Biomedical subjects

A L Jackman

Publications and source records attributed to A L Jackman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

The renal effects of the water-soluble, non-folylpolyglutamate synthetase-dependent thymidylate synthase inhibitor ZD9331 in mice.

ZD9331 is a novel, potent thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor which does not require polyglutamation by folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS) for its activity. In contrast to Tomudex (ZD1694), ZD9331 may therefore be active against tumours with low FPGS activity. ZD9331 shows anti-tumour activity by both 24-h infusion and bolus administration in the murine thymidine kinase-deficient (TK -/-) lymphoma L5178Y. In view of the history of renal toxicity with some earlier TS inhibitors and the possible therapeutic use of bolus ZD9331, we have examined the effects of bolus ZD9331 dose and route of administration on plasma and kidney pharmacokinetics and renal function in mice. Renal function was assessed by measuring [14C]inulin clearance, and drug concentrations were assayed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Renal function was unaffected by ZD9331 up to 150 mg kg(-1) either i.v. or i.p. However, at 200 mg kg(-1), glomerular filtration rate was significantly inhibited following i.v. but not i.p. administration. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that these effects were consistent with the markedly higher plasma drug concentrations occurring during early times following i.v. dosing, although the plasma drug profiles were otherwise similar for both routes. Kidney drug concentrations were slightly elevated in i.v.- versus i.p.-treated animals at the low dose (50 mg kg(-1)), with a correspondingly larger area under the curve. However, at the highest dose (200 mg kg(-1)), peak kidney drug concentrations were 20-fold higher following i.v. administration than after i.p., with marked kidney retention, resulting in a 50-fold greater kidney drug exposure for the i.v. versus the i.p. route. These data show that ZD9331 is non-nephrotoxic at active anti-tumour doses (50 mg kg(-1) i.p.) in mice, and only at very high bolus i.v. doses is there impaired renal function as a result of very high peak plasma concentrations. These adverse effects can be readily overcome by i.p. administration, indicating the likely need for short infusions in clinical settings.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Nonpolyglutamatable antifolates as inhibitors of thymidylate synthase (TS) and potential antitumour agents.

Thymidylate synthase (TS), an enzyme that catalyses the conversion of dUMP to dTMP, has been the focus of interest as a target in cancer chemotherapy for more than two decades. Over the last 10 years much research has been devoted to the design and development of nonpolyglutamatable inhibitors of TS as antitumour agents, mainly to over-come resistance due to unfavourable expression of folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS). Lipophilic inhibitors of the enzyme were expected not to depend on the reduced folate carrier transporter (RFC) for cellular uptake, thus avoiding resistance due to an impaired RFC. Compounds of this type can be classified in three groups: A: nonclassical lipophilic inhibitors of TS, mainly folate-based analogues lacking the glutamate side chain; B: folate-based analogues in which the glutamate side chain has been modified in such a way that polyglutamation is precluded; and C: nonpolyglutamatable glutamate-containing inhibitors of TS. Compounds of group A included 5- or 6-substituted quinazolin-4-ones, benzo[flquinazolines, imidazotetrahydroquinoline- and benz[cd]indole-based inhibitors. The second group is mainly related to a series of g-linked dipeptide derivatives of ICIl98583, or analogues of this inhibitor where the glutamate residue was replaced with a range of a-amino acids. The third group is concerned with some 7-substituted derivatives of ICI198583 and the pyrrolo[3, 2-d]pyrimidine-based inhibitor 175. A large number of structurally diverse nonpolyglutamatable inhibitors of TS were synthesised some of which were potent inhibitors of the enzyme (human or E. coli) and in vitro cell growth. Three compounds, i.e. 49 (AG 337), 83 (AG 331), 123 (ZD9331) have reached the stage of clinical evaluation.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗

PubMed1997

Folate-based inhibitors of thymidylate synthase: synthesis and antitumor activity of gamma-linked sterically hindered dipeptide analogues of 2-desamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (ICI 198583).

