Oxyhalogenation of glycals for the synthesis of anti-tumor-active 2'-halo daunorubicin analogs

Inhibitory activity of four demethoxy fluorinated anthracycline analogs against five human-tumor cell lines

Four anthracycline analogs synthesized in our laboratory were evaluated in comparison with adriamycin (doxorubicin) for their growth-inhibitory effect against five human-tumor cell lines, including lung carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, breast adenocarcinoma, melanoma, and glioblastoma. The compounds included 4-demethoxy-7-O-(2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro--l-talopyranosyl)daunomycinone (2), its 3',4'-diacetate (1), its 14-bromo derivative 3, and its 14-hydroxy analog, namely 4-demethoxy-7-O-(2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-α-l-talopyranosyl)adriamycinone (4). Compounds 1, 2, and 3 showed moderate cytotoxic effect in most of the cell lines, while compound 4 had a strong effect, comparable to or better than that of adriamycin in most of the cell lines.

Emerging therapeutic options for Philadelphia-positive acute lymphocytic leukemia

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous group of disorders that are associated with a cure rate of > 80% in children. The prognosis in adults is considerably inferior, with age, disease bulk, leukemia karyotype and immune phenotype being prognostically relevant. Adult ALL treatment programs include induction, intensified consolidation and maintenance phases with CNS prophylaxis. The addition of imatinib in patients with BCR-ABL-positive ALL has improved the prognosis of this subgroup, but their survival is still poor. Initial data on the second-generation BCR-ABL inhibitors, dasatinib and nilotinib, indicate a potentially greater efficacy than imatinib, but the improvement is likely to be modest. The overall efforts in terms of developmental therapeutics in ALL are very modest and not in keeping with the urgent need for improvement. Most agents being investigated have mechanisms of action similar to those of existing agents for ALL therapy and thus represent modest opportunities to improve results. Of such agents, data on BCR-ABL inhibitors, sphingosomal vincristine, pemetrexed, talotrexin, annamycin and ABT-751 are reviewed.

Anthracycline glycosides of 2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-alpha-L-talopyranose

The methyl beta-glycoside of the title sugar, obtained from 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-beta-D-glucopyranose tetraacetate by a sequence with detailed characterization of all intermediates, was converted by acetolysis-bromination into 3,4-di-O-acetyl-2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-alpha-L-talopyranosyl bromide, coupling of which with (7S,9S)-4-demethoxydaunomycinone afforded the 3,4-diacetate of 4-demethoxy-9-O-(2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-alpha-L-talopyranosyl)daunomycinone (19). The antitumor-active 19 was converted by way of its 14-bromo derivative into the 14-hydroxy analogue, the antitumor-active 4-demethoxyadriamycinone glycoside 21.

Enhanced topoisomerase II-induced DNA breaks and free radical production by a new anthracycline with potent antileukemic activity

In a previous study we reported that a new anthracycline derivative (moflomycin) exhibited a higher antileukemic activity compared to other anthracyclines, such as daunorubicin and doxorubicin. To explain the superior antileukemic effect of moflomycin and to disclose a possible structure-activity relationship, we investigated the three main mechanisms by which anthracyclines are though to exert their antitumor effect: DNA binding, free radical production and topoisomerase II inhibition. The DNA interaction was assessed both by DNA binding and DNA unwinding assays, free radical generation was studied by electron spin resonance, and topoisomerase II interaction by analysis of the stimulation of enzyme-induced DNA breaks. The results showed a higher free radical production and a greater stimulation of topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage by moflomycin than doxorubicin, associated with a lower DNA affinity. The different biochemical characteristics of moflomycin, particularly its interaction with topoisomerase II, are related to the structural modifications performed on the chromophore. These properties, associated with a higher stability of the molecule induced by the presence of an iodine atom on the sugar moiety, are probably responsible for the higher antileukemic activity of this compound.

Theoretical study of anthracycline antibiotic analogues--III. Conformational analysis on different 2, 6-dideoxy-2-halo-alpha-l-hexopyranoses by molecular mechanics and semiempirical methods

Conformational analysis of 2,6-dideoxy-2-halo-alpha-L-hexopyranoses (compounds 1-11) has been performed by molecular mechanics and molecular orbital calculations including solvation effects. The numerical results obtained and those obtained from the electrostatic potential calculation have been used together to interpret theoretically the influence of the introduction of the halogen atom at the C-2 position of the sugar moiety.

