Novel "hybrid" iron chelators derived from aroylhydrazones and thiosemicarbazones demonstrate selective antiproliferative activity against tumor cells.

We previously demonstrated that 2-hydroxy-1-naphthylaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone (311) and other aroylhydrazone chelators possess potent antineoplastic activity because of their ability to bind iron (Fe). From these studies, we identified structural components of the hydrazones that provide antineoplastic activity, namely the salicylaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthylaldehyde moieties. A related group of chelators known as the thiosemicarbazones also show pronounced antitumor activity because of their ability to inhibit ribonucleotide reductase. Considering this, we designed a new series of "hybrid ligands" by condensation of the aldehydes described above with a range of thiosemicarbazides. The parent compound of these ligands is 2-hydroxy-1-naphthylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (NT). Of 8 NT analogues, 3 chelators, namely NT, N4mT (2-hydroxy-1-naphthylaldehyde-4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone), and N44mT (2-hydroxy-1-naphthylaldehyde-4,4-dimethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone), showed high antiproliferative activity against SK-N-MC neuroepithelioma cells (50% inhibitory concentration [IC(50)] = 0.5-1.5 microM). Indeed, their activity was significantly (P <.0001) greater than that of desferrioxamine (DFO) (IC(50) = 22 microM). We demonstrate that 311, a 311 analogue (311m), and several NT-series chelators have significantly (P <.001) greater antiproliferative activity against tumor cells than against a range of normal cell types. For example, the IC(50) values of NT and N4mT in SK-N-MC neuroepithelioma cells were 0.5 microM, whereas for fibroblasts the IC(50) values were greater than 25 microM. Further, the effect of one of the most potent chelators (311m) on preventing the growth of bone marrow stem cell cultures was far less than that of doxorubicin and similar to that of cisplatin. These studies support the further development of these chelators as antiproliferative agents.