1-(2,6-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylethanes--new biological response modifiers for the therapy of breast cancer. Synthesis and evaluation of estrogenic/antiestrogenic properties

Research Progress on Bioactive Metal Complexes against ER-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women and represents a serious disease that is harmful to life and health. In 1977, with the approval of tamoxifen, endocrine therapy has become the main clinical treatment for ER-positive (ER+) breast cancer. Although patients initially respond well to endocrine therapies, drug resistance often emerges and side effects can be challenging. To overcome drug resistance, the exploration for new drugs is a priority. Metal complexes have demonstrated significant antitumor activities, and platinum complexes are widely used in the clinic against various cancers, including breast cancer. In this Perspective, the first section describes the classification and mechanism of endocrine therapy drugs for ER+ breast cancer, and the second section summarizes research since 2000 into metal complexes with activity toward ER+ breast cancer. Finally, we discuss the opportunities, challenges, and future directions for metal complexes in the treatment of ER+ breast cancer.

4-Phenylpyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole-1,3(2H,6H)-dione inhibitors of the checkpoint kinase Wee1. Structure-activity relationships for chromophore modification and phenyl ring substitution

High-throughput screening has identified a novel class of inhibitors of the checkpoint kinase Wee1, which have potential for use in cancer chemotherapy. These inhibitors are based on a 4-phenylpyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole-1,3(2H,6H)-dione template and have been shown by X-ray crystallography to bind at the ATP site of the enzyme. An extensive study of the effects of substitution around this template has been carried out, which has identified substituents which lead to improvements in potency and selectivity for Wee1. While retention of the maleimide ring and pendant 4-phenyl group is necessary for potency, replacement of the carbazole nitrogen by oxygen is well tolerated and results in improved Wee1 selectivity against the related checkpoint kinase Chk1. Wee1 potency and selectivity are also enhanced by the incorporation of lipophilic functionality at the 2'-position of the 4-phenyl ring, and Wee1 selectivity against Chk1 is favored by C3-C5 alkyl substitution of the carbazole nitrogen. These studies provide a basis for the design of active analogues of the pyrrolocarbazole lead with improved physical properties.

Intramolecular Photoarylation of Alkenes by Phenyl Cations

Acetone-sensitized irradiation of various o-chlorophenyl allyl ethers in polar solvents led to either (dihydro)benzofurans or chromanes. The reaction appeared to involve photoheterolysis of the aryl-Cl bond followed by phenyl cation addition onto the tethered double bond either in 5-exo or 6-endo modes. The adduct cation gave the end products by deprotonation; addition of chloride anion or of the solvent, depending on the structure; and the conditions used. Preference for the 5-exo mode increased in passing from medium polarity (methylene chloride, ethyl acetate) to high polarity solvents (aqueous acetonitrile, methanol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol), for which this was often the exclusive path. The same compounds underwent photohomolysis when irradiated in cyclohexane, and radical cyclization was one of the process occurring. Substitution of a methylene group for the ether oxygen atom made 6-endo cyclization by far the main path in a related o-chlorophenylbutene. Again, the selectivity was higher in polar protic solvents. The results are discussed in terms of in cage ion pair versus free phenyl cation reactions.

(4R,5S)/(4S,5R)-4,5-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-imidazolines: ligands for the estrogen receptor with a novel binding mode

(4R,5S)/(4S,5R)-4,5-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-imidazolines 1-7 were synthesized by the reaction of the methoxy-substituted (1R,2S)/(1S,2R)-1,2-diarylethylenediamines 1b-7b with triethyl orthoformate and subsequent ether cleavage with BBr(3). All compounds were tested for estrogen receptor (ER) binding in a competition experiment with [(3)H]-estradiol and for gene activation in a luciferase assay using ER positive MCF-7-2a breast cancer cells stably transfected with the plasmid ERE(wtc)luc. The relative binding affinities of the 2-imidazolines were very low (RBA < 0.1%). Nevertheless, 4-7 possessed full agonistic activity in the luciferase assay. The relative transcription potency increased in the order 5 (2,2'-I) < 6 (2,6-Cl(2), 2'-F) < 4 (2,2'-Cl) < 7 (2,6-Cl(2), 2'-Cl). These data together with spectroscopic and molecular modeling studies were used to investigate the preferred binding mode adopted by the imidazoline ligands. The 1,2-diarylethane pharmacophor takes a Z-stilbene-like structure with pseudoaxially oriented phenyl rings at the planar heterocyclic ring. Because of this unusual spatial structure, the (4R,5S)/(4S,5R)-4,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-imidazolines have to be assigned to a second class of estrogenically active compounds (type II estrogens). In contrast to type I estrogens, e.g., estradiol (E2), diethylstilbestrol (DES), and meso-hexestrol (HES), which are connected to His 524 in the binding site, type II estrogens are very likely H-bonded to Asp 351 in a hydrophobic side pocket.

