erucylphospho-n-n-n-trimethylpropylammonium and miltefosine

Synthetic alkylphospholipids (ALPs), such as edelfosine, miltefosine, perifosine, erucylphosphocholine and erufosine, represent a relatively new class of structurally related antitumor agents that act on cell membranes rather than on DNA. They selectively target proliferating (tumor) cells, inducing growth arrest and apoptosis, and are potent sensitizers of conventional chemo- and radiotherapy. ALPs easily insert in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane and cross the membrane via an ATP-dependent CDC50a-containing 'flippase' complex (in carcinoma cells), or are internalized by lipid raft-dependent endocytosis (in lymphoma/leukemic cells). ALPs resist catabolic degradation, therefore accumulate in the cell and interfere with lipid-dependent survival signaling pathways, notably PI3K-Akt and Raf-Erk1/2, and de novo phospholipid biosynthesis. At the same time, stress pathways (e.g. stress-activated protein kinase/JNK) are activated to promote apoptosis. In many preclinical and clinical studies, perifosine was the most effective ALP, mainly because it inhibits Akt activity potently and consistently, also in vivo. This property is successfully exploited clinically in highly malignant tumors, such as multiple myeloma and neuroblastoma, in which a tyrosine kinase receptor/Akt pathway is amplified. In such cases, perifosine therapy is most effective in combination with conventional anticancer regimens or with rapamycin-type mTOR inhibitors, and may overcome resistance to these agents. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Phospholipids and Phospholipid Metabolism.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Membrane; Endocytosis; Humans; Neoplasms; Organophosphates; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase; Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; Phospholipid Ethers; Phosphorylcholine; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Signal Transduction

A chromone-peptidyl hybrids series was synthesised and rationally repurposed towards identification of potential antileishmanial hits against visceral leishmaniasis. Three hybrids

Topics: Chromones; Humans; Leishmania donovani; Leishmaniasis, Visceral

Hemolysis is a serious side effect of antitumor alkylphospholipids (APLs) that limits dose levels and is a constraint in their use in therapeutic regimen. Nine prodrugs of promising APLs (miltefosine, perifosine, and erufosine) were synthesized so as to decrease their membrane activity and improve their toxicity profile while preserving their antineoplastic potency.. The synthesis of the pro-APLs was straightforwardly achieved in one step starting from the parent APLs. The critical aggregation concentration of the prodrugs, their hydrolytic stability under various pH conditions, their blood compatibility and cytotoxicity in three different cell lines were determined and compared to those of the parent antitumor lipids.. The APL prodrugs display antitumor activity which is similar to that of the parent alkylphospholipids but without associated hemolytic toxicity.. The pro-APL compounds may be considered as intravenously injectable derivatives of APLs. They could thus address one of the major issues met in cancer therapies involving antitumor lipids and restricting their utilization to oral and topical administration because of limited maximum tolerated dose.

Topics: Administration, Intravenous; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Line, Tumor; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Drug Stability; Hemolysis; Humans; Maximum Tolerated Dose; Neoplasms; Organophosphates; Phosphorylcholine; Prodrugs; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

While most patients with early-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) have a very good prognosis, the survival of patients with extensive tumour stage and visceral involvement remains extremely poor and necessitates the development of more effective treatment modalities. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro effects of two alkylphosphocholines (APCs, miltefosine and erufosine) and the polyphenolic compound curcumin on 5 human CTCL cell lines (Hut-78, HH, MJ, My-La CD4+ and My-La CD8+). All tested drugs showed considerable cytotoxic activity, as determined by the MTT dye reduction assay. The IC50 values of both APCs ranged from the low micromolar level (Hut-78 cells) to 60-80μM (HH cells). The IC50 values of curcumin ranged from 12 to 24μM. All tested drugs induced apoptosis, as ascertained by morphological changes, DNA fragmentation and activation of caspase cascades. Miltefosine and erufosine induced dephosphorylation of Akt in My-La CD8+ cells and phosphorylation of JNK in Hut-78 and My-La CD8+ cells. APCs increased the level of the autophagic marker LC3B in Hut-78 and MJ cells. Results from co-treatment with autophagy modulators suggested that the cytotoxicity of APCs in CTCL cells is mediated, at least in part, by induction of autophagy.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Blotting, Western; Caspases; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Curcumin; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Inhibitory Concentration 50; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Organophosphates; Phosphorylation; Phosphorylcholine; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Skin Neoplasms