A new approach to the synthesis of novel bifunctional dinuclear platinum complexes with linear coordinating spermidine and spermine is reported. The synthetic pathway involves first the three-step selective protection of the polyamines, giving bis(trifluoroacetyl)polyamines (1, 4), (tert-butoxycarbonyl)bis(trifluoroacetyl)polyamines (2, 5), and (tert-butoxycarbonyl)polyamines (3, 6), respectively. The platination at desired sites with activated species of cis- or trans-[PtCl2(NH3)2] (CDDP or TDDP, respectively) produces the BOC-protected dinuclear species [{cis- or trans-PtCl(NH3)2}2(μ-L)]X (7, L = BOC-spermidine, X = (NO3)0.75Cl1.25; 9, L = (BOC)2-spermine, X = Cl2; cis spermine species not isolated). Through final deprotection, three different complexes were obtained and further investigated:  [{trans-PtCl(NH3)2}2{μ-spermidine-N 1,N 8}]Cl3 (8), [{trans-PtCl(NH3)2}2{μ-spermine-N 1,N 12}]Cl4 (10), and [{cis-PtCl(NH3)2}2{μ-spermine-N 1,N 12}]Cl4 (11). One- and two-dimensional NMR solution studies provided evidence that 11, at physiological pH, forms an inert bis((tetraamine)platinum) species in which each Pt is chelated by a central and a terminal amino group. In contrast, complexes 8 and 10 retain their reactivity, showing only reversible formation of hydroxo bridges. The comparison of in vitro cytotoxicity data for 8, 10, and 11 with data for previously described bifunctional dinuclear complexes shows the enhanced activity particularly of complex 8 in the CDDP-resistant L1210 cell line. The binding of 8 and 10 to poly(dG-dC)·poly(dG-dC) is further increased and also reflected by B → Z conformational changes at lower doses.

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays a central role in regulation of the production and destruction of cellular proteins. These pathways mediate proliferation and cell survival, particularly in malignant cells. The successful development of the 20S human proteasome inhibitor bortezomib for the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma has established this targeted intervention as an effective therapeutic strategy. Herein, the potent, selective, and orally bioavailable threonine-derived 20S human proteasome inhibitor that has been advanced to preclinical development, [(1R)-1-[[(2 S,3 R)-3-hydroxy-2-[(6-phenylpyridine-2-carbonyl)amino]-1-oxobutyl]amino]-3-methylbutyl]boronic acid 20 (CEP-18770), is disclosed.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc endopeptidases that have been implicated in various disease processes. Different classes of MMP inhibitors, including hydroxamic acids, phosphinic acids and thiols, have been previously described. Most of these mimic peptides and most likely bind in a similar way to the corresponding peptide substrates. Here we describe pyrimidine-triones as a completely new class of metalloprotease inhibitors. While the pyrimidine-trione template is used as the zinc-chelating moiety, the substituents have been optimized to yield inhibitors comparable in their inhibition efficiency of matrix metalloproteinases to hydroxamic acid derivatives such as batimastat. However, they are much more specific for a small subgroup of MMPs, namely the gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9).

The synthesis and antitumor evaluation of 2, 5-disubstituted-indazolo[4,3-gh]isoquinolin-6(2H)-ones (9-aza-APs) are described. The key intermediates in the synthesis are benz[g]isoquinoline-5,10-diones which are substituted at positions 6 and 9 with groups of different nucleofugacity for SNAr displacements. The initial displacement of fluoride by a substituted hydrazine leads to the pyrazole analogues. Substitution of the remaining leaving group by an amine or BOC-protected amines leads to the 9-aza-APs 12. These analogues were converted into their maleate or hydrochloride salts 13. In two cases, namely, 13x and 13z, sidearm buildup was also employed in the synthetic pathway. In vitro evaluation of 9-aza-APs against the human colon tumor cell line LoVo uncovered for most of the compounds a cytotoxic potency lower than that of DuP-941 or mitoxantrone and comparable to that of doxorubicin. Only analogues 13c, 13n, and 13ff were as cytotoxic as DuP-941. Interestingly, while DuP-941 was highly cross-resistant in the LoVo cell line resistant to doxorubicin (LoVo/Dx), the 9-aza-APs carrying a distal lipophilic tertiary amine moiety in both chains were capable of overcoming the MDR resistance induced in this cell line. The 9-aza-APs show outstanding in vivo antitumor activity against both systemic P388 murine leukemia and MX-1 human mammary carcinoma transplanted in nude mice. At their optimal dosages, congeners 13a-c, 13f, 13n, 13q, 13x, and 13dd were highly effective against P388 leukemia with T/C% of 200-381, while the T/C% value of DuP-941 was 147. In the MX-1 tumor model, 24 compounds elicited percentages of tumor weight inhibitions (TWI) ranging from 50% to 99%. Congeners 13d, 13k, 13l, 13x, 13z, and 13ee emerged as the most effective ones, with TWI% 96, simliar to that of DuP-941 (TWI% = 95). On the basis of their efficacy profile in additional experimental tumors and lack of cardiotoxicity in preclinical models, two congeners have surfaced as potential clinical candidates.

No abstract