In an effort to synthesize inhibitors of thymidylate synthase (TS) that do not undergo polyglutamation, a series of gamma-linked sterically hindered dipeptide analogues of 2-desamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (ICI 198583) was prepared. A methyl, ethyl, or propargyl group was incorporated into the gamma-glutamyl amide bond of gamma-linked L,L dipeptide derivatives of ICI 198583, such as ICI 198583-gamma-L-Glu. In addition, steric bulk was introduced on either side of the gamma-glutamyl bond of ICI 198583-gamma-L-Glu or ICI 198583-gamma-L-Ala. The resulting dipeptide analogues, e.g., ICI 198583-gamma-MeGlu and ICI 198583-gamma-Aib, were apparently stable to in vivo hydrolysis but poorer inhibitors of TS and L1210 cell growth. However, introduction of 7-Me, 2'-F substitution into the quinazoline nucleus gave significant improvement in the inhibitory activity against thymidylate synthase. Compounds 28-30, the 7-Me, 2'-F derivatives of ICI 198583-gamma-MeGlu, ICI 198583-gamma-EtGlu, and ICI 198583-gamma-PgGlu, respectively, were potent inhibitors of TS (K(iapp) = 0.21-1.1 nM) and L1210 cell growth (IC50 = 0.05-0.34 microM) and were similar to that seen with the most potent gamma-linked L,D dipeptide derivatives of ICI 198583 previously synthesized. Furthermore, the low cross-resistance ratios for the L1210:R(D1694)/L1210 cell line indicated that 28-30 do not undergo polyglutamation.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Inhibition by uridine but not thymidine of p53-dependent intestinal apoptosis initiated by 5-fluorouracil: evidence for the involvement of RNA perturbation.

The epithelia from the crypts of the intestine are exquisitely sensitive to metabolic perturbation and undergo cell death with the classical morphology of apoptosis. Administration of 40 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to BDF-1 p53+/+ mice resulted in an increase in p53 protein at cell positions in the crypts that were also those subjected to an apoptotic cell death. In p53-/- mice apoptosis was almost completely absent, even after 24 hr. 5-FU is a pyrimidine antimetabolite cytotoxin with multiple mechanisms of action, including inhibition of thymidylate synthase (TS), which gives rise to DNA damage, and incorporation into RNA. The inhibition of TS can be increased by coadministration of folinic acid and can be abrogated by administration of thymidine. The incorporation of 5-FU into RNA is inhibited by administration of uridine. p53-Dependent cell death induced by 5-FU was only inhibited by administration of uridine. Uridine had no effect on the apoptosis initiated by 1 Gy of gamma-radiation. Although thymidine abrogated apoptosis induced by the pure TS inhibitor Tomudex, it had no effect on 5-FU-induced apoptosis, and coadministration of folinic acid did not increase apoptosis. The data show that 5-FU-induced cell death of intestinal epithelial cells is p53-dependent and suggests that changes in RNA metabolism initiate events culminating in the expression of p53.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Folate-based thymidylate synthase inhibitors in cancer chemotherapy.

Understanding the relationship between chemical structure and biological properties of folate analogs, particularly their interactions with the target enzymes, transport proteins and folate-metabolizing enzyme, folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS), has enabled the rational design and development of the selective thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitors with folate-based structures for clinical uses. These compounds specifically inhibit TS devoid of concomitant effects at other loci, unlike 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). ZD1694 ('Tomudex') was designed as a non-nephrotoxic and highly active analog of N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (CB3717), which is a potent TS inhibitor but had unacceptable nephrotoxicity caused by its poor water solubility. The potent cytotoxic activity of ZD1694 is dependent upon active uptake into cells via the reduced folate carrier (RFC), and subsequent rapid and extensive metabolism to polyglutamate forms inside cells. Marked enhancement of the TS inhibitory activity has been noted as the glutamate chain is elongated. Polyglutamation is critical to the biological activity of ZD1694 against tumor and normal proliferating tissues. The retentive property of ZD1694 polyglutamates inside cells led to a single, infrequent administration schedule in clinical studies. ZD1694 has completed phase I and phase II evaluation with activity observed in several tumor types, particularly in colorectal cancer with a 26% objective response rate. A recent European phase III study of ZD1694, randomized against a 5-FU plus leucovorin regimen, demonstrated an equivalent response rate for advanced colorectal cancer (complete or partial responses; 20 versus 17%) and less toxicity than seen with the latter regimen. The newer selective TS inhibitors, which retain potency for TS inhibition but are not substrates for RFC and/or FPGS, are currently under clinical evaluation. These classes of compound may have benefits for circumvention of resistance by virtue of alterations in these protein functions and for the management of toxicity.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Cellular pharmacology and in vivo activity of a new anticancer agent, ZD9331: a water-soluble, nonpolyglutamatable, quinazoline-based inhibitor of thymidylate synthase.

