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Biomedical subjects

M Jarman

Publications and source records attributed to M Jarman.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Stable analogues of the antitumour agent trimelamol retain in vitro cytotoxicity in drug-sensitive and resistant rodent and human cell lines.

In spite of clinical activity in heavily-pretreated ovarian cancer, the antitumour s-triazine trimelamol [TM; tris(hydroxymethyl)-tris(methyl)melamine] had to be withdrawn from further clinical studies due to formulation difficulties related to instability. A synthetic programme has produced tris(hydroxymethyl) analogues containing electron-withdrawing groups in place of methyl-triscyanomethyl CB 7669, tristrifluoroethyl CB 7639, CB 7529 and trispropargyl CB 7547, all showing markedly superior stability to TM. Chemosensitivity testing of analogues (MTT assay, continuous exposure) using a panel of rodent and human cell lines showed activity close to that of TM, e.g. for the CH1 human ovarian cancer cell line. IC50 values were TM 23.4 microM, CB 7639 30.5 microM, CB 7529 29.5 microM, CB 7547 28.5 microM and CB 7669 27.3 microM. CB 7669 and CB 7639 required prolonged exposure (> 12 h) in order to exhibit equivalent cytotoxicity to a 2-h exposure to TM. Thus, rather than administration as a single daily dose, the stable analogues may be more suited to prolonged infusion, which was suggested as being a more beneficial regimen in clinical trials with TM. In line with clinical observations indicating the efficacy of TM in platinum-refractory ovarian cancer, we saw no significant cross-resistance to TM or CB 7529 in a range of platinum-sensitive and acquired-resistant cell line pairs or in an alkylating-agent resistant cell line, despite TM's ability to crosslink DNA. Data obtained using cell lines with acquired resistance to TM, CB 7669 and formaldehyde (released in the breakdown of TM) suggest a pivotal role for formaldehyde and a more minor role for alkylating activity in the mechanism of action of the N-(hydroxymethyl)melamines in vitro. Further clinical trials of these compounds are eagerly awaited, and their usefulness as second-line chemotherapy for heavily pretreated ovarian cancer deserves further investigation.

Animals↗

Pharmacology of novel steroidal inhibitors of cytochrome P450(17) alpha (17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase).

Medical or surgical castration for the treatment of prostatic cancers prevents androgen production by the testes, but not by the adrenals. Inhibition of the key enzyme for androgen biosynthesis, cytochrome P450(17) alpha, could prevent androgen production from both sources. The in vivo effects of 17-(3-pyridyl)androsta-5,16-dien-3 beta-ol (CB7598) and 17-(3-pyridyl)androsta-5,16-dien-3-one (CB7627), novel potent steroidal inhibitors of this enzyme, on WHT mice were compared with those of castration and two clinically active compounds, ketoconazole and flutamide. Flutamide and surgical castration caused significant reductions in the weights of the ventral prostate and seminal vesicles. CB7598, in its 3 beta-O-acetate form (CB7630), and CB7627 caused significant reductions in the weights of the ventral prostate, seminal vesicles, kidneys and testes when administered once daily for 2 weeks. Ketoconazole, given on the same schedule, caused no reductions. Plasma testosterone was reduced to < or = 0.1 nM by CB7630, despite a 3- to 4-fold increase in the plasma level of luteinizing hormone. Adrenal weights were unchanged following treatment with CB7630 or CB7627 but were markedly increased following ketoconazole, indicating no inhibition of corticosterone production by these steroidal compounds. These results indicate that CB7598, CB7630 or CB7627 may be useful in the treatment of hormone-dependent prostatic cancers.

Abiraterone Acetate↗

Effects of a new antioestrogen, idoxifene, on cisplatin- and doxorubicin-sensitive and -resistant human ovarian carcinoma cell lines.

