René C.-Gaudreault

Antiangiogenic and Antitumoral Activity of Phenyl-3-(2-Chloroethyl)Ureas A Class of Soft Alkylating Agents Disrupting Microtubules That Are Unaffected by Cell Adhesion-Mediated Drug Resistance

The development of new anticancer agents with lower toxicity, higher therapeutic index, and weaker tendency to induce resistant phenotypes in tumor cells is a continuous challenge for the scientific community. Toward that end, we showed previously that a new class of soft alkylating agents designed as phenyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)ureas (CEUs) inhibits tumor cell growth in vitro and that their efficiency is not altered by clinically relevant mechanisms of resistance such as overexpression of multidrug resistance proteins, increase in intracellular concentration of glutathione and/or glutathione S-transferase activity, alteration of topoisomerase II, and increased DNA repair. Mechanistic studies have showed recently that the cytotoxic activity of several CEUs was mainly related to the disruption of microtubules. Here, we present results supporting our assumption that 4-tert-butyl-[3-(2-chloroethyl)ureido]phenyl (tBCEU) (and its bioisosteric derivative 4-iodo-[3-(2-chloroethyl)ureido]phenyl (ICEU) are potent antimicrotubule agents both in vitro and in vivo. They covalently bind to β-tubulin, leading to a microtubule depolymerization phenotype, consequently disrupting the actin cytoskeleton and altering the nuclear morphology. Accordingly, tBCEU and ICEU also inhibited the migration and proliferation of endothelial and tumor cells in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. It is noteworthy that ICEU efficiently blocked angiogenesis and tumor growth in three distinct animal models: (a) the Matrigel plug angiogenesis assay; (b) the CT-26 tumor growth assay in mice; and (c) the chick chorioallantoic membrane tumor assay. In addition, we present evidence that CEU cytotoxicity is unaffected by additional resistance mechanisms impeding tumor response to DNA alkylating agents such as cisplatin, namely the cell adhesion mediated-drug resistance mechanism, which failed to influence the cytocidal activity of CEUs. On the basis of the apparent innocuousness of CEUs, on their ability to circumvent many classical and recently described tumor cell resistance mechanisms, and on their specific biodistribution to organs of the gastrointestinal tract, our results suggest that CEUs represent a promising new class of anticancer agents.

Porosity and biological properties of polyethylene glycol-conjugated collagen materials.

Collagen-based materials can be designed for use as scaffolds for connective tissue reconstruction. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the behavior of collagen materials as well as cell and tissue reactions after the conjugation of activated polyethylene glycols (PEGs) with collagen. It is known that proteins conjugated with PEGs exhibit a decrease in their biodegradation rate and their immunogenicity. Different concentrations and molecular weights of activated PEGs (PEG-750 and PEG-5000) were conjugated to collagen materials (films or sponges) which were then investigated by collagenase assay, fibroblast cell culture, and subcutaneous implantation. PEG-conjugated collagen sponge degradation by collagenase was delayed in comparison to untreated sponges. In culture, fibroblasts with a normal morphology reached confluency on PEG-conjugated collagen films. In vivo, the porous structure of non-modified sponges collapsed by day 15 with a few observable fibroblasts between the collagen fibers. In PEG-modified collagen sponges, the porous structure remained stable for 30 days. Cell infiltration was particularly enhanced in PEG-750-conjugated collagen sponges. In conclusion, PEGs conjugated onto collagen sponges stabilize the porous structure without deactivating the biological properties of collagen. These porous composite materials could function as a scaffold to organize tissue ingrowth.

Design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and structure-activity relationships of substituted phenyl 4-(2-oxoimidazolidin-1-yl)benzenesulfonates as new tubulin inhibitors mimicking combretastatin A-4.

Sixty-one phenyl 4-(2-oxoimidazolidin-1-yl)benzenesulfonates (PIB-SOs) and 13 of their tetrahydro-2-oxopyrimidin-1(2H)-yl analogues (PPB-SOs) were prepared and biologically evaluated. The antiproliferative activities of PIB-SOs on 16 cancer cell lines are in the nanomolar range and unaffected in cancer cells resistant to colchicine, paclitaxel, and vinblastine or overexpressing the P-glycoprotein. None of the PPB-SOs exhibit significant antiproliferative activity. PIB-SOs block the cell cycle progression in the G2/M phase and bind to the colchicine-binding site on β-tubulin leading to cytoskeleton disruption and cell death. Chick chorioallantoic membrane tumor assays show that compounds 36, 44, and 45 efficiently block angiogenesis and tumor growth at least at similar levels as combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) and exhibit low to very low toxicity on the chick embryos. PIB-SOs were subjected to CoMFA and CoMSIA analyses to establish quantitative structure–activity relationships.

