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Biomedical subjects

G Atassi

Publications and source records attributed to G Atassi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of a new triazinoaminopiperidine derivative on adriamycin accumulation and retention in cells displaying P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance.

A new triazinoaminopiperidine derivative, Servier 9788 (S9788), was investigated for its ability to increase Adriamycin (ADR) accumulation and retention in two rodent (P388/ADR and DC-3F/AD) and three human (KB-A1, K562/R and COLO 320DM) cell lines displaying the P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. Depending on the cell line S9788 was shown to be two to five times more active and five to 15 times more potent than Verapamil (VRP) in increasing ADR accumulation in resistant cells. ADR retention in KB-A1 cells maintained in a concentration of 10 microM S9788 was twice that in VRP-treated cells, and similar to that measured in the untreated sensitive KB-3-1 cells. Although 5 microM S9788 and 50 microM VRP gave the same values of ADR uptake in KB-A1 cells, S9788 was shown to induce a greater ADR retention following cell wash and post-incubation in resistance modifier- and ADR-free medium. Taking into account that S9788 had no effects on ADR accumulation and retention in sensitive KB-3-1 cells, it can be suggested that S9788 inhibits specifically the P-gp dependent ADR efflux, and in a manner less reversible than that observed with VRP. Moreover, [3H]azidopine photolabeling of P-gp, in P388/ADR plasma membranes, was completely inhibited by 100 microM S9788. Although S9788, as VRP, had no effect on the cell cycle of P388 cells, 5 microM S9788 increased 700-fold the efficacy of ADR to block P388/ADR cells in the G2+M phase of the cell cycle. Together, these results show that the sensitization, by S9788, of cell lines resistant to ADR is mainly due to an increase in ADR accumulation and retention, leading to an increase in the number of resistant cells blocked in the G2+M phase.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem

New triazine derivatives as potent modulators of multidrug resistance.

A series of 70 triazine derivatives have been synthesized and tested for their capacity to modulate multidrug resistance (MDR) in DC-3F/AD and KB-A1 tumor cells in vitro, in comparison with verapamil (VRP), a calcium channel antagonist currently used in therapy as an antihypertensive drug, which also shows MDR modulating activity. Among the 12 selected compounds, 16 (S9788) showed high MDR reversing properties in vitro (300- and 6-fold VRP at 5 microM in DC-3F/AD and KB-A1 cells, respectively) and induced a strong accumulation of adriamycin. The relationship between the increase of ADR accumulation and the fold reversal induced by these compounds and their lack of effects on the sensitive DC-3F cells suggest that they act mainly by inhibiting the P-glycoprotein (Pgp) catalyzed efflux of cytotoxic agents, as already described for a majority of MDR modulators. In vivo, in association with the antitumor drug vincristine (0.25 mg/kg), 16 (100 mg/kg) increased the T/C by 39% in mice bearing the resistant tumor cell line P388/VCR. According to these interesting properties, 16 was selected for a clinical development because it was more bioavailable than 34, even though it was less active.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem

In vivo evidence of complete circumvention of vincristine resistance by a new triazinoaminopiperidine derivative S 9788 in P388/VCR leukemia model.

S 9788, a new triazinoaminopiperidine derivative, was found to be a potent reversant of vincristine resistance in the in vivo murine leukemic P388/VCR model. In two treatment regimens (Q4D days 1, 5 and 9 and QD days 1-9), S 9788 enhanced the antitumor activity of vincristine in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in a complete circumvention of drug resistance for well-tolerated doses of S 9788. S 9788 was also effective in enhancing therapeutic effects of vincristine in the treatment of sensitive P388-bearing mice. These results strongly suggest that S 9788 may be a potential candidate for circumvention of multidrug resistance (MDR) in clinical practice.

Animals

Relationship between the cellular accumulation and the cytotoxicity of S12363, a new Vinca alkaloid derivative.

