Enhancement of nucleoside cytotoxicity through nucleotide prodrugs

J Med Chem. 2002 Sep 26;45(20):4505-12. doi: 10.1021/jm020107s.

Abstract

A common reason for the lack of cytotoxicity of certain nucleosides is thought to be their inability to be initially activated to the monophosphate level by a nucleoside kinase or other activating enzyme. In a search for other nucleosides that might be worthwhile anticancer agents, we have begun to examine the utilization of monophosphate prodrugs in order to explore whether any enhanced cytotoxicity might be found for the prodrugs of candidate nucleosides that have little or no cytotoxicity. To that end, 5'-bis(pivaloyloxymethyl) phosphate prodrugs of two weakly cytotoxic compounds, 8-aza-2'-deoxyadenosine (5) and 8-bromo-2'-deoxyadenosine (9), have been prepared. These prodrugs (8 and 12) were examined for their cytotoxicity in CEM cells and were found to possess significantly enhanced cytotoxicity when compared with the corresponding parent nucleosides. Further cell culture experiments were conducted to gain insight into the mechanisms of cytotoxicity of these two prodrugs, and those data are reported.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Monophosphate / analogs & derivatives
  • Adenosine Monophosphate / chemical synthesis*
  • Adenosine Monophosphate / chemistry
  • Adenosine Monophosphate / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • DNA / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DNA / biosynthesis
  • DNA Polymerase I / chemistry
  • Deoxyadenosines / analogs & derivatives
  • Deoxyadenosines / chemical synthesis*
  • Deoxyadenosines / chemistry
  • Deoxyadenosines / pharmacology
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Prodrugs / chemical synthesis*
  • Prodrugs / chemistry
  • Prodrugs / pharmacology
  • RNA / antagonists & inhibitors
  • RNA / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Uridine Kinase / metabolism

Substances

  • 8-aza-2'-deoxyadenosine
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Deoxyadenosines
  • Prodrugs
  • bis(pivaloyloxymethyl) 8-aza-2'-deoxyadenosine-5'-monophosphate
  • bis(pivaloyloxymethyl) 8-bromo-2'-adenosine-5'-monophosphate
  • 8-bromo-2'-deoxyadenosine
  • Adenosine Monophosphate
  • RNA
  • DNA
  • Uridine Kinase
  • DNA Polymerase I