Pascal Pigeon

A [3]Ferrocenophane Polyphenol Showing a Remarkable Antiproliferative Activity on Breast and Prostate Cancer Cell Lines

We have previously shown that modification of polyphenols with a ferrocenyl group can dramatically enhance their cytotoxicity. We now present two new [3]ferrocenophane compounds, one of which has an antiproliferative effect seven times stronger than the corresponding noncyclic species, with IC50 values of 90 and 94 nM on hormone-independent MDA-MB-231 breast and PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines, respectively. Solubility studies in water using methylated beta-cyclodextrin and electron transfer studies are also presented.

Lipid nanocapsules loaded with an organometallic tamoxifen derivative as a novel drug-carrier system for experimental malignant gliomas

Ferrocenyl diphenol tamoxifen derivative (Fc-diOH) is one of the most active molecules of a new class of organometallic drugs, showing in vitro antiproliferative effects on both hormone-dependent and independent breast cancer cells. For the first time, Fc-diOH was tested on a 9L glioma model according to two encapsulation strategies: lipid nanocapsules (LNC) and swollen micelles. LNC showed a higher drug loading capacity because of a larger oily core in their structure and were able to be up taken by glioma cells. The large amount of PEG present at the micellar interface prevented interaction with cytoplasm membrane which led to a low level of micelle cell uptake and no biological activity. On the contrary, Fc-diOH cytostatic activity was conserved after its encapsulation in LNC and was very effective on 9L-glioma cells as the IC(50) was about 0.6 microM. Interestingly, Fc-diOH-loaded LNC showed low toxicity levels when in contact with healthy cells, conferring a functional specificity of this compound on tumour cells. Finally, Fc-diOH LNC treatment was able to lower significantly both tumour mass and volume evolution after 9L-cell implantation into rats which evidenced for the first time the in vivo efficacy of this new kind of organometallic compound.

Evidence for Targeting Thioredoxin Reductases with Ferrocenyl Quinone Methides. A Possible Molecular Basis for the Antiproliferative Effect of Hydroxyferrocifens on Cancer Cells

Many anticancer compounds are strong inhibitors of thioredoxin reductases (TrxRs), selenoenzymes involved in cellular redox regulation. This study examined the effect of two hydroxyferrocifens (1, FcOH; 2, FcOHTAM) and of their corresponding quinone methides (QMs), 1-QM, and 2-QM, on these enzymes. In vitro, both QMs were more potent TrxR inhibitors (IC50 ≈ 2.5 μM) than the hydroxyferrocifens (IC50 ≈ 15 μM). This inhibition was due to a Michael addition of the penultimate selenocysteine residue of TrxRs to the QMs. In Jurkat cancer cells, both 2 and 2-QM inhibited TrxRs in the same proportion, leading to accumulation of oxidized forms of thioredoxin, while 1 and 1-QM were scarcely effective. This difference of behavior was ascribed to the competitive conversion of 1-QM to an inactive indene in protic medium. This set of experiments confirms for the first time the role played by ferrocenyl quinone methides on several biological targets and gives a molecular basis for these effects. It also highlights differences in the mechanisms of action of 1 and 2 in cancer cells.

Synthesis, Cytotoxicity, and COMPARE Analysis of Ferrocene and [3]Ferrocenophane Tetrasubstituted Olefin Derivatives against Human Cancer Cells

Herein we report the antiproliferative effects of a series of 28 compounds against the MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell line, including the synthesis of seven new [3]ferrocenophanyl and four new ferrocenyl compounds. For each p‐R‐phenyl substitution pattern investigated, the [3]ferrocenophanyl derivatives were more cytotoxic than the corresponding ferrocenyl derivative, with the highest activity found for compounds with protic substituents. Theoretical calculations of the HOMO–LUMO gap for the molecules in the Fe3+ oxidation state suggest a higher reactivity for the [3]ferrocenophanyl derivatives. A lead compound from each series, a [3]ferrocenophanyl and a ferrocenyl compound, possessing two phenol groups, were screened against the NCI/DTP 60‐cell‐line panel. The mean activity over all cell lines was better than cisplatin for both compounds, and both compounds showed subpanel selectivity for leukemia, CNS cancer, and renal cancer. Low systemic toxicity and lack of interaction with DNA (when in the reduced form), suggest that the compounds may act as prodrugs.