ZD9331 is a drug that was developed from a potent class of water-soluble, C7-methyl-substituted, quinazoline-based inhibitors of thymidylate synthase (TS) that are transported into cells via a saturable, carrier-mediated system (reduced folate carrier, or RFC) but are not substrates for folylpolyglutamate synthetase. ZD9331 is the gamma-tetrazole analogue of 2-desamino-2, 7-dimethyl-N10-propargyl-2'fluoro-5,8-dideaza folate (ZM214888), with a TS Ki of approximately 0.4 nM. ZD9331 exhibits potent growth inhibitory and cytotoxic activity; e.g., IC50 for the inhibition of human W1L2 lymphoblastoid cell line was 7 nM. The addition of thymidine to the culture medium increased the IC50 in W1L2 cells >10, 000-fold, demonstrating the high specificity of the drug for TS. ZD9331 is transported into cells predominantly via the RFC. Accordingly, it competes with methotrexate (MTX) and folinic acid for cellular uptake and has reduced activity against two cell lines with low expression of the RFC (L1210:1565 and CEM/MTX). In addition, a cell line with acquired resistance to ZD9331 displays reduced uptake of both ZD9331 and MTX. A mouse cell line (L1210:RD1694), with acquired resistance to ZD1694 due to reduced folylpolyglutamate synthetase activity, was not significantly cross-resistant to ZD9331. The flux through TS, as measured by 3H release from 5-[3H]deoxyuridine, was rapidly inhibited when cells were incubated with ZD9331. However, because ZD9331 cannot form polyglutamates, TS activity recovered rapidly once cells were placed in drug-free medium. The minimum curative dose of ZD9331 in the i.m. L5178Y TK-/- tumor model was approximately 3 mg/kg when given by 24-h continuous infusion, and it was 25-50 mg/kg when given by a single i.p. or i.v. injection. ZD9331 had antitumor activity against the L5178Y TK+/- tumor when administered by 7-day continuous infusion; growth delays of more than 5 days (and some cures) were seen at doses of 25-50 mg/kg/day. At higher doses, significant weight loss (gastrointestinal toxicity) and myelosuppression (neutropenia and thrombocytopenia) were observed, suggesting that these may be dose-limiting toxicities in the Phase I clinical studies.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Immunoreactive dUMP and TTP pools as an index of thymidylate synthase inhibition; effect of tomudex (ZD1694) and a nonpolyglutamated quinazoline antifolate (CB30900) in L1210 mouse leukaemia cells.

The inhibition of thymidylate synthase (TS) as a drug development target has received much attention in recent years, and several compounds have reached clinical evaluation. During drug development, the effectiveness of target inhibition can be assessed by determination of the perturbations of deoxythymidine 5-triphosphate (TTP) and deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate (dUMP) pools in drug-treated cells. Rapid, sensitive, and reproducible radioimmunoassays for TTP pools and immunoreactive dUMP pools have been developed to meet our requirement for the rapid assessment of TS inhibition by quinazoline antifolates. The assays can be carried out on 1-2 million cells, and require minimal sample preparation. The limit of detection for TTP is 1 pmole/10(6) cells and for immunoreactive dUMP ("dUMP"), 3.0 pmole/10(6) cells, both assays being performed on the same cell extract. TTP and "dUMP" pools have been measured in mouse L1210 leukaemia cells treated with the quinazoline antifolates ZD1694 (N-(5-[N-(3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxoquinazolin-6-ylmethyl )-N-methylamine]-2-thenoyl)-L-glutamic acid) and CB30900 (N-[N-[4-[N-[(3,4-dihydro-2,7-dimethyl-4-oxo-6-quinazolinyl)methyl ]-N-prop-2- ynylamino]-2-fluorobenzoyl]-L-gamma-glutamyl]-D-glutamic acid). Unlike ZD1694, CB30900 is a TS inhibitor that does not rely on polyglutamation for activity. In L1210 cells, both compounds caused a rapid inhibition of TTP pools in a dose- and time-related manner. Greater than 90% TS inhibition was achieved following a 4-hr exposure to each compound at equitoxic doses (up to 100 times the IC50 determine by a 48-hr growth inhibition assay). For both compounds, this was accompanied by a 5-10-fold increase in "dUMP" pools. For ZD1694, neither the TTP pool or "dUMP" levels were normalised when cells were resuspended in a drug-free medium for 4 hr and, at the higher doses studied, TS was still inhibited after a 16-hr period in the absence of drug. This is consistent with the formation and intracellular retention of potent polyglutamated forms of ZD1694. In contrast, TS activity as determined by repletion of the TTP pools and normalisation of "dUMP" levels were demonstrated for CB30900. However, at a high dose (50 microM, equivalent to 250 times the IC50), retention of TS inhibition was observed following 4 hr, but not 16 hr in the absence of drug. The radioimmunoassays described will prove useful to further define the extent and time-course of TS inhibition by novel antifolate compounds, and will also provide valuable in vitro and in vivo pharmacodynamic information on established antimetabolites when used alone or in combination with other drugs and modulators.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

