Phase I clinical and pharmacological studies of benzylacyclouridine, a uridine phosphorylase inhibitor

Benzylacyclouridine (BAU, IND 039655) is a potent and specific inhibitor of uridine phosphorylase (UrdPase; EC 2.4.2.3). This enzyme plays a major role in regulating uridine homeostasis and also catalyzes the conversion of fluoropyrimidine nucleosides to their respective bases. Inhibition of UrdPase enzyme activity 18-24 h after 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) administration increased plasma levels of uridine and enhanced the therapeutic index of 5-FU by rescuing normal tissues. Moreover, in vitro preclinical studies have also shown that inhibiting UrdPase enzyme activity by BAU prior to administration of 5-FU increased cytotoxicity in a number of human cancer cell lines. A series of preclinical studies was performed in dogs and pigs to evaluate the pharmacological and pharmacodynamic properties of BAU. These data showed a sustained elevation in plasma uridine concentration in both animal models. The rapid degradation of a tracer dose of uridine into uracil was virtually arrested by BAU administered both p.o. or i.v. The t1/2 of BAU was 1.8-3.6 h in dogs, with bioavailability levels of 85% (30 mg/kg) and 42.5% (120 mg/kg). In pigs, the half-life varied from 1.6 to 2.3 h, with a bioavailability of 40% at 120 mg/kg. The drug was distributed into most tissues with a tissue: plasma ratio of approximately 0.7. On the basis of these preclinical studies, we performed a Phase I clinical trial of BAU in patients with advanced cancer. Patients received 200, 400, 800, and 1600 mg/m2 BAU as a single oral dose. Toxicities included grade 2 anemia, grade 1 fever, grade 1 fatigue, grade 1 constipation, and grade 1 elevation in alkaline phosphatase; none of these toxicities were observed to be dose dependent. The maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity were not reached at the doses given. BAU plasma concentrations and area under the curve correlated linearly with the oral dose level. The pharmacokinetics of BAU were consistent with a first-order clearance, with average peak concentrations ranging from 19 microM (200 mg/m2) to 99 microM (1600 mg/m2) and tbeta1/2 ranging from 3.0 to 3.9 h at the four dose levels. Compared with baseline plasma uridine, treatment of patients with 200, 400, 800, and 1600 mg/m2 BAU increased peak uridine concentrations by 120, 150, 250, and 175%, respectively. On the basis of this clinical study, the suggested Phase II starting dose of BAU in combination with 5-FU is 800 mg/m2. Studies combining BAU with 5-FU and incorporating appropriate molecular and biochemical end points to assess the effects of this drug combination on tumor and/or surrogate tumor tissue are under way.     

Uridine phosphorylase from Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda): kinetics and inhibition by pyrimidine nucleoside analogs

A single pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase was found in the cytoplasmic extract from Hymenolepis diminuta. This enzyme preferentially cleaves uridine and, to a much lesser extent, thymidine. Its presence directly indicates the existence of pyrimidine nucleoside salvage pathway in this parasite. Detailed kinetic studies in the phosphorolytic and synthetic direction pointed to the sequential mechanism of these reactions. For phosphorolysis, Kurd = 33 microM and Kp = 806 microM. For synthesis of uridine, Kura = 204 microM and K1-P-rib. = 50 microM. Over six times higher K(m) for uracil than for uridine indicates that phosphorolysis is the favoured reaction in this tapeworm. Well known inhibitors of mammalian uridine phosphorylase: 2,2'-anhydro-5-ethyluridine and 1-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl)-5-benzyluracil (DHPBU), both with Ki = 0.07 microM were potent competitive inhibitors of the enzyme from H. diminuta. The newly synthesized 2,3'-anhydro-5-ethyluridine (K. Felczak, unpublished) showed only moderate inhibitory activity (Ki = 14 microM) similarly as 1-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy-methyl)-5-benzyluracil. The same order of Ki values obtained for the investigated inhibitors vs uridine phosphorylase, irrespective whether the enzyme was isolated from rat intestinal mucosa (Drabikowska et al., 1987, Biochem. Pharmacol. 36, 4125-4128) or H. diminuta may point to a great similarity between binding sites on the parasite and the host enzyme.     

Phenylselenenyl- and phenylthio-substituted pyrimidines as inhibitors of dihydrouracil dehydrogenase and uridine phosphorylase

Lithiation of 5-bromo-2,4-bis(benzyloxy)pyrimidine (3) with n-BuLi at -80 degrees C followed by the addition of diphenyl diselenide or diphenyl disulfide as an electrophile furnished the corresponding 5-(phenylhetera)-2,4-bis(benzyloxy)pyrimidine, which on exposure to trimethylsilyl iodide in CH2-Cl2 at room temperature yielded the 5-(phenylhetera)uracils in 70-75% yield. Similarly, the 6-(phenylhetera)uracils were prepared from 6-bromo-2,4-bis(benzyloxy)pyrimidine (10). 1-[(2-Hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-5-(phenylselenenyl)uracil (PSAU, 18) and 1-(ethoxymethyl)-5-(phenylselenenyl)uracil (17) were synthesized by the electrophilic addition of benzeneselenenyl chloride to the acyclic uracils under basic conditions. These compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit dihydrouracil dehydrogenase (DHUDase, E.C. 1.3.1.2), orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRTase, E.C. 2.4.2.10), uridine phosphorylase (UrdPase, E.C. 2.4.2.3), and thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase, E.C. 2.4.2.4). 5-(Phenylselenenyl)uracil (PSU, 6) and 5-(phenylthio)uracil (PTU, 7) inhibited DHUDase with apparent K(i) values of 4.8 and 5.4 microM, respectively. The corresponding 6-analogues, compounds 13 and 14, demonstrated inhibitory activity against OPRTase. PTU as well as PSU and its riboside, 2'-deoxyriboside, and acyclonucleosides were inhibitors of UrdPase, with PSAU (18) being the most potent with an apparent K(i) value of 3.8 microM. None of the compounds evaluated had any effect on dThdPase. Interestingly, most of the compounds showed modest selective anti-human-immunodeficiency-virus activity in acutely infected primary human lymphocytes.     

Tamoxifen induces Na+ -dependent uridine transport and dome formation in a human breast tumor cell line

PURPOSE: To correlate changes in uridine transport and colony morphology with differentiation of human breast cancer cells by tamoxifen and related agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cultures of MCF-7 human breast cancer were treated with estradiol or the antiestrogen derivatives tamoxifen, hydroxytamoxifen, and ICI 164, 384. Initial rates of uridine transport and equilibrium concentrations were determined and morphological characteristics of the cultures evaluated. RESULTS: Tamoxifen causes an early induction of a Na+ -dependent transport of uridine characteristic of normal epithelial cells but absent in normal MCF-7 cultures and most human neoplasms examined. The pure antiestrogen ICI 164,384 and the more potent 4-hydroxytamoxifen also induced concentrative uridine transport; estradiol could prevent the expression of this transporter. Associated with induction of transport was a dramatic increase in dome formation in the cultures, a measure of unidirectional inorganic ion transport characteristic of the differentiated state. CONCLUSIONS: The induction of a concentrative transport of uridine is a concomitant of cellular differentiation of breast tumor cells. These findings give added weight to evidence that uridine may play a regulatory role in the transition to the neoplastic state. The absence of the transporter and low intracellular uridine concentrations in the undifferentiated state may relate to 5-FU sensitivity of breast tumors. Induction of the transporter by tamoxifen and the consequent major increase in intracellular concentrations of free uridine suggests a potentially negative effect of tamoxifen on regimens containing 5-FU.     

Transcription and activity of 5-fluorouracil converting enzymes in fluoropyrimidine resistance in colon cancer in vitro

Cellular resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is not completely understood. Since 5-FU shares the pyrimidine pathway with the physiological pyrimidines, we investigated the relationship between fluoropyrimidine metabolism, nucleic acid uptake and cytotoxicity of 5-FU in eight colon tumour cell lines including 5-FU-resistant subclones. The cytotoxicity of 5-FU was increased up to 423-fold when the anabolites 5-fluorouridine (FUrd), 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FdUrd), and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate (FdUMP) were compared with the parent drug in vitro. The enzymes uridine phosphorylase and thymidine phosphorylase were predictive for the cytotoxicity of 5-FU in 5/7 cell lines. Inhibition of uridine phosphorylase and thymidine phosphorylase by antisense strategies effectively antagonised 5-FU, abolishing 84% and 79% of its toxicity. The importance of thymidine phosphorylase was supported by a highly restricted enzyme activity in 5-FU-resistant cells. In 5-FU naive cells, a stimulating effect of 5-FU on thymidylate synthase mRNA and ribonucleotide reductase mRNA expression was observed. In these cells, antisense oligonucleotides to ribonucleotide reductase significantly reduced cell growth. Downregulation of ribonucleotide reductase mRNA in 5-FU-resistant subclones suggests different mechanisms in primary and secondary resistance to 5-FU. Most of the intracellular 5-FU was selectively incorporated into RNA (range: 45-91%) and generally spared DNA (range: 0.2-11%). In synthesising our data, we conclude that drug resistance could be overwhelmed through bypassing limiting steps in the activation of 5-FU. In the majority of colonic tumours, the activity of uridine phosphorylase and thymidine phosphorylase may have prognostic relevance for the cytotoxicity of 5-FU in vitro.     

Complete inactivation of Escherichia coli uridine phosphorylase by modification of Asp5 with Woodward's reagent K

Woodward's reagent K (WRK) completely inactivated Escherichia coli uridine phosphorylase by reversible binding in the active site (Ki = 0.07 mM) with subsequent modification of a carboxyl (k2 = 1.2 min-1). Neither substrate alone protected uridine phosphorylase from inactivation. The presence of phosphate did not affect the Ki and k2 values. The addition of uracil or uridine led to a significant increase of both Ki (to 2.5 or 2.1 mM, respectively) and k2 (to 6.1 or 4.8 min-1, respectively) values. Thus, WRK could react in accordance with slow (high affinity) and fast (low affinity) mechanisms. Combined addition of phosphate and uracil completely protected uridine phosphorylase. Tryptic digestion yielded a single modified peptide (Ser4-Asp(WRK)-Val-Phe-His-Leu-Gly-Leu-Thr-Lys13). Treatment of the modified enzyme with hydroxylamine led to removal of the bulky WRK residue and replacement of the Asp5 carboxyl by a hydroxamic group. The enzyme thus obtained recovered about 10% of initial specific activity, whereas its substrate binding ability changed only moderately; the Km values for phosphate and uridine were changed from 5.1 and 0.19 mM (or 7.3 and 0.14 mM according to Leer et al. (Leer, J.C., Hammer-Jespersen, K., and M. Schwartz (1977) Eur. J. Biochem. 75, 217-224)) to 22.6 and 0.12 mM, respectively. The hydroxamic enzyme had higher thermostability than the native enzyme. The results obtained demonstrated the importance of the carboxyl at position 5. The loss of activity after selective group replacement is due to impaired stabilization of the transition state rather than to a decline in substrate affinity or change of the active site structure.     

Tumor selective delivery of 5-fluorouracil by capecitabine, a new oral fluoropyrimidine carbamate, in human cancer xenografts

Capecitabine (N4-pentyloxycarbonyl-5'-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine) is a novel fluoropyrimidine carbamate that is converted to 5-fluorouracil (5-FUra) by three enzymes located in the liver and tumors; the final step is the conversion of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-dFUrd) to 5-FUra by thymidine phosphorylase in tumors. The present study compared the efficacy of capecitabine and 5-FUra at their maximum tolerated doses in CXF280, HCT116, COLO205, and WiDr human colon cancer xenograft models, and measured subsequent 5-FUra and 5'-dFUrd levels in tumors and in the plasma and muscle. Capecitabine was effective in the first three models, whereas 5-FUra was effective only in CXF280, which is a cell line highly susceptible to fluoropyrimidines. In the three susceptible models, 5-FUra AUCs in tumors after capecitabine administration were 210 to 303 nmol x hr/g, whereas those after 5-FUra administration were 8.54 to 13.1 nmol x hr/g. In addition, capecitabine gave higher levels of 5-FUra AUC in tumors than in plasma (114- to 209-fold higher) and muscle (21.6-fold higher), whereas 5-FUra was not selectively distributed to tumors. In the refractory model, WiDr, 5-FUra AUC in tumors after capecitabine administration was only 62.8 nmol x hr/g, although the level of the intermediate metabolite 5'-dFUrd was high (AUC: 695 nmol x hr/g). The ratio of 5-FUra/5'-dFUrd levels in the WiDr tumors was 0.09, which was 23.8-fold lower than that in the HCT116 tumors. The mechanism of resistance would be the inefficient conversion of 5'-dFUrd to 5-FUra by thymidine phosphorylase in tumors. Thus, capecitabine might show its high efficacy as a result of delivering high levels of 5-FUra selectively to the tumors.     

