Design and Synthesis of Cyclolipopeptide Mimics of Dysoxylactam A and Evaluation of the Reversing Potencies against P-Glycoprotein-Mediated Multidrug Resistance.

Inspired by the structure of dysoxylactam A (DLA) that has been demonstrated to reverse P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) effectively, 61 structurally simplified cyclolipopeptides were thus designed and synthesized via an effective method, and their reversing P-gp-mediated MDR potentials were evaluated, which provided a series of more potent analogues and allowed us to explore their structure-activity relationship (SAR). Among them, a well-simplified compound, , with only two chiral centers that all derived from amino acids dramatically reversed drug resistance in KBV200 cells at 10 μM in combination with vinorelbine (VNR), paclitaxel (PTX), and adriamycin (ADR), respectively, which is more promising than DLA. The mechanism study showed that reversed the MDR of tumor cells by inhibiting the transport function of P-gp rather than reducing its expression.

SIBP-03, a novel anti-HER3 antibody, exerts antitumor effects and synergizes with EGFR- and HER2-targeted drugs.

HER3 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 3) acts through heterodimerization with EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) or HER2 to play an essential role in activating phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and AKT signaling-a crucial pathway that promotes tumor cell survival. HER3 is a promising target for cancer therapy, and several HER3-directed antibodies have already entered into clinical trials. In this study we characterized a novel anti-HER3 monoclonal antibody, SIBP-03.

DCZ5248, a novel dual inhibitor of Hsp90 and autophagy, exerts antitumor activity against colon cancer.

Hsp90 is a potential therapeutic target for tumor, as it maintains the stability of a variety of proteins related to tumor development and progression. Autophagy is a self-degradation process to maintain cellular homeostasis and autophagy inhibitors can suppress tumor growth. In this study, we identified DCZ5248, a triazine derivative, was a dual inhibitor of both Hsp90 and late-autophagy with potent antitumor activity against colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Dysoxylactam A: A Macrocyclolipopeptide Reverses P-Glycoprotein-Mediated Multidrug Resistance in Cancer Cells.

A 17-membered macrocyclolipopeptide, named dysoxylactam A (1) comprising an unprecedented branched C19 fatty acid and an l-valine, was isolated from the plants of Dysoxylum hongkongense. The challenging relative configuration of 1 was established by means of residual dipolar coupling-based NMR analysis. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction on its p-bromobenzoate derivative (2).

SHR-A1403, a novel c-Met antibody-drug conjugate, exerts encouraging anti-tumor activity in c-Met-overexpressing models.

Emerging evidence demonstrates that a c-Met antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) has superior efficacy and safety profiles compared with those of currently available small molecules or antibody inhibitors for the treatment of c-Met-overexpressing cancers. Here we described both the in vitro and in vivo efficacies of SHR-A1403, a novel c-Met ADC composed of a humanized IgG2 monoclonal antibody against c-Met conjugated to a novel cytotoxic microtubule inhibitor. SHR-A1403 showed high affinity to c-Met proteins derived from human or monkey and potent inhibitory effects in cancer cell lines with high c-Met protein expression.

Aberrant modulation of ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation confers acquired resistance to MAPK pathway inhibitors in BRAF-mutant melanoma.

BRAF and MEK inhibitors have shown remarkable clinical efficacy in BRAF-mutant melanoma; however, most patients develop resistance, which limits the clinical benefit of these agents. In this study, we found that the human melanoma cell clones, A375-DR and A375-TR, with acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib and MEK inhibitor trametinib, were cross resistant to other MAPK pathway inhibitors. In these resistant cells, phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6) but not phosphorylation of ERK or p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) were unable to be inhibited by MAPK pathway inhibitors.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of a series of lactone-opened camptothecin derivatives.

A series of E-ring lactone-opened camptothecin (CPT) derivatives bearing with terminal aza-heterocyclic groups were synthesized, and their antitumor activity was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Hydroxyl-amide analogues with morpholin-4-yl displayed excellent antitumor activity in vitro and efficient inhibition on tumor xenograph model in nude mice. Ester-amide compounds acted less active in vitro cytotoxicity and lower inhibition activity in vivo.

Unusual Cytotoxic Steroidal Saponins from the Gorgonian Astrogorgia dumbea.

Three steroidal saponins, including astrogorgiosides A (1) and B (2) bearing acetamido-glucose moieties, and astrogorgioside C (3) with a 19-nor and bearing an aromatized B ring steroid aglycone, together with a known major saponin dimorphoside A (4), were obtained from the gorgonian Astrogorgia dumbea collected near Dongshan Island in East China Sea. Structures of these compounds were elucidated by in-depth spectral and chemical methods, including 2D-NMR, HR-ESI-MS spectra, and acidic hydrolysis. For the first time, acetamido-glucose moiety is being reported from a gorgonian.

Preclinical activity of lobaplatin as a single agent and in combination with taxanes for ovarian carcinoma cells.

Lobaplatin, one of the third-generation platinum compounds, has shown encouraging anticancer activity in a variety of tumor types. However, the efficacy of lobaplatin in ovarian cancer has not been systemically evaluated. In this study, lobaplatin as a single agent and in combination with taxanes was investigated in-vitro and in an in vitro model of ovarian carcinoma.

Curcumin derivative C817 inhibits proliferation of imatinib-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia cells with wild-type or mutant Bcr-Abl in vitro.

Aim: To find new kinase inhibitors that overcome the imatinib resistance in treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), we synthesized C817, a novel derivative of curcumin, and tested its activities against wild-type (WT) and imatinib-resistant mutant Abl kinases, as well as in imatinib-sensitive and resistant CML cells in vitro.

Methods: 32D cells harboring WT or mutant Abl kinases (nucleotide binding P-loop mutants Q252H, Y253F, and imatinib contact residue mutant T315I), as well as K562/G01 cells (with whole Bcr-Abl gene amplication) were tested. Kinase activity was measured using Kinase-Glo Luminescent Kinase Assay Platform in recombinant WT and mutant (Q252H, Y253F, and T315I) Abl kinases.

Antitumor activity of lobaplatin alone or in combination with antitubulin agents in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Objective: Lobaplatin is used to treat patients with breast cancer, small-cell lung cancer, and chronic myelogenous leukemia in China. In this study, we assessed the in-vitro and in-vivo activities of lobaplatin alone or in combination with antitubulin agents against human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: The cytotoxicities of lobaplatin against NSCLC cells were determined by the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay.

A novel and simple hollow-fiber assay for in vivo evaluation of nonpeptidyl thrombopoietin receptor agonists.

Preclinical in vivo assessment of the pharmacologic activity of nonpeptidyl thrombopoietin receptor (TPOR) agonists is very difficult because of the high species specificity of such agonists. In this study, we have developed a novel and simple in vivo hollow-fiber assay to preclinically evaluate TPOR agonists. The 32D-mpl cell line was generated by stable transfection of human TPOR into 32D lymphoblast cells and shown to be a specific model for nonpeptide TPOR agonists in vitro.

Three new 18-oxygenated ent-kaurane diterpenoids from Isodon leucophyllus.

Three new 18-oxygenated ent-kaurane diterpenoids, isoleuconins A-C (1-3) and ten known diterpenoids were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon leucophyllus. The structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. All of the compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity.

Structure and cytotoxicity of diterpenoids from Isodon eriocalyx.

A new ent-atisanoid, eriocatisin A (1), six new ent-abietanoids, eriocasins B-E (2-4, 7), 3-acetyleriocasin C (5), and 3β-acetoxyeriocasin D (6), and seven new ent-kauranoids, maoesins A-F (8, 10-14) and 3α-acetoxy-maoesin A (9), together with 21 known compounds, were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon eriocalyx. The structures of 1-14 were determined by spectroscopic data interpretation. All compounds isolated were evaluated for their in vitro growth inhibitory activity against the HT-29, BEL-7402, and SK-OV-3 human cancer cell lines.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of cytotoxic anhydrovinblastine amide derivatives.

A series of 3-demethoxycarbonyl-3-amide methyl anhydrovinblastine derivatives (5b-24b) was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their proliferation inhibition activities against two tumor cell lines (A549 and HeLa). Most of the amide anhydrovinblastine derivatives exhibited potent cytotoxicity, with the size of the introduced substituents being the foremost factor in determining the resultant cytotoxic activity. Test results in vivo against sarcoma 180 of three potent compounds (6b, 12b, and 24b) indicated that the introduction of an amide group at the 22-position of anhydrovinblastine (1e) improved both potency and toxicity.

Kadcoccilactones A-J, triterpenoids from Kadsura coccinea.

Ten new highly oxygenated triterpenoids, kadcoccilactones A-J (1-10), and two known triterpenoids, kadsuphilactone A and micrandilactone B, were isolated from the stems of the evergreen climbing plant Kadsura coccinea. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic evidence, with that of 1 confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. This is the first report on nortriterpenoids (2, 4-6, 8-10) from the genus Kadsura.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel fluorinated docetaxel analogues.

A series of novel fluorinated docetaxel analogues have been synthesized and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Incorporated one, two or three fluorine atom(s) either at both meta position on C-2 benzolate and 3'-N-tert-butyloxyl group or only at 3'-N-tert-butyloxyl group has resulted in potent analogues which have comparable or superior in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity to docetaxel. Among them, compounds 14d and 14e have displayed more potent cytotoxicity than docetaxel both in human cancer cell line SK-OV-3 in vitro and in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 xenografts in vivo.

Synthesis, cytotoxic activity, and SAR analysis of the derivatives of taxchinin A and brevifoliol.

Twenty-one derivatives of taxchinin A (1) and brevifoliol (2) were synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxicity against human non-small lung cancer (A549) cell line. Nine derivatives showed potent activity with IC(50) values from 0.48 to 6.

Cytotoxic triterpenoid saponins from Vaccaria segetalis.

By the guidance of bioassay, one new cytotoxic triterpenoid saponin, 3-O-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl] quillaic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-fucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-fucopyranoside (1), and five known cytotoxic triterpenoid saponins, vaccaroside E (2), vaccaroside G (3), vaccaroside B (4), segetoside H (5) and segetoside I (6), were isolated from Vaccaria segetalis. Their structures were established on the basis of ESI-MS, IR, extensive NMR ((1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, TOCSY, (1)H-(1)H COSY, DEPT, HMQC, HMBC and ROESY) analyses, chemical degradation, and by comparing with previously reported data. Compounds 1-6 showed moderate cytotoxic activities against LNcap, P-388 and A-549 cell lines with IC(50) values in the range 0.

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of platinum(II) complexes of a physiologically active carrier histamine.

A series of novel platinum(II) complexes involving a physiologically active carrier histamine as the carrier, cis-[Pt(histamine)X2] (X2=2Cl-, oxalate, malonate, 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylate (CBDCA), 3-hydroxy-1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylate (HO-CBDCA)), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic data along with X-ray crystal structure for a representative complex cis-[Pt(histamine)Cl2]. The cytotoxicity of the complexes has also been assessed in the human cancer cell lines A549/ATCC, HT-29, and LNcap. One complex, cis-[Pt(histamine)Cl2], is more active than carboplatin against both the sensitive and resistant cells.

Isolation and structure elucidation of kadlongilactones C-F from Kadsura longipedunculata by NMR spectroscopy and DFT computational methods.

Four new triterpenoids, kadlongilactones C-F (2-5), containing a consecutive hexacyclic [7,7,5,6,6,6] ring system, were isolated from the leaves and stems of Kadsura longipedunculata. In comparison with the NMR data of kadlongilactones A (1) and D (3), a significant phenomena was discovered that ring D of 3 inverted from a half-chair in 1 to a half-boat conformation when the HO-16 group changed from alpha- to beta-orientation. The structures of 2-5 were established on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis, and DFT computational methods were applied in the structural validation of compounds 3 and 5.

Synthesis and anticancer activity of lipophilic platinum(II) complexes of 3,5-diisopropylsalicylate.

Novel lipophilic platinum(II) complexes (LSPt-1-3), containing 3,5-diisopropylsalicylate (DIPS) as a leaving group and 2NH(3) or 1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane or (4R,5R)-4,5-bis(aminomethyl)-2-isopropyl-1,3-dioxolane as the carrier, have been synthesized, characterized and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The octanol/water distribution coefficient of the complexes has also been measured. The results showed that the complexes achieved a typical square planar and the octanol/water distribution coefficient logP was 4.

Anti-tumour clerodane-type diterpenes from Mitrephora thorelii.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the crude extract of Mitrephora thorelii (Annonaceae) led to the isolation of two clerodane-type diterpenes. Their structures were characterised on the basis of spectroscopic methods as 6alpha,16,18-trihydroxycleroda-3(4),13(14)-dien-15,16-olide (1) and 16-hydroxycleroda-3(4),13(14)-dien-15,16-olide (2). Compound 1 is a new compound.