Antineoplastic agents. 445. Synthesis and evaluation of structural modifications of (Z)- and (E)-combretastatin A-41.
A series of cis- and trans-stilbenes related to combretastatin A-4 (1a), with a variety of substituents at the 3'-position of the aryl B-ring, were synthesized and evaluated for inhibitory activity employing six human cancer cell lines (NCI-H460 lung carcinoma, BXPC-3 pancreas, SK-N-SH neuroblastoma, SW1736 thyroid, DU-145 prostate, and FADU pharynx-squamous sarcoma) as well as the P-388 murine lymphocyte leukemia cell line. Several of the cis-stilbene derivatives were significantly inhibitory against all cell lines used, with potencies comparable to that of the parent 1a. All were potent inhibitors of tubulin polymerization. The corresponding trans-stilbenes had little or no activity as tubulin polymerization inhibitors and were relatively inactive against the seven cancer cell lines. In terms of inhibition of both cancer cell growth and tubulin polymerization, the dimethylamino and bromo cis-stilbenes were the most potent of the new derivatives, the latter having biological activity approaching that of 1a. As part of the present study, the X-ray crystal structure of the 3'-O-phosphate of combretastatin A-4 (1b) was successfully elucidated. Compound 1b has been termed the "combretastatin A-4 prodrug", and it is currently undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of human cancer patients.
Pettit
George R
GR
Department of Chemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, 85287-2404, USA.
Rhodes
Monte R
MR
Herald
Delbert L
DL
Hamel
Ernest
E
Schmidt
Jean M
JM
Pettit
Robin K
RK
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001704:Biopolymers; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001704:Biopolymers; D013267:Stilbenes; D014404:Tubulin; C058728:fosbretabulin