Stanisław Sobiak

Combretastatins: In vitro structure-activity relationship, mode of action and current clinical status

For the first time combretastatins were isolated from African willow tree Combretum Caffrum. Subsequent studies have shown the impact of combretastatin A4 phosphate, a water-soluble prodrug, on endothelial cells in tumor vascular system. The same effect was not observed in the vascular system. This selectivity is associated with combretastatins mechanism of action: binding to colchicine domain of microtubules, which affects the cytoskeleton functionality of immature endothelial cells. At the same time, combretastatins directly induce cell death via apoptosis and/or mitotic catastrophe pathways. The combination of both elements makes combretastatin an anticancer compound of high efficiency. The cis-configuration is crucial for its biological activity. To date, many derivatives were synthesized. The attempts to resolve spontaneous isomerization to less active trans-stilbene derivative are still in progress. This issue seems to be overcome by incorporation of the ethene bridge with heterocyclic moiety in combretastatins structure. This modification retains the cis-configuration and prevents isomerization. Nevertheless, combretastatin A4 phosphate disodium is still the most potent compound of this group. The combination therapy, which is the most effective treatment, includes combretastatin A4 phosphate (CA4P) and conventional chemotherapeutics and/or radiotherapy. CA4P is relatively well tolerated giving adverse events of moderate severity, which includes: nausea, vomiting, headache, and tumor pain. The aforementioned effects subside on the day of drug administration or on the following day.

Synthesis and characterization of periphery-functionalized porphyrazines containing mixed pyrrolyl and pyridylmethylamino groups

The condensation reaction of 2-amino-3-[(3-pyridylmethyl)amino]-2(Z)-butene-1,4-dinitrile with a series of diketones led to novel dinitriles, of which 2-(2,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-3-[methyl(3-pyridylmethylene)amino]-2(Z)-butene-1,4-dinitrile, the product of the Paal-Knorr reaction, was successfully utilized in the Linstead macrocyclization towards symmetrical and unsymmetrical porphyrazines. NMR and X-ray study revealed an almost perpendicular orientation of the pyrrolyl groups in relation to the porphyrazine platform. The newly synthesized macrocycles with different peripheral groups show interesting spectroscopic and electrochemical properties. Due to selective sensor/coordination properties they are expected to find applications as chemical sensors and electronic materials.

3,4,2′-Trimethoxy-trans-stilbene – a potent CYP1B1 inhibitor

A novel series of methoxy-trans-stilbenes with 3,4-dimethoxy motifs was designed and synthesized. The inhibitory potency of 3,4-dimethoxystilbene derivatives against cytochrome P450 isozymes CYP1A1, CYP1B1 and CYP1A2 was evaluated. 3,4,2′-Trimethoxy-trans-stilbene (3,4,2′-TMS) exhibited extremely potent inhibitory action against CYP1B1 activity with an IC50 of 0.004 μM. 3,4,2′-TMS exhibited 90-fold selectivity for CYP1B1 over CYP1A1 and 830-fold selectivity for CYP1B1 over CYP1A2. However, 3,4,2′,4′-tetramethoxy-trans-stilbene appeared to be the most selective inhibitor of both CYP1B1 and CYP1A1 showing very low affinity toward CYP1A2. Complementary experimental studies and computational methods were used to explain what structural determinants decide the specific affinity of stilbene derivatives to CYP1A2 and CYP1B1 binding sites.

The effect of resveratrol and its methylthio-derivatives on the Nrf2-ARE pathway in mouse epidermis and HaCaT keratinocytes

Resveratrol is the most extensively studied stilbene derivative. We previously showed that methylthiostilbenes were more effective inhibitors of CYP1A1 and 1B1 activity than resveratrol. In this study, we investigated whether resveratrol and its methylthio-substituted derivatives, i.e. 3-M-4′-MTS (S2), 3,5-DM-4′-MTS (S5) and 3,4,5-TM-4′-MTS (S7) could activate Nrf2 signaling in the mouse epidermis and in human keratinocytes. Western blot analysis showed translocation of Nrf2 from the cytosol to the nucleus in both models. All of the tested stilbenes increased GST activity, but resveratrol was the most effective inducer. Moreover, only resveratrol increased the protein level of GSTP in the mouse epidermis. GSTM was enhanced in HaCaT cells after the treatment with derivatives S2 and S5. The same effect was observed for GSTP in the case of compound S2. Resveratrol and its derivatives reduced the NQO2 protein level in HaCaT cells. Thus, it is possible that increased expression of GSTP or GSTM and GST activity was linked with NQO2 inhibition in these cells. The results of this study indicate that resveratrol and its methylthioderivatives activate Nrf2 not only in the mouse epidermis, but also in human keratinocytes. Upregulating GST isozymes might be particularly important for deactivating chemical carcinogens, such as PAH.

The Inhibitory Effect of Natural Stilbenes and Their Analogues on Catalytic Activity of Cytochromes P450 Family 1 in Comparison with Other Phenols - Structure and Activity Relationship

In the last decade, increasing interest in the role of nutrition in disease prevention has been observed. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that one-third of all cancer deaths could be prevented, and that diet plays a key role in prevention (Bode & Dong, 2009). The term chemoprevention introduced and developed by Sporn (2005) and Wattenberg (1985) refers in general to multi-targeted pharmacological and nutritional intervention with the use of naturally occurring or chemically synthesized compounds. For this purpose, dietary phytochemicals believed to be safe for human use seem to be very promising. The importance of natural chemopreventive agents relies on their non-toxicity when given in small amounts for longer periods of time. Moreover, using a combination of phytochemicals provides synergistic or additive preventive effects.

(E)-1-[4-(Methyl-sulfan-yl)phen-yl]-2-(2,3,4-trimeth-oxy-phen-yl)ethene.

In the title compound, C18H20O3S, the rings are almost coplanar [inter-ring dihedral angle = 6.6 (2)°]. In the crystal, weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the methoxy groups connect adjacent molecules, giving chains which extend along [001].