Pimarane diterpenoids for use in cancer treatment

BACKGROUND

Cancers remain the cause of poor health and early death throughout the world. Despite advances in treatment, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the United States and is the leading cause of death in 21 states as of 2016. Further, the probability of being diagnosed with an invasive cancer was found to be 42% for men and 37.6% for women living in the United States according to a study by Siegel and others ("Cancer statistics, 2016," CA Cancer J Clin, vol. 66, no. 1, pp. 7-30, 2016 January-February 2016). The same study reported that 582,623 deaths in 2012 were a result of cancer and projected that 1,685,210 new cancer cases and 595,690 cancer deaths would occur during 2016.

Treatment of cancers has traditionally been accomplished through one of, or a combination of, chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy, among others. Unfortunately, differences in genetic expression, drug sensitivity, cell morphology, and metastatic targets across the dozens of known cancer types has stymied the long-term success of treatments. Acquired drug resistance in response to chemotherapy remains another hurdle in cancer treatment that demands a diverse arsenal of cytotoxic agents. Cancer recurrence and distant metastases, potentially explained by inherently robust and drug resistant cancer stem cells, further hinder positive prognoses in cancer patients. It is hypothesized that cancer stem cells can remain dormant and undetected in the body for years before reactivating and beginning the formation of a new tumor. As such, cancer recurrence and distant metastases continue to plague cancer patients after months or even years of remission using current treatments.

The role of immune cells in combatting aggressive tumors has become increasingly recognized in the medical community and has led to new approaches for cancer therapies. FDA approval of the first therapeutic cancer vaccine, sipuleucel-T, and other cancer immunotherapy drugs, including monoclonal antibodies such as ipilimumab, in addition to increased understanding of the immune system's role in the tumor microenvironment, has led to a call for small molecules capable of regulating immune activity and supporting tumor death.

In spite of such advances, many shortcomings and disadvantages of current chemotherapeutics and other cancer treatments are readily apparent. The hair loss, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, compromised immune system, and other side effects commonly associated with a cancer therapy are often a consequence of the currently utilized treatments and not the disease itself.

Unfortunately, a push to develop chemotherapeutic drugs capable of targeting a specific molecule or cancer-associated signaling pathway with reduction in side effects has failed to yield the expected improvements in patient prognoses. This is largely due to the ability of cancer cells to utilize a combination of many different cellular mechanisms to enhance viability. In many cases, cancer cells are able to circumvent apoptosis induced from targeted therapies by simply activating other survival pathways after the initial treatment.

Natural products are a historically successful source of medicinally active compounds with fewer unwanted side effects, especially in regard to chemotherapeutics. In fact, 63% of cancer drugs used between 1981 and 2006 were natural products, were inspired by natural products, or were synthesized from a natural pharmacophore. Medicinally active compounds derived from natural materials have the potential to provide targeted cytotoxic and immune modulating responses while limiting the taxing side effects associated with currently utilized cancer treatments. The use of natural products attempts to balance a robust ability to target numerous pathways simultaneously with a historical record of safe human consumption and benign side effects.

There is a need to discover and optimize the use of novel cytotoxic compounds with low IC.sub.50 values, diverse biological targets, immune regulatory capability, and diminished side effects. In addition, there is a need for new treatments engineered to target pathogenic cells both during initial treatment of cancers and after remission has occurred in order to prevent cancer recurrence. New treatments based upon natural materials that can provide efficacy with benign or limited side effects would be of great benefit.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, disclosed is a method for inhibiting the growth and development of cancer cells. The method includes delivering to an area comprising cancer cells a pimarane diterpenoid having the following structure:

##STR00002## or a tautomer thereof in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from --H, C.sub.1-10 alkyl, C.sub.1-10 alkoxy, C.sub.1-10 alkenyl, C.sub.1-10 alkenoxy, --OH, --OAc, --CHO, -Ph, --OC.sub.6H.sub.5, --OC.sub.6H.sub.4OH, --COC.sub.6H.sub.5, --OCONH.sub.2, --OCONHCH.sub.3, --OCOC.sub.6H.sub.4NH.sub.2, --NH.sub.2, or .dbd.O.

Beneficially, the method shows efficacy for a large variety of different cancer cell types.

