Kathy A. Johnston

Preclinical efficacy spectrum and pharmacokinetics of ixabepilone

PurposeIxabepilone, a semisynthetic analog of natural epothilone B, was developed for use in cancer treatment. This study extends previous findings regarding the efficacy of ixabepilone and its low susceptibility to tumor resistance mechanisms and describes the pharmacokinetics of this new antineoplastic agent.MethodsThe cytotoxicity of ixabepilone was assessed in vitro in breast, lung, and colon tumor cell lines and in vivo in human xenografts in mice. Antitumor activities of ixabepilone and taxanes were compared in multidrug-resistant models in vivo. Differential drug uptake of ixabepilone and paclitaxel was assessed in a P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-resistant colon cancer model in vitro. The pharmacokinetic profile of ixabepilone was established in mice and humans.ResultsIxabepilone demonstrated potent cytotoxicity in a broad range of human cancer cell lines in vitro and in a wide range of xenografts in vivo. Ixabepilone was ~3-fold more potent than docetaxel in the paclitaxel-resistant Pat-21 xenograft model (resistant due to overexpression of βIII-tubulin and a lack of βII-tubulin). Ixabepilone activity against P-gp-overexpressing breast and colon cancer was confirmed in in vivo models. Cellular uptake of ixabepilone, but not paclitaxel, was established in a P-gp-overexpressing model. The pharmacokinetics of ixabepilone was characterized by rapid tissue distribution and extensive tissue binding.ConclusionsCytotoxicity studies against a range of tumor types in vitro and in vivo demonstrate that ixabepilone has potent and broad-spectrum antineoplastic activity. This is accompanied by favorable pharmacokinetics. Ixabepilone has reduced susceptibility to resistance due to P-gp overexpression, tubulin mutations, and alterations in β-tubulin isotype expression.

A chemoselective approach to functionalize the C-10 position of 10-deacetylbaccatin III. Synthesis and biological properties of novel C-10 Taxol® analogues

Abstract A chemoselective approach to functionalize the C-10 position of 10-deacetyl baccatin III, a key intermediate for the semi-synthesis of paclitaxel, is described. The chemistry provides an easy access to a variety of C-10 hydroxyl derivatives, such as, ethers, esters, carbonates, carbamates, and sulfonates under mild conditions. The C-10 modified baccatin derivatives were further employed in the synthesis of novel biologically active Taxol® analogues.

NOVEL C-4 PACLITAXEL (TAXOL) ANALOGS : POTENT ANTITUMOR AGENTS

Abstract A large number of C-4 paclitaxel analogs have been prepared in the course of our systematic C-4 modification. These include C-4 esters, carbonates, carbamates as well as a C-4 deacetyl derivative. All of these analogs were evaluated in a tubulin polymerization assay as well as in a cytotoxicity assay against a human colon cancer cell line. The potent analogs emerging from these in vitro assays were further evaluated in vivo. With the exception of paclitaxel side chain bearing C-4 carbamates and C-4 aromatic esters, most of the C-4 aliphatic esters and carbonates were found to possess comparable or superior activity to paclitaxel in vitro. Several C-4 aliphatic esters and carbonates also exhibited in vivo activities against i.p. implanted murine M-109 lung carcinoma.

Taxol® structure-activity relationships: synthesis and biological evaluation of taxol analogs modified at C-7

Abstract A series of taxol derivatives, modified at C-7, is described. This includes sulfonate, silylether, ester, carbonate, carbamate, fluoro, dehydro and deoxy derivatives. Biological evaluation shows that these modifications do not usually significantly compromise activity. However, none of the C-7 analogs prepared thus far have been shown to be better than taxol in both in vitro and in vivo assays.

Sensitivity of Small Cell Lung Cancer to BET Inhibition Is Mediated by Regulation of ASCL1 Gene Expression

The BET (bromodomain and extra-terminal) proteins bind acetylated histones and recruit protein complexes to promote transcription elongation. In hematologic cancers, BET proteins have been shown to regulate expression of MYC and other genes that are important to disease pathology. Pharmacologic inhibition of BET protein binding has been shown to inhibit tumor growth in MYC-dependent cancers, such as multiple myeloma. In this study, we demonstrate that small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells are exquisitely sensitive to growth inhibition by the BET inhibitor JQ1. JQ1 treatment has no impact on MYC protein expression, but results in downregulation of the lineage-specific transcription factor ASCL1. SCLC cells that are sensitive to JQ1 are also sensitive to ASCL1 depletion by RNAi. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies confirmed the binding of the BET protein BRD4 to the ASCL1 enhancer, and the ability of JQ1 to disrupt the interaction. The importance of ASCL1 as a potential driver oncogene in SCLC is further underscored by the observation that ASCL1 is overexpressed in >50% of SCLC specimens, an extent greater than that observed for other putative oncogenes (MYC, MYCN, and SOX2) previously implicated in SCLC. Our studies have provided a mechanistic basis for the sensitivity of SCLC to BET inhibition and a rationale for the clinical development of BET inhibitors in this disease with high unmet medical need. Mol Cancer Ther; 14(10); 2167–74. ©2015 AACR.

Paclitaxel analogs modified in ring C: Synthesis and biological evaluation

Abstract Lead tetracetate oxidation of 6α-hydroxy-7-epi-paclitaxel leads to C-nor-paclitaxel and C-seco-paclitaxel derivatives. Tetrapropylammonium perruthenate (TPAP) oxidation of a 6α-hydroxy-7-epi-paclitaxel derivative leads to a 6-formyl-C-nor-paclitaxel derivative. Reaction of a 6α-O-trifluoromethanesulfonyl-7-epi-paclitaxel derivative with DMAP yields a 20-O-acetyl-4-deacetyl-5,6-dehydro-6-formyl-C-nor-paclitaxel derivative. C-nor-paclitaxel analogs are less active than paclitaxel.

Synthesis and bioactivity of 2,4-diacyl analogues of paclitaxel.

The 2,4-diacyl paclitaxel analogues 8a-8r were prepared from paclitaxel by acylation of 4-deacetyl-2-debenzoylpaclitaxel 1,2-carbonate (3) followed either by hydrolysis of the carbonate and acylation or by direct treatment of the carbonate with an aryllithium. Some of the resulting derivatives showed significantly improved tubulin assembly activity and cytotoxicity as compared with paclitaxel; in some cases this improvement was especially significant for paclitaxel-resistant cell lines.

Structure-activity relationships study at the 3'-N position of paclitaxel. Part 2: synthesis and biological evaluation of 3'-N-thiourea- and 3'-N-thiocarbamate-bearing paclitaxel analogues.

The syntheses and preliminary biological evaluation of 3-N-thiocarbamate- and 3-N-thiourea-bearing paclitaxel analogues, 4a-f and 5a-e, are described. 3-N-thiocarbamates 4a-e were found to be more potent than paclitaxel in both the tubulin polymerization assay and the in vitro cytotoxicity assay. Several derivatives of this class such as 4c, 4d, and 4e also exhibited some in vivo activity.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of novel paclitaxel–chlorambucil hybrids

The syntheses and antitumor activity of three paclitaxel-chlorambucil hybrids are presented. Hybrid 3 showed significant in vivo efficacy.

Synthesis of metabolically blocked paclitaxel analogues

The stereospecific syntheses of the metabolically blocked 6-alpha-F, Cl, Br paclitaxel, and 6-alpha-F-10-acetyldocetaxel are described and in vitro and in vivo activity is presented.