Syntheses and antitumor activities of N'1,N'3-dialkyl-N'1,N'3-di-(alkylcarbonothioyl) malonohydrazide: the discovery of elesclomol.

A series of N'(1),N'(3)-dialkyl-N'(1),N'(3)-di(alkylcarbonothioyl) malonohydrazides have been designed and synthesized as anticancer agents by targeting oxidative stress and Hsp70 induction. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies lead to the discovery of STA-4783 (elesclomol), a novel small molecule that has been evaluated in a number of clinical trials as an anticancer agent in combination with Taxol.

The vascular disrupting agent STA-9584 exhibits potent antitumor activity by selectively targeting microvasculature at both the center and periphery of tumors.

Vascular disrupting agents (VDAs) are an emerging class of therapeutics targeting the existing vascular network of solid tumors. However, their clinical progression has been hampered because of limited single-agent efficacy, primarily caused by the persistence of surviving cells at the well perfused "viable rim" of tumors, which allows rapid tumor regrowth to occur. In addition, off-target adverse events, including cardiovascular toxicities, underscore a need for compounds with improved safety profiles.

Multifaceted intervention by the Hsp90 inhibitor ganetespib (STA-9090) in cancer cells with activated JAK/STAT signaling.

There is accumulating evidence that dysregulated JAK signaling occurs in a wide variety of cancer types. In particular, mutations in JAK2 can result in the constitutive activation of STAT transcription factors and lead to oncogenic growth. JAK kinases are established Hsp90 client proteins and here we show that the novel small molecule Hsp90 inhibitor ganetespib (formerly STA-9090) exhibits potent in vitro and in vivo activity in a range of solid and hematological tumor cells that are dependent on JAK2 activity for growth and survival.

Comparison of several antiangiogenic regimens alone and with cytotoxic therapies in the Lewis lung carcinoma.

The efficacy of several potential antiangiogenic agents, TNP-470, minocycline, suramin, genistein, interferon delta 4, 14(sulfated)-beta-cyclodextrin and tetrahydrocortisol, alone and in combination with cytotoxic therapies was examined against primary and metastatic Lewis lung carcinoma. The antiangiogenic agents when administered as single agents or in two-agent combinations were only modestly active as antitumor agents. Three antiangiogenic agent combinations, TNP-470/minocycline, TNP-470/14(SO4)beta-CD/THC and minocycline/14(SO4)beta-CD/THC, produced significant increases in tumor growth delay and decreases in the number of lung metastases when administered along with cyclophosphamide compared with cyclophosphamide alone.

Cytotoxicity of antitumor platinum complexes with L-buthionine-(R,S)-sulfoximine and/or etanidazole in human carcinoma cell lines sensitive and resistant to cisplatin.

Human 2008 ovarian carcinoma cells and the C13 CDDP-resistant subline and human MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells and the MCF-7/CDDP CDDP-resistant subline were exposed to L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (50 microM) for 48 h prior to and during exposure for 1 h to the antitumor platinum complexes, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), carboplatin or D,L-tetraplatin and/or to etanidazole (1 mM) for 2 h prior to and during exposure for 1 to the antitumor platinum complexes. These modulators alone did not significantly alter the cytotoxicity of CDDP toward either parental line. A twofold enhancement in cytotoxicity was observed with carboplatin in the 2008 cells and with D,L-tetraplatin in both parental lines with the single modulators.