Syntheses of L-Rhamnose-Linked Amino Glycerolipids and Their Cytotoxic Activities against Human Cancer Cells.

A major impediment to successful cancer treatment is the inability of clinically available drugs to kill drug-resistant cancer cells. We recently identified metabolically stable L-glucosamine-based glycosylated antitumor ether lipids (GAELs) that were cytotoxic to chemotherapy-resistant cancer cells. In the absence of commercially available L-glucosamine, many steps were needed to synthesize the compound and the overall yield was poor.

Amphiphilic Modulation of Glycosylated Antitumor Ether Lipids Results in a Potent Triamino Scaffold against Epithelial Cancer Cell Lines and BT474 Cancer Stem Cells.

The problems of resistance to apoptosis-inducing drugs, recurrence, and metastases that have bedeviled cancer treatment have been attributed to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in tumors, and there is currently no clinically indicated drug for their eradication. We previously reported that glycosylated antitumor ether lipids (GAELs) display potent activity against CSCs. Here, we show that by carefully modulating the amphiphilic nature of a monoamine-based GAEL, we can generate a potent triamino scaffold that is active against a panel of hard-to-kill epithelial cancer cell lines (including triple-negative breast) and BT474 CSCs.

Novel glycolipid agents for killing cisplatin-resistant human epithelial ovarian cancer cells.

Background: Chemotherapy resistance is one of the major factors contributing to mortality from human epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Identifying drugs that can effectively kill chemotherapy-resistant EOC cells would be a major advance in reducing mortality. Glycosylated antitumour ether lipids (GAELs) are synthetic glycolipids that are cytotoxic to a wide range of cancer cells.

Replacing d-Glucosamine with Its l-Enantiomer in Glycosylated Antitumor Ether Lipids (GAELs) Retains Cytotoxic Effects against Epithelial Cancer Cells and Cancer Stem Cells.

We describe metabolically inert l-glucosamine-based glycosylated antitumor ether lipids (L-GAELs) that retain the cytotoxic effects of the D-GAELs including the ability to kill BT-474 breast cancer stem cells (CSCs). When compared to adriamycin, cisplatin, and the anti-CSC agent salinomycin, L-GAELs display superior activity to kill cancer stem cells (CSCs). Mode of action studies indicate that L-GAELs like the D-GAELs kill cells via an apoptosis-independent mechanism that was not due to membranolytic effects.

Design, synthesis and antitumor properties of glycosylated antitumor ether lipid (GAEL)- chlorambucil-hybrids.

Glycosylated antitumor ether lipids (GAELs) kill cancer cells and cancer stem cells via a novel, apoptosis-independent mechanism. In contrast, chlorambucil, a drug in clinical use for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia reacts with nucleophiles within the major groove of DNA, leading to apoptosis. We hypothesized that hybrid molecules that combine apoptosis-dependent and apoptosis-independent mode of actions in a single molecule may lead to enhanced antitumor activity.

Cytotoxic properties of D-gluco-, D-galacto- and D-manno-configured 2-amino-2-deoxy-glycerolipids against epithelial cancer cell lines and BT-474 breast cancer stem cells.

Glycosylated antitumor ether lipids (GAELs) 6 and 7 containing a α- or β-D-gluco-configured 2-amino-2-deoxy (2-NH2-Glc) sugar moiety linked to a glycerolipid aglycone kill cancer cell lines via a non-apoptotic mechanism that could be exploited to kill cancer stem cells. To test this hypothesis and develop novel potent GAEL analogs, we synthesized GAELS which contain D-galacto- and D-manno-configured 2-amino-2-deoxy sugar moieties (2-NH2-Gal or 2-NH2-Man) and investigated their cytotoxicity against human epithelial cancer cell lines and cancer stem cells derived from BT-474 breast cancer cells. Within the class of D-galacto-configured GAELs, we prepared both O- and S-glycosidic linkages as well as their corresponding α- and β-anomers and screened against breast (BT-474, JIMT-1 and BT-549), pancreas (MiaPaCa2) and prostate cancer (DU145, PC3) cancer cell lines.

A fluorescent alkyllysophospholipid analog exhibits selective cytotoxicity against the hormone-insensitive prostate cancer cell line PC3.

A fluorescent analog of ET-18-OCH3, 1-O-(7'-N,N-dimethylamino-3'-pentadecanoyl-1'-naphthyl)-2-O-methyl-sn-glycerophosphocholine (1), was synthesized and its bioactivity was screened against 12 human cancer cell lines. The bioactivity of 1 was found to differ markedly from that of ET-18-OCH3. Growth of two prostate cell lines (PC3 and DU145) and a glioma cell line (U251) was significantly affected by 1, with IC50 values of 2, 6, and 12 µM, respectively.

Structure activity relationships of N-linked and diglycosylated glucosamine-based antitumor glycerolipids.

