acronine and Adenocarcinoma

A series of 6-methoxy-3,3,14-trimethyl-3,14-dihydro-7H-benzo[b]chromeno[6,5-g][1,8]naphthyridin-7-one (4), 13-aza derivatives of benzo[b]acronycine, the isomeric 5-methoxy-2,2,13-trimethyl-2,13-dihydro-6H-benzo[b]chromeno[7,6-g][1,8]naphthyridin-6-one (5), and related cis-diols mono- and diesters were designed and synthesized. Their in vitro and in vivo biological activities were evaluated. As previously observed in the acronycine series, esters were the most potent derivatives exhibiting submicromolar activities; among them monoesters are particularly active. Racemic diacetate 21 showed a strong activity against KB-3-1 cell lines and was selected for in vivo evaluation and proved to be active, inhibiting tumor growth by more than 80%. After separation of the two enantiomers, compounds 21a and 21b were also evaluated against C38 colon adenocarcinoma; their activities were found to be significantly different.

Topics: Acronine; Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Proliferation; Colonic Neoplasms; Drug Design; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings; Humans; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Models, Molecular; Molecular Structure; Naphthyridines; Stereoisomerism; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Seven 1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydroacronycine and 1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydro-6-demethoxyacronycine esters and diesters were synthesized via osmic oxidation of acronycine or 6-demethoxyacronycine followed by acylation. The 6-demethoxyacronycine derivatives were found to be inactive, whereas in contrast, all of the acronycine derivatives were more potent than acronycine itself when tested against L1210 cells in vitro. Four selected acronycine derivatives (17,19, 21, and 22) were evaluated in vivo against murine P388 leukemia and colon 38 adenocarcinoma implanted in mice. All compounds were markedly active against P388 at doses 4-16-fold lower than acronycine itself. Against the colon 38 adenocarcinoma, the three compounds 17, 21, and 22 were highly efficient. 1,2-Diacetoxy-1,2-dihydroacronycine (17) was the most active, all the treated mice being tumor-free on day 23.

Topics: Acridines; Acronine; Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Cycle; Esters; Leukemia, Experimental; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Mass Spectrometry; Mice; Molecular Structure; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Nitration of acronycine (1) and 6-demethoxyacronycine (3) afforded 2-nitroacronycine (2) and 2-nitro-6-demethoxyacronycine (4), respectively. Reduction of 2-nitroacronycine yielded, depending on the conditions, 2-nitro-1,2-dihydroacronycine (5), 2-oxo-1,2-dihydroacronycine oxime (7) or 2-amino-1,2-dihydroacronycine (6). This latter was readily converted into 2-dimethylamino-1,2-dihydroacronycine (8), 2-acetylamino-1,2-dihydro-acronycine (9) and 2-benzoylamino-1,2-dihydroacronycine (10). The cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated against L1210 leukemia cells. Compounds 2 and 7 were 300- and 10-fold more potent than acronycine in inhibiting L1210 cell proliferation, respectively. Compound 2 was devoid of antitumor activity against P388 leukemia and C38 colon adenocarcinoma.

Topics: Acronine; Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Division; Colonic Neoplasms; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Leukemia L1210; Leukemia P388; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Tumor Cells, Cultured