3-Cyano-2,6-dihydroxypyridine (CNDP), a new potent inhibitor of dihydrouracil dehydrogenase

3-Cyano-2,6-dihydroxypyridine (CNDP) was identified as a potent inhibitor (IC50 value, 4.4 nM) of dihydrouracil dehydrogenase (DHUDase) [EC 1.3.1.2], a rate-limiting enzyme in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) degradation. The inhibitory activity of CNDP was about 2,000 times that of uracil under our assay conditions. Kinetic analyses with partially purified enzyme from rat liver revealed that the mechanism of inhibition of DHUDase by CNDP was of mixed type with an inhibition constant (Ki) of 1.51 nM. CNDP had less effect on 5-FU phosphorylation than on 5-FU degradation. The inhibitory effect of CNDP on ribosylation of 5-FU was 600 to 1,000 times less than that on DHUDase. Moreover, CNDP did not inhibit uridine kinase, thymidine kinase, or pyrimidine phosphoribosyltransferase. Coadministration of CNDP with 1-ethoxymethyl-5-fluorouracil (EM-FU) to rats with Yoshida sarcoma elevated the level of 5-FU in both the blood and the tumor and enhanced the antitumor effect of EM-FU. These findings indicated that CNDP would be a useful chemical modulator in chemotherapy with 5-FU or its prodrugs.     

Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor thymidine phosphorylase in tumour growth and response to therapy

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth and metastasis of solid tumours. Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is known to be chemotactic for endothelial cells in vitro and angiogenic in vivo. It is also known as gliostatin, a factor promoting neuronal survival, and thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase), which catalyses the reversible phosphorylation of thymidine to thymine and 2-deoxyribose-1-phosphate. This enzymatic activity is critical for angiogenic activity. PD-ECGF protein is highly expressed in tumours compared with most normal tissues and has been correlated with tumour growth, invasion and metastasis in clinical studies. In addition, dThdPase activity (by inference PD-ECGF) has been found to be a major determinant of the toxicity of 5-fluorouracil and its prodrugs, which are extensively studied clinically as anti-cancer agents. This review attempts to summarize recent gains in understanding the nature, location and action of PD-ECGF and its specific relevance to tumour biology.     

Novel (E)-5-(2-iodovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine derivatives as potential cytostatic agents against herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene transfected tumors

(E)-5-(2-Iodovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (IVDU), its 2'-fluoro-substituted derivatives IVFRU (with fluorine in the ribo configuration), IVFAU (with fluorine in the ara configuration), and the corresponding 3'-chemical delivery system (CDS), or 3'-O-(1-methyl-1,4-dihydropyridyl-3-carbonyl)- substituted derivatives IVDU-CDS, IVFRU-CDS and IVFAU-CDS were evaluated for their cytostatic activity against wild-type (FM3A/O), thymidine kinase (TK)-deficient (FM3A/TK-), and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or HSV-2 thymidine kinase (tk) gene-transfected murine mammary carcinoma FM3A cells (FM3A TK-/HSV-1 TK+ and FM3A TK-/HSV-2 TK+). The test compounds proved highly inhibitory to the proliferation of HSVtk gene-transfected FM3A cells. Their cytostatic activity was within the 0.002 to 0.80 microM range, a compound concentration that is 1000- to 10,000-fold lower than that required to inhibit proliferation of wild-type FM3A/O cells. The target for the cytostatic activity of the test compounds is the cellular thymidylate synthase. In contrast to the parent IVDU compound, IVFRU and IVFAU and their CDS-substituted derivatives proved resistant to phosphorolytic cleavage by human and bacterial thymidine phosphorylase and should be considered as promising candidate compounds for further evaluation for combined gene/chemotherapy of HSVtk gene-transfected tumor cells in animal models.     

