Publications by authors named "Witold Kozak"

Previous density functional theory (DFT) studies on 6-brominated pyrimidine nucleosides suggest that 6-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (6IdU) should act as a better radiosensitizer than its 5-iodosubstituted 2'-deoxyuridine analogue. In this work, we show that 6IdU is unstable in an aqueous solution. Indeed, a complete disappearance of the 6IdU signal was observed during its isolation by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC).

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We present here the advances achieved in the development of new sulfamoylated 4-(1-phenyl-1-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)phenol derivatives as potent steroid sulfatase (STS) inhibitors for the treatment of breast cancer. Prompted by promising biological results and in silico analysis, the initial series of similar compounds were extended, appending a variety of m-substituents at the outer phenyl ring. The inhibition profiles of the newly synthesized compounds were evaluated using a radioisotope enzymatic assay and, together with the preceding reported derivatives, using a radioisotope assay in MCF-7 cells.

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The incorporation of modified uracil derivatives into DNA leads to the formation of radical species that induce DNA damage. Molecules of this class have been suggested as radiosensitizers and are still under investigation. In this study, we present the results of dissociative electron attachment to uracil-5-yl -(,-dimethylsulfamate) in the gas phase.

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Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are extracellular matrix degradation factors, promoting cancer progression. Hence, they could provide an enzyme-assisted delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) in cancer treatment. In the current study, the intercalation process of DOX and tetrapeptide-DOX, the product of the MMPs' cleavage of carrier-linked DOX, into dsDNA was investigated using stationary and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometry and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC).

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Hypoxia-a hallmark of solid tumors-dramatically impairs radiotherapy, one of the most common anticancer modalities. The adverse effect of the low-oxygen state can be eliminated by the concomitant use of a hypoxic cell radiosensitizer. In the present paper, we show that 5-(-trifluoromethylcarboxy) aminouracil (CFCONHU) can be considered as an effective radiosensitizer of DNA damage, working under hypoxia.

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Efficient radiotherapy requires the concomitant use of ionizing radiation (IR) and a radiosensitizer. In the present work uracil-5-yl -sulfamate (SU) is tested against its radiosensitizing potential. The compound possesses appropriate dissociative electron attachment (DEA) characteristics calculated at the M06-2X/6-31++G(d,p) level.

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The purpose of this review article is to provide an overview of recent achievements in the synthesis of novel steroid sulphatase (STS) inhibitors. STS is a crucial enzyme in the biosynthesis of active hormones (including oestrogens and androgens) and, therefore, represents an extremely attractive molecular target for the development of hormone-dependent cancer therapies. The inhibition of STS may effectively reduce the availability of active hormones for cancer cells, causing a positive therapeutic effect.

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A series of fluorinated analogs based on the frameworks of 4-(1-phenyl-1-[1,2,3]triazol-4-yl)-phenyl sulfamates have been synthesized as steroid sulfatase (STS) inhibitors. The design of chemical structures of new potential STS inhibitors was supported by molecular docking techniques to identify potential interactions between inhibitors and amino acid residues located in the STS active site. The STS inhibitory potency was evaluated on STS isolated from human placenta.

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Radiosensitizing properties of substituted uridines are of great importance for radiotherapy. Very recently, we confirmed 5-iodo-4-thio-2'-deoxyuridine (ISdU) as an efficient agent, increasing the extent of tumor cell killing with ionizing radiation. To our surprise, a similar derivative of 4-thio-2'-deoxyuridine, 5-bromo-4-thio-2'-deoxyuridine (BrSdU), does not show radiosensitizing properties at all.

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In the present work, we described convenient methods for the synthesis of N-thiophosphorylated 3-(4-aminophenyl)-coumarin-7-O-sulfamates as steroid sulfatase (STS) inhibitors. To design the structures of the potential STS inhibitors, molecular modeling techniques were used. A computational docking method was used to determine the binding modes of the synthesized inhibitors as well as to identify potential interactions between specified functional groups on the inhibitors and the amino acid residues present in the active site of the enzyme.