Pyrrolidino-4-iodotamoxifen (idoxifene) is a new non-steroidal antioestrogen currently undergoing phase I clinical evaluation. Using idoxifene and tamoxifen and two additional analogues of tamoxifen (3-hydroxytamoxifen and 4-iodotamoxifen) and the imidazole-based calmodulin inhibitor, calmidazolium, a strong positive correlation (r2 > 0.95) was observed between cytotoxicity and inhibition of calmodulin-dependent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (e.g. mean IC50 across four human ovarian carcinoma cell lines of 4.5 microM for idoxifene and 6.3 microM for tamoxifen). Using two parent human ovarian carcinoma cell lines (41M and CH1; both oestrogen receptor negative) in which acquired resistance to doxorubicin or cisplatin has been generated, we have determined the ability of idoxifene to overcome resistance in these lines. At a non-toxic concentration of 2 microM, idoxifene appeared at least as effective as the clinically used multidrug resistance modifiers verapamil and tamoxifen in overcoming doxorubicin resistance in two acquired resistant cell lines shown to overexpress the P-170 efflux glycoprotein. Non-cross-resistance between cisplatin and idoxifene was observed in two acquired resistant cell lines possessing contrasting mechanisms of resistance to cisplatin (41McisR6 reduced drug transport and CH1cisR6 resistance mediated at the level of DNA). In one of four cell lines (CH1), synergism between idoxifene and cisplatin was observed by median effect analysis. However, with the 41M and its 6-fold cisplatin-resistant variant, antagonism was observed. These observations made by median effect analysis appeared to be unrelated to platinum uptake or removal of platinum-induced DNA interstrand cross-links. These in vitro data suggest that idoxifene may be usefully combined with doxorubicin in the clinical setting, but caution should be exercised in combining it with cisplatin in the treatment of certain tumours.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

A mechanistic hypothesis for DNA adduct formation by tamoxifen following hepatic oxidative metabolism.

A mechanism for the generation of electrophilic alkylating agents from tamoxifen by hepatic alpha-oxidation of its ethyl group is presented which accounts for the formation of covalent DNA adducts associated with its hepatic carcinogenicity. The key process leading to the generation of electrophilic alkylating agents from tamoxifen is postulated to be alpha-hydroxylation in conjunction with 4-hydroxylation or secondary metabolic conjugation. The mechanism explains the lack of DNA adducts observed for the tamoxifen analogues toremifene, droloxifene and idoxifene and accounts for the species variation in hepatic carcinogenicity of tamoxifen.

Animals↗

Reduced genotoxicity of [D5-ethyl]-tamoxifen implicates alpha-hydroxylation of the ethyl group as a major pathway of tamoxifen activation to a liver carcinogen.

A proposed mechanism for the metabolic activation of tamoxifen to electrophilic species that form DNA adducts leading to liver cancer involves alpha-hydroxylation of the ethyl group in the critical first step. This mechanism predicts that tamoxifen deuterated at the alpha-position would be less genotoxic than the non-deuterated compound owing to an isotope effect that would reduce the rate of oxidative metabolism at this position. This hypothesis has now been tested with experiments conducted in rats in vivo and in human cells in vitro. It was found that the deuterated compound [D5-ethyl]-tamoxifen is significantly less genotoxic than tamoxifen. Administration of 0.06 and 0.12 mmol/kg [D5-ethyl]-tamoxifen to female Fischer rats by gavage resulted in a 2.5- and 1.7-fold reduction respectively in the levels of hepatic DNA adducts present 24 h after treatment, compared with the non-deuterated compound. Treatment of MCL-5 cells with [D5-ethyl]-tamoxifen resulted in a 2- to 3-fold decrease, compared with tamoxifen, in the number of micronuclei induced in cells arrested in cytokinesis by cytochalasin-B. Further evidence is provided by UV irradiation of the major hepatic DNA adducts isolated from tamoxifen-treated rats, which caused a large shift in the chromatographic mobility of the adducts, consistent with the presence of a 1,2-olefinic linkage in the tamoxifen residue of the adduct leading to cyclization to a phenanthrenylic compound, and consistent with this adduct having arisen from reaction with DNA at the alpha-position of tamoxifen. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that tamoxifen is metabolized to a liver carcinogen by alpha-hydroxylation of its ethyl group.

Animals↗

Evaluation of some 4-fluoro- and 4-cyano derivatives of delta 4,3-ketosteroids as inhibitors of testosterone 5 alpha-reductase.

Some 4-fluorinated analogues of 3-oxo-delta 4 steroids and 4-cyano derivatives of progesterone and androstenedione were evaluated as inhibitors of steroid 5 alpha-reductase activity. Inhibitors of this enzyme may be useful in treating prostatic cancer. 4-Fluoroandrostenedione was a modest inhibitor of the rat enzyme (IC50 = 4.08 microM), while 4-cyanoprogesterone was a potent inhibitor of both the rat and human enzymes (IC50 values = 0.045 microM and 0.050 microM respectively). These two steroids were tested in vivo for activity against androgen sensitive organs in WHT mice. 4-Fluoroandrostenedione caused increases in organ weights, suggesting it is an androgen agonist, while the 4-cyano compound displayed modest androgen ablation. Therefore substitutions at the 4-position may produce compounds of therapeutic use in treating prostate cancer.