The influence of drug-exposure conditions on the development of resistance to methotrexate or ZD1694 in cultured human leukaemia cells.

The influence of drug exposure conditions on the development of resistance to methotrexate (MTX) or ZD1694 was studied by treating MOLT-3 human lymphoblastic-leukaemia cells in a continuous or a pulsatile (high-dose, short term) drug-exposure schedule. Continuous exposure of the cells to MTX with stepwise escalation of the drug concentrations resulted in a MTX-resistant sub-line (MOLT-3/MTX(10000)) with impaired reduced-folate carrier (RFC) and increased dihydro-folate-reductase (DHFR) activity. Conversely, a MTX-resistant clone (MOLT-3/MTX. P-9) with unaltered RFC and DHFR activity, but with decreased cellular accumulation of anti-folates, was selected by high-dose short-term treatment of the cells with MTX. MTX resistance in the latter cells was pronounced after short-term rather than continuous-exposure incubation with MTX, suggesting defective polyglutamation of the drug. On the other hand, 2 ZD1694-resistant sub-lines which were established by continuous (MOLT-3/ZD1694. C) or by pulsatile drug-exposure schedule (MOLT-3/ZD1694.P-9) demonstrated extremely low accumulation and poor retention of [3H]ZD1694, with no change in initial drug uptake and little or no increase of thymidylate-synthase (TS) activity irrespective of drug exposure conditions for their establishment. HPLC analysis displayed a virtual absence of ZD1694 polyglutamates in both ZD1694-resistant sub-lines and low accumulation in MOLT-3/MTX.p-9 as compared to the parent line. However, folylpolyglutamate-synthetase(FPGS) mRNA was only moderately decreased in the 2 ZD1694-resistant sub-lines and to an even lesser extent in MOLT-3/MTX.p-9. In addition, gamma-glutamyl-hydrolase(GGH) activity was not increased, but was slightly down-regulated in the polyglutamation-defective sub-lines. These results indicate that the mechanism(s) of the resistance developed may depend not only on drug-exposure conditions while raising resistance but also on the biochemical properties of the drug.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗

PubMed1996

Quinazoline antifolates thymidylate synthase inhibitors: lipophilic analogues with modification to the C2-methyl substituent.

Modification of the potent thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor 1-[[N-[4-[N-[(3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxo-6-quinazolinyl)methyl]-N- prop-2-ynylamino]benzoyl]amino]methyl]-3-nitrobenzene (4a) has led to the synthesis of quinazolinone antifolates bearing functionalized alkyl substituents at C2. A general synthetic route was developed which involved coupling the appropriate 1-[[N-[4-(alkylamino)benzoyl)amino]methyl]-3-nitrobenzene 20-22 with a 6-(bromomethyl)-2-(acetoxymethyl)-3,4-dihydro-4-oxoquinazoline 9 or 10. Replacement of the 2-acetoxy group by a chlorine atom followed by the displacement of the halogen of 25a-c by various nucleophiles led to compounds 26-40. Good TS (IC50 < 1 microM) and growth inhibition (IC50 0.1-1 microM) were found with most of these new antifolates. TS inhibitors in this series do not apparently require the reduced folate carrier (RFC) for cell entry (they most likely penetrate the cell membrane by passive diffusion) and are not polyglutamated. N, O, S, Cl, and CN as well as large amino and mercapto substituents were tolerated by the enzyme. The simultaneous incorporation of 7-methyl and 2'-F substituents gave a series of highly potent agents inhibiting cell growth at concentrations < 1 microM (24, 27bc; 30-32b, 35b). The incorporation of suitable C2 substituents has overcome the decrease in aqueous solubility observed with lipophilic quinazoline antifolates. This is best illustrated by compound 31a, where up to a 54-fold increase in solubility has been achieved by the incorporation of an N-methylpiperazine nucleus into the C2-methyl group of 4a.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Quinazoline antifolate thymidylate synthase inhibitors: gamma-linked L-D, D-D, and D-L dipeptide analogues of 2-desamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (ICI 198583).