Also disclosed is a composition configured for inhibiting the growth and development of cancer cells that includes a pimarane diterpenoid of the above structure and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter, including the best mode thereof to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of one embodiment of a pimarane diterpenoid for use in inhibiting growth and development of cancer cells as described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates the Time of Flight mass spectometry (TOF-MS) spectrum (positive ion mode) of the compound of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the high resolution mass spectometry (HR-MS) spectrum (positive ion mode) of the compound of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates the hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (.sup.1H-NMR) spectrum of the compound of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates the carbon 13 nuclear magnetic resonance (.sup.13C-NMR) spectrum of the compound of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 illustrates the hydrogen correlated spectroscopy (H--H COSY) spectrum of the compound of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates the heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) spectrum of the compound of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 illustrates the heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) spectrum of the compound of FIG. 1 (in DMSO-d6).

FIG. 9 presents the percent viability of MG-63 cancer cells in response to various concentrations of the disclosed compound after 48 and 72 hours of exposure (no data provided for the 48 hour treatment with 50 .mu.g/mL of the compound).

FIG. 10 presents the percent viability of SK-OV-3 cancer cells in response to various concentrations of the disclosed compound after 48 and 72 hours of exposure.

FIG. 11 presents the percent viability of MDA-MB-231 cancer cells in response to various concentrations of the disclosed compound after 48 and 72 hours of exposure.

FIG. 12 presents the percent viability of HCT-116 cancer cells in response to various concentrations of the disclosed compound after 48 and 72 hours of exposure.

FIG. 13 presents the percent viability of HCT 116/200 cancer cells in response to various concentrations of the disclosed compound after 48 and 72 hours of exposure.

FIG. 14 presents the percent viability of A2789ADR cancer cells in response to various concentrations of the disclosed compound after 48 and 72 hours of exposure.

FIG. 15 presents a waterfall plot of the growth percent of 59 cell lines in response to 10 .mu.M of the disclosed compound as determined by a NCI-60 one-dose screen.

FIG. 16 presents the percent viability of HCT 116/200 cancer cells in response to a 48 hour exposure of various concentrations of the disclosed compound alone and in conjunction with 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) calculated using an MTS assay.

FIG. 17 presents the cell number of HCT 116/200 cancer cells in response to a 48 hour exposure of various concentrations of the disclosed compound alone and in conjunction with FdUrd calculated using an MTS assay.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each embodiment is provided by way of explanation of the subject matter, not limitation thereof. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the subject matter. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, may be used in another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment.

The present disclosure is generally directed to the utilization of pimarane diterpenoids that have been found to exhibit efficacy against a large variety of cancer cells. More specifically, disclosed are methods for inhibiting the growth and development of pathogenic cells, and in one particular embodiment of cancer cells, by use of a pimarane diterpenoid. Pimarane diterpenoids encompassed herein include those having the following general structure:

##STR00003## or a tautomer thereof in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from --H, C.sub.1-10 alkyl, C.sub.1-10 alkoxy, C.sub.1-10 alkenyl, C.sub.1-10 alkenoxy, --OH, --OAc, --CHO, -Ph, --OC.sub.6H.sub.5, --OC.sub.6H.sub.4OH, --COC.sub.6H.sub.5, --OCONH.sub.2, --OCONHCH.sub.3, --OCOC.sub.6H.sub.4NH.sub.2, --NH.sub.2, or .dbd.O. In one embodiment, the pimarane diterpenoid can have a structure as is illustrated in FIG. 1.

The pimarane diterpenoid of FIG. 1 has been isolated from the plant Hymenocrater elegans. Hymenocrater is a genus of plants from the mint family. It is native to central and southwestern Asia from Turkey to Turkmenistan and Pakistan. The genus Hymenocrater contains essential oil, with flavonoids, phenolic acids and terpenoids being major constituents of the genus. Pharmacological studies have confirmed that certain species of the genus Hymenocrater show antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anticancer and antidiabetic activities. Hymenocrater elegans, also generally known as Hymenocrater elegans Bunge, is one of several species of this genus. H. elegans is widely distributed throughout Iran. Oil extracted from H. elegans has been shown to exhibit concentration-dependent antibacterial activity on B subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli and Salmonella typhi, but constituents of this species have not previously been shown to exhibit anti-cancer activity. The pimarane diterpenoid illustrated in FIG. 1 was isolated from H. elegans and purified before being exposed, in vitro, to immortalized tumor cells.

The compound of FIG. 1 as well as derivatives and tautomers encompassed herein can display efficacy against a broad spectrum of pathogenic cells involved in multiple different types of cancers and other neoplastic disorders. Beneficially, the compounds can show efficacy as a chemo-preventative, a primary cytotoxic agent, a sensitizer for other therapies, one component of a combinatorial anti-cancer treatment, or an anti-angiogenic agent.

The disclosed compounds can exhibit anti-proliferative or cytotoxic effects in vitro after about 48 hours of exposure (e.g., about 48 hr. to about 72 hr. of exposure) and have shown efficacy against a number of immortalized cancer cell lines. For example, disclosed materials and methods can be utilized to inhibit growth and development of cancer cells including, but without limitation to, osteosarcoma cells, ovarian adenocarcinoma cells, breast adenocarcinoma cells, colorectal carcinoma cells, as well as pathogenic cells present in angiogenic disorders. Beneficially, the disclosed compound can exhibit efficacy against cancer cells exhibiting resistance to other, more traditional chemotherapies such as FdUrd utilized in treatment of colorectal cancer and doxorubicin utilized in treatment of a wide variety of cancers. For example, the disclosed compound can inhibit growth and/or development of pathogenic cells including, without limitation, breast cancer cells, bladder cancer cells, Kaposi's sarcoma cells, lymphoma cells, ovarian cancer cells, prostate cancer cells, central nervous system (CNS) cancer cells, renal cancer cells, melanoma cells, colon cancer cells, non-small cell lung cancer cells, and leukemia cells. The disclosed methods and materials can be particularly beneficial against cells that are untreatable through current methods or that have developed a resistance to other, more traditional treatments.

Materials and methods can be targeted in one embodiment against cancer stem cells, which can aid in prevention of cancer metastasis and recurrence.

In one embodiment, disclosed materials can be utilized to target cancer tumors, and can do so without affecting healthy cells, leading to development of treatment protocols having fewer side effects.

As described further in the Examples section below, in vitro toxicity of the disclosed compounds have further demonstrated a synergistic relationship with the commonly used chemotherapy drug FdUrd in inducing cell death in colorectal carcinoma cells. As such, the compounds can be utilized in one particular embodiment in combination with more traditional chemotherapy and in particular with more traditional colorectal chemotherapy such as FdUrd. Further, the disclosed compounds can act synergistically with other treatments in clinical use or clinical trials including, but not limited to, surgical resection of tumors, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, cancer vaccines, etc.

The clinical application and dosage of the disclosed compounds can be tailored to the particular cancer cell of interest as well as to tumor size and stage, patient size, patient medical history, method of delivery, etc., according to methods as are generally known in the art. Use of this compounds in combination with any number of other bioactive agents, e.g., chemotherapy agents such as FdUrd, has the potential to elicit desirable responses in a large variety of cancer cell types.

By way of example and without limitation, compounds as disclosed herein can be utilized in combination with other bioactive agents including classes of antineoplastic drugs including alkaloids/natural products, alkylating agents, antibiotics, antimetabolites, enzymes, farnesyl transferase inhibitors, immunomodulators, immunotoxins, monoclonal antibodies, oligonucleotides, platinum complexes, retinoids, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, androgens, antiadrenals, antiandrogens, antiestrogens, antiprogestins, aromatase inhibitors, estrogens, LH-RH analogs, progestogens, and somatostatin analogs. Examples of common chemotherapeutics on the market that can be utilized in conjunction with the disclosed compound can include, without limitation, the alkaloids paclitaxel, vinblastine, and vincristine; the antimetabolites gemcitabine, 5-fluoruracil, and methotrexate; the antibiotic or antibiotic derivatives doxorubicin, daunorubicin, and bleomycin; the hormonal antineoplastics tamoxifen, diethylstilbestrol, and polyestradiol phosphate; and the immonomodulators sipuleucel-T, interferon-5, and nivolumab.

When utilized in conjunction with another therapy, the disclosed compounds can be administered at the same time as the other therapy, e.g., together in a single composition, or at a different time or on a different schedule, e.g., prior to and/or following administration of a second bioactive agent.