S12363, a new vinca alkaloid derivative, was considerably more cytotoxic to murine L1210 cells and five human tumor cell lines (HL60, HT-29, COLO 320DM, NCI-H460, and PANC-1) than was vincristine (VCR) or vinblastine (VLB). S 12,363 bound to tubulin in crude extracts from brain or L1210 cells with an affinity similar to that of VLB and VCR (apparent Kd value: 1.1-1.6, 1.2-1.7, and 0.6-0.8 microM, respectively). After 1 h exposure, the accumulation of 20 nM [3H]-S 12,363 by L1210 cells was 4- to 18-fold that of [3H]-VLB and [3H]-VCR, respectively. After the cells had been preloaded for 1 h with the labeled drugs and then incubated for 3 h in drug-free medium, 37%-55% of the [3H]-S 12,363 was retained by the cells vs 36%-47% of the [3H]-VCR and less than 6% of the [3H]-VLB. Similar results were obtained for the five human cell lines tested. The accumulation factors (intracellular vs extracellular concentrations) found for [3H]-S 12,363 (54- to 167-fold) were significantly higher than those observed for [3H]-VCR (5- to 14-fold) or [3H]-VLB (19- to 41-fold). Greater than 90% of the radioactivity extracted from L1210 cells that had been treated with [3H]-S 12,363 was recovered as unmodified drug, demonstrating that [3H]-S 12,363 was not metabolized by these cells. S 12,362, which differs from S 12,363 only in the absolute configuration of the asymmetric carbon atom of its alpha-aminophosphonic side chain, was 300 times less cytotoxic, bound to tubulin with a lower affinity (apparent Kd value, 4.9-9.6 microM), and was neither accumulated nor retained by the cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the potency of S 12,363 is due at least in part to its cellular accumulation and retention.

Animals

In vitro and in vivo circumvention of multidrug resistance by Servier 9788, a novel triazinoaminopiperidine derivative.

S 9788 is a novel triazinoaminopiperidine derivative which does not belong to any of the classes of compounds known to reverse multidrug resistance (MDR). S 9788 was far more potent than verapamil (VRP) in reversing resistance to adriamycin (ADR) in the ADR-selected murine leukaemia cell lines P388/ADR-1 and P388/ADR-10, and the human chronic myelogenous leukaemia K562/R. Fold reversion with S 9788 (5 microM) was, respectively, 3.5, 5.4 and 11.3 times greater than that with VRP (5 microM). S 9788 was also a more potent reversant of ADR resistance in the intrinsically resistant human colon adenocarcinoma COLO 320DM (2.3 fold), and of vincristine (VCR) resistance in the human MDR1 gene-transfected squamous lung carcinoma line S1/tMDR1 (5.6 fold). The activity of S 9788 depended on both the MDR cell line and the cytotoxic agent. S 9788 (50-100 mg/kg/d) administered IP once a day on days 1-4 resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the chemotherapeutic effect of VCR (0.25 mg/kg/d) in P388/VCR - bearing mice and ADR (4 mg/kg/d) in P388/ADR - bearing mice. Increases in antitumor activity were (% T/C) of +20-34% in the P388/ADR model and + 50-78% in the P388/VCR model with respect to cytotoxic agent treatment alone. S 9788 appeared to be devoid of toxicity at its effective doses. The mechanism of action of S 9788 is unknown but S 9788 (0.5-10 microM) induced a dose-dependent increase in ADR accumulation in KB-Al cells and compared to verapamil its effect was twice as active and approximately seven times more potent. We conclude that S 9788 is a novel agent capable of reversing MDR in vitro and in vivo, and whose pharmacological profile warrants its selection as a candidate drug for eventual assessment in the clinic.

Animals

N-myristoyl-transferase activity in cancer cells. Solubilization, specificity and enzymatic inhibition of a N-myristoyl transferase from L1210 microsomes.