BENZOTHIENOINDOLIZIDINES VIA INTRAMOLECULAR ARYL RADICAL CYCLIZATION OR PALLADIUM CATALYZED CYCLIZATION

Indolizidines 4,7 fused to both benzene and thiophene rings were synthesized via intramolecular aryl radical cyclization of enamide 3 or intramolecular Heck reaction of enamidone 5.

Dose effect activity of ferrocifen-loaded lipid nanocapsules on a 9L-glioma model.

Ferrociphenol (Fc-diOH) is a new molecule belonging to the fast-growing family of organometallic anti-cancer drugs. In a previous study, we showed promising in vivo results obtained after the intratumoural subcutaneous administration of the new drug-carrier system Fc-diOH-LNCs on a 9L-glioma model. To further increase the dose of this lipophilic entity, we have created a series of prodrugs of Fc-diOH. The phenol groups were protected by either an acetyl (Fc-diAc) or by the long fatty-acid chain of a palmitate (Fc-diPal). LNCs loaded with Fc-diOH prodrugs have to be activated in situ by enzymatic hydrolysis. We show here that the protection of diphenol groups with palmitoyl results in the loss of Fc-diOH in vitro activity, probably due to a lack of in situ hydrolysis. On the contrary, protection with an acetate group does not affect the strong, in vitro, antiproliferative effect of ferrocifen-loaded-LNCs neither the reduction of tumour volume observed on an ectopic model, confirming that acetate is easily cleaved by cell hydrolases. Moreover, the cytostatic activity of Fc-diOH-LNCs is confirmed on an orthotopic glioma model since the difference in survival time between the infusion of 0.36 mg/rat Fc-diOH-LNCs and blank LNCs is statistically significant. By using LNCs or Labrafac to carry the drug, a dose-effect ranging from 0.005 to 2.5mg of Fc-diOH per animal can be evidenced.

Synthesis and Structure–Activity Relationships of Ferrocenyl Tamoxifen Derivatives with Modified Side Chains

We report here the synthesis and cell-proliferation properties of derivatives of the breast cancer drug tamoxifen, in which the -O(CH(2))(2)N(CH(3))(2) side chain, responsible for the drugs antiestrogenic properties, has been modified by a ferrocenyl moiety. We recently reported the diphenol compound 5, in which this amino chain had been replaced with an acyl-ferrocenyl (-O(CH(2))(2)C(O)[(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))FeCp]) group, and which showed antiproliferative effects against both the hormone-dependent MCF-7 and -independent MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. We now report the results of a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study, in which the lateral chain length has been varied, the ketone group has been omitted, and the number of phenol groups has been varied. Compounds 1-4, with a side chain lacking the carbonyl function (-O(CH(2))(n)[(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))FeCp], n = 1-4) and which show a decreasing affinity for ERalpha (ER = estrogen receptor) with increasing chain length, act as estrogens on MCF-7 cells, and mild cytotoxics on PC-3 prostate cancer cells, with IC(50) values around 10 microM. The two monophenolic derivatives of 2, 2 a and 2 b, which show a reduced affinity for ERalpha compared to 2, are also estrogenic, but are only slightly cytotoxic. Finally, we have reexamined compound 5 and discovered that its antiproliferative effect against the MCF-7 cell line does not arise from antiestrogenicity as we had originally suspected, but by means of a cytotoxic pathway. This compound is also sensitive to the number of phenol groups as cell death is diminished when one of the hydroxyl groups is omitted (5 a and 5 b). Molecular modeling studies of the ligand-ERalpha binding stability are broadly consistent with the experimental binding affinity results for compounds 2, 2 a, 2 b, 5, 5 a, and 5 b. Electrochemical experiments show that 1-4, 2 a, and 2 b are stable to oxidation on the electrochemical timescale, unlike 5, 5 a, and 5 b, and that cytotoxicity is related to less positive phenol oxidation potentials. The SAR study shows that the presence of a ketone group and two phenol groups is necessary for strong receptor binding and cytotoxic effects, and that all compounds are estrogenic, despite the presence of a bulky side chain.

