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I R Judson

Publications and source records attributed to I R Judson.

61 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Recent preclinical and clinical studies with the thymidylate synthase inhibitor N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (CB 3717).

CB 3717, N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid, is a tight-binding inhibitor of thymidylate synthase (TS) whose cytotoxicity is mediated solely through the inhibition of this enzyme. Recent preclinical studies have focused on the intracellular formation of CB 3717 polyglutamates. Following a 12-hour exposure of L1210 cells to 50 microM [3H]CB 3717, 30% of the extractable radioactivity could be accounted for as CB 3717 tetra- and pentaglutamate, as determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses. As inhibitors of isolated L1210 TS, CB 3717 di-, tri-, tetra- and pentaglutamate are 26-, 87-, 119- and 114-fold more potent than CB 3717, respectively, and their formation may, therefore, be an important determinant of CB 3717 cytotoxicity. In early clinical studies with CB 3717, activity has been seen in breast cancer, ovarian cancer, hepatoma, and mesothelioma. Toxicities included hepatotoxicity, malaise, and dose-limiting nephrotoxicity. This latter effect is thought to be due to drug precipitation within the renal tubule as a result of the poor solubility of CB 3717 under acidic conditions. In an attempt to overcome this problem, a clinical trial of CB 3717 administered with alkaline diuresis is under way. Preliminary results at 400 and 500 mg/m2 suggest that a reduction in nephrotoxicity may have been achieved with only 1 instance of renal toxicity in 10 patients. Hepatotoxicity and malaise are again the most frequent side effects. Evidence of antitumor activity has been seen in 3 patients. Pharmacokinetic investigations have shown that alkaline diuresis does not alter CB 3717 plasma levels or urinary excretion and that satisfactory urinary alkalinization can be readily achieved.

Adult↗

Preclinical toxicology, pharmacokinetics and formulation of N2,N4,N6-trihydroxymethyl-N2,N4,N6-trimethylmelamine (trimelamol), a water-soluble cytotoxic s-triazine which does not require metabolic activation.

N2,N4,N6-Trihydroxymethyl-N2,N4,N6-trimethylmelamine (Trimelamol) is a water-soluble synthetic s-triazine which, unlike hexamethylmelamine (HMM) and pentamethylmelamine (PMM), does not require metabolic activation. The physico-chemical characteristics of Trimelamol were studied with the aim of overcoming the problems of chemical instability, low solubility and polymerisation which had hindered the development of the drug for clinical use. Trimelamol had similar activity to PMM against the murine PC6 plasmacytoma, but enhanced activity with respect to PMM against the Walker 256 carcinosarcoma in the rat, a species which metabolizes PMM less efficiently. Pharmacokinetic studies in mouse, rat and man did not show the major species differences characteristic of PMM. The drug exhibited similar toxicity to PMM against rodents, but had virtually no neurotoxicity. The potential advantages of Trimelamol over previously tested melamines are discussed.

Altretamine↗

Low central nervous system penetration of N2,N4,N6,-trihydroxymethyl-N2,N4,N6,-trimethylmelamine (Trimelamol): a cytotoxic s-triazine with reduced neurotoxicity.

Trimelamol (N2,N4,N6-trihydroxymethyl-N2,N4,N6-trimethylmelamine) is an analogue of pentamethylmelamine (PMM). In early clinical trials PMM failed to show significant anti-tumour activity in man which was attributed to poor metabolic activation. Trimelamol does not require activation and is therefore expected to be more active in man. PMM caused dose-limiting emesis and sedation whereas Trimelamol is much less neurotoxic in rodents. The relative penetration of PMM and Trimelamol into mouse brain has therefore been examined. Mice receiving PMM at 90 mg kg-1 i.p. were found to have high concentrations of the drug in the CNS compared to plasma (mean brain/plasma ratio 1.04) whereas animals receiving Trimelamol had consistently low CNS concentrations (mean brain/plasma ratio 0.08). This difference did not correlate with plasma protein binding which is greater for PMM (68.2%) than for Trimelamol (17.5%). However, it does appear to be related to lipophilicity. In Phase I clinical trial Trimelamol has proved much less emetic than PMM and causes no acute sedation. It is likely that this reduction in toxicity may be explained by the relatively poor ability of Trimelamol to enter the CNS.

Altretamine↗

Cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (cis-platinum) and etoposide (VP-16) in malignant lymphoma--an effective salvage regimen.

Response rates in malignant lymphoma after failure of first-line therapy are generally poor. Twenty-five patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) unresponsive to standard combination chemotherapy were treated with cis-platinum/VP-16. All were heavily pretreated, 29% having received three or more different drug regimens. Seventeen patients were evaluable for response. There were five complete remissions (CR) (29%) and four partial remissions (PR) (24%), giving an overall response rate of 53% (36% of all patients treated). The duration of CR was 12-48 weeks. Median survival for responders was 25 weeks (15-95), compared with only 5 weeks (4-17) for non-responders (P = 0.002). Toxicity included nausea and vomiting, alopecia, minor renal impairment, and myelosuppression. This was sometimes severe: WBC less than 1.0 X 10(9)/l in three patients (18%) and platelets less than 50 X 10(9)/l in five patients (29%). The response rate for this combination is superior to that reported for either cisplatinum or VP-16 alone in similar patients (PR only 26% and 20%-30%, respectively). Further investigation is required to define the role of these drugs in the first-line treatment of poor-prognosis NHL.

Adolescent↗

Multiple myeloma in a pair of monozygotic twins: the first reported case.

A pair of monozygotic twins both developed multiple myeloma within a 2 year period. The first patient is alive with stable disease 4 years later, his twin brother died within a year of diagnosis. Monozygosity is well established and in both cases the paraprotein was IgG kappa. The relative influence of environmental and hereditary factors on the aetiology of myeloma is discussed. We believe this to be the first case of myeloma in twins to be reported.

Diseases in Twins↗

The activity of N-(hydroxymethyl) melamines in fresh human ovarian tumour cells and xenografts.

Trimelamol (TM) was developed as a water soluble analogue of the oral chemotherapeutic agent hexamethyl-melamine (HMM), to be administered i.v., in an effort to avoid dose limiting emesis. Because of formulation difficulties due to its inherent instability the development of TM was halted. In vivo studies using a human ovarian cancer xenograft model PXN/65 showed TM to be curative in the dose range of 15-60 mg/kg i.p. daily x 5, for 4 weeks. Conversely, HMM given at the highest dose (60 mg/kg i.p., or 90 mg/kg p.o.) indicated only very modest tumour growth delays. In vitro chemosensitivity testing using primary ovarian tumour cultures showed that in 12/23 cases indicating reduced sensitivity to cisplatin or carboplatin, sensitivity to TM was increased. TM was curative in the carboplatin-resistant HX 110P human ovarian cancer xenograft and promising activity was seen in the MX-1 human breast cancer xenograft. In spite of enhanced stability in aqueous solution and good in vitro cytotoxicity, the TM analogues CB 7669 (triscyanomethyl) and CB 7639 (tristrifluoroethyl) showed disappointing in vivo antitumour activity which may be explained by the need for prolonged exposure. TM analogues with intermediate stability are currently under development in an effort to further the clinical development of this promising group of antitumour agents.

Altretamine↗