Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of fluoroquinoanthroxazines with contrasting dual mechanisms of action against topoisomerase II and G-quadruplexes

J Med Chem. 2003 Feb 13;46(4):571-83. doi: 10.1021/jm0203377.

Abstract

Topoisomerase inhibitors are important and clinically effective drugs, while G-quadruplex-interactive compounds that disrupt telomere maintenance mechanisms have yet to be proven useful in the clinic. If G-quadruplex-interactive compounds are to be clinically useful, it will most likely be in combination with more established cytotoxic agents. We have previously reported on a family of topoisomerase II inhibitors that also interact with G-quadruplexes. On the basis of previously established structure-activity relationships (SARs) for compounds that are able to inhibit topoisomerase II or interact with G-quadruplex to varying degrees, we have now designed and synthesized four new fluoroquinoanthroxazines (FQAs) that have different profiles of mixed topoisomerase II poisoning effects and G-quadruplex interactions. The biological profiles of the four new compounds were determined with respect to G-quadruplex interaction (polymerase stop and photocleavage assays) and topoisomerase II interaction (DNA cleavage and kDNA decatenation assays), alongside cytotoxicity tests with matched pairs of topoisomerase II-resistant and topoisomerase II-sensitive cells and with telomerase (+) and ALT (+) cell lines (ALT = alternative lengthening of telomeres). From this study, we have identified two FQAs with sharply contrasting profiles of potent G-quadruplex interaction with a weak topoisomerase II poisoning effect, and vice versa, for further evaluation to determine the optimum combination of these activities in subsequent in vivo studies.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / drug effects*
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / deficiency
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / metabolism
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Fluoroquinolones / chemical synthesis*
  • Fluoroquinolones / chemistry
  • Fluoroquinolones / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Oxazines / chemical synthesis*
  • Oxazines / chemistry
  • Oxazines / pharmacology
  • Pyrrolidines / chemical synthesis*
  • Pyrrolidines / chemistry
  • Pyrrolidines / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Telomere
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Oxazines
  • Pyrrolidines
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
  • DNA
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II