title: Preclinical profile of antitumor activity of a novel hydrophilic camptothecin, ST1968.
abstract: ST1968 is a novel hydrophilic camptothecin (CPT) derivative of the 7-oxyiminomethyl series. Because ST1968 retained ability to form remarkably stable cleavable complexes, this study was done to investigate its preclinical profile of antitumor activity in a large panel of human tumor models, including irinotecan-resistant tumors. Although less potent than SN38 in vitro, i.v. administered ST1968 caused a marked tumor inhibition, superior to that of irinotecan, in most tested models. ST1968 exhibited an impressive activity against several tumors including models of ovarian and colon carcinoma in which a high rate of cures was observed. In the most responsive tumors, complete and persistent tumor regressions were achieved even with low suboptimal doses. Even tumors derived from intrinsically resistant cells exhibited a significant responsiveness. Histologic analysis of treated tumors supports a contribution of both proapoptotic and antiangiogenic effects to ST1968 antitumor efficacy. A study done in yeast cells transformed with CPT-resistant mutant forms of topoisomerase I documented that, in contrast to other tested CPT, ST1968 was active against yeasts expressing the mutant K720E enzyme. Based on its outstanding efficacy superior to that of irinotecan and of its good therapeutic index, ST1968 has been selected for clinical development.
authors.affiliation: Sigma-Tau, Pomezia, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pisano
authors.forename: Michelandrea
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Cesare
authors.forename: Giovanni Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Beretta
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zuco
authors.forename: Graziella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pratesi
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Penco
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vesci
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foderà
authors.forename: Fabiana Fosca
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Mario Berardino
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Guglielmi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carminati
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dallavalle
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morini
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Merlini
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zunino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects; D019772:Topotecan / Q000494:pharmacology; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D019772:Topotecan; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I; C531200:namitecan; D002166:Camptothecin