eapb0203 and Lymphoma--T-Cell

For several years, our group has been developing quinoxalinic compounds. Two of them, N-methyl-1-(2-phenethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]quinoxalin-4-amine (EAPB0203) and 1-(3-methoxyphenyl)-N-methylimidazo[1,2-a]quinoxalin-4-amine (EAPB0503), have emerged as the most promising anticancer drugs. In the present work, we determined metabolism pathways using liver microsomes from four mammalian species including human. We identified the cytochrome P450 isoform(s) involved in the metabolism and then investigated the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of EAPB0203 and EAPB0503 in rat after intravenous and intraperitoneal administration. Biotransformation of the compounds involved demethylation and hydroxylation reactions. Rat and dog metabolized the compounds at a higher rate than mouse and human. In all species, CYP1A1/2 and CYP3A isoforms were the predominant enzymes responsible for the metabolism. From human liver microsomes, unbound intrinsic clearances were approximately 56 ml/(min · g) protein. EAPB0203 and EAPB0503 were extensively bound to human plasma proteins, mainly human serum albumin (HSA) (∼98-99.5%). Thus, HSA could act as carrier of these compounds in human plasma. Scatchard plots showed patterns in which the plots yielded upwardly convex hyperbolic curves. On the basis of the Hill coefficients, there appears to be interaction between the binding sites of HSA, suggesting positive cooperativity. The main in vitro metabolites were identified in vivo. Total clearances of EAPB0203 and EAPB0503 [3.2 and 2.2 l/(h · kg), respectively] were notably lower than the typical cardiac plasma output in rat. The large volumes of distribution of these compounds (4.3 l/kg for EAPB0203 and 2.5 l/kg for EAPB0503) were consistent with extensive tissue binding. After intraperitoneal administration, bioavailability was 22.7% for EAPB0203 and 35% for EAPB0503 and a significant hepatic first-pass effect occurred.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Biotransformation; Blood Proteins; Dogs; Humans; Lymphoma, T-Cell; Melanoma; Mice; Microsomes, Liver; Molecular Structure; Protein Binding; Quinoxalines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Species Specificity; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Tissue Distribution

Imiquimod is an immune response modifier currently used as a topical treatment of genital warts, basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous metastasis of malignant melanoma, and vascular tumors. We developed more efficient killers from the same family of compounds that can induce apoptosis without the prominent pro-inflammatory response associated with imiquimod. Among these new products, tk;4EAPB0203, a member of the imidazo[1,2-a]quinoxalines, exhibits an important cytotoxic activity in vitro. HTLV-I-associated adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-I-negative peripheral T-cell lymphomas are associated with poor prognosis. Using potentially achievable concentrations of EAPB0203, we demonstrate inhibition of cell proliferation, G2/M cell- cycle arrest, and induction of apoptosis in HTLV-I-transformed and HTLV-I-negative malignant T cells and fresh ATL cells, whereas normal resting or activated T lymphocytes were resistant. EAPB0203 treatment significantly down-regulated the antiapoptotic proteins c-IAP-1 and Bcl-XL and resulted in a significant loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytoplasmic release of cytochrome c, and caspase-dependent apoptosis. Moreover, in HTLV-I-transformed cells only, EAPB0203 treatment stabilized p21 and p53 proteins but had no effect on NF-kappaB activation. These results support a potential therapeutic role for EAPB0203 in ATL and HTLV-I-negative T-cell lymphomas, either as a systemic or topical therapy for skin lesions.

Topics: Aminoquinolines; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; bcl-X Protein; Caspases; Cell Division; Cytochromes c; G2 Phase; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; Humans; Imiquimod; Inflammation; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; Jurkat Cells; Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphoma, T-Cell; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; NF-kappa B; Quinoxalines; Skin Neoplasms; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53