A novel 2'-(N-methylpyridinium acetate) prodrug of paclitaxel induces superior antitumor responses in preclinical cancer models

Bioconjug Chem. 2002 Sep-Oct;13(5):1093-9. doi: 10.1021/bc0200226.

Abstract

The development of novel strategies for the treatment of malignancies by successful intervention in advanced stage disease is a major challenge in oncology. We tested the hypothesis that this can be achieved by the rational design of taxoid onium salts modified at C-7 and C-2' positions. The characterization of these molecules revealed a dramatically improved water solubility and prodrug behavior in plasma. Specifically, all compounds released parental paclitaxel with half-lives ranging from 0.9 to 180 min. In the absence of plasma, only the 2'-(N-methylpyridinium acetate) derivative of paclitaxel (2'-MPA-paclitaxel) revealed a complete abrogation of paclitaxel specific microtubule assembly disassembly dynamics and a 3 log reduction in cellular binding, indicating that reversible blockage of the C-2' position by methylpyridinium acetate yields a true paclitaxel prodrug. Structure/activity profiles of all compounds in tissue culture revealed cytotoxicity effective at picomolar concentrations with a panel of 16 cancer cell lines in contrast to 4 nonmalignant cell lines. Importantly, the decisive cytotoxic potential observed in vitro for all compounds correlated only with in vivo findings for 2'-MPA-paclitaxel. Specifically, the 2'-MPA-paclitaxel prodrug induced regression of primary tumors in three xenograft models of nonsmall cell lung carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma and prostate cancer, in contrast to ineffective C-7 derivatives and parental paclitaxel. At the same time, a reduced systemic toxicity of 2'-MPA-paclitaxel was observed in contrast to a far more toxic parental paclitaxel. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the 2'-MPA-paclitaxel prodrug is a promising new candidate for cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / blood
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cattle
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Onium Compounds
  • Paclitaxel / blood
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacokinetics*
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology
  • Prodrugs / chemical synthesis*
  • Prodrugs / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Transplantation, Heterologous
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tubulin / drug effects
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Onium Compounds
  • Prodrugs
  • Tubulin
  • Paclitaxel