The methods can be utilized in vivo for treatment of cancer or in vitro for study of pathogenic cells or tissue. In order for the disclosed compounds to be effectively utilized in a clinical therapy, a pimarane diterpenoid as described (or combination thereof) can be delivered so as to be provided with suitable bioavailability. According to one treatment method, a composition including a pimarane diterpenoid and a pharmaceutically compatible carrier can be delivered to targeted cells via any pharmaceutically acceptable delivery system. In general, the compound may be administered to a subject according to known methods, such as intravenous administration as a bolus or by continuous infusion over a period of time, by intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intracerobrospinal, subcutaneous, intra-articular, intrasynovial, intrathecal, oral, topical, or inhalation routes. Osmotic mini-pumps may also be used to provide controlled delivery of the disclosed compound through cannulae to the site of interest, such as directly into a metastatic growth. In certain embodiments, the compound can be administered directly to the area of a tumor or cancer tissue, including administration directly to the tumor stroma during invasive procedures. The compound may also be placed on a solid support such as a sponge or gauze for administration.

Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to, saline, buffered saline, glucose in saline, etc. Solid supports, liposomes, nanoparticles, microparticles, nanospheres or microspheres may also be used as carriers for administration of the disclosed compound. As used herein the term "pharmaceutically acceptable carrier" is intended to include any and all solvents, solubilizers, fillers, stabilizers, binders, absorbents, bases, buffering agents, lubricants, controlled release vehicles, diluents, emulsifying agents, humectants, lubricants, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial or antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like, compatible with pharmaceutical administration. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutically active substances is well-known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the active compound, use thereof in the compositions is contemplated. Supplementary agents can also be incorporated into the compositions.

The appropriate dosage ("therapeutically effective amount") of the compound can depend, for example, on the severity and course of the disease, whether the compound is administered for therapeutic purposes or in prevention of side effects of a chemotherapy, previous therapy, the patient's clinical history and response to the compound, and the discretion of the attending physician, among other factors. The disclosed compound can be administered to a subject at one time or over a series of treatments and may be administered to the subject at any time.

In one embodiment, a therapeutically effective amount of the disclosed compound can be in the range of about 0.001 mg/kg body weight/day to about 100 mg/kg body weight/day whether by one or more administrations for instance at a concentration of from about 1 mg/mL to about 50 mg/mL. For example, the compound can be administered in an amount of from about 1 mg/kg body weight per day to about 50 mg/kg body weight/day, in some embodiments. For instance, the compound can be provided to the targeted site, e.g., a tumor or an in vitro deposit of cancer cells, such that the compound is at a concentration of about 10 millimolar (10 mM) or greater at the site of contact, for instance at a concentration of from about 10 mM to about 50 mM in some embodiments. As expected, the dosage will be dependent on the condition, size, age and condition of the patient.

The disclosed compound may be administered, as appropriate or indicated, in a single dose as a bolus or by continuous infusion, or as multiple doses by bolus or by continuous infusion. Multiple doses may be administered, for example, multiple times per day, once daily, multiple times per week, every 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 days, weekly, every 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 weeks or monthly. However, other dosage regimens may be useful. The progress of this therapy is easily monitored by conventional techniques.

It can be advantageous to formulate oral or parenteral compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used herein includes physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the subject to be treated; each unit may contain a predetermined quantity of active compound calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. The specification for the dosage unit forms of the application is dictated by and directly dependent on the unique characteristics of the active compound and the particular therapeutic effect to be achieved, and the limitations inherent in the art of compounding such an active compound for the treatment of individuals.

Pharmaceutical compositions for parenteral, intradermal, or subcutaneous injection can include pharmaceutically acceptable sterile aqueous or nonaqueous solutions, dispersions, suspensions or emulsions as well as sterile powders for reconstitution into sterile injectable solutions or dispersions just prior to use. Examples of suitable aqueous and nonaqueous earners, diluents, solvents or vehicles include water, ethanol, polyols (e.g., glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol and the like), carboxymethylcellulose and suitable mixtures thereof, vegetable oils (e.g., olive oil) and injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate. A composition can contain minor amounts of auxiliary substances such as wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering agents and the like that can enhance the effectiveness of the active ingredient. Proper fluidity may be maintained, for example, by the use of coating materials such as lecithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersions and by the use of surfactants. A composition may also contain adjuvants such as preservatives, wetting agents, emulsifying agents and dispersing agents. It may also be desirable to include isotonic agents such as sugars, sodium chloride and the like.

For intravenous administration, suitable carriers include, without limitation, physiological saline, bacteriostatic water, Cremophor EL.TM. (BASF, Parsippany, N.J.) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). In all cases, an injectable composition should be sterile and should be fluid to the extent that easy syringability exists. It must be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage and must be preserved against the contaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Prevention of the action of microorganisms may be ensured by the inclusion of various antibacterial and antifungal agents such as paraben, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid and the like. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought about by including in the composition an agent that delays absorption, for example, aluminum monostearate or gelatin.

