[The synthesis of triterpenic amides based on 2,3-seco-1-cyano-19beta,28-epoxy-18alpha-olean-3-oic acid].

Novel 2,3-seco-triterpenic amides were prepared by the interaction of the chloride of 2,3-seco-l-cyano-19beta,28-epoxy-18alpha-oleane-3-oic acid with primary amines and synthetic and biogenic amino acids. A cytotoxic triterpenic conjugate with a residue of the ethyl ester of beta-alanine was found among the synthesized nitrogen-containing derivatives. Treatment with this conjugate in a concentration of 100 muM resulted in the 45.

Combined effect of cisplatin and lymphokine-activated killer cells on A549 cells of non-small cell lung cancer.

We studied the ability of lymphokine-activated killer cells to lyse A549 human non-small cell lung cancer cells after preincubation with cisplatin. Lymphokine-activated killer cells obtained after incubation of human blood lymphocytes with interleukin-2 were characterized by high expression of natural killer cell antigens and activation molecules. Lymphokine-activated killer cells produced potent cytotoxic effect on intact A549 cells and lysed tumor cells survived after treatment with cisplatin in concentrations of IC50 and IC30.

[New approaches to search for antitumoral compounds].

The authors discuss the present-day state of search for antitumoral compounds at Blokhin Russian Oncological Research Center and promising approaches including computer technologies as means of search for new anticancerous targets and drugs.

Selective antitumor activity of lymphokine-activated killer cells in vitro.

We compared cytotoxic activity of blood mononuclear leukocytes from healthy donors and lymphokine-activated killer cells generated from them towards tumor and normal cells. Lymphokine-activated killer cells exhibited higher (in comparison with blood mononuclear leukocytes) killer activity towards tumor cells. Lymphokine-activated cells and mononuclear leukocytes had no lytic effect on non-transformed eukaryotic cells.

[Using nutriceutics for occupational fluorosis prevention].

The article deals with pathogenesis of occupational fluorosis. Clinical studies demonstrated changes in bone mineral density among workers with 15-20 years of service. Experimental studies proved that occupational fluorosis is associated withcalcium dysbalance,bone tissue resorption and calcium washout.

[Serum biochemistry data in association of atherosclerosis with pulmonary dust diseases].

The authors studied prevalence of atherosclerosis, serum levels of lipids and homocysteine in coal miners suffering from pulmonary dust diseases. More marked hyperlipidemia and hyperhomocysteinemia are associated with combination of atherosclerosis and pulmonary dust diseases. Respiratory failure as a complication of pulmonary dust diseases promotes hyperlipidemia.

[Synthesis and antitumor activity of cyclopropane derivatives of betulinic and betulonic acids].

New cyclopropane derivatives of betulin were synthesized by attachment of dichlorocarbenes or dibromocarbenes to the double bond of betulin diacetate, followed by the deprotection of hydroxyl groups. The betulin cyclopropane derivative was obtained from 20,29-dihydro-20,29-dichloromethylenebetulin by treatment with lithium in tert-butanol. These compounds were converted into the corresponding derivatives of betulonic acid by oxidation with chromium trioxide.

[Epimerization of hydroxyl group in the lupan series of triterpenes].

Two methods of obtaining of 3 alpha-betulinic acid and related compounds from their 3 beta-epimers were studied: the reaction of bimolecular substitution and the stereoselective reduction of 3-ketoderivatives. The substitution of acyloxy by formyloxy group in 3-O-tosyllupeol or of the betulin hydroxyl by benzoyloxy group resulted only in delta 2, 3-elimination products, with none of the expected products of bimolecular substitution being found. The catalytic hydrogenation of betulonic acid over Raney nickel resulted only in reduction of the isopropenyl double bond, whereas the use of 5% Ru/C gave a 60:40 mixture of epimers of dihydrobetulinic acid.

[Results of cooperation of Experimental and Clinical Chemotherapy, N. N. Blokhin Center for Oncology Research, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (1952-2000)].

Milestones of the Russian antitumor chemotherapy development inseparably associated with the names of N.N. Blokhin, L.

[A novel immunoregulating hexapeptide with antineoplastic effect].

A synthesized analog of myelopeptide HP-2-->M[symbol: see text]-2 (Leu-Val-Val-Tyr-Pro-Trp) caused a significant (60-80%) and prolonged inhibition of s.c. grafted tumors P388, Ca-755, B-16 and sarcoma 180 in isogenic mice but did not affect the growth of tumor B-16 in nude mice.

[Synthesis and biological properties of 3,5-cyclophosphates- and -amidophosphates of 1,2-O-alkylydene-6-deoxy-6-halogeno-alpha -D-glucofuranoses].

3,5-Cyclic phosphates and phosphoramides of 6-halogenated glucofuranoses were synthesized via interaction of 3,5,6-bicyclophosphites of 1,2-O-alkylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranoses with halogens (followed by treatment with nucleophilic reagents) and N-chloroamines. 3,5-Cyclic trans-dibutylphosphoramides of 6-chloro-6-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene- and 6-chloro-6-deoxy-(R)-(2,2,2)-trichloroethylidene)-alpha-D-glucofuranoses were shown to possess antiproliferative activity against CaOv human ovarian carcinoma cells in vitro (CE50 of approximately 10(-5) M). Cyclic trans-dibutylphosphoramide of 6-chloro-6-deoxy-1,2,-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranose also displayed marked antitumor effect on P-388 transplantable murine leukemia in vivo (the maximum increase in life span of 100% was reached at the quintuple injection of 100 mg/kg daily).

Antitumor activity of conjugates of the oncofetal protein alpha-fetoprotein and phthalocyanines in vitro.

The several conjugates of aluminium and cobalt complexes of phthalocyanines with human alpha-fetoprotein have been synthesized. Their cytotoxic activity against tumor cells and human peripheral blood lymphocytes was studied. The experimental data demonstrate that the cytotoxic activity of alpha-fetoprotein-phthalocyanine conjugates against three types of tumor cells of various origin is much higher (for aluminium and cobalt complexes more than 1000 and 50 times, respectively) in comparison with phthalocyanines themselves.

Antitumor activity of conjugates of the oncofetal protein alpha-fetoprotein and phthalocyanines in vitro.

The several conjugates of aluminium and cobalt complexes of phthalocyanines with human alpha-fetoprotein have been synthesized. Their cytotoxic activity against tumor cells and human peripheral blood lymphocytes was studied. The experimental data demonstrate that the cytotoxic activity of alpha-fetoprotein-phthalocyanine conjugates against three types of tumor cells of various origin is much higher (for aluminium and cobalt complexes more than 1000 and 50 times, respectively) in comparison with phthalocyanines themselves.

[Effect of anti-tumor agents cisplatin and cycloplatam on membrane protein kinase C activity in murine T-lymphocytes].

The effect of cisplatin and the new drug cycloplatam (amine (cyclopentylamine)-S-(-)-malatoplatinum (II)) on protein kinase C (PKC) activity and Ca(2+)-dependent binding of PKC to T lymphocytes membranes was studied in vivo and in vitro. At first, the effect of the drugs on PKC activity of intact and activated lymphocytes was studied in vivo. In 48 hours after intraperitoneal injection of mice with therapeutic doses of the drugs, PKC activity of intact lymphocytes was differentially affected.

[The use of verapamil in tests for determining the drug resistance of leukemic blasts].

To determine prognostically unfavourable groups of acute leukemia patients, the authors studied the in vitro accumulation of 3H-vincristine (Vcr) and adriamycin (ADR) as well as inclusion of 3H-cytosar (Ara-C) into marrow blast DNA from patients showing different effects of treatment. It was found resistant to induction chemotherapy increases with verapamil addition to culture medium (Vrp+ cells). ADR inclusion into Vrp+ cells was the same as that into Vrp- cells.

Antiproliferative effect of complexes of platinum (II) with plasmanyl-(N-acyl)-ethanolamine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C.

Antiproliferative activities of combinations of semisynthetic plasmanyl-(N-acyl)-ethanolamine [PNAE(s)], an inhibitor of protein kinase C, with two antitumor complexes of platinum (II) [cisplatin and ammine(cyclopentylamine)-S-(-)-malatoplatinum (cycloplatam)] were investigated. The exposure of human melanoma BRO cells in culture simultaneously with cisplatin (1-10 microM) and PNAE(s) (100 microM-1 mM) in a molar ratio of 1/100 for 24 h induced a considerable decrease in the ability of these cells to incorporate [3H]thymidine into DNA. A considerable antiproliferative synergism of these agents was observed.

[Biochemical indicators of anthracycline sensitivity of blast cells from patients with hemoblastoses].

It was shown that accumulation of adriamycin (ADR) and its impact on DNA synthesis in the blast cells of patients with hemoblastosis studied under conditions of short-term incubation correlated with the antileukemic activity of anthracyclines. The combination of the two biochemical and pharmacological indices, i.e.

Inhibition of protein kinase C by semisynthetic phospholipid plasmanyl-(N-acyl)-ethanolamine, a nontoxic antitumor preparation.

Protein kinase C was extracted from mouse brain and partially purified by ion-exchange chromatography on a DEAE-cellulose column. Its activity was determined by incorporation of phosphate from [gamma-32P]ATP into histone H2b. The semisynthetic alkyl-phospholipid plasmanyl-(N-acyl)-ethanolamine (PNAEs) with selective antitumor activity inhibited the activity of the protein kinase in a cell-free system in the presence of phosphatidylserine, a protein kinase C activator.

Synergistic antiproliferative effect of cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum (II) and a new anticancer agent, plasmanyl-(N-acyl)-ethanolamine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C.

The action of a new anticancer agent, the semisynthetic alkyl-phospholipid plasmanyl-(N-acyl)-ethanolamine (sPNAE), namely 1-O-octadecyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(N-palmitoyl)-ethanolamine, on protein kinase C (PKC) was investigated, and it was found to inhibit in a dose-dependent manner PKC isolated from mouse brain. The inhibition was competitive with respect to phosphatidylserine (K(i) = 20 microM). Lyso-PNAE, a possible cell metabolite of sPNAE, also inhibited PKC.