Structure-activity relationships for acridine-substituted analogues of the mixed topoisomerase I/II inhibitor N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide.

The mixed topoisomerase I/II inhibitor N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide (DACA) is currently in clinical trial as an anticancer drug. A series of acridine-substituted analogues were prepared, using a new synthetic route to substituted acridine-4-carboxylic acids (conversion of substituted diphenylamine diacid monoesters to the corresponding aldehydes and mild acid-catalyzed ring closure to form the acridines directly). The analogues were evaluated in a panel of cell lines which included wild-type (JLC) and mutant (JLA and JLD) forms of the human Jurkat leukemia line. The latter mutant lines are resistant to topoisomerase II targeted agents due to lower levels of the enzyme. Structure-activity studies suggest that the electronic properties of the substituents do not markedly affect cytotoxicity, but steric bulk is important, with larger groups leading to loss of activity. The compounds fell broadly into two categories. The majority had cytotoxicities similar to (or lower than) that of DACA itself and were equitoxic in all the Jurkat lines, suggesting a relatively greater effect on topoisomerase I compared with topoisomerase II. Most of the 5-substituted derivatives and the 7-Ph compound were more cytotoxic than DACA, but were less effective against JLA and JLD cell lines than in the wild-type JLC, suggesting a mode of cytotoxicity largely mediated by effects on topoisomerase II. Both DACA and selected acridine-substituted analogues were active in the relatively refractory subcutaneous colon 38 tumor model in vivo.