Synthesis, structural evaluation, and estrogen receptor interaction of 2,3-diarylpiperazines

To develop novel estrogen receptor (ER) ligands, ring-fused derivatives of the hormonally active (1R,2S)/(1S,2R)-1-(2-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(2,6-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine 4b were synthesized. (2R,3S)/(2S,3R)-2-(2-Chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(2,6-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)piperazine 4 induced ligand-dependent gene expression in MCF-7-2a cells, stably transfected with the plasmid ERE(wtc)luc and was therefore used as a lead structure. The influence of the substitution pattern in the aromatic rings (4-OH (1), 2-F,4-OH (2), 2-Cl,4-OH (3), 2,6-Cl2,3-OH (5), and 2,6-Cl2,4-OH (6)) and the effect of N-ethyl chains on the ER binding and activation of gene expression were studied. The synthesis started from the respective methoxy-substituted (1R,2S)/(1S,2R)-configurated 1,2-diarylethylenediamines 6b to 4b, which were reacted with dimethyl oxalate in order to get 5,6-diarylpiperazine-2,3-diones. Reduction with BH3*tetrahydrofuran and ether cleavage with BBr3 yielded the piperazines 1-6. The N-alkylation of the piperazines 1a-3a, which was employed for obtaining compounds 7-11, was succeeded by acetic anhydride followed by reduction and ether cleavage. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopical studies revealed a synclinal conformation of the 1,2-diarylethane pharmacophore and a preference of the substituents at the heterocyclic ring for an equatorial position. This spatial structure prevents an interaction with the ER analogously to that of estradiol (E2). Therefore, the piperazines can displace E2 from its binding site only to a very small extent. Only the N-ethyl (8) and N,N'-diethyl (11) derivatives of piperazine 3 showed relative binding affinity values > 0.1% (8, 0.42%, and 11, 0.17%). Nevertheless, ER-mediated gene activation was verified for the piperazines 4 (20%), 6 (73%), 7 (34%), 8 (74%), and 11 (37%) (concentration, 1 microM; E2, 100% activation) on the MCF-7-2a cell line. O-methylation led to completely inactive compounds and showed the necessity of H bridges from the piperazines to the ER for activating gene expression.

Does [meso-1,2-bis(2,6-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine] dichloroplatinum(II) act as an immune response modifier? IV. Inhibition of the proliferation-increasing effect of progressively growing MXT-M-3,2 breast cancer on phagocytes by the title compound

In female B6D2F1 mice bearing an MXT-M-3,2 breast cancer graft the level of the phagocytic cells (e.g. of granulocytes and macrophages in the spleen and of granulocytes and monocytes in the blood) is significantly elevated. The positive correlation between the number of the phagocytic cells and the weight of the tumor indicates that the MXT-M-3,2 breast cancer promotes myelopoiesis, presumably by secretion of hematopoietic growth factors like GM-CSF. This process can be described for each phagocyte type by a regression equation. Due to its hormonal potency [meso-1,2-bis(2,6-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine] dichloroplatinum(II) (meso-1-PtCl2) can reduce the excessive numbers of the granulocytes and macrophages, which seem to be responsible for the progressive growth of the MXT-M-3,2 breast cancer. This process leads to an interruption of the vicious circle of mutual growth stimulation of breast cancer cells and these phagocytes. The target of meso-1-PtCl2 is the estrogen receptor (ER) of the breast cancer cell. The interaction between meso-1-PtCl2 and the ER presumably results in a diminished secretion of hematopoietic growth factors and hence in a decline of the number of phagocytic cells. Meso-1-PtCl2 does not inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells by direct interaction with their DNA, as is described for platinum complexes like cDDP. In its mode of action the equipotent, breast cancer inhibiting drug cDDP differs from meso-1-PtCl2. This is obvious from the fact that in cDDP--but not in meso-1-PtCl2-treated, tumor bearing mice the number of granulocytes and macrophages does not markedly deviate from that in untreated control mice with tumors of the same weight. The drug cDDP probably does not interfere with the mechanism of the secretion of hematopoietic growth factors. The reduction of the number of tumor cells by cDDP leads to a decline of the number of phagocytic cells in accordance with the respective regression equations. In contrast to meso-1-PtCl2 and cDDP, ovariectomy causes elevated phagocyte numbers, probably due to the strongly reduced estrogen level. The studies described in this publication indicate that the anti-breast cancer activity of meso-1-PtCl2 is caused by a decimation of phagocytes and with this by an abolition of the tumor promoting effect. Furthermore, a restoration of the natural immunosurveillance seems to be of importance.