Simultaneous liquid chromatography of 5-fluorouracil, uridine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid, allopurinol, and oxipurinol in plasma

A reversed-phase "high-pressure" liquid-chromatographic method is described for simultaneous analysis for 5-fluorouracil, uridine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid, allopurinol, and oxipurinol. Separation was optimal with phosphate buffer (50 mmol/L, pH 4.60) as eluent. A simple acid extraction procedure yielded quantitative recoveries and permitted adequate separation for interfering peaks. Compounds were identified by their retention times, absorbance ratios, co-elution with standards, and enzymatic shifts. With a computerized integrator we quantitated these compounds in widely varying concentrations with a single injection. The limit of sensitivity was 0.1 mumol/L for the compounds studied. This method was applied to determine mean values for those compounds in normal human plasma. They are (in mumol/L): uric acid 276 (SD 55), hypoxanthine 0.46 (SD 0.21), xanthine 0.40 (SD 0.27), and uridine 4.50 (SD 1.70). Erythrocytes and platelets can continue to release hypoxanthine and xanthine into plasma or serum after a blood specimen has been drawn. We believe this explains the higher values previously reported for hypoxanthine and xanthine in serum.     

Nucleosides and nucleotides. 175. Structural requirements of the sugar moiety for the antitumor activities of new nucleoside antimetabolites, 1-(3-C-ethynyl-beta-D-ribo-pentofuranosyl)cytosine and -uracil1

We previously designed 1-(3-C-ethynyl-beta-d-ribo-pentofuranosyl)uracil (EUrd) and its cytosine congener (ECyd) as potential multifunctional antitumor nucleoside antimetabolites. They showed potent and broad-spectrum antitumor activity against various human and mouse tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. To clarify the structure-activity relationship of the sugar moiety, various 3'-C-carbon-substituted analogues, such as 1-propynyl, 1-butynyl, ethenyl, ethyl, and cyclopropyl derivatives, of ECyd and EUrd were synthesized. We also prepared 3'-deoxy analogues and 3'-homologues of ECyd and EUrd with different configurations to determine the role of the 3'-hydroxyl group and the length between the 3'-carbon atom and the ethynyl group and a 2'-ethynyl derivative of ECyd to determine the spatial requirements of the ethynyl group. The in vitro tumor cell growth inhibitory activities of these nucleosides against mouse leukemic L1210 and human KB cells showed that ECyd and EUrd were the most potent inhibitors in the series, with IC50 values of 0.016 and 0.13 microM for L1210 cells and 0.028 and 0.029 microM for KB cells, respectively. Only 3'-C-1-propynyl and -ethenyl derivatives of ECyd showed greatly reduced cytotoxicity. We found that the cytotoxic activity of these nucleosides predominantly depended on their first phosphorylation by uridine/cytidine kinase.     

Intrathecal 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) for the treatment of solid tumor neoplastic meningitis: an in vivo study

To evaluate the possible intrathecal use of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) for neoplastic meningitis, its antitumor activity and neurotoxicity in vivo were assessed. FdUrd at doses in the range 5-100 microg/animal was effective against meningeal carcinomatosis using Walker 256 carcinoma cells in rats and MM46 mammary cancer cells in mice and against meningeal gliomatosis using 203 glioma cells in mice. After four intrathecal injections, FdUrd at these doses also showed minimal neurotoxicity in the C57BL/6 mouse brain. To estimate the mechanism of FdUrd efficacy, thymidine phosphorylase (TPase) and thymidine kinase (TK), key enzymes in the metabolism of FdUrd, were measured in rat, mouse and normal human brain tissue, and in human brain tumor tissues and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with malignant brain tumors including meningeal carcinomatosis. TPase levels were lower in brain and malignant brain tumors than in other organs and their tumors. Moreover, the activity of TPase in the gray matter of human brain, which faces the cerebrospinal fluid across the cortical surface and into which malignant cells invade in meningeal carcinomatosis, was lower than that in the white matter. TK was undetectable, and TPase was detected (at very low concentrations) in only 4 of 56 patients with brain tumors or meningeal carcinomatosis. These findings indicate that brain tissue and CSF are favorable sites for FdUrd chemotherapy because the rate of conversion of FdUrd to 5-FU would be minimal. In conclusion, FdUrd is potentially useful for intrathecal treatment of neoplastic meningitis from primary brain tumors and systemic cancer.     

