of Ecteinascidin 743 (ET-743)

BACKGROUND

Ecteinascidin (ET-743) is a marine derived compound with an interesting preclinical profile currently completing phase I clinical trials. The present study was undertaken to compare the toxicity of different schedules of ET-743 against human hemopoietic progenitors and tumour cell lines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human hemopoietic progenitors and solid tumour cell lines were incubated with ET-743 for one hour, 24 hours and one hour daily for five consecutive days to define by comparison an 'in vitro therapeutic index'. Additional experiments were set up to assess whether incubation for 24 hours or five days could change either the sensitivity of cells or the activity of ET-743.

RESULTS

Prolonged or repeated exposures were more toxic than a single one hour exposure (P < 0.001), but due to the higher sensitivity to prolonged exposure of several tumor cell lines, prolonged treatment yielded a more favorable in vitro therapeutic index. After incubation for 24 hours, ET-743 showed a significantly (P < 0.01) lower inhibiting capacity. Incubation before treatment rendered progenitors more resistant, but incubation after treatment increased their sensitivity, so that overall the toxicity of ET-743 on hemopoietic cells appears to be close to AUC dependency.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the possible effect of some experimental artefacts, prolonged exposure could represent the best schedule of administration of ET-743.

In vitro toxicity of zamifenacin (UK-76,654) and metabolites in primary hepatocyte cultures

1. We compared the sensitivities of primary hepatocytes from rat, dog and monkey to zamifenacin and two major metabolites, the methylenedioxy ring-opened catechol, UK-80,178 and its methylated product, UK-82,201. Toxicity was determined both via neutral red uptake and enzyme leakage data. 2. Canine hepatocytes were most sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of zamifenacin during 24-h exposure. Significant decreases in medium concentrations of zamifenacin in the presence of primary hepatocytes verified cellular uptake during the initial 2-h incubation. All three cell types were much more sensitive to UK-82,201 than to the catechol metabolite or parent drug. 3. The rapid onset of cytotoxicity indicated by elevations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and other markers in the medium after UK-82,201 exposure, the delayed but substantial cytotoxic response to the parent drug which was suggestive of biotransformation to a reactive moiety, in vivo and in vitro drug metabolism results and subacute toxicology data suggest that dog may more effectively transform zamifenacin into UK-82,201, which is relatively hepatotoxic. 4. Because the catechol was generally less toxic than the O-methylated product, species that eliminate zamifenacin primarily as the catechol or its conjugate may be less affected by the potential hepatotoxicity of the methylated product. Our studies show that dog is the most sensitive species due to metabolism of the common catechol metabolite. The low incidence of potential hepatotoxicity in the clinic points to rare but important differences in the metabolism of Zamifencin. We conclude that the findings in dog were not predictive of subsequent effects in man.

AMPA receptor activation potentiated by the AMPA modulator 1-BCP is toxic to cultured rat hippocampal neurons

The benzoylpiperidine 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylcarbonyl)-piperidine (1-BCP), and related compounds, potentiate alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole proprionic acidergic (AMPAergic) synaptic currents in central neurons, and improve performance of rodents and humans on learning and memory tasks. Their physiological actions are similar but not identical to thiazides, which also enhance AMPAergic synaptic responses and improve performance of rats in water-maze and passive-avoidance tests. Thiazides also dramatically increase AMPA receptor-mediated neuronal death in vitro and in vivo. Here it was evaluated whether 1-BCP potentiated AMPA receptor-mediated excitotoxicity in hippocampal neuron cultures. Glutamate + MK 801 (to block NMDA receptors) + 1 mM 1-BCP produced neuronal death that was reversed by 10 microM 2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(F)quinoxaline (NBQX), a selective AMPA receptor antagonist. 1-BCP and drugs with similar activities can facilitate AMPA receptor-mediated excitotoxicity.

Pharmacology of L-744,453, a novel nonpeptidyl endothelin antagonist

L-744,453 ((+/-)3-[4-(1-carboxy-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)methoxy)-3,5-diprop ylphenyl methyl]-3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine) is an endothelin (ET) receptor antagonist from a new structural class, the dipropyl-alpha-phenoxyphenylacetic acid derivatives. L-744,453 competitively and reversibly inhibits [125I]-ET-1 binding to Chinese Hamster Ovary cells expressing cloned human ET receptors (K(i)s: hET(A)=4.3 nM; hET(B)=232 nM), and is selective for endothelin receptors compared to other peptide receptors. It is an antagonist of ET-1 stimulated phosphatidyl inositol hydrolysis in rat uterine slices (IC50=220 nM) and exhibits no agonist activity. This compound also inhibits ET-1 stimulated contraction of rat aortic rings with a K(b) value of 50 nM. L-744,453 protects against ET-1 induced lethality in mice after i.v. (AD50=13 mg/kg i.v.) or oral administration. This compound also antagonizes ET-1 induced increases in diastolic blood pressure in conscious normotensive rats (AD50=0.67 mg/kg i.v.) and anesthetized ferrets (AD50=1.6 mg/kg i.v.). L-744,453 is a potent, selective, orally active endothelin antagonist which may be useful in elucidating the role of endothelin in normal and pathophysiological states.

A comparison of DNA adduct formation in white blood cells and internal organs of mice exposed to benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[c,g]carbazole, safrole and cigarette smoke condensate

Measurement of tissue/cell DNA adducts represents a suitable monitor of carcinogen exposure because the majority of chemical mutagens/carcinogens react with DNA, forming covalent adducts, a key event in the initiation of chemical carcinogenesis. Investigations of DNA-adduct formation in vivo in white blood cells (WBC) versus target tissues, i.e. internal organs for most carcinogens, is expected to yield useful information about the suitability of WBC for biomonitoring and risk assessment. For this purpose, female ICR mice were given 0.4 mmole/kg benzo[a]pyrene (BP), 0.045 mmole/kg dibenzo[c,g]carbazole (DBC) or 2.47 mmole/kg safrole by oral gavage or 4 daily doses (equivalent to 3 cigarettes) of cigarette-smoke condensate (CSC) by topical application. At 24 h after dosing, DNA adducts were detected by a nuclease P1-enhanced 32P-postlabeling assay [M.V. Reddy and K. Randerath, Carcinogenesis, 7 (1986) 1543] in WBC and internal tissues treated with individual carcinogens, while CSC treatment elicited aromatic adducts in most tissues but not in WBC. Adduct patterns of WBC DNA were qualitatively similar to those of internal organs, but adduct amounts varied. BP, a systemic carcinogen, bound nearly as much to WBC DNA as to target-tissue DNA samples; whereas the liver carcinogens, DBC and safrole, bound to WBC DNA considerably less (22- and 51-fold, respectively) compared with liver DNA. The number of adducts in 10(7) nucleotides of WBC, liver, lung, kidney and spleen DNA, respectively, were: 2, 5, 3, 2 and 3 with BP; 6, 131, 6, 14 and 4 with DBC; 5, 238, 3, 5 and 0.6 with safrole. For CSC, these values were 0, 1 and 0.02 in WBC, lung and spleen, respectively. Our results show that carcinogen binding to WBC DNA does not reflect binding to target-tissue DNA in a quantitative sense for the carcinogens studied except for BP, and that WBC are not suitable surrogates for monitoring CSC exposure by DNA-adduct measurement after topical application. The CSC data in mice was consistent with the previous findings in humans that smokers' tissues but not WBC show smoking-related bulky/aromatic DNA adducts, as measured by 32P-postlabeling.