Synthesis and antitumor properties of an anthraquinone bisubstituted by the copper chelating peptide Gly-Gly-L-His.

E Morier-Teissier, N Boitte, N Helbecque, J L Bernier, N Pommery, J L Duvalet, C Fournier, B Hecquet, J P Catteau, J P Hénichart

Index: J. Med. Chem. 36 , 2084, (1993)

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Abstract

A new molecule 4 [(GGH-DAE)2DHQ] associating the 1,4,5,8-tetrahydroxyanthraquinone ring (DHQ) of the antitumor drug mitoxantrone (2), two diaminoethylene chains (DAE), and the metal-chelating peptide Gly-Gly-His (GGH) has been synthesized. Such a molecule presents characteristics able to induce antitumor activity: compound 4 intercalates into DNA as measured by delta Tm, fluorescence quenching, and viscometry; ESR studies demonstrate that several types of Cu complexes are formed depending on pH; and the production of free radicals, as evidenced by spin-trapping, is enhanced by 4. In vitro, in leukemia cells L1210 and mammary cells MCF7, 4 is slightly less cytostatic than mitoxantrone, but substantially less toxic. In vivo, in leukemia P388 on mice, a T/C value of 230 is obtained at 25 mg/kg, higher than the one of mitoxantrone, which is toxic at the same dose.