Distribution of free and liposomal annamycin within human plasma is regulated by plasma triglyceride concentrations but not by lipid transfer protein

Annamycin (Ann) is a lipophilic and non-cross-resistant anthracycline antibiotic currently in clinical development as a liposomal formulation (L-Ann) composed of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG). Previous studies have demonstrated that the incorporation of Ann into these liposomes prolongs its terminal serum half-life and increases the tumor levels of the drug. However, an explanation for the altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of doxorubicin and Ann when entrapped into these multilamellar lipid vesicles remains unknown. Since the distribution of lipophilic compounds within plasma lipoproteins has been shown to influence the pharmacokinetics and organ distribution of a number of lipophilic compounds and this distribution appears to be regulated by lipid transfer protein (LTP), we studied the distribution of Ann and L-Ann among plasma lipoproteins and the influence of LTP on the distribution of Ann and L-Ann among plasma lipoproteins. Our results concluded that when Ann was incorporated into liposomes composed of DMPC and DMPG, over 65% of the initial Ann concentration would distribute into the high density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction and that free Ann and L-Ann distribution within human plasma was independent of LTP activity. In addition, we observed that the increase in total plasma triglyceride (TG) concentrations (through the increase of very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL)) resulted in the increase distribution of Ann and L-Ann within the TG-rich VLDL fraction. However, increasing the VLDL core TG/cholesterol ratio decreased Ann distribution into VLDL. These findings suggest that initial Ann distribution is regulated by a mechanism that does not involve LTP, but through its interaction with plasma VLDL-TG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Design and tumor targeting of anthracyclines able to overcome multidrug resistance: a double-advantage approach

A novel, 'double-advantage approach' to developing more effective chemotherapies will be reviewed. This approach is based on a presumption that analogs designed on a sound hypothesis, and combined with a rationally selected drug delivery system, will optimize antitumor activity by creating drugs that are more active and that can be more specifically targeted to tumors. In the design of drugs superior to doxorubicin, we have focused on typical multidrug resistance and new anthracycline analogs, whose uptake is not affected by P-glycoprotein. Analysis of structural elements of anthracyclines affecting activity against multidrug resistant tumors and affinity for liposomes will be discussed. Annamycin, a lipophilic anthracycline analog, was selected for further preclinical development as a liposomal formulation and demonstrated, in the initial biological evaluation, high activity against tumors resistant to doxorubicin.

Iodoalkoxylation of 1,5-anhydro-2-deoxy-hex-1-enitols (glycals)

Exclusive trans-addition is observed in the iodoalkoxylation of the 6-membered cyclic enol ethers 3,4-di-O-acetyl-L-rhamnal (1), 3,4-di-O-acetyl-L-fucal (2), and related glycal derivatives. The main products from 1 and from 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal (3) thus had the alpha-manno configuration. Similarly, alpha-talo products were obtained from 2 in 87-93% yield. The product distribution is not affected by the electronegativity of the 5-substituent. It is concluded that steric factors in the glycal and the nucleophile affect only the step of trans-diaxial opening of the intermediate iodonium ion. Enhanced yields of the desired trans-diaxial products were observed in reactions of glycals having the lyxo configuration when the reactions were conducted in tetrahydrofuran or methanol.

Synthesis of antitumor-active 7-O-(2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-alpha-L-talopyranosyl)-daunomycinone and -adriamycinone

The title compounds (17 and 23) were prepared by coupling 3,4-di-O-acetyl-2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-alpha-L-talopyranosyl bromide (15) with daunomycinone. The key step in the preparation of 15 was the epoxide-ring opening of methyl 2,3-anhydro-4-O-benzyl-6-deoxy-alpha-L-gulopyranoside with KHF2 in ethylene glycol, whereupon 2-fluoro-alpha-L-idopyranoside was obtained. Compounds 17 and 23 showed strong antitumor activity.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of 2'-bromo- and 2'-chloro-3'-acetoxy-3'-deaminodaunorubicin analogs

Bromination of 3,4-di-O-acetyl-L-rhamnal (7) and subsequent glycosidic coupling under Koenigs-Knorr conditions with daunomycinone gave a mixture of three compounds having the beta-L-gluco (10), alpha-L-gluco (11), and alpha-L-manno (12) configurations. Analogous bromination of 3,4-di-O-acetyl-L-fucal (13) followed by coupling with daunomycinone gave a mixture of three glycosides having the beta-L-galacto (16), alpha-L-galacto (17), and alpha-L-talo (18) configurations. Chlorination of 7 and coupling with daunomycinone in the presence of silver triflate gave products having the alpha-L-gluco (21) and alpha-L-manno (22) configurations, whereas 13, under similar conditions, gave only one stereoisomeric product, that having the alpha-L-galacto (24) configuration. Compounds 12 and 22 showed high in vivo activity in the P-388 lymphocytic leukemia assay.