The syntheses of gamma-linked L-D, D-D, and D-L dipeptide analogues of 2-desamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (ICI 198583) are described. The general methodology for the synthesis of these molecules involved the preparation of the dipeptide derivatives employing solution phase peptide synthesis followed by condensation of the dipeptide free bases with the appropriate pteroic acid analogue via diethyl cyanophosphoridate (DEPC) activation. In the final step, tert-butyl esters were removed by trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) hydrolysis. Z-L-Glu-OBut-gamma-D-Ala-OBut, for example, was prepared from alpha-tert-butyl N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-glutamate and tert-butyl D-alaninate via isobutyl-mixed anhydride coupling. The Z-group was removed by catalytic hydrogenolysis and the resulting dipeptide free base condensed with 2-desamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazapteroic acid via DEPC coupling. Finally, tert-butyl esters were removed by TFA hydrolysis to give ICI 198583-gamma-D-Ala. The compounds were tested as inhibitors of thymidylate synthase and L1210 cell growth. Good enzyme and growth inhibitory activity were found with gamma-linked L-D dipeptides, the best examples being the Glu-gamma-D-Glu derivative 35 (Ki = 0.19 nM, L1210 IC50 = 0.20 +/- 0.017 microM) and the Glu-gamma-D-alpha-aminoadipate derivative 39 (Ki = 0.12 nM, L1210 IC50 = 0.13 +/- 0.063 microM). In addition, ICI 198583 L-gamma-D-linked dipeptides were resistant to enzymatic degradation in mice.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Tomudex (ZD1694): from concept to care, a programme in rational drug discovery.

Folate-based anticancer drugs with specificity for thymidylate synthase (TS) have come of age. Ideas nurtured in the early 1970s led to the first-generation of antifolates with TS and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitory activities. Compounds with increased selectivity for TS followed with the highly specific inhibitor, CB3717 being synthesised in 1979 at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). CB3717 had significant clinical activity but its development had to be abandoned because its low aqueous solubility led to occasional nephrotoxicity. Collaborative laboratory studies between the ICR and ICI Pharmaceuticals (later to become Zeneca Pharmaceuticals) led to the discovery of ZD1694 (Tomudex), the first antifolate to be licensed for the treatment of cancer (UK 1995) in nearly 40 years and the first new drug for colorectal cancer in about 35 years. Tomudex belongs to a class of compounds that use the reduced-folate carrier (RFC) for uptake into cells and which are excellent substrates for folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS). This paper reviews the underlying philosophies, and the milestones reached during the development of Tomudex.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Cellular pharmacokinetics of ZD1694 in cultured human leukaemia cells sensitive, or made resistant, to this drug.

