Novel fluoro-substituted camptothecins: in vivo antitumor activity, reduced gastrointestinal toxicity and pharmacokinetic characterization.
OBJECTIVE
The novel fluoro-substituted camptothecin analog, BMS-286309, and its prodrug, BMS-422461, were evaluated for their pharmacologic, toxicologic, metabolic and pharmacokinetic developmental potential.


METHODS
In vitro and in vivo assays were used to assess the compounds for topoisomerase I activity, antitumor activity, gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity, and pharmacokinetic parameters.


RESULTS
BMS-286309-induced topoisomerase I-mediated DNA breaks in vitro and was similar in potency to camptothecin. Both BMS-286309 and -422461 were comparable to irinotecan regarding preclinical antitumor activity assessed in mice bearing distal site murine and human tumors. BMS-422461 was also found to be orally active. Both analogs were >100-fold more potent in vivo than irinotecan and both were superior to irinotecan with respect to toxicological assessment of GI injury in mice. The generation of parent compound from BMS-422461 was qualitatively similar in mouse, rat and human blood and liver S9 fractions. The percentage of BMS-286309 remaining as the active lactone form at equilibrium was comparable in mouse and human plasma. The pharmacokinetic profile in rat blood demonstrated that BMS-422461 was rapidly cleaved to BMS-286309.


CONCLUSIONS
The favorable in vivo metabolic activation of BMS-422461, and the pharmacokinetic characteristics of BMS-286309, suggest that the good efficacy of BMS-422461 is derived from robust in vivo release of BMS-286309 in rodents and the likelihood that this biotransformation will be preserved in humans. The comparable antitumor activity of BMS-422461 to irinotecan, as well as reduced preclinical GI toxicity, make this novel camptothecin analog attractive for clinical development.
Rose
William C
WC
Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Inc., Lawrenceville, NJ, USA. rosew@bms.com
Marathe
Punit H
PH
Jang
Graham R
GR
Monticello
Thomas M
TM
Balasubramanian
Balu N
BN
Long
Byron
B
Fairchild
Craig R
CR
Wall
Monroe E
ME
Wani
Mansukh C
MC
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; C511490:BMS 286309; C511491:BMS 422461; D011355:Prodrugs; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin