Cytotoxicity and cellular differentiation activity of methylenebis(phosphonate) analogs of tiazofurin and mycophenolic acid adenine dinucleotide in human cancer cell lines

Cancer Lett. 2002 Jul 8;181(1):31-8. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3835(02)00045-9.

Abstract

Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is a fungally-derived inhibitor of inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH). MPA binds IMPDH at the nicotinamide sub-site of the NAD cofactor binding domain leaving the adenosine sub-site empty. In order to improve the binding affinity we synthesized MPA analogs by linking adenosine 5'-methylenebis(phosphonate) with mycophenolic alcohols containing 2-, 4-, and 6-carbon atoms in their aliphatic side chain. Adenine dinucleotide analogs of tiazofurin, selenazofurin and benzamide riboside were synthesized as P1, P2-disubstituted pyrophosphates. Cytotoxicity of each analog was examined in human colon adenocarcinoma HT-29 and erythroleukemia K562 cells, and induction of differentiation in K562 cells by these agents was determined. Mycophenolic acid is currently used as an immunosuppressant but its anticancer action is limited by inactivation due to rapid glucuronidation. The new analogs show resistance to metabolism to inactive species and exhibit enhanced cytotoxicity in tumor cell lines, and therefore could be useful as anticancer agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenine Nucleotides
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Diphosphonates / metabolism*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • K562 Cells
  • Mycophenolic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Mycophenolic Acid / pharmacokinetics
  • Mycophenolic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Ribavirin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Ribavirin / pharmacokinetics
  • Ribavirin / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Adenine Nucleotides
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Diphosphonates
  • mycophenolic adenine dinucleotide
  • Ribavirin
  • Mycophenolic Acid
  • tiazofurin