NSC746364, NSC746365, and NSC746366: the spectra of cytotoxicity and molecular correlates of response to telomerase activity.
NSC746364, NSC746365, and NSC746366 are structurally novel 2,7-diamidoanthraquinone derivatives compared with other clinically used anticancer agents and have exhibited a unique multilog differential pattern of activity in our earlier studies. To systematically evaluate their potential anticancer activity, three selected compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity in vitro against 60 human cancer lines in the National Cancer Institute's anticancer drug screen as well as for dose response curves and telomerase activity. Cell growth was analyzed by the MTT assay, with differences between dose-response curves analyzed nonparametrically. Telomerase activity was detected by a modified version of the PCR-based assay and telomere repeat amplification protocol assay. To elucidate the structure-activity relationships and in-vitro anticancer activity, we correlated their activity profile [GI(50), total growth inhibition (TGI), and LC(50)] in the screening system and also their effects on telomerase activity, human telomerase reverse transcriptase expression, cell proliferations, and cytotoxicity. As a result we found that NSC746364, NSC746365, and NSC746366 have potent activity with 50% net growth inhibition conferred by 0.23-16.0 micromol/l (2.08 micromol/l mean); 0.78-15.9 micromol/l (2.57 micromol/l mean); 1.38-63.1 micromol/l (3.89 micromol/l mean), respectively. Sensitive cell lines exhibit TGI and 50% lethality to NSC746364, exhibited an LC(50) with as little as 2.82 micromol/l and TGI with as little as 0.95 micromol/l; NSC746365, exhibited an LC(50) with as little as 3.30 micromol/l, and TGI with as little as 1.65 micromol/l; NSC746366, exhibited an LC(50) with as little as 8.80 micromol/l; and TGI with as little as 4.06 micromol/l, respectively. Results of the study extend the initial in-vitro observation reported in the data above and confirm the importance of anticancer activity and telomerase inhibition. The unique molecular characterization, cytotoxicity, and telomerase activity profiles warrant further investigation and indicate a potential novel mechanism of anticancer action involved.
Huang
Hsu-Shan
HS
School of Pharmacy, National Defense Medical Center, Neihu, Taipei 114, Taiwan. huanghs@ndrnctsgh.edu.tw
Huang
Kuo-Feng
KF
Lee
Chia-Chung
CC
Chen
Chun-Liang
CL
Li
Cho-Lu
CL
Lin
Jing-Jer
JJ
D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D019098:Telomerase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
D000880:Anthraquinones; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C547438:NSC746364; C547436:NSC746365; C547437:NSC746366; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase