A new series of vitamin D analogs is highly active for clonal inhibition, differentiation, and induction of WAF1 in myeloid leukemia.
The active form of vitamin D3 [1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin-D3 (1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3)] modulates the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. Analogs of 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 that have greater potency may have the potential as adjuvant therapy for high-risk patients in remission for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes. A new generation of 11 analogs of 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 has been synthesized, and we examined their effects on the human leukemic cell line HL-60. This cell line provides a sensitive monitor of activity of the 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 analogs. All the compounds were potent, producing a 50% clonal inhibition (ED50) in the range of 10(-8) to 10(-11) mol/L; nine of the 11 analogs had ED50s at concentrations that were at least 10-fold lower than those for the parental 1,25(OH)2D3. The most active compound [cmpd LA, (22R)-1 alpha, 25-(OH)2-16,22,23-triene-D3] had an ED50 of 2 x 10(-11) mol/L; it was also tested on clonogenic cells from patients with AML, and it achieved an ED50 of approximately 6 x 10(-11) mol/L, while 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 produced an ED50 of approximately 10(-8) mol/L on the same population of cells. Five different cell surface markers were examined on HL-60 cells exposed to the 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 analogs: HLA-DR and CD11b were induced by all of the compounds; CD13 was induced by six of the 12 compounds, including 1,25(OH)2D3; CD14 was strongly induced by all compounds; and CD38 was induced rather weakly by nine of 12 analogs. WAF1/CIP1/p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI), which is important in blocking the cell cycle, was examined by Western blot and was found to be induced by all of the compounds, suggesting a possible mechanism by which these analogs inhibit leukemic growth. The induction of WAF1 occurred at concentrations of vitamin D analogs as low as 10(-10) mol/L. This structure-function study showed that a new series of 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D3 analogs was active in clonal inhibition, as well as induction of differentiation and WAF1 expression of HL-60 cells. The key structural motifs included C-16 double bond, double and/or triple bonds in the side chain, lengthening of the side chain, 20-epi-conformation of the side chain, replacement of six hydrogens at the end of the side chain with fluorines, and the removal of C-19. Consideration should be given to further in vivo testing of toxicity and efficacy to move toward a clinical trial, especially in a setting of minimal residual disease.
Munker
R
R
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center/UCLA School of Medicine 90048, USA.
Kobayashi
T
T
Elstner
E
E
Norman
A W
AW
Uskokovic
M
M
Zhang
W
W
Andreeff
M
M
Koeffler
H P
HP
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002645:Chickens; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014809:Vitamin D-Binding Protein; D014807:Vitamin D