Activation of Phenyl 4-(2-Oxo-3-alkylimidazolidin-1-yl)benzenesulfonates Prodrugs by CYP1A1 as New Antimitotics Targeting Breast Cancer Cells

J Med Chem. 2017 Jun 22;60(12):4963-4982. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00343. Epub 2017 Jun 1.

Abstract

Prodrug-mediated utilization of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 to obtain the selective release of potent anticancer products within cancer tissues is a promising approach in chemotherapy. We herein report the rationale, preparation, biological evaluation, and mechanism of action of phenyl 4-(2-oxo-3-alkylimidazolidin-1-yl)benzenesulfonates (PAIB-SOs) that are antimicrotubule prodrugs activated by CYP1A1. Although PAIB-SOs are inert in most cells tested, they are highly cytocidal toward several human breast cancer cells, including hormone-independent and chemoresistant types. PAIB-SOs are N-dealkylated into cytotoxic phenyl 4-(2-oxo-3-imidazolidin-1-yl)benzenesulfonates (PIB-SOs) in CYP1A1-positive cancer cells, both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, PAIB-SOs are novel chemotherapeutic prodrugs with no equivalent among current antineoplastics and whose selective action toward breast cancer is tailored to the characteristic pattern of CYP1A1 expression observed in a large percentage of human breast tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimitotic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antimitotic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Benzenesulfonates / chemical synthesis
  • Benzenesulfonates / chemistry*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • Chick Embryo
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / metabolism*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Prodrugs / pharmacokinetics
  • Prodrugs / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antimitotic Agents
  • Benzenesulfonates
  • Prodrugs
  • CYP1A1 protein, human
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1