We have analysed the cellular metabolism of a novel thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor, ZD1694, in MOLT-3 and K562 human leukaemia cell lines sensitive to or made resistant to ZD1694 by continuous exposure of the cells to ZD1694 with stepwise escalation of the drug concentration. The initial cellular uptake of [3H]ZD1694 was greater in K562 cells than in MOLT-3 cells and the drug accumulated approximately 3-fold more in the former cells following incubation with 0.1 microM ZD1694 at 37 degrees C for 24 h. TS and dihydrofolate reductase activities were not significantly different between the two cell lines. After a 30-min incubation with the drug at 37 degrees C, 85% of the total drug (2.3 pmol/mg protein) in K562 cells was found as tri- to pentaglutamates, whereas MOLT-3 cells accumulated less drug in this time (0.83 pmol/mg protein) and polyglutamates of chain length greater than triglutamate were not found to a significant extent. When the incubation time was extended to 24 h, the polyglutamate profile in K562 cells was progressively shifted towards those of long glutamate chain length and 59% of the total cellular drug (204 pmol/mg protein) was identified as the penta form. In contrast, even distribution between tri- and pentaglutamate was observed in MOLT-3 cells. Total cellular polyglutamates were approximately 3-fold higher in K562 cells than in MOLT-3 cells, and this may explain the 2.5-fold difference in the sensitivity to ZD1694 between the two cell lines. Continuous exposure of MOLT-3 and K562 cells to ZD1694 up to 1 microM or 0.1 microM resulted in 1600- and 4200-fold resistant sublines, respectively (MOLT-3/ZD1694.C and K562/ZD1694.C). The resistant MOLT-3 cells showed a markedly lower cellular accumulation and poor retention of [3H]ZD1694 with no significant change of initial drug uptake by 10 min and with a little increase of TS activity. HPLC analysis demonstrated that more than 90% of the 3H co-eluted with the monoglutamate (parent drug) in the resistant MOLT-3 cells, indicating extremely diminished polyglutamation in the cells. On the other hand, cellular uptake of [3H]ZD1694 was extensively impaired in K562/ZD1694.C cells and cellular accumulation of the drug was only 2.5% of that in the parent cells following 24 h incubation with the drug. Neither an increase of TS or dihydrofolate reductase activity nor a change in the polyglutamate formation profile was observed in the resistant K562 cells. These results indicate that the cellular ability to produce the polyglutamate metabolites of ZD1694 must influence the sensitivity of the tumour cells to this drug, and development of mechanisms involved in the ZD1694 resistance may relate to the intrinsic biochemical properties of the cells.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗

PubMed1996

Biological activity and intracellular metabolism of ZD1694 in human leukemia cell lines with different resistance mechanisms to antifolate drugs.

The biological activity and cellular metabolism of ZD1694, a novel folate-based thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor, were analyzed in a human leukemia cell line, MOLT-3, and its antifolate-resistant sublines with different mechanisms of resistance to methotrexate (MTX), trimetrexate (TMQ) and N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (CB3717). MOLT-3/CB3717(40), which was selected for CB3717 resistance, demonstrated impaired membrane drug transport via reduced folate carrier (RFC) and lower accumulation of [3H]ZD1694-polyglutamates in the cells with a shift in the polyglutamate distribution profile to shorter chain length polyglutamates, indicating an alteration in polyglutamation capacity in this subline. Impaired RFC and reduced rate of polyglutamation could explain the cross-resistance (12-fold) of this subline to ZD1694. On the other hand, there was little or no cross-resistance to this drug in a subline (MOLT-3/TMQ800) reportedly resistant to TMQ through impaired membrane transport for TMQ and an increase in dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) activity. Total amount of ZD1694 polyglutamated to a level higher than diglutamate was approximately 1.7-fold higher in the TMQ-resistant cells than that in the parent cells, but a low degree of increase in TS activity in the cells counteracted the supposed increase in sensitivity to ZD1694. MOLT-3/TMQ800-MTX10000 cells, which were established by sequential exposure of the TMQ-resistant cells to MTX and were previously shown to amplify mutated DHFR with low affinity for MTX, showed a decreased accumulation of polyglutamated ZD1694 as compared with the parent line and this was consistent with cross-resistance to ZD1694 in this subline. Overproduction of variant DHFR scarcely influenced the sensitivity to this drug. These results indicate that ZD1694 could overcome antifolate resistance through a mechanism such as amplified DHFR activity, and the biological activity of this drug against the cells paralleled the amount of polyglutamated drug inside the cells. Determination of polyglutamation capacity in tumor cells may allow prediction of sensitivity to this drug.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗

PubMed1996

Phase I trial of ZD1694, a new folate-based thymidylate synthase inhibitor, in patients with solid tumors.

