Synthesis,In VitroCytotoxicity and Radiosensitizing Activity of Novel 3-[(2,4-Dinitrophenylamino)Alkyl] Derivatives of 5-Fluorouracil

Recent Progress in Chemosensors Using Aldehyde-bearing Fluorophores for the Detection of Specific Analytes and their Bioimaging

In recent years, aldehyde-appended fluorescence probes have attracted increasing attention. Fluorescent biological imaging includes many modern applications for cell and tissue imaging in biomedical research. Meanwhile, the nucleophilic mechanism is a very simple and convenient procedure for the preparation of aldehyde-sensing probes. This tutorial review focuses on aldehyde-bearing chemosensors based on nucleophilic addition mechanism with biological applications.

The paradox role of caspase cascade in ionizing radiation therapy

Radiotherapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy/surgery is widely used for treatment of cancers. It reduces tumor growth and prevents metastasis. While ionizing radiation activates caspase cascade resulted in apoptosis in cancer cells, it also stimulates tumor cell re-population that leads to reduce the effectiveness of the radiation therapy. This review describes the mechanisms for paradox role of caspase cascade in cancer therapy and discusses the logical and practical strategies for improvement the therapeutic index of radiotherapy through enhancement of radiosensitivity and decreasing the rate of tumor recurrence.

Bioreductive deprotection of 4-nitrobenzyl group on thymine base in oligonucleotides for the activation of duplex formation

Oligonucleotides containing 4-O-(4-NO2-benzyl)thymine residues were synthesized to assess potential prodrug-type action against hypoxic cells. These modified oligonucleotides were incapable of stable duplex formation under non-hypoxic conditions. However, following deprotection of the thymine residues under bioreductive conditions, the deprotected oligonucleotides were able to form stable duplexes with target oligonucleotides.

Synthesis, in vitro aerobic and hypoxic cytotoxicity and radiosensitizing activity of novel metronidazole tethered 5-fluorouracil

Background and the purpose of the study

Several 2, 4-dinitrophenyl and 2,4-dinitrophenylamine tethered 5-FU (5-fluorouracil) compared to their components have shown minimal or no cytotoxicity to HT-29 cell line under aerobic conditions but high cytotoxicity and radiosensitizing effects under hypoxic conditions. In the present study the cytotoxicity and radiation potentiation of three novel analogues of these compounds by replacing 2,4-dinitrophenyl moiety with 2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole, a known radiosensitizer and cytotoxic agent was investigated.

Methods

Tethered compounds 7–9 were prepared by the reaction of 1-(t-butoxycarbonyl)-5-fluorouracil 6 with metronidazole esters 2–4 followed by removal of the t-butoxycarbonyl protecting group. Cytotoxicity of compounds in HT-29 cells with or without radiation were determined by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), propidium iodide (PI)-digitonin and clonogenic assays.

Results

Tethered compounds 7–9 induced time-and concentration–dependent cytotoxicity under hypoxia but had no significant effect under aerobic conditions. These compounds also showed selective and concentration- dependent radiosensitization effects under hypoxic conditions.

Conclusion

Tethered compounds 7–9 compared to 5-FU 5 showed minimal cytotoxicities under aerobic and selective radiosensitizing activities under hypoxic conditions. Also effects of these compounds were higher than those of metronidazole 1 which is a known cytotoxin and radiosensitizer under hypoxic conditions.