Oral compositions generally include an inert diluent or an edible carrier. They can be enclosed in gelatin capsules or compressed into tablets. For the purpose of oral therapeutic administration, the active compound can be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of tablets, troches, or capsules. Oral compositions can also be prepared using a fluid carrier for use as a mouthwash, wherein the compound in the fluid carrier is applied orally and swished and expectorated or swallowed.

Pharmaceutically compatible binding agents, and/or adjuvant materials can be included as part of an orally ingestible composition. The tablets, pills, capsules, troches and the like can contain any of the following ingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid, Primogel, or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate or Stertes; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring.

When administered orally in liquid form, a liquid carrier such as water, petroleum, oils of animal or plant origin such as peanut oil, mineral oil, soybean oil, or sesame oil, or synthetic oils may be added. A liquid form may further contain physiological saline solution, dextrose or other saccharide solution, or glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol. When administered in liquid form, a composition can contain from about 0.5 to 90% by weight of a pimarane diterpenoid as described (or a combination thereof), in one embodiment from about 1 to 50% by weight of a pimarane diterpenoid as described.

For administration by inhalation, the compound can be delivered in the form of an aerosol spray from pressured container or dispenser which contains a suitable propellant, e.g., a gas such as carbon dioxide, or a nebulizer.

Systemic administration can also be by transmucosal or transdermal means. For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrants appropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation. Such penetrants are generally known in the art, and include, for example, for transmucosal administration, detergents, bile salts, and fusidic acid derivatives. Transmucosal administration can be accomplished through the use of nasal sprays or suppositories. For transdermal administration, the pharmaceutical compositions are formulated into ointments, salves, gels, or creams as generally known in the art.

In certain embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition can be formulated for sustained or controlled release of a pimarane diterpenoid as described. Biodegradable, biocompatible polymers can be used, such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, and polylactic acid. Methods for preparation of such formulations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The materials can also be obtained commercially. Liposomal suspensions (including liposomes targeted to infected cells with monoclonal antibodies to viral antigens) can also be used as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. These can be prepared according to methods known to those skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that the in vivo methods have application for both human and veterinary use. The methods of the present invention contemplate single as well as multiple administrations, given either simultaneously or over an extended period of time.

The present disclosure may be better understood with reference to the Example set forth below.

EXAMPLE 1

The structure of the of the compound as illustrated in FIG. 1 was established by means of 1D- and 2D-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) (COSY (results shown in FIG. 6), HSQC (FIG. 7), and HMBC (FIG. 8)) and the molecular formula was determined by High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HR-MS) (FIG. 3) and low resolution Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOF-MS) (FIG. 2). NMR spectra (FIG. 4, FIG. 5) were obtained in DMSO-d6.

The compound was found to have a molecular formula as shown in FIG. 1 of C.sub.20H.sub.32O.sub.2 (evidenced by HR-MS ([M-H.sub.2O+H].sup.+ ion at m/z 287.2370; FIG. 3)). The NMR spectra (FIG. 4, FIG. 5) confirmed the structure indicating loss of water in mass analysis. Resonance at .delta. 0.75 (s), 0.78 (s), 0.84 (s), and 0.90 (s) were indicative of four methyl groups at positions C-4, C-10, and C-13 of the molecule. Resonances in the region of .delta. 1.0 to 2.0 were attributed to the hydrogens of the diterpenoid backbone. Chemical shifts at .delta. 5.32 (s), 5.91 (dd), 4.94 (dd), and 4. 94 (dd) were indicators of olefinic hydrogens. Complementary assignment was obtained through analysis of 2D spectra. The NMR spectra confirmed the pimarane diterpenoid structure as illustrated in FIG. 1.