Atherosclerotic disease in patients undergoing cataract extraction. A nationwide case-control study. The Cataract Patient Outcomes Research Team

The antitumor activity of cytostatic 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-dFUrd) depends on its being converted to 5-fluorouracil (5-FUra) by the enzyme thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase, EC 2.42.4). We prepared mouse anti-human dThdPase monoclonal antibodies to serve as tools for clinical studies with this drug. Partially purified dThdPase obtained form HCT116 human colon cancer cells grown in athymic mice was used as and antigen for the immunization of mice. Six hybridomas were cloned which produced anti-human dThdPase antibodies, as detected by Western blot analysis with human dThdPase. With these antibodies, we developed an ELISA method sensitive enough to measure dThdPase levels, even in tumor tissue samples weighing as little as 10 mg. In addition, one monoclonal antibody was suitable for immunologically staining the enzyme in tumor tissues. Thus, these anti-human dThdPase monoclonal antibodies could be used to measure levels of the enzyme in tumor cells, which is essential for the activation of 5'-dFUrd.     

Inhibitory effects of uridine diphosphate on UDP-glucuronosyltransferase

Inhibitory effects of uridine diphosphate on the enzymatic activity of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) were investigated. Pyrimidine nucleotides such as UDP, UTP and cytidine diphosphate reduced the activity of rat purified UGT (phenol UGT) to about 10%, 48% and 46% of the control, respectively, at the same concentration as a donor substrate, UDP-glucuronic acid. Purine nucleotides, uridine monophosphate, glucuronic acid and some UDP-sugars were only slightly inhibitory toward the transferase. Similar effects were observed in the expressed UGT (UGT1A6; corresponding to phenol UGT) in yeast cells and rat liver microsomal membrane-binding UGT, indicating that uracil and diphosphate residues are essential for the UDP inhibition. Interestingly, 2'-deoxy UDP was found to be a less effective inhibitor (about 50% inhibition) than UDP on the purified, the expressed (UGT1A6 and UGT2B1) and microsomal membrane-binding UGTs. These results indicate that not only uracil and diphosphate residues but also 2'-hydroxyl residue of UDP ribose participates in the interactions between UDP and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase.     

Relationship between matrix metalloproteinase expression and tumor angiogenesis in human breast carcinoma

Intratumoral proteases are known to be involved in not only tumor cell invasion but also a variety of stromal reactions including neovascularization. In this study, we have examined the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by gelatin gel zymography and compared its expression with angiogenesis activities including the expression of several endothelial growth regulators and intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) in human breast cancer tissues. There was a significant correlation between activated MMP-2 expression and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression (p=0.045). In addition, the expression of activated MMP-9 expression was significantly correlated with thymidine phosphorylase (TP) expression (p=0.0044). Pro MMP-9 expression tended to correlated with the increment of MVD (p=0.063). MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions were frequently co-upregulated with endothelial growth regulators in human breast cancer tissues, which underlines the cooperative function of MMPs in neovascularization.     

Comparative in vitro and in vivo study of a nitroxyl derivative of 5-fluorouracil (magnizil) on human gastrointestinal tumors

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: There is much interest in nitroxyl derivatives of cytotoxic agents. We evaluated the potential activity of magnizil, a derivative of 5-fluorouracil, on human gastrointestinal tumors in 3 different in vitro and in vivo experimental models. METHODS: The activities of magnizil and 5-fluorouracil were comparatively determined in vitro on the HT29 cell line by a clonogenic assay and on tumor clinical specimens by an antimetabolic assay. The activity of both the drugs against human tumors was also assessed in mice with the subrenal capsule assay. RESULTS: A similar cytotoxic activity was found for magnizil and 5-fluorouracil on the HT29 cell line. As regards human tumors, a lower activity was observed for the nitroxyl derivative than for 5-fluorouracil, with response rates of 25% and 50%, respectively, at comparable concentrations. Moreover, among the tumors transplanted in the subrenal capsule of mice, two were sensitive to magnizil and 3 to 5-fluorouracil. CONCLUSIONS: Even though experimental results on human tumors indicate a somewhat lower activity for magnizil than the parent compound, its low toxicity and the possibility to clinically use high doses suggest the opportunity to further investigate the potential of this new anticancer agent on larger series of colorectal cancers in experimental systems.     

