Backbone and benzoyl mustard carrying moiety modifies DNA interactions of distamycin analogues

Amidine Analogues of Melphalan: Synthesis, Cytotoxic Activity, and DNA Binding Properties

Design, synthesis, and cytotoxic activity of amidine derivatives of melphalan are described and structure-activity relationships are discussed. Evaluation of the cytotoxicity of these compounds employing a MTT assay and inhibition of [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells demonstrated that these compounds were more active than melphalan. Data from the ethidium displacement assay showed that these compounds were able to bind in the minor groove-binding mode in AT sequences of DNA. The cytotoxic properties of the amidine analogues of melphalan towards cultured human breast cancer cells correlate with topoisomerase II inhibitory properties but not with DNA-binding properties.

Novel amidine analogue of melphalan as a specific multifunctional inhibitor of growth and metabolism of human breast cancer cells

A novel amidine analogue of melphalan (AB4) was compared to its parent drug, melphalan in respect to cytotoxicity, DNA and collagen biosynthesis in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. It was found that AB4 was more active inhibitor of DNA and collagen synthesis as well more cytotoxic agent than melphalan. The topoisomerase I/II inhibition assay indicated that AB4 is a potent catalytic inhibitor of topoisomerase II. Data from the ethidium displacement assay showed that AB4 intercalated into the minor-groove at AT sequences of DNA. The greater potency of AB4 to suppress collagen synthesis was found to be accompanied by a stronger inhibition of prolidase activity and expression compared to melphalan. The phenomenon was related to the inhibition of beta(1)-integrin and IGF-I receptor mediated signaling caused by AB4. The expression of beta(1)-integrin receptor, as well as Sos-1 and phosphorylated MAPK, ERK(1) and ERK(2) but not FAK, Shc, and Grb-2 was significantly decreased in cells incubated for 24h with 20 microM AB4 compared to the control, not treated cells, whereas in the same conditions melphalan did not evoke any changes in expression of all these signaling proteins, as shown by Western immunoblot analysis. These results indicate the amidine analogue of melphalan, AB4 represent multifunctional inhibitor of breast cancer cells growth and metabolism.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new cyclic amidine analogs of chlorambucil

A number of novel cyclic amidine analogs of chlorambucil were synthesized and examined for cytotoxicity in breast cancer cell cultures and for inhibition of topoisomerases I and II. Evaluation of the cytotoxicity of these compounds employing a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and inhibition of [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA in both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells demonstrated that these compounds were more active than chlorambucil. The degree to which these compounds inhibited cell growth breast cancer cells was directly correlated to DNA-binding affinity. These studies indicate that cyclic amidine analogs of chlorambucil are a potent catalytic inhibitor of topoisomerase II but not topoisomerase I. The highest degree of DNA binding and cytotoxicity in both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells was observed for the compound, which possess a 4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol moiety.