EXAMPLE 2

Materials and Methods

Cell Culture

The human cell lines used for MTS assay screening included MG-63 (osteosarcoma), SK-OV-3 (ovarian adenocarcinoma), MDA-MB-231 (breast adenocarcinoma derived from a metastatic site), HCT 116 (colorectal carcinoma), HCT 116/200 (an FdUrd resistant subclone of HCT 116 cells), A2780ADR (a doxorubicin resistant subclone of the ovarian carcinoma A2780), and HUVEC (normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells). All cells were stored in liquid nitrogen until use. MG-63, SK-OV-3, MDA-MB-231, and HCT 116 cell lines were all obtained from ATCC. A2780ADR cells were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich. HCT 116/200 cells were obtained from Dr. Franklin G. Berger from the Center for Colon Cancer Research. HUVEC cells were obtained from Lonza. MG-63 cells were maintained in MEM medium (Corning) supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Essence (VWR) and 1% penicillin/streptomycin solution (Corning). SK-OV-3 cells were maintained in McCoy's 5A Medium (Sigma) supplemented with Fetal Bovine Essence and 1% penicillin/streptomycin. A2780ADR cells were maintained in RPMI 1640 medium (Corning) supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Essence and 2 mM L-glutamine (ThermoFisher). MDA-MB-231, HCT 116, and HCT 116/200 cells were all maintained in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Essence and 1% penicillin/streptomycin. HUVEC cells were maintained in EGM-2 medium (Lonza BulletKit). Cells were incubated at 37.degree. C. and 5% CO.sub.2 throughout the experiment.

MTS Assay

Cells were first grown to approximately 80% confluency within 25 cm.sup.3 tissue culture flasks (VWR). The cells were washed once with PBS (Corning) before being trypsinized using a 0.25% trypsin, 2.21 mM EDTA, and sodium bicarbonate solution (Corning). Trypsinization was arrested through addition of culture media, and the cell mixtures were centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 5 minutes. Cells were counted using a hemocytometer and their viability was confirmed using trypan blue (Gibco). Cells were then seeded into 96 well tissue culture plates (VWR). MG-63, SK-OV-3, and A2780ADR cells were seeded at a density of 2,000 cells/well with a total volume of 100 .mu.L in each well. MDA-MB-231 cells were seeded at a density of 5,000 cells/well with a total volume of 100 .mu.L in each well. HCT 116 and HCT 116/200 cells were seeded at a density of 4,000 cells/well with a total volume of 100 .mu.L in each well. HUVEC cells were seeded at a density of 3,000 cells/well with a total volume of 100 .mu.L in each well.

After seeding, the cells were incubated for 24 hours at 37.degree. C. and 5% CO.sub.2 to allow for cell attachment and renewal of the exponential growth phase. The media was then removed and replaced with media supplemented with the desired concentration of the disclosed compound. The compound was stored at 4.degree. C. until being first dissolved at 10,000 .mu.g/mL in DMSO and subsequently diluted in culture media to the desired concentration. The vehicle control was cell culture medium supplemented with 0.5% DMSO (Macron Fine Chemicals), representing the highest final concentration of DMSO used to dissolve the compound. For comparison, doxorubicin hydrochloride, or DOX (Sigma), and FdUrd (Sigma) supplemented treatments at concentrations sufficient to induce cell death in a majority of cells were also performed. In combination studies, the disclosed compound and FdUrd were first mixed into the same media and then added to the cells. At either 48 or 72 hours, the media was again removed, the cells were washed with PBS, and media containing 20% MTS solution (Promega) was added to the cells. The cells were incubated for 2 hours, and the absorbance of each well at 490 nm was measured using a Spectramax 190 microplate reader.

NCI60 Cytotoxicity Screening

One dose and five dose cytotoxicity screening was performed by the NCI-60 screening program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is known in the art and available from the NIH. The NCI-60 panel is a collection of cancer cell lines, from various diverse tumors, which was developed in the 1980s by the National Cancer Institute to aid screening efforts for cytotoxic or cytostatic compounds.

In this screen 59 cell lines were utilized to determine the cytotoxic effect of the disclosed compound. The cell lines included: ovarian cancer cell lines OVCAR-8, IGROVI, NCI/ADR-RES, OVCAR-5, SK-OV-3, OVCAR-3, OVCAR-4; breast cancer cell lines HS578T, MDA-MB-231/ATCC, MCF7, MDA-MB-468, T-47D, BT-549; prostate cancer cell lines DU-145, PC-3; CNS cancer cell lines U251, SNB-19, SF-539, SF-268, SNB-75; SF-295; renal cancer cell lines TK-10, SN12C, CAKI-1, ACHN, UO-31, RXF 393, A498, 786-0; melanoma cell lines MDA-MB-435, UACC-257, LOX IMVI, SK-MEL-28, M14, SK-MEL-2, MALME-3M, UACC-62, SK-MEL-5; colon cancer cell lines SW-620, KM12, HT29, HCT-15, HCC-2998, COLO 205, HCT-116; non-small cell lung cancer cell lines AS49/ATCC, NCI-H23, HOP-62, NCI-H226, NCI-H322M, NCI-H460, EKVX, HOP-92, NCI-H522; and leukemia cell lines K-562, SR, CCRF-CEM, MOLT-4, HL-60(TB), RPMI-8226.

