COMPARISON OF TOPOISOMERASE-I INHIBITION, DNA-DAMAGE, AND CYTOTOXICITY OF CAMPTOTHECIN DERIVATIVES PRESENTLY IN CLINICAL-TRIALS

Background: Camptothecins belong to a group of anticancer agents with a unique mechanism of action: poisoning of eukaryotic DNA topoisomeras e I. Two camptothecin derivatives, topotecan (TPT) and CPT-11, are in clinical trials and their chemotherapeutic efficacy appears promising. Purpose: Our aim was to compare simultaneously the molecular and cell ular pharmacology of the various camptothecin derivatives that are pre sently in clinical trials. Methods: Cytotoxicity of drugs toward human colon carcinoma HT-29 cells was determined by colony-forming assays. DNA single-strand breaks (SSB) were measured by alkaline elution. Drug potency to induce topoisomerase I-mediated DNA cleavage and the seque nce selectivity of the breaks were determined by sequencing gel autora diography. Results: SN-38 and CPT were more cytotoxic than 9-AC and TP T, and CPT-11 was almost inactive toward HT-29 cells. IC50 values were 8.8 nM for SN-38, 10 nM for CPT, 19 nM for 9-AC, 33 nM for TPT, and g reater than 100 nM for CPT-11. In drug-induced DNA damage measured by alkaline elution drug concentrations producing 1000-rad-equivalents (C -1000), values were 0.037 mu M for SN-38, 0.051 mu M for CPT, 0.085 mu M for 9-AC, 0.28 mu M for TPT, and greater than 1 mu M for CPT-11. SN -38 remained the most potent compound in isolated nuclei, and CPT-11 w as still inactive. The potency ranking was the same as in whole cells, and the C-1000 values were 0.0025 mu M for SN-38, 0.012 mu M for CPT, 0.021 mu M for 9-AC, 0.44 mu M for TPT, and greater than 0.1 mu M for CPT-11. Potency difference between SN-38 and the other compounds was greater in isolated nuclei than in whole cells. Conclusions: Kinetics of the reversal of drug-induced SSB in isolated nuclei suggest that di ssociation of SN-38 from cleavable complexes is much slower than that of CPT. Cleavage patterns of CPT and 9-AC were similar but differed fr om those of TPT and SN-38. Although in vitro analyses do not necessari ly reflect chemotherapeutic efficacy, this study found that SN-38 is t he most potent compound and that 9-AC and TPT are less active than CPT in this system. The effect of CPT-11 is minimal. Therefore, the clini cal activity of CPT-11 may strongly depend on its hydrolysis to SN-38. Differences in DNA sequence selectivity and the stability of cleavabl e complexes induced by the drugs may also contribute to differences am ong CPT derivatives.-