3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase↗

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of potential tumor-inhibitory analogues of trimelamol (2,4,6-tris[(hydroxymethyl)methylamino]-1,3,5-triazine) having electron-withdrawing groups in place of methyl.

In exploring the structural features which determine the antitumor activity of 2,4,6-tris-[(hydroxymethyl)methylamino]-1,3,5-triazine (trimelamol, 1), we have synthesized analogues in which the methyl groups have been replaced by the electron-withdrawing substituents 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl (5), propargyl (13), and cyanomethyl (15) via the respective tris(alkylamino)triazines 3, 12, and 14. Three mono[(hydroxymethyl)amino]triazines (4, 7, and 10) were also prepared. All the new tris(hydroxymethyl) derivatives showed cytotoxicities toward a variety of experimental rodent and human ovarian tumor cell lines similar to those shown by 1, the cyanomethyl analogue (15) having the most favorable profile. Mono(hydroxymethyl) derivatives (4 and 7) were ca. one-third as toxic. The new tris(hydroxymethyl) analogues were more stable to aqueous hydrolysis than was 1. Half-life (pH 7.5) values were, for 1, 120 min, for 5, 690 min, for 13, 450 min, and for 15, 275 min, but at pH 2.0, 15 (t1/2 350 min) was the most stable. This cyanomethyl analogue was also the most water-soluble, being comparable to 1 whereas 5 and 13 were poorly soluble.

Animals↗

Identification, synthesis and properties of 5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2-nitro-4-nitrosobenzamide, a novel DNA crosslinking agent derived from CB1954.

5-(Aziridin-1-yl)-4-hydroxylamino-2-nitrobenzamide, the active form of 5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide (CB1954), can react spontaneously with oxygen, and in aqueous solution yields 5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2-nitro-4-nitrosobenzamide and hydrogen peroxide. Mild biological reducing agents such as NAD(P)H, reduced thiols and ascorbic acid rapidly re-reduced the nitroso compound to the hydroxylamine. Both compounds were equally efficient at inducing cytotoxicity and DNA interstrand crosslinking in cells when exposed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Neither agent was capable of inducing cross-links in isolated DNA. When acetyl coenzyme A was included in the incubation, crosslink formation was seen with the hydroxylamine, but not with the nitroso compound. Thus, the nitroso compound is acting as a prodrug for the hydroxylamine, and needs to be reduced to this compound to exert its cytotoxic effects. In vivo anti-tumour tests showed that neither compound was effective in its own right. This may be due to the rapid reduction of the nitroso to the hydroxylamine, and the reaction of the hydroxylamine with serum proteins. The chemical synthesis of the 5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2-nitro-4-nitrosobenzamide, and an improved synthesis of 5-(aziridin-1-yl)-4-hydroxylamino-2-nitrobenzamide is described. These results emphasize the potential efficacy of the in situ activation of prodrugs such as CB1954 either by endogenous enzymes such as DT diaphorase, or by antibody directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT).

Animals↗

Effect of oestrogen receptor status and time on the intra-tumoural accumulation of tamoxifen and N-desmethyltamoxifen following short-term therapy in human primary breast cancer.

While the presence of oestrogen receptors (ERs) in human breast cancer may determine the biological response to tamoxifen, the extent to which ER status governs tumour tamoxifen accumulation is unclear. We investigated the intra-tumoural disposition of tamoxifen (TAM) and its major metabolite N-desmethyltamoxifen (DMT) in 36 human breast carcinomas following short-term therapy. Steady-state serum concentrations appeared to be reached following 2 weeks therapy, after which no significant difference in the intra-tumoural concentrations of TAM between ER-ve and ER+ve tumours was observed (717.9 +/- 166.4 ng/gm, and 518.6 +/- 109.4 ng/gm, respectively). In patients treated for less than 2 weeks, there was significantly less intra-tumoural TAM in ER-ve compared with ER+ve tumours (120.9 +/- 49.9 ng/gm and 450.1 +/- 75.3 ng/gm, respectively; p < 0.04). The rate of tumour TAM accumulation correlated with duration of therapy only for ER-ve tumours (r = 0.72, p < 0.02), whereas for ER+ve tumours the absolute ER value appeared to be weakly associated with TAM accumulation (r = 0.41; p < 0.05). The intra-tumoural ratio of TAM to DMT reflected the serum concentrations in ER-ve tumours, but in ER+ve tumours relatively more TAM to DMT was observed. A similar intracellular distribution of both TAM and DMT was observed, although following 2 weeks therapy relatively less of each compound was found in the cytosol of ER-ve compared with ER+ve tumours (18% vs 34%). These results demonstrate that ER status may influence the rate of accumulation and intra-cellular distribution of tamoxifen and its metabolites, but not the final concentrations which are achieved. Following steady-state, both ER+ve and ER-ve tumours, not all of which would be expected to respond to the drug, achieve intra-tumoural concentrations 5-7 fold greater than serum. Unlike recent reports on acquired resistance, therefore, de novo resistance to tamoxifen is unlikely to represent an inability of the tumour to achieve adequate intra-tumoural concentrations of the drug or its metabolites.

Aged↗

Identification of novel reduced pyridinium derivatives as synthetic co-factors for the enzyme DT diaphorase (NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone), EC 1.6.99.2).

The enzyme DT diaphorase (NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone), EC 1.6.99.2) is unusual in that it can utilize either NADH or NADPH as a co-factor for the reduction of its substrates. We have shown that the intact NAD(P)H molecule is not required and that other reduced pyridinium compounds can also act as co-factors for DT diaphorase. The entire adenine dinucleotide portion of NAD(P)H can be dispensed with entirely and the simplest quaternary (and therefore reducible) derivative of nicotinamide, 1-methylnicotinamide, was as effective as NAD(P)H as a co-factor for the reduction of the quinone, menadione. Nicotinamide 5'-O-benzoyl riboside was also as effective a co-factor as NAD(P)H, whilst nicotinamide ribotide and riboside have a higher Km, and decreased the kcat of DT diaphorase. Nicotinic acid derivatives had little activity. Kinetic analysis indicated that both nicotinamide ribotide and riboside may be interacting with the menadione binding site rather than the NAD(P)H site. Irrespective of the differences between the various reduced pyridinium derivatives in their ability to act as co-factors for the reduction of menadione by DT diaphorase, all the compounds that showed activity in this assay were equally effective co-factors for the reduction of the nitrobenzamide, CB 1954 (5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide). The apparent Km of DT diaphorase for all these co-factors approached zero. It was concluded that co-factor binding is not a rate-limiting step in the nitroreductase activity of DT diaphorase.

Animals↗

Identification of 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione metabolites in prostatic cancer patients by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Liquid chromatography with thermospray mass spectrometry has proved to be an invaluable technique for the study of metabolic degradation of xenobiotics in complex biological fluids. This paper describes the detection of 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione and its metabolites in urinary extracts from prostatic cancer patients. Several metabolites were detected including 4 beta,5 alpha-dihydroxyandrostan-3,17-dione, 3,17-dihydroxyandrostan-4-ones and 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-androstan-4,17-dione.

Androstenedione↗

Effects of 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione and its metabolites on 5 alpha-reductase activity and the androgen receptor.

The steroidal aromatase inhibitor, 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (4OHA) and its metabolites, 4-hydroxytestosterone (4OHT), 3 beta,17-dihydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-4-one (metabolite A) and 3 alpha, 17-dihydroxy-5 beta-androstan-4-one (metabolite B) were evaluated as inhibitors of the human prostatic 5 alpha-reductase enzyme and for binding to the rat prostatic androgen receptor. 4OHA and 4OHT were weak inhibitors of 5 alpha-reductase with IC50 values of 15-29 microM. Metabolites A and B had no significant inhibitory activity. 4OHA and metabolites A and B bound weakly to the androgen receptor. The binding affinities (RBA) relative to mibolerone (RBA = 100) were 0.085, 0.485 and 0.016, respectively. However, 4OHT (RBA = 75) was a more potent binder than the endogenous androgen 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (RBA = 66). The ability of these metabolites, in particular 4OHT, to bind to the androgen receptor may explain the in vivo androgenic activity of 4OHA.

5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors↗

Characterisation of metabolites of 3-ethyl-3-(4-pyridyl)-piperidine-2,6-dione, a potential breast cancer drug.