PURPOSE: To perform a phase I clinical and pharmacologic study of ZD1694 (Tomudex, Alderley Park, United Kingdom), a new folate-based thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor, in patients with advanced malignancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From February 1991 to January 1993, 61 patients with a range of solid tumor received 161 courses of ZD1694 given as a single 15-minute intravenous infusion every 3 weeks, at escalating doses from 0.1 to 3.5 mg/m2. Pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis was performed with the first two courses of treatment. There were 33 men and 28 women with a median age of 53 years (range, 21 to 73). Fifty-five patients (90%) had previously received chemotherapy. RESULTS: Reversible liver toxicity and dose-related gastrointestinal (GI) and bone marrow toxicity occurred at > or = 1.6 mg/m2. Liver function usually returned to normal with repeated treatment, but GI and bone marrow toxicities generally became more severe. No renal toxicity was observed. The maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) was 3.5 mg/m2, at which, in addition to antiproliferative toxicities, four of six patients (67%) developed severe malaise that consisted of anorexia, nausea, and asthenia, with rapidly decreasing performance status that limited re-treatment. Abnormal liver function was also seen in four patients (67%). At 3.0 mg/m2, grades III and IV diarrhea were seen in six of 23 patients (26%) and grade IV myelosuppression in two others. Liver toxicity was self-limiting and not associated with severe malaise. Two patients had a partial response to treatment. PK analysis showed that plasma elimination was triexponential, with pronounced variability in the mean terminal half-life (t1/2gamma) for a given dose ranging from 8.2 to 105 hours. There was a linear relationship between dose and both the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and maximum concentration (Cmax), but no clear association between these parameters and response or toxicity. CONCLUSION: The dose of ZD1694 recommended for phase II trials is 3.0 mg/m2.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Preclinical pharmacology of CB30900, a novel dipeptide inhibitor of thymidylate synthase, in mice.

CB30900 is a novel, potent thymidylate synthase inhibitor which can not be polyglutamated and may be active in cancers expressing low or defective folylpolyglutamate synthetase. Pharmacokinetics were studied in mouse tumors and tissues after bolus or infusion protocols. Elimination was triphasic after 100 mg kg-1 i.v. (T 1/2 alpha, 2.8 min; T 1/2 beta, 19.1 min and T 1/2 gamma, 4.1 hr). Peak concentrations were 716 microM; clearance, 1.19 ml g-1 hr-1; and area under the curve (AUC 0-2 hr), 131 microM hr. Biphasic elimination occurred after i.p. administration and was comparable to the i.v. route giving complete i.p. bioavailability. Kidney concentrations were similar to plasma (AUC 0-2 hr, 84.3 microM hr). CB30900 concentrations in the gut increased steadily with time (AUC 0-2 hr, 645 microM hr) and liver drug concentrations were 7-fold greater than plasma (AUC 0-2 hr, 847 microM hr). Peak tumor concentrations occurred at 30 min and were 27% of plasma concentrations, but tumor drug clearance was markedly slower than for plasma (T 1/2, 51 +/- 8.2 min, mean +/- S.E.). CB30900 was remarkably stable in vivo with 93% of an administered dose recovered unchanged after 48 hr. Plasma drug binding was concentration-dependent, ranging from 93.3 to 76% over 1 to 500 microM. During 24 hr infusion (50 mg kg-1 s.c.), steady-state plasma concentrations were 3 microM, giving an AUC 0-24 hr of 71 microM hr. Kidney drug levels were similar to plasma but liver concentrations were elevated 7-fold. By contrast, tumor drug concentrations were about 0.5 microM (AUC 0-24 hr, 14.6 microM hr). However, these low plasma drug concentrations are growth inhibitory in vitro (24-hr exposure).

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Prodrugs of thymidylate synthase inhibitors: potential for antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT).

Prodrugs of quinazoline antifolate thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitors have been designed and synthesized for use in antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT). The syntheses of the alpha-linked dipeptides of two potent thymidylate synthase inhibitors, ZD1694 [N-[5-[N-(3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxoquinazolin-6- ylmethyl)-N-methylamino]-2-thenoyl]-L-glutamic acid] and ICI198583 ¿N-[4-[N-[(2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-6-quinazolinyl) methyl]-N-prop-2-ynylamino]benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid¿ are described. The alpha-carboxyl of the glutamic acid has been linked through an amide bond to an L-alanine or an L-glutamic acid. The alpha-linked L-dipeptide prodrugs were designed to be activated to their corresponding thymidylate synthase inhibitors at a tumour site by prior administration of a monoclonal antibody conjugated to the enzyme carboxypeptidase A (CPA). The viability of a colorectal cell line was monitored with the potential prodrugs in the presence or absence of CPA or with the parent drugs alone. All the dipeptides had greatly decreased cytotoxicity, with a deactivation of approximately 100-fold for the ZD1694 prodrugs and approximately 20-200-fold for the ICI198583 prodrugs. Activation of the alpha-linked L-alanine dipeptides with CPA led to a cytotoxicity enhancement of approximately 10-100 fold.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed1995

Quinazoline antifolate thymidylate synthase inhibitors: replacement of glutamic acid in the C2-methyl series.

