title: Anthrapyrazole anticancer agents. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships against murine leukemias.
abstract: Chromophore modification of the anthracenediones related to mitoxantrone in an attempt to provide agents with diminished or no cardiotoxicity has resulted in a novel class of DNA binders, the anthrapyrazoles. Their synthesis was carried out by a two-stage condensation sequence starting from requisite 1,4- or 1,5-dichloro-9,10-anthracenedione precursors. Reaction with a monoalkylhydrazine gave a chloroanthrapyrazole intermediate whose subsequent condensation with primary or secondary alkylamines provided the target "two-armed" anthrapyrazoles. A-ring 7,10-dihydroxy anthrapyrazoles were derived from amine condensation with intermediate 5-chloro-7,10-dihydroxyanthrapyrazoles or, alternatively, from intermediate 5-chloro-7,10-bis(benzyloxy)anthrapyrazoles followed by hydrogenolysis of the benzyl protecting groups to provide the target compounds. Potent in vitro activity was demonstrated against murine L1210 leukemia in vitro (IC50 = 10(-7)-10(-8) M) as well as against P388 leukemia in vivo over a wide range of structural variants. In general, activity against the P388 line was maximized by basic side chains at N-2 and C-5, two to three carbon spacers between proximal and distal nitrogens of the side chain, and A-ring hydroxylation. Besides having curative activity against the P388 line, the more active compounds were curative against murine B-16 melanoma in vivo. On the basis of their exceptional in vivo anticancer activity, A-ring dihydroxy compounds 71 and 74 reported in this study have been selected for development toward clinical trials.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007939:Leukemia L1210 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007941:Leukemia P388 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D051379:Mice; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011720:Pyrazoles; D008942:Mitoxantrone