Stereoisomers and analogues of bestatin, [(2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoyl]-L-leucine, were synthesized and tested for aminopeptidase B and leucine aminopeptidase inhibiting activity. Among the eight stereoisomers, the 2S stereoisomers exhibited strong activity. In a series of compounds in which the L-leucine residue of bestatin was substituted with other amino acids, only the one containing isoleucine showed more activity than bestatin. Norleucine, norvaline, methionine, valine, serine, glutamine, phenylalanine, glutamic acid, proline, and lysine analogues gave, in that order, decreasing activity. Alkyl and phenyl sub stitution for the benzyl group of bestatin decreased the activity markedly. p-Methyl-, p-chloro-, and p-nitrobestatins showed greater activity than bestatin.

No abstract

No abstract

Stable spergualin analogues were synthesized by substitutions of the or-hydroxyglycine residue of spergualin with various a-or -guanidino-fatty acid amide and a hydrate of glyoxyloylspermidine in an aqueous solution as shown in Scheme 1.In this paper, the syntheses and structure activity of stable spergualin analogues are reported in which the a-hydroxyglycine residue corresponding to 10~12 position of deoxyspergualin is substituted with various a-or w-aminoacids. Scheme1. Degradation of spergualins in an aqueous solution.

Smmary To improve the efficiency of hepatic intra-arterial (h.i.a.) chemotherapy, we selected pirarubicin (THP) because it shows good properties for h.i.a. chemotherapy, such as fast and efficient cellular uptake, and used it for h.i.a. chemotherapy in rabbits with V x 2 tumour implanted in the liver. The anti-tumour effect of THP upon h.i.a. administration was compared with that upon intravenous (i.v.) injection and also with the anti-tumour activity of epirubicin (EPI) upon h.i.a. injection using optimal and maximal tolerated doses of each drug. When tumour growth rates and morphometric examinations were evaluated, it was found that THP and EPI were effective against V x 2 tumour when injected via the h.i.a. route. The activity of THP was stronger than that of EPI. As regards h.i.a. injection-related complications, plasma transaminase levels were temporarily elevated. To demonstrate higher anti-tumour activity and other advantages of h.i.a. injection of THP. plasma and tumour drug concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography after THP or EPI was administered at an equal dose to the rabbit V x 2 model. Hepatic intra-arterial injection of THP accomplished a selective and higher uptake into the tumour and lower effusion into the plasma than i.v. injection of THP or h.i.a. injection of EPI. Our findings indicate that THP is the better candidate of the two drugs tested for the h.i.a. chemotherapy because of its greater anti-tumour activity and the lower systemic drug exposure achieved upon h.i.a. injection.