For the assay, each cell line was treated with 10 .mu.M of the compound of FIG. 1 to determine cytotoxicity. Each tumor cell line was maintained in RPMI 1640 media supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum and 2 mM L-glutamine. The cells were then seeded into 96 well plates at a cell density ranging from 5,000 to 40,000 cells per well depending on the cell line (each well containing 100 .mu.L of cell suspension). The cells were then incubated for 24 hours at 37.degree. C., 5% CO.sub.2, and 100% relative humidity to allow the cells to attach (if they were attached cell lines) and resume their growth phase. Two plates of each cell line which had not been exposed to the compound were then fixed with TCA at the time when the disclosed compound was added to the remaining plates. The remaining plates were treated with 100 .mu.L of a dilution of the disclosed compound which had been made by diluting the compound in DMSO to 400 times the experimental concentration and subsequently diluting the solution in culture media supplemented with 50 .mu.g/mL gentamycin to twice the experimental concentration.

A control for each cell type was also simultaneously created which was treated with 100 .mu.L of culture media without the test compound. The cells were then incubated for 48 hours at 37.degree. C., 5% CO.sub.2, and 100% relative humidity. In the case of the attached cell lines, the cells were then fixed in situ by the gentle addition of cold TCA (10% final TCA concentration) and incubated for 1 hour at 4.degree. C. The plates were washed with tap water five times and air dried. The fixed cells were then incubated for 10 minutes with 100 .mu.L of 0.4% sulforhodamine B (SRB) in 1% acetic acid. The supernatant was removed, and the plates were washed five times with 1% acetic acid and air dried. The bound stain was then dissolved in 10 mM trizma base and the absorbance was read using an automated plate reader at 515 nm.

Suspension cells were treated in the same fashion with the exception that the cells were fixed once they had settled at the bottom of the wells using 50 .mu.L of 80% TCA. The absorbance of each well was then converted to growth percent using equation 1 (below) where T.sub.i is the average absorbance of the samples treated with a certain concentration of the compound of this invention, T.sub.z represents the average absorbance of the samples fixed at the time the compound of interest was added to the experimental groups, and C is the average absorbance of the media treated control.

.times..times..times..times..gtoreq..times..times.< ##EQU00001## Results

The compound of FIG. 1 showed significant cytotoxic properties against all cell lines screened with MTS assay at all time points at a concentration of 50 .mu.g/mL as shown in FIG. 9 (MG-63 cancer cells), FIG. 10 (SK-OV-3 cancer cells), FIG. 11 (MDA-MB-231 cancer cells), FIG. 12 (HCT-116 cancer cells), FIG. 13 (HCT 116/200 cancer cells), and FIG. 14 (A2789ADR cancer cells). The effective dose varied from cell line to cell line, but cell death was indicated using the MTS assay at concentrations as low as 10 .mu.g/mL. For instance, the compound induced significant cell death at a concentration of 10 .mu.g/mL in HCT-116 colon cancer cells after 72 hours (FIG. 12).

The anti-proliferative effect of the compound was confirmed by the NCI-60 screen as seen in FIG. 15. The growth of 39 of the 59 cell lines screened was inhibited by the compound at 10 .mu.M, and the average percent growth across all 59 cell lines had been inhibited by 47% after 48 hours. The compound appeared to be particularly effective against leukemia cells, inhibiting the growth of 4 out of 6 leukemia cell lines by more than 20%.

A dose dependent, synergistic cytotoxic effect was observed when the compound was used in combination with FdUrd as seen in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17. As shown, the compound when used at concentrations as low as 1 .mu.g/mL increased the efficacy of 1 .mu.g/mL FdUrd. This speaks to the ability of this compound to induce desired levels of cell death when used in combination with other chemotherapy agents while simultaneously limiting the dosage of both the accepted chemotherapy agent and the compound itself. While it is unclear through what mechanism this synergistic effect occurs, it is likely that this compound could increase the efficacy of other anti-cancer compounds in a similar fashion.

While certain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter.