Synthesis, spectral characterization, and in vitro cellular activities of metapristone, a potential cancer metastatic chemopreventive agent derived from mifepristone (RU486)

AAPS J. 2014 Mar;16(2):289-98. doi: 10.1208/s12248-013-9559-2. Epub 2014 Jan 18.

Abstract

Mifepristone (RU486) is marketed and used widely by women as an abortifacient, and experimentally for psychotic depression and anticancer treatments. After administration, metapristone is found to be the most predominant metabolite of mifepristone. We hypothesized that adhesion of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to vascular endothelial bed is a crucial starting point in metastatic cascade, and that metapristone can serve as a cancer metastatic chemopreventive agent that can interrupt adhesion and invasion of CTCs to the intima of microvasculature. In the present study, we modified the synthesis procedure to produce grams of metapristone, fully characterized its spectral properties and in vitro cellular activities, including its cytostatic effects, cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis on human colorectal cancer HT-29 cells. Metapristone concentration dependently interrupted adhesion of HT-29 cells to endothelial cells. Metapristone may potentially be a useful agent to interrupt metastatic initiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Annexin A5 / metabolism
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / chemistry
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / pharmacology
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Mifepristone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Mifepristone / chemical synthesis
  • Mifepristone / chemistry*
  • Mifepristone / pharmacology
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / prevention & control*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

Substances

  • Annexin A5
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • Mifepristone
  • Caspase 3
  • metapristone