The identification of metabolites from the pyridylglutarimide 3-ethyl-3-(4-pyridyl)piperidine-2,6-dione (PG, Rogletimide) was achieved using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with a thermospray interface (LC-TSP-MS). The urinary metabolites include PG N-oxide, the products of 4- and 5-hydroxylation in the piperidine residue (4- and 5-hydroxy-PG) and a gamma-butyrolactone derived via terminal hydroxylation in the ethyl residue. In addition to the above metabolites, several products of glutarimide ring-opening could be detected in the plasma extracts after multiple-dose treatment. Thus LC-TSP-MS is potentially a simple and rapid technique in studies of drug metabolism for the important glutarimide class of drug.

Aminoglutethimide↗

Pyrrolidino-4-iodotamoxifen and 4-iodotamoxifen, new analogues of the antiestrogen tamoxifen for the treatment of breast cancer.

New tamoxifen analogues were tested for their antiproliferative activity both in vitro and in vivo. Binding studies showed that both 4-iodotamoxifen and pyrrolidino-4-iodotamoxifen and 2.5-fold higher affinities for the estrogen receptor compared with tamoxifen. Pyrrolidino-4-iodotamoxifen was also 1.5-fold more effective in causing inhibition of estrogen-induced growth of MCF-7 cells compared with tamoxifen at 10(-6) M. The 4-iodotamoxifen analogue was similar to tamoxifen in its inhibitory action at 10(-6) M. Antiproliferative activities of these drugs were tested using the nitrosomethylurea-induced rat mammary tumor model. Pyrrolidino-4-iodotamoxifen caused regression in 92% of rats, whereas tamoxifen caused regression in 75% of rats. The agonist activity of the analogues was determined using the immature rat and mouse uterotrophic assays. Both tamoxifen and 4-iodotamoxifen had similar partial agonist activity, and this was greater than that seen with pyrrolidino-4-iodotamoxifen. Furthermore, pyrrolidino-4-iodotamoxifen caused a dose-dependent inhibition of estrogen-induced vaginal cornification, whereas tamoxifen and 4-iodotamoxifen did not. These studies demonstrate that pyrrolidino-4-iodotamoxifen is more effective than tamoxifen in inhibiting tumor regression and that its reduced uterotrophic activity and increased estrogen receptor binding may give it significant clinical advantages over the parent compound.

Animals↗

Determination of 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione metabolism in breast cancer patients using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A sensitive procedure for studying the metabolism of the steroidal aromatase inhibitor 4-hydroxy-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (4OHA) was developed based on enzyme hydrolysis, liquid-liquid extraction and reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer (LC-MS) using a thermospray interface. Seven metabolites were identified from the hydrolysed urine samples together with the parent drug. The major routes of metabolism were via dehydrogenation, reduction of the ketone functional groups, reduction at the C-4-C-5 double bond and hydroxylation at the C-5 position. Confirmation of the identity of 4OHA and its metabolites isolated from female patients' urine samples was accomplished by comparison of the retention times of their corresponding synthetic standards on LC-MS. We have demonstrated that this technique is particularly suitable for studying the metabolism of steroidal drugs.

Administration, Oral↗

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the aromatase inhibitor 3-ethyl-3-(4-pyridyl)piperidine-2,6-dione in patients with postmenopausal breast cancer.

The pyridylglutarimide 3-ethyl-3-(4-pyridyl)-piperidine-2,6-dione (PyG) is a novel inhibitor of aromatase that was shown to cause effective suppression of plasma oestradiol levels in postmenopausal patients. In four patients receiving oral doses of PyG (500 mg) twice daily for 3-4 days, oestradiol levels fell to 31.1% +/- 6.3% of baseline values within 48 h and remained suppressed during treatment. Of a further six patients who received oral PyG (1 g) as a single dose, five had quantifiable oestradiol levels. Oestradiol suppression was sustained for 36 h and recovery correlated with a fall of PyG concentrations below a threshold value of ca. 2 micrograms/ml. The pharmacokinetics of PyG were non-linear and, when fitted to the integrated Michaelis-Menten equation, yielded good parameter estimates for Co (21.7 +/- 1.82 micrograms/ml), Km (2.66 +/- 0.68 micrograms/ml) and Vmax (0.86 +/- 0.06 micrograms ml-1 h-1). On subsequent repeated dosing with PyG, both the Km (4.31 +/- 0.48 micrograms/ml) and the Vmax (1.83 +/- 0.13 micrograms ml-1 h-1) values increased and recovery from oestradiol suppression was more rapid, indicating that PyG induces its own metabolism.

Aminoglutethimide↗