demecolcine and Leukemia-P388

Novel and known analogues of thiocolchicine were evaluated in vitro in a tubulin binding assay and in vivo in mice for acute toxicity and in the P388 lymphocytic leukemia assay. This evaluation included N-acyldeacetylthiocolchicines, N-(alkoxycarbonyl)deacetylthiocolchicines, thiodemecolcine and its methyl carbamate, and O-ethyl ethers of demethylthiocolchicines. Selective ether cleavage of thiodemecolcine with concentrated sulfuric acid at 50 degree C afforded the 2-demethyl congener, characterized as its N,O-diacetyl derivative. Several of the compounds showed high potency in the tubulin binding assay, matching the potency of colchicine. Several N-(alkoxycarbonyl)deacetylcolchicines (carbamates) exhibited strong binding affinity to tubulin but had only weak activities against the P388 tumor system, suggesting that other factors besides tubulin binding may be important for the biological effects. The compounds potent in the tubulin binding assay and in the P388 leukemia assay in mice were generally also toxic to mice in the acute toxicity test, showing thus a similar behavior of thiocolchicines to that observed earlier with colchicines. A considerable amount of data collected for 2-demethyl- and 3-demethylthiocolchicine suggests that the latter represents a broad-spectrum antitumor agent of considerable promise and possibly a less toxic substitute for colchicine.

Topics: Animals; Binding, Competitive; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Colchicine; Demecolcine; Drug Evaluation; Lethal Dose 50; Leukemia P388; Leukemia, Experimental; Mice; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tubulin

A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) was derived for colchicine and 14 analogues acting against P388 lymphocytic leukemia in mice. Twelve additional compounds were synthesized to reinforce and confirm the correlation. The final correlation indicates that there is a parabolic dependence of antitumor potency on the partition coefficient with log P0=1.17. When an amino nitrogen is present on the B ring, increased potency is favored by acylation of the nitrogen. The most potent compound of the series was the 7-fluoroacetamide analogue. Strong electron-withdrawing groups substituted at the 10 position of the tropolone ring destroy activity. Electron-releasing groups at position 10 improve potency slightly but have a limited effect.

Topics: Animals; Colchicine; Leukemia P388; Leukemia, Experimental; Mathematics; Mice; Structure-Activity Relationship

A variety of colchicine, demecolcine, and isocolchicine derivatives were examined for their potency in the lymphocytic leukemia P388 screen in mice, for their toxicity in mice, and for their binding to microtubule protein. A qualitatively direct correlation was found between in vivo potency and toxicity; potency appeared to be less well correlated with tubulin binding. The most potent compounds were N-acylated analogues of colchicine and demecolcine. Among the monophenols, only 3-demethylcolchicine showed an appreciable effect in vitro and in vivo and was less toxic than colchicine. Improved methods were found for the preparation of 3- and 2-demethylcolchicine, which involved the use of 85% phosphoric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid, respectively. Decoupling experiments with 1H NMR proved that the double bond of dehydro-7-deacetamidocolchiceine and its derived tropolonic methyl ethers 24 and 25 was in the 5,6 position, rather than the 6,7 position formerly tentatively assigned.

Topics: Animals; Colchicine; Leukemia P388; Mice; Microtubules; Structure-Activity Relationship