The bioactivation of CB 1954 and its use as a prodrug in antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (ADEPT).

Walker cells in vivo or in vitro are exceptionally sensitive to the monofunctional alkylating agent CB 1954 (5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide). The basis of the sensitivity is that CB 1954 forms DNA interstrand crosslinks in Walker cells but not in insensitive cells. Crosslink formation is due to the aerobic reduction of CB 1954 to form 5-(aziridin-1-yl)-4-hydroxylamino-2-nitrobenzamide by the enzyme DT diaphorase. The 4-hydroxylamine can not crosslink DNA directly but requires further activation by a non-enzymatic reaction with a thioester (such as acetyl coenzyme A). As predicted from their measured DT diaphorase activities, a number of rat hepatoma and hepatocyte cell lines are also sensitive to CB 1954. However, no CB 1954-sensitive tumours or cell lines of human origin have been found. This is because the rate of reduction of CB 1954 by the human form of DT diaphorase is much lower than that of the Walker enzyme (ratio of kcat = 6.4). To overcome this intrinsic resistance of human cells towards CB 1954 a number of strategies have been developed. First, analogues have been developed that are more rapidly reduced by the human form of CB 1954. Second, the cytotoxicity of CB 1954 can be potentiated by reduced pyridinium compounds. Third, a CB 1954 activating enzyme can be targeted to human tumours by conjugating it to an antibody (ADEPT). A nitroreductase enzyme has been isolated from E. coli that can bioactivate CB 1954 much more rapidly than Walker DT diaphorase and is very suitable for ADEPT. Thus CB 1954 may have a role in the therapy of human tumours.