Nucleosides and nucleotides. 176. 2'-Deoxy-2'-hydroxylaminocytidine: a new antitumor nucleoside that inhibits DNA synthesis although it has a ribonucleoside structure

Nucleoside analogs as a radiosensitizer modulating DNA repair, cell cycle checkpoints, and apoptosis

The combination of low dose of radiation and an anticancer drug is a potent strategy for cancer therapy. Nucleoside analogs are known to have a radiosensitizing effects via the inhibition of DNA damage repair after irradiation. Certain types of nucleoside analogs have the inhibitory effects on RNA synthesis, but not DNA synthesis, with multiple functions in cell cycle modulation and apoptosis. In this review, the most up-to-date findings regarding radiosensitizing nucleoside analogs will be discussed, focusing especially on the mechanisms of action.

Synthesis of pyrimidine 2'-deoxy ribonucleosides branched at the 2'-position via radical atom-transfer cyclization reaction with a vinylsilyl group as a radical-acceptor tether

Recently, we developed a regio- and stereoselective method for introducing a vinyl group at the position beta to a hydroxyl group in halohydrins or alpha-phenylselenoalkanols via a radical atom-transfer cyclization reaction with a vinylsilyl group as a temporary connecting radical-acceptor tether. The synthesis of 2'-deoxy-2'-C-vinyl- and 2'-deoxy-2'-C-hydroxymethyluridines (7 and 8, respectively) and the corresponding 2'-deoxycytidine congeners (10 and 11, respectively), which were designed as potential antitumor and/or antiviral agents, was achieved using this radical atom-transfer cyclization as the key step. When the 2'-deoxy-2'-iodo-5'-O-monomethoxytrityl (MMTr) uridine derivative 19a, bearing a vinylsilyl group at the 3'-hydroxyl group, was heated with (Me(3)Sn)(2) and AIBN in benzene, the corresponding radical atom-transfer product was generated, which in turn was successively treated with tetrabutylammonium fluoride and TBSCl/imidazole to give the desired 2'-deoxy-5'-O-MMTr-3'-O-TBS-2'-C-vinyluridine (25). Compound 25 was successfully converted into the target 2'-deoxy-2'-branched pyrimidine ribonucleosides 7, 8, 10, and 11.

Nucleosides and nucleotides. 180. Synthesis and antitumor activity of nucleosides that have a hydroxylamino group instead of a hydroxyl group at the 2'- or 3'-position of the sugar moiety

The design and synthesis of potential antitumor antimetabolites 2'-deoxy-2'-(hydroxylamino)uridine (15), -cytidine (19, 2'-DHAC), and -adenosine (35), their regioisomers, 3'-deoxy-3'-(hydroxylamino)uridine (40) and -cytidine (45, 3'-DHAC), and their 2'-deoxy analogues, 2', 3'-dideoxy-3'-(hydroxylamino)uridine (49) and -cytidine (52, 3'-dDHAC), are described. We measured the pKa values of the hydroxylamino group in 15 and 40 using 13C NMR spectroscopy as a function of pH to be 2.9 and 3.4, respectively. We also found that these nucleosides gradually decomposed in neutral solution but not in acidic solution. This decomposition may be related to the generation of aminoxy radicals at the sugar moiety. The in vitro cytotoxicity of these nucleosides was evaluated using L1210 and KB cells. 2'-DHAC (19) inhibited the growth of L1210 and KB cells, with IC50 values of 1.58 and 1.99 microM, respectively. 3'-DHAC (45) and 3'-dDHAC (52) were also cytotoxic against L1210 cells, with IC50 values of 4.03 and 1.84 microM, respectively, but not against KB cells. The cytotoxicity of 2'-DHAC (19) and 3'-DHAC (45) against L1210 cells in vitro was reversed by the addition of cytidine, while that of 3'-dDHAC (52) was reversed by 2'-deoxycytidine. 2'-DHAC (19) and 3'-dDHAC (52) mainly inhibited DNA synthesis in L1210 cells, while 3'-DHAC (45) inhibited RNA synthesis. We also evaluated the antitumor activities of 2'-DHAC (19) and 3'-DHAC (45) against murine Meth-A fibrosarcoma cells in vivo. 2'-DHAC (19) was more active than 3'-DHAC (45) when administered intravenously on days 1-10 consecutively at 10 mg/kg/day. 2'-DHAC (19) inhibited tumor growth at a rate of 66.9%.