Microtubule-Destabilizing Agents Induce Focal Adhesion Structure Disorganization and Anoikis in Cancer Cells

Microtubule disruption provokes cytoskeleton and cell adhesion changes whose importance for apoptosis induction remains unclear. The present study focuses on the functional and the molecular adhesion kinetics that are induced by microtubule disruption-mediated apoptosis. We showed that antimicrotubules induce a biphasic sequence of adhesion response that precedes the onset of apoptosis and focal adhesion kinase hydrolysis. Antimicrotubules first induced an increase of the cellular adhesion paralleled by the raise of focal adhesion sites and actin contractility, which was followed by a sharp decrease of cell adhesion and disorganization of focal adhesion and actin stress fibers. The latter sequence of events ends by cell rounding, detachment from the extracellular matrix, and cell death. Microtubule-disrupting agents induced a sustained paxillin phosphorylation, before the activation of apoptosis, that requires the prior activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 but not c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase. Interestingly, integrin-linked kinase overexpression rescued the antimicrotubule-mediated loss of cell viability. Altogether, these results propound that antimicrotubule agents induce anoikis through the loss of focal adhesion structure integrity.

Inactivation of the mTORC1-Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4E Pathway Alters Stress Granule Formation

ABSTRACT Stress granules (SG) are cytoplasmic multimeric RNA bodies that form under stress conditions known to inhibit cap-dependent translation. SG contain translation initiation factors, RNA binding proteins, and signaling molecules. SG are known to inhibit apoptotic pathways, thus contributing to chemo- and radioresistance in tumor cells. However, whether stress granule formation involves oncogenic signaling pathways is currently unknown. Here, we report a novel role of the mTORC1-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) pathway, a key regulator of cap-dependent translation initiation of oncogenic factors, in SG formation. mTORC1 specifically drives the eIF4E-mediated formation of SG through the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, a key factor known to inhibit formation of the mTORC1-dependent eIF4E-eIF4GI interactions. Disrupting formation of SG by inactivation of mTOR with its specific inhibitor pp242 or by depletion of eIF4E or eIF4GI blocks the SG-associated antiapoptotic p21 pathway. Finally, pp242 sensitizes cancer cells to death in vitro and inhibits the growth of chemoresistant tumors in vivo. This work therefore highlights a novel role of the oncogenic mTORC1-eIF4E pathway, namely, the promotion of formation of antiapoptotic SG.

Novel imidazo[1,2-a]naphthyridinic systems (part 1) : Synthesis, antiproliferative and DNA-intercalating activities

Novel imidazo[1,2-a]naphthyridinic systems 6a-15a and 6b-15b were obtained from Friedländers reaction in imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine series. Most of the compounds were evaluated for their antitumor activity in the NCIs in vitro human tumor cell line screening panel. Among them, pentacyclic derivatives 13b and 14a exhibited in vitro activity comparable to anticancer agent such as amsacrine. Their mechanism of cytotoxicity action was unrelated to poisoning or inhibiting abilities against topo1. On the contrary, we highlighted a direct intercalation of the drugs into DNA by electrophoresis on agarose gel.

New Soft Alkylating Agents with Enhanced Cytotoxicity against Cancer Cells Resistant to Chemotherapeutics and Hypoxia

Chloroethylureas (CEU) are soft alkylating agents that covalently bind to beta-tubulin (betaTAC) and affect microtubule polymerization dynamics. Herein, we report the identification of a CEU subset and its corresponding oxazolines, which induce cell growth inhibition, apoptosis, and microtubule disruption without alkylating beta-tubulin (N-betaTAC). Both betaTAC and N-betaTAC trigger the collapse of mitochondrial potential (DeltaPsi(m)) and modulate reactive oxygen species levels, following activation of intrinsic caspase-8 and caspase-9. Experiments using human fibrosarcoma HT1080 respiratory-deficient cells (rho(0)) and uncoupler of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) showed that betaTAC and N-betaTAC impaired the MRC. rho(0) cells displayed an increased sensitivity toward N-betaTAC as compared with rho(+) cells but, in contrast, were resistant to betaTAC or classic chemotherapeutics, such as paclitaxel. Oxazoline-195 (OXA-195), an N-betaTAC derivative, triggered massive swelling of isolated mitochondria. This effect was insensitive to cyclosporin A and to Bcl-2 addition. In contrast, adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) antagonists, bongkrekic acid or atractyloside, diminished swelling induced by OXA-195. The antiproliferative activities of the N-betaTACs CEU-025 and OXA-152 were markedly decreased in the presence of atractyloside. Conversely, pretreatment with cyclosporin A enhanced growth inhibition induced by betaTAC and N-betaTAC. One of the proteins alkylated by N-betaTAC was identified as the voltage-dependent anion channel isoform-1, an ANT partner. Our results suggest that betaTAC and N-betaTAC, despite their common ability to affect the microtubule network, trigger different cytotoxic mechanisms in cancer cells. The role of mitochondria in these mechanisms and the potential of N-betaTAC as a new therapeutic approach for targeting hypoxia-resistant cells are discussed.

Lack of cross-resistance to a new cytotoxic arylchloroethyl urea in various drug-resistant tumor cells

Abstract1-Aryl 3-(2-chloroethyl) ureas (CEUs), a new class of potent antineoplastic agents, were recently developed in our laboratory. These compounds were designed from the aromatic moiety of chlorambucil and the unnitrosated pharmacophore of carmustine. In the present study we investigated the effect of the potent CEU derivative 4-tert-butyl-[3-(2-chloroethyl)ureido] benzene (tBCEU) on tumor cell lines selected for resistance to a wide range of anticancer drugs. The resistance mechanisms found in these cells included increased expression of P-glycoprotein, increased intracellular concentration of glutathione and/or glutathione-S-transferase activity, alteration of topoisomerase II, and increased DNA repair. Whereas the resistant cell lines were found to be highly resistant to a panel of clinically known anticancer drugs, tBCEU was found to be equally cytotoxic to both resistant and parental cells. The nitrobenzylpyridine assay indicated that tBCEU is a weaker alkylating agent than chlorambucil. This lack of cross-resistance in various resistant tumor cells suggests that tBCEU could be potentially useful in the treatment of cancers resistant to conventional anticancer drugs.

Effects of inactivation-resistant agonists on the signalling, desensitization and down-regulation of bradykinin B2 receptors

Background and purpose:  A peptide bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor agonist partially resistant to degradation, B‐9972, down‐regulates this receptor subtype. We have used another recently described non‐peptide agonist, compound 47a, as a tool to study further the effects of metabolically more stable and thus persistent, agonists of the BK B2 receptor on signalling, desensitization and down‐regulation of this receptor.

Antineoplastic potency of arylchloroethylurea derivatives in murine colon carcinoma

In a search for new antineoplastic agents the lead compound N-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-N′-(2-chloroethyl)urea (CEU-22) of a series of 1-aryl-3-(2-chloroethyl)ureas and its iodinated bioisostere CEU-98, were previously selected on the basis of their cytotoxicity and the potent tropism for the intestinal tract (evidenced for CEU-22). In this study, we investigated the antitumour profile of these two drugs for the indication of colon cancer. In vitro, we found that micromolar concentrations of both CEU-22 and CEU-98 inhibited proliferation of DLD-1, Caco-2, HT-29, SW-948 and CT-26 lines. In vivo, a high inhibition of tumour growth and a life span increase were observed when BALB/c mice grafted subcutaneously with CT-26 cells received 5 daily intratumoural injections of each drug. When administered by the intraperitoneal route according to an intermittent schedule starting Day 1 or Day 7 post-implant, only CEU-98 demonstrated antitumour activity (T/C = 29% for the Day-1,5,9-treatment versus 40% for the Day-7,11,15-treatment) and a life span increase around 40% for the two protocols. These results make CEU-98 a candidate for further investigations with a view to developing an efficacious treatment of colorectal cancer.