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Nucleosides, especially pyrimidines modified in the C5-position, can act as radiosensitizers via a mechanism that involves their enzymatic triphosphorylation, incorporation into DNA, and a subsequent dissociative electron attachment (DEA) process. In this paper, we report 5-iodo-4-thio-2'-deoxyuridine (ISdU) as a compound that can effectively lead to ionizing radiation (IR)-induced cellular death, which is proven by a clonogenic assay. The test revealed that the survival of cells, pre-treated with 10 or 100 µM solution of ISdU and exposed to 0.

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5-Selenocyanato-2'-deoxyuridine (SeCNdU) is a recently proposed radiosensitizer based on 2'-deoxyuridine (dU) with the electron-affinic selenocyanato (-SeCN) side group attached at the C5 position of uracil. Since electron interaction processes may be an important source of DNA damage by ionizing radiation, we have studied low-energy dissociative electron attachment to SeCNdU in the gas phase. Negative ion formation has been obtained by means of mass spectrometry, where a rich fragmentation pattern is observed even at ∼0 eV.

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5-Selenocyanato-2'-deoxyuridine (SeCNdU) and 5-trifluoromethanesulfonyl-2'-deoxyuridine (OTfdU) have been synthesized and their structures have been confirmed with NMR and MS methods. Both compounds undergo dissociative electron attachment (DEA) when irradiated with X-rays in an aqueous solution containing a hydroxyl radical scavenger. The DEA yield of SeCNdU significantly exceeds that of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), remaining in good agreement with the computationally revealed profile of electron-induced degradation.

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The present mini-review highlights recent developments on antitumor activity of metal-based therapeutics which have been a subject of researches for the last few decades. In 1965, Rosenberg found that during an electrolysis on platinum electrodes a complex of Pt is generated which inhibited to a great extent a binary fission in Escherichia coli bacteria. This discovery started a new chapter in medicinal chemistry and the interesting properties of cisplatin were soon applied in cancer therapy especially in curing genitourinary tumors.

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A series of phosphate and thiophosphate flavone derivatives were synthesized and biologically evaluated in vitro for inhibition of steroid sulfatase (STS) activity. The described synthesis includes the straightforward preparation of 7-hydroxy-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one 3a, 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-7-hydroxy-4H-chromen-4-one 3b, 7-hydroxy-2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one 3c, 7-hydroxy-2-(p-tolyl)-4H-chromen-4-one 3d modified with different phosphate or thiophosphate moieties. The inhibitory properties of the synthesized compounds were tested against human placenta STS.

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In the present work, we report the initial results of our study on a series of 3-phenylcoumarin sulfamate-based compounds containing C-F bonds as novel inhibitors of steroid sulfatase. The new compounds are potent steroid sulfatase inhibitors, possessing more than 10 times higher inhibitory potency than coumarin-7-O-sulfamate. In the course of our investigation, compounds 2b and 2c demonstrated the highest inhibitory effect on the enzymatic steroid sulfatase assay; both had IC50 values of 0.

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Steroid sulfatase (STS) enzyme inhibition is an important approach to the management of hormone-dependent breast cancer. In this paper, we report convenient methods for the synthesis and biological evaluation of thiophosphate tricyclic coumarin analogs exhibiting STS activity. The described methods are based on the straightforward preparation of 7-hydroxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]chromen-2-one, 3-hydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one, and 3-hydroxy-8,9,10,11-tetrahydro-7H-cyclohepta[c]chromen-6-one and their further modification by the introduction of various thiophosphate moieties.

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Based on the frameworks of 7-hydroxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]chromen-4-one, 3-hydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one and 3-hydroxy-8,9,10,11-tetrahydro-7H-cyclohepta[c]chromen-6-one, a series of bicoumarin thiophosphate analogs have been synthesized and biologically evaluated. Additionally, their binding modes have been modeled using docking techniques. The inhibitory properties of the synthesized compounds were tested against the STS isolated from human placenta.

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In the present work, we report convenient methods for the synthesis and biological evaluation of phosphate and thiophosphate biphenyl derivatives exhibiting steroid sulfatase (STS) activity. The described synthesis is based on straightforward preparation of biphenyl-4-ol and 4'-hydroxy-biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester modified with various phosphate or thiophosphate moieties. The inhibitory effects of these compounds were tested on STS isolated from human placenta and led to two compounds of interest, 5a and 5d with IC50 values of 28.

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