Antitumor activity of 2-chloro-9-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl) adenine, a novel deoxyadenosine analog, against human colon tumor xenografts by oral administration

2-Chloro-9-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl) adenine (Cl-F-araA) is a novel deoxyadenosine analog, which inhibits DNA synthesis by inhibiting DNA polymerase alpha and ribonucleotide reductase. Cl-F-araA shows potent antiproliferative activity against several leukemic cell lines including those of human origin and is also effective against murine solid tumors, in particular being curative against colon tumors. PURPOSE: We therefore decided to investigate whether Cl-F-araA is effective against human colon tumors, in particular by oral administration, since it has improved stability compared with other deoxyadenosine analogs. METHODS: Antiproliferative activity in vitro was determined from cell counts. Subcutaneously inoculated xenograft models and a liver micrometastases model were used for assessment of antitumor activity in vivo. RESULTS: Cl-F-araA showed potent antiproliferative activity against four human colon tumor cell lines (HCT116, HT-29, DLD-1, WiDr), with a 50% growth-inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.26 microM with a 72-h exposure. This activity was greater than those of fludarabine desphosphate and cladribine, other deoxyadenosine analogs, which showed IC50 values of 19 microM and 0.35 microM, respectively. Cl-F-araA showed potent antitumor activity against four human colon tumor xenograft models (HT-29, WiDr, Co-3, COLO-320DM) in a 5-day daily administration schedule, which was shown to be the most effective of three administration regimens tested (single, twice-weekly, 5-day daily). In particular, oral administration showed significantly superior activity, with a regressive or cytostatic growth curve, compared with intravenous administration. In addition, Cl-F-araA was effective at only one-sixteenth of the maximum dose tested in a 10-day daily administration schedule. Therapeutic efficiency seemed to increase in proportion to the frequency of administration. Cl-F-araA also decreased liver micrometastases created by intrasplenic injection of human colon tumor cells, leading to complete suppression at the maximum dose tested. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that Cl-F-araA might be clinically effective against human colon cancers using a daily oral administration schedule.     

Cytokines induce uridine phosphorylase in mouse colon 26 carcinoma cells and make the cells more susceptible to 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine

The antiproliferative activity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FUra) and 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-dFUrd), used in combination with typical cytokines and growth factors, was investigated in mouse colon 26 carcinoma cells. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), and interferon gamma (IFN gamma) at low doses showing < 50% inhibition of cell growth by themselves enhanced the susceptibility of the cells to the activity of 5'-dFUrd. In particular, a mixture of these cytokines greatly enhanced the activity of 5'-dFUrd and 5-FUra by up to 12.4- and 2.7-fold, respectively, whereas the activity of other cytostatics was only slightly changed (< 1.5-fold). Basic fibroblast growth factor also increased the susceptibility, but only to 5'-dFUrd. This preferential enhancement of the activity of 5'-dFUrd would be due to induction by the cytokines of uridine phosphorylase (Urd Pase), by which 5'-dFUrd is converted to 5-FUra. TNF alpha, IL-1 alpha, IFN gamma, and a mixture of these factors increased the enzyme activity by up to 3.7-fold in colon 26 cells. Consequently, the anabolism of 5'-dFUrd to fluoronucleotides and the incorporation of 5-FUra into RNA in colon 26 cells were increased by TNF alpha treatment. In addition, the increase by the cytokine mixture in the susceptibility to 5'-dFUrd was abolished by an inhibitor of Urd Pase, 2,2'-anhydro-5-ethyluridine. These results indicate that induction of Urd Pase activity by cytokines is a critical event that increases the susceptibility to 5'-dFUrd.     

Angiogenic potential of malignant and non-malignant human breast tissues in an in vivo angiogenesis model

Tumors need to acquire an angiogenic phenotype for outgrowth and metastasis formation. Limited information on the angiogenic potential of specific tissues, especially human breast tissues is available. Here we describe an in vivo model, using the dorsal skin fold chamber in immunodeficient nude mice, where various tissues of human breast origin were xenografted and evaluated for their angiogenesis-inducing potential. We found that angiogenesis was abundantly induced by all breast carcinoma tissue samples. Similar angiogenesis was induced by tissue samples from breasts with hyperplasia and apocrine metaplasia. Histologically normal tissues adjacent to the tumor induced angiogenesis in 66% of the cases. Angiogenesis was not induced by control tissues from normal healthy breasts, obtained after cosmetic breast reduction. Angiogenesis induction parallelled VEGF production by the tumor cells. The tissue induced neovascularization, found both around and in the human tissue, was functional since a tail vein injection of albumin-FITC revealed positive tumor microcirculation within 5 min, while the tumor tissue still consisted of vital human epithelial cells after 14 days.