Triapine (3-aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone; 3-AP): an inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase with antineoplastic activity.

The enzyme RR catalyzes the conversion of ribonucleoside diphosphates to their deoxyribonucleotide counterparts. RR is critical for the generation of the cytosine, adenine, and guanine deoxyribonucleotide 5'-triphosphate building blocks of DNA, which are present in cells as exceedingly small intracellular pools. Therefore, interference with the function of RR might well result in an agent with significant antineoplastic activity, particularly against rapidly proliferating tumor cells. HUr is the only inhibitor of RR in clinical usage; this agent, however, is a relatively poor inhibitor of the enzyme and has a short serum half-life. Consequently, HUr is a relatively weak anticancer agent. In an effort to develop a more potent inhibitor of RR with utility as an anticancer agent, we have synthesized 3-AP and demonstrated (a) potent inhibition of L1210 leukemia cells in vitro, (b) curative capacity for mice bearing the L1210 leukemia, (c) marked inhibition of RR, and (d) sensitivity of HUr-resistant cells to 3-AP. These findings collectively demonstrate the clinical potential of 3-AP as an antineoplastic agent.