The activity catalyzed by N-myristoyl transferase (NMT) is described for the first time in microsome-rich fractions from the murine leukemia cell line L1210, rat brain and mouse liver as biological sources. The enzyme from each source can accommodate various types of proteins (protein kinase A, virus structural gag protein or pp60src) as modelized by the use of their N-terminal derived peptides (GNAAAARR, GQTVTTPL and GSSKSKPKDP, respectively). As for some other types of membrane-bound enzymes, NMT activity can be enhanced by pretreatment with various types of detergents, amongst which Triton 770 and deoxycholate were the most potent. Further experiments on the L1210 microsome-rich fractions demonstrate that these two detergents were able to solubilize the microsomal enzyme, without modifying its substrate specificity. Finally, three compounds described in the literature to be inhibitors of NMT activity from other sources were tested for L1210 microsome-associated activity. None of them show any significant potency in inhibiting this activity. A new compound, myristoylphenylalanine, shows a slightly better inhibitory effect on the L1210 microsomal activity than the reference compounds with a median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.2 mM.

Acyltransferases

Preclinical antitumor activity of a new Vinca alkaloid derivative, S 12363.

S 12363 is a new Vinca alkaloid derivative obtained by appending an optically active alpha-aminophosphonate at the C23 position of O4-deacetyl vinblastine. S 12363 was evaluated for cytotoxic and antitumor activity against a spectrum of murine and human tumors. This compound was, respectively, on average, 72- and 36-fold more cytotoxic than were vincristine and vinblastine, when tested on a panel of 2 murine and 37 human tumor cell lines using the microculture tetrazolium assay. S 12363 exhibited significant antitumor activity against murine transplantable tumors (i.p. and s.c. P388 leukemia, i.p. L1210 leukemia, i.p. and i.v. B16 melanoma, i.p. M5076 sarcoma, and s.c. colon adenocarcinoma 38), while no activity was observed on s.c. Lewis lung carcinoma. S 12363, when administered i.p., showed moderate activity on human NCI-H460 lung and PANC-1 pancreas tumor xenografts in nude mice. However, when it was administered i.v., it exerted a significant activity against human HT-29 colon, NCI-H460 lung, NCI-H125 lung, PANC-1 pancreas, and A-431 vulvar tumor xenografts. S 12363 was also active in vivo against a P388 leukemia subline resistant to vincristine. On the in vivo panel of tumors used in this study, S 12363 was at least as active as reference compounds, while its optimal dosage was 10- to 40-fold lower than that of vinblastine, depending on the models studied. The effects of schedule and route of administration on the antitumor activity of S 12363 were studied in both i.p. inoculated P388 leukemia and B16 melanoma, in which the activity was improved by single and intermittent treatment (Days 1, 8, and 15) and i.p. route. S 12363, which differs only by the configuration of the asymmetric carbon atom of the side chain, was 300-fold less cytotoxic and 1000-fold less potent in vivo than was S 12363. These results suggest that S 12363 could present a therapeutic advantage over its congeners and deserves further pharmacological evaluations.

Animals

Chemical stability of ecomustine, a new antitumor agent in aqueous and biological media as assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Ecomustine, or CY233 (NSC-609224), is a new water-soluble nitrosoureido sugar derived from acosamine. A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay (HPLC) developed to quantify the unchanged drug in aqueous solutions and biological specimens enabled us to study the chemical stability as a function of pH, light, and temperature. In buffered aqueous solutions, the kinetics of degradation of CY233 is a first-order process. The log k-pH profile demonstrated hydroxide ion-catalyzed solvolysis. The drug is most stable at pH 4, more stable than some other nitrosoureas in 5% glucose (t1/2, 62-67 h) and in 0.9% isotonic saline (t1/2, 25-37 h) solutions. Based on these findings, blood samples should be collected in cold tubes (4 degrees C) containing citrate buffer (pH 4) and all manipulations should be protected from heat and light.

Antineoplastic Agents

The antitumor activity and the structure of bis(adeninato-N9) diphenyltin(IV).

Bis(adeninato-N9)diphenyltin(IV) has been selected as a tumor panel compound by the U.S. National Cancer Institute and tested against a number of tumors according to standard protocols. The activity criteria were not passed. The solid state structure of the environment of tin in the complex has been definitely established to be of the tetrahedral type by means of 119Sn Mössbauer-Zeeman spectroscopy; this configuration has been assumed to be maintained also in aqueous suspensions of the drug, in conditions corresponding to the administration to mice. The occurrence of strong Sn-N bonds, consistently resistant to hydrolytic processes, has been assumed, and correlated to the observed low toxicity of the drug. The extent of the antitumor action corresponds to the standard response to Ph2SnIV moieties.

Adenine

Antitumor activity of quassinoids from Hannoa klaineana.

Of the five quassinoids isolated from the root bark of Hannoa klaineana, only 15-desacetylundulatone was found active against P388 mouse lymphocytic leukemia cells and colon 38 adenocarcinoma. Undulatone and especially 15-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-21-hydroxy-glaucarubolone were found to be more toxic while 6 alpha-tigloyloxy-glaucarubol and 21-hydroxyglaucarubolone were found inactive. Structure-activity relationships are discussed.

Adenocarcinoma

Heterocyclic quinones. 17. A new in vivo active antineoplastic drug: 6,7-bis(1-aziridinyl)-4-[[3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl]amino]-5,8- quinazolinedione.

A series of heterocyclic quinones, 6-substituted and 6,7-disubstituted 4-(alkylamino)-5,8-quinazolinediones, have been synthesized in order to evaluate their in vitro cytotoxicity on L1210 leukemia cells. Among 14 derivatives that have been prepared and studied for the structure-activity relationship, the most potent cytotoxic compound on L1210 leukemia cells was the 6,7-bis(1-aziridinyl)-4-[[3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl]amino]-5,8- quinazolinedione (24). This compound has been tested with the use of a cell-image processor on MCF-7 human mammary and HBL human melanoma cell lines. The results show that compound 24 influences cell proliferation and blocks both cells lines in the S phase. In vivo antineoplastic activity of compound 24 has been demonstrated on a broad spectrum of murine experimental models, but it was found highly toxic and produced long-delayed deaths.

Animals

[Farnesyltransferase as target for non-cytotoxic anti-cancer agents: first steps].

Farnesylation is a key maturation step involved in the ras-dependent transformation of cells. This acylation step is catalyzed by protein: farnesyltransferase, a soluble enzyme. The present work describes the use of a new HPLC method of measurement of this enzymatic activity using the K-ras-derived CVIM tetrapeptide as substrate. The method is used to check the activity catalyzed by cytosols issued from various types of cancer cells. J82, a human bladder cancer cell line was retained for measurement of the inhibitory potency of a few peptide sequences and will be used as starting biological material for the purification of the enzyme. This HPLC method presented herein has the main advantages over other published methods of being automatisable and versatile, because it can be used with a wide spectrum of peptide substrates. Results presented herein are only first studies and need some more structural observations. The obtention of the cancer cell line-derived, partially purified farnesyltransferase will hopefully lead us to the discovery of specific inhibitors with potential non-cytotoxic anti-cancer activities.

Animals

Tumor inhibiting properties of stereoisomeric [1,2-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II)-compl exe s, Part I: Synthesis.

The synthesis of the stereoisomeric 1,2-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamines (1-4) from meso-1,2-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine and 3-methoxybenzaldehyde by a diaza-Cope-rearrangement and subsequent ether cleavage with BBr3 and their conversion into the [1,2-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II)-complexes with K2PtCl4 (1-PtCl2 - 4-PtCl2) is described.

Antineoplastic Agents

Tumor inhibiting properties of stereoisomeric [1,2-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl) ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II)-complexes, Part II: Biological properties.

The activity of stereoisomeric [1,2-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine] dichloroplatinum(II)-complexes (1-PtCl2,R,S; 2-PtCl2, R,R/S,S; 3-PtCl2, R,R; 4-PtCl2, S,S) on several tumor models (MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cell line; P 388 leukemia, mouse; L 1210 leukemia, mouse; L 5222 leukemia, rat; Ehrlich ascites tumor, mouse--wildtype; cisplatin-, etoposide-, cyclophosphamide-, and daunomycin-resistant, resp.) is described. For comparison the analogous [1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylendiamine]dichloroplatinum (II)-complexes (5-PtCl2, R, S; 6-PtCl2, R,R/S,S; 7-PtCl2, R,R; 8-PtCl2, S,S) and cisplatin are used. 1-PtCl2 to 4-PtCl2 (OH in 3,3'-positions) show their maximum antitumor effect at lower doses than 5-PtCl2 to 8-PtCl2 (OH in 4,4'-positions). 2-PtCl2 and 6-PtCl2 (R,R/S,S) are more active than 1-PtCl2 and 5-PtCl2 (R,S). 4-PtCl2 and 8-PtCl2 (S,S) are superior to 3-PtCl2 and 7-PtCl2 (R,R). On the L 5222 leukemia 2-PtCl2 (R,R/S,S), 4-PtCl2 (S,S) and 8-PtCl2 (S,S) markedly surpass cisplatin. Strong effects are produced by 2-PtCl2 to 4-PtCl2 on the Ehrlich ascites tumor (wildtype, cisplatin-, etoposide-, cyclophosphamide-, and daunomycin-resistant, resp.). The combination of 4-PtCl2 with cisplatin results in a weakly synergistic effect.

Animals

Characterization of the anti-tumour activity against solid tumours of a new nitrosoureido sugar: Cy 233.

The anti-tumour properties of Cy 233, a new nitrosoureido sugar, were investigated in two murine solid tumours: B16 melanoma and subcutaneously implanted colon adenocarcinoma. Injected i.v., Cy 233 exerted a strong anti-tumour effect against the established B16 melanoma: long-term survivors were recorded with all schedules of treatment. The drug was even more effective against advanced colon 38 adenocarcinoma: it produced a high percentage of total tumour regression, regardless of the route of administration (i.p., i.v., p.o.). The marked in vivo activity of Cy 233 against advanced colon 38 adenocarcinoma, which is known to be resistant to such major anti-cancer drugs as BCNU and chlorozotocin, its water solubility and its stability in aqueous media are further elements warranting toxicological and clinical studies of this agent.

Adenocarcinoma

Rationale for the synthesis and preliminary biological evaluation of highly active new antitumor nitrosoureido sugars.

Various new nitrosoureido derivatives of di- or trideoxy sugars were synthesized. The influence of the hydroxyl substitution pattern, the configuration at the anomeric center, and the absolute configuration of the sugar moiety on the antitumor activity of a series of nitrosoureido derivatives of di- and trideoxy sugars was studied. All compounds showed a very significant activity in vivo against L1210 leukemia, B16 melanocarcinoma, and Lewis lung carcinoma. Methyl 3-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-2,3-dideoxy-alpha-D-arabino- hexopyranoside, 24 (NSC 609224), was found to be the most active compound. When treated with 24 (NSC 609224) at 20 mg/kg on day 1, at least 90% of the L1210 leukemia and B16 melanocarcinoma bearing mice showed a survival of over 60 days for a LD50 value for this compound of 42 mg/kg.

Amino Sugars

Human medullary thyroid carcinoma: cell cultures and xenotransplants in nude mice. Immunocytochemistry and calcitonin secretion.

Occult primary and recurrent medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC) detected only by elevated calcitonin levels in the peripheral blood, generally after pentagastrin-test stimulation, are difficult to localize. Some new imaging procedures with radionuclide tracers or radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen seem to bring some potentially therapeutic benefits. We report our results with cell cultures and xenotransplants of human MTC with the intention of establishing reproducible models in vitro and in vivo. Cell cultures secrete calcitonin at up to 1200 pg/ml for periods ranging from 3 to 13 weeks. Immunocytochemistry detects cytoplasmic granules positive for calcitonin in polygonal epithelioid cells with dendritic processes. Xenotransplants in nude mice fare better in the subcutaneous axilla than in the subrenal capsule assay. In the former location the tumor-take is good and calcitonin is detected in the blood of the tumor-bearing animals, at levels ranging from 286 to more than 20,000 pg/ml. These models would be potentially usable as targets for radionuclide tracers and/or radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies.

Animals