Selective estrogen-receptor modulators (SERMs) in the cyclopentadienylrhenium tricarbonyl series: Synthesis and biological behaviour

A series of organometallic antiestrogens based on the OH‐tamoxifen (OH‐Tam) skeleton and bearing the (η5‐C5H4)ReI(CO)3 unit has been prepared by using McMurry coupling for the purpose of studying their biological behaviour. The cyclopentadienylrhenium tricarbonyl moiety is indeed stable in biological media, compact, lipophilic and easy to handle. Furthermore, this study allowed us to select the best candidates for subsequent use as radiopharmaceuticals either for imaging or therapy by using appropriate radionucleides, namely 99mTc and 188Re. In these molecules the β‐phenyl group of OH‐Tam has been replaced by the (η5‐C5H4)Re(CO)3 moiety, and the length of the dimethylamino side chain O(CH2)nN(CH3)2 was varied (n=2, 3, 4, 5 and 8). The compounds 7 a–7 e were obtained as mixtures of their Z and E isomers, which could be separated by semipreparative HPLC. Unlike their ferrocene homologues, the compounds do not isomerise in solution. Structural identification was carried out with NMR spectroscopy by using the HMBC and NOE techniques and was confirmed by the X‐ray structural determination of (E)‐7 a (n=2). These molecules were more lipophilic than OH‐Tam (log Po/w=4.5–6.3) and they were all reasonably well recognized by the two forms of the estrogen receptor (ERα and ERβ). For example, (Z)‐7 b (n=3) has high relative binding affinity (RBA) values of 31 % for ERα and 16.8 % for ERβ. The antiproliferative effects of two pairs of isomers, (Z)‐ and (E)‐7 b (n=3) and (Z)‐ and (E)‐7 d (n=5), were studied at a molarity of 1 μM on two breast‐cancer cell lines, MCF7 (ERα positive) and MDA‐MB231 (ERα negative). These molecules had an antiproliferative effect on MCF7 cells slightly higher than that of OH‐Tam and no effect on MDA‐MB231 cells. Thus, the antiproliferative effect observed on the MCF7 cells seemed essentially to be linked to an antiestrogenic effect. Molecular modelling studies have allowed us to rationalise these effects and select the best compounds for future development of a radioactive series.

Ferrocenyl catechols: synthesis, oxidation chemistry and anti-proliferative effects on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

The synthesis and anti-tumoral properties of a series of compounds possessing a ferrocenyl group tethered to a catechol via a conjugated system is presented. On MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines, the catechol compounds display a similar or greater anti-proliferative potency (IC(50) values ranging from 0.48-1.21 μM) than their corresponding phenolic analogues (0.57-12.7 μM), with the highest activity found for species incorporating the [3]ferrocenophane motif. On the electrochemical timescale, phenolic compounds appear to oxidize to the quinone methide, while catechol moieties form the o-quinone by a similar mechanism. Chemical oxidation of selected compounds with Ag(2)O confirms this interpretation and demonstrates the probable involvement of such oxidative metabolites in the in vitro activity of these species.

A new access to isoindolo[2,1-b][2,4]benzodiazepines through an N-acyliminium ion amide cyclization

Abstract Isoindolo[2,10b][2,4]benzodiazepines 11a–c were synthesized from hydroxylactam-acid 5 when it was treated successively with thionyl chloride, ammonia (or an alkylamine) and p-toluenesulfonic acid.