The synthesis of a series of analogues of the potent thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor N-[4-[N-[(3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxo-6- quinazolinyl)methyl]-N-prop-2-ynylamino]benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid (ICI 198583, 1) is described in which the glutamic acid residue has been replaced by other alpha-amino acids. Most of these analogues were prepared by coupling of tert-butyl-4-(prop-2-ynylamino)benzoate (37) with 6-(bromomethyl)-3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxoquinazoline (34) followed by deprotection of the tert-butyl ester to the acid and azide-mediated coupling to the appropriate amino acid or amino acid ester. In cases where the amino acid ester was unreactive with the acid azide, a modification was used in which the quinazolinone moiety was protected as its 3-(pivaloyloxy)methyl derivative. This permitted the generation of the more reactive acid chloride of the p-aminobenzoate unit. In general these modifications result in compounds that have equivalent potency to 1 as inhibitors of isolated TS except where the amino acid lacks a lipophilic alpha-substituent. These compounds appear to require the reduced folate carrier (RFC) for transport into cells, but since they are not converted intracellularly into polyglutamated forms, they have a lower level of cytotoxicity compared to 1. The removal of the alpha-carboxylic acid has given a second set of analogues of 1 which contain simple alkyl amide, benzyl, substituted benzyl, and heterocyclic benzyl amide derivatives. These are considerably less potent than 1 as TS inhibitors but display 1-10 microM cytotoxicities due to the fact that they do not require RFC transport and can presumably readily enter cells by passive diffusion through the cell membrane. Molecular modeling and NMR studies indicated that the incorporation of, respectively, 7-methyl and 2'-fluoro substituents would favor the optimum conformation of these molecules for interaction with the TS enzyme. Accordingly, these substituents were incorporated into selected examples to give the series of analogues 47-55. These all show enhanced (approximately 10-fold) inhibition of TS compared to their unsubstituted counterparts. In the substituted benzylamides (51, 52) and heterocyclic benzyl amides (53-55) the ability to enter cells by passive diffusion results in highly potent (< 1 microM) cytotoxic agents.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Relationships between resistance to cisplatin and antifolates in sensitive and resistant tumour cell lines.

Possible relationships between tumour resistance to cisplatin and the folate-based thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitors, CB3717 and ZD1694 (tomudex), have been investigated in vitro using a panel of tumour cell lines (predominantly human ovarian), either parental or possessing acquired resistance to cisplatin or ZD1694. Across eight parent human tumour cell lines, ZD1694 was the most potent drug (mean IC50 of 1.9 x 10(-8) M), being over 250 times as potent as its prototype CB3717 (mean IC50 of 4.8 x 10(-6) M). In five pairs of acquired cisplatin-resistant human tumour cell lines (three ovarian, one cervical and one testicular) which encompass all of the main known mechanisms of platinum drug resistance, ZD1694, CB3717 and the DHFR inhibitor, methotrexate, all exhibited non-cross-resistance. The cervical line, HX/155cisR, showed collateral sensitivity to ZD1694, CB3717, 5-fluorouracil (FUra) and fluorodeoxyuridine (FdUrd). One cell line, A2780cisR, showed a low level of cross-resistance to FUra (resistance factor, RF, of 1.5) and FdUrd (RF of 3.8). A2780cisR, in common with two other cisplatin-resistant lines, did not possess elevated TS activity compared with its parent. Cisplatin retained activity in four acquired ZD1694-resistant cell lines (encompassing reduced folate transport, elevated TS and defective polyglutamation mechanisms of resistance). Furthermore, combinations of ZD1694 with each of the platinum-based drugs, cisplatin, carboplatin and the recently introduced orally administrable, JM216, all showed additive growth inhibitory effects by median effect analysis. These data suggest that the tumour inhibitory properties of the recently introduced highly potent TS inhibitor, ZD1694, and cisplatin, and, moreover, their respective mechanisms of resistance, do not overlap. Therefore, these drugs may be considered for combination in the clinic.

Antineoplastic Agents↗