A novel class of in vivo active anticancer agents: achiral seco-amino- and seco-hydroxycyclopropylbenz[e]indolone (seco-CBI) analogues of the duocarmycins and CC-1065.

One achiral seco-hydroxycyclopropylbenz[e]indolone (seco-CBI) (12) and seven achiral seco-amino-CBI (11a-g) analogues of CC-1065 and the duocarmycins were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their DNA-binding and anticancer properties. These compounds contain a core 2-chloroethylnaphthalene structure and they do not have a stereocenter. From thermal cleavage gel analyses, compounds 11a-g and 12 demonstrated similar covalent sequence specificity to adozelesin 3 and the racemic seco-CBI-TMI 4 for binding to the 5'-AAAAA(865)-3' site. Continuous exposure of human (K562) and murine (B16, L1210 and P815) cancer cell lines to the compounds demonstrated their significant cytotoxicity, with IC50 values in the sub-micromolar range. Generally, a good leaving group on the ethyl moiety and a free amino or hydroxyl group on the naphthyl moiety are essential for activity. According to NCI's cytotoxicity screen, compounds 11a and 12 were active against human cancer cell lines derived from lung, colon, melanoma, renal system, and breast. At the respective doses of 15 and 20 mg/kg (administered via an ip route), compounds 11a and 12 inhibited the growth of murine B16-F0 melanoma in C57BL/6 mice, with minimal toxicity, and 11a gave a significant anticancer effect. The in vivo anticancer activity of compound 11a was confirmed in a human tumor xenograft study (advanced stage SC-OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer growing in scid mice). Finally, compound 11a was not toxic to murine bone marrow cell growth in culture at a dose that was toxic for the previously reported compound 4.