1-O-Hexadecyl-2-O-methyl-3-O-(2'-amino-2'-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-sn-glycerol (1) was previously reported to show potent in vitro antitumor activity on a range of cancer cell lines derived from breast, pancreas and prostate cancer. This compound was not toxic to mice and was inactive against breast tumor xenografts in mice. This inactivity was attributed to hydrolysis of the glycosidic linkage by glycosidases.

Structure-activity relationships of glucosamine-derived glycerolipids: the role of the anomeric linkage, the cationic charge and the glycero moiety on the antitumor activity.

The potent antitumor activity of 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-methyl-3-O-(2'-amino-2'-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-sn-glycerol (1) was previously shown to arise through an apoptosis-independent pathway. Here, a systematic structure-activity study in which the effects of the anomeric linkage, the cationic charge and the glycero moiety on the antitumor activity is described. Eight analogues of 1 were synthesized, and their antitumor activity against breast (JIMT1 and BT549), pancreas (MiaPaCa2) and prostate (DU145, PC3) cancer was determined.

An active endocytosis pathway is required for the cytotoxic effects of glycosylated antitumor ether lipids.

Background: Glycosylated antitumor ether lipids (GAELs) kill cells by an apoptosis-independent pathway. A hallmark of this pathway is the formation of large acidic vacuoles; however, very little is known about the process. We examined the hypothesis that 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-methyl-3-O-(2'-amino-2'-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-sn-glycerol (Gln), a potent GAEL, diffuses across cell membranes into lysosomes, where protonation of the amine leads to its accumulation and generation of the vacuoles.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of ether glycerophospholipids bearing a carbamate moiety at the sn-2 position: selective sensitivity against prostate cancer cell lines.

Analogues of 1-O-hexadecyl-sn-3-glycerophosphonocholine (compounds 1-4) or sn-3-glycerophosphocholine (compound 5) bearing a carbamate or dicarbamate moiety at the sn-2 position were synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against cancer cells derived from a variety of tissues. Although all of the compounds are antiproliferative, surprisingly the carbamates (1 and 2) are more effective against the hormone-independent cell lines DU145 and PC3 than toward other cancer cell lines we examined. This selectivity was not observed with the dicarbamates (3 and 4).

A glycosylated antitumor ether lipid kills cells via paraptosis-like cell death.

Glycosylated antitumor ether lipids (GAELs) have superior anticancer properties relative to the alkyllysophospholipid class, but there have been no studies of the mechanisms of these compounds. The prototype GAEL, 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-methyl-3-O-(2'-amino-2'-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-sn-glycerol (Gln), effectively killed mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) lacking key molecules involved in caspase-dependent apoptosis, and cell death was not prevented by caspase inhibitors. Gln did not cause a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, even in rounded-up dying cells.

Anticancer activity of a ceramide analog containing a disulfide linkage.

The effects of exogenous short-chain ceramide (1) on the arrest of growth of cancer cells in vitro and induction of apoptosis have been well documented. In the present study, an analog of 1 with a disulfide linkage, N-(4',5'-dithiaheptanoyl)-D-erythro-ceramide (2), was synthesized and found to be significantly more antiproliferative and cytotoxic than 1 in BT549, A549, and DU145 cancer cells. The activity was correlated with a reduction in cellular glutathione (GSH) level.

ET-18-OCH3 inhibits the phosphorylation and activation of p70 S6 kinase in MCF-7 cells.

Alkyllysophospholipids (ALPs) inhibit the proliferation of epithelial cancer cells, and may achieve this by perturbing a number of intracellular signaling pathways. p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K) is a key intracellular signaling molecule in the regulation of cell proliferation. We therefore investigated whether ALPs inhibit p70S6K activity and, if so, whether this may be relevant in the mechanism of inhibition of cell proliferation by ALPs.

Synthesis and use of novel ether phospholipid enantiomers to probe the molecular basis of the antitumor Effects of alkyllysophospholipids: correlation of differential activation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal protein kinase with antiproliferative effects in neuronal tumor cells.

The enantiomers of a novel unsaturated phosphonocholine antitumor ether lipid were synthesized and found to have differential antiproliferative effects against epithelial cancer cell lines. The basis of the enantioselective effects on the cells was investigated in SK-N-MC and SK-N-SH neuroblastoma tumor cells. Our results indicate that the enantioselective antiproliferative potency arises primarily from the activation of the JNK signaling pathway by the ether lipids.

The antitumor ether lipid 1-Q-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycerophosphocholine (ET-18-OCH3) inhibits the association between Ras and Raf-1.

Background: Previous studies have shown that the antitumor ether lipid, 1-O-Octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycerophosphocholine (ET-18-OCH3), inhibits the activation of the MAPK pathway in EGF- and serum-stimulated MCF-7 cells. The activation of the MAPK pathway subsequent to growth factor stimulation requires the recruitment of Raf-1 from the cytosol to the membrane. ET-18-OCH3 decreased the level of membrane-associated Raf-1 relative to untreated control cells.