Patent Application
20170266308
The present disclosure belongs to a field of pharmaceutical chemistry, relating to an anti-tumor drug compound. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a cleavable linker specifically activated in tumor microenviroment, an anti-tumor compound comprising a conjugate and use thereof.
Conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs have great toxicity to human normal cells and immune system. For example, Docetaxel and Paclitaxel are effective anti-tumor agents widely used at present. They are mainly used in various solid tumor, such as ovarian cancer and breast cancer, and have a certain efficacy against lung cancer, intestinal cancer, melanoma, head and neck cancer, lymphoma and cerebroma. Clinically, these two compounds have serious toxicity, such as arrest of bone marrow, and allergic reaction, and thus their doses have been restricted. Docetaxel exhibits bone marrow toxicity, resulting in reduction in neutrophilic granulocytes, and neurotoxicity and cardiovascular toxicity. Docetaxel can induce an allergic reaction, and a local inflammation, alopecia, hypodynamia, or even liver toxicity if it overflows the blood vessel. Mitomycin is another effective antitumor agent widely used at present. It is mainly used in various solid tumors, such as stomach cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and malignant pleural and ascitic fluid. However, clinically, mitomycin exhibits a serious toxicity and adverse reaction, its dose thus is restricted. Mitomycin can induce a bone marrow toxicity, resulting in reduction in leucocytes and platelets. It can also induce phlebitis, and tissue necrosis, alopecia, hypodynamia and hepatorenal damage if it overflows the blood vessel.
In the tumor microenviroment, the tumor cells express and secrete a great amount of asparagine endopeptidases. Expression of asparagine endopeptidase can distinguish the tumor-associated macrophage (M2 type) from the mononuclear cell and the inflammatory macrophage (M1 type). The cytokines secreted by tumor induce the mononuclear cells to transform to tumor-associated macrophages. The tumor-associated macrophages can stimulate and produce strong immunosuppression and directly help infiltration and metastasis of tumor cells. Meanwhile, a great amount of proteolytic enzymes are produced during metastasis of tumor cells to degrade intercellular matrix. Thus, new compounds can be chemically synthesized and screened based on biochemistry and pharmacological detection and screening to find a chemical conjugate that is able to be activated by asparagine endopeptidase and conjugated to drug via a secondary activated linker. The conjugate can link different groups for solubility or modification as needed to drugs for chemotherapy having specific cytotoxicity, thus producing new drugs having new functions, such as new targeting, activation, stability, solubility, metabolism, toxicity and efficacy, etc.
In order to develop antitumor drugs, the present disclosure creates a cleavable linker having changeable properties, such as activation by targetedly conjugating and treatment by dissolution, and provides compounds containing a cleavable linker, as shown in formulae (I) and (II). Use of the cleavable linker of the present disclosure, which can be specially activated in a tumor microenviroment, can effectively block the toxicity of the linked drug R4. Then the compounds are targetedly activated by an asparagine endopeptidase in the tumor microenviroment and the 4-aminobenzyl-OC(O)— is self-released, allowing the final drugs the bring about new targeting, activation and metabolism properties.
Specifically, in the compounds containing a cleavable linker, the cleavable linker is the modified tripeptide in the brackets, -R2-R3-Asn-4-aminobenzyl-OC(O)—. R1 and R4 link together through the cleavable linker, wherein R1 links to the cleavable linker through an amido bond formed by its carbonyl, and R4 links to the cleavable liner through carbonic acid ester bondformed by its oxygen atom with the cleavable linker or through carbamate formed by its nitrogen atom with the cleavable linker:
R1{-R2-R3-Asn-4-amino benzyl-OC(O)—}R4 (I),
wherein
R1 is a functional group for increasing solubility or a protective group;
R2 is an amino acid moiety selected from the group consisting of Ala, Thr, Val and Ile, R2 forms an amide bond with R1 through a carbonyl group of;
R3 is an amino acid moiety selected from the group consisting of Ala, Thr, Val and Asn;
R2 links to R3 through an amido bond, R3 links to Asn through an amido bond, and Asn links to —NH— through its carbonyl;
R4 is a drug group linking to the cleavable linker through carbonic acid ester bond or carbamate formed by its hydroxyl or amino;
the compounds containing the cleavable linker can be cleavable by contact with an asparagine endopeptidase and then is separated from R1; and
breakage of the compound containing the cleavable linker by contact with an asparagine endopeptidase causes further cleavage of the carbonic acid ester bond or carbamate formed with R4, resulting in that R4 is separated from the cleavable group.
In the present disclosure, compounds containing activatable conjugates were synthesised, the compounds (formula (I), (II)) containing a cleavable linker have the following structure-efficacy relationship of structure and activation:
(1) The activatable conjugates can react with hydroxyl or amino group having proper activation grade in the toxic function related key part of R4 via group conversion, and couple to form drugs with new structure. The resultant compounds have different activation efficiencies by asparagine endopeptidase due to their different steric hindrances. This is because the enzyme active center of asparagine endopeptidase locates at the bottom of it's globular depression. The cleavage site needs to approach the active center. Thus, the polarity of the linking site becomes important as it will determine whether a steric hindrance to the cleavage site is produced by the linked compound. The extension and secondary breakage of 4-amino benzyl-OC(O)-arm effectively reduce the steric hindrance from some drugs. However, in the present disclosure S6, S20 and some unpublished compounds cannot be activated because of steric hindrance. Although they are synthesised, they cannot form functional compounds containing a cleavable linker. (2) Through specific activation by asparagine endopeptidase specially expressed by tumor cells or tumor associated macrophages, the compounds containing the cleavable linker are locally activated in the tumor and thus have a targeted cytotoxicity. The drugs which could not be activated due to steric hindrance are not toxic or have low toxicity to the cells, and they cannot form anti-tumor drugs. (3) Cytotoxicity of drugs decreases greatly after connecting the conjugate, because the conjugate reacts with hydroxyl or amino group of drugs, and the active hydroxyl or amino groups on cell surface are usually key groups for drug cytotoxicity. (4) The compounds containing the cleavable linker are stable in non-tumorous environment, such as inblood, normal organs, immune system and in neutral pH, and have no toxic or low toxicity. (5) The asparagine endopeptidase cleaves the conjugate at the Asn site. According to the analysis on the metabolites, only breakage can initiate the activation between 4-amino benzyl-OC(O)— and R4, and thus assisting the cascade activation. (6) As a linking arm, 4-amino benzyl-OC(O)— can extend the linkage, and thus can effectively reduce the steric hindrance close to the reactive center of the asparagine endopeptidase after linking to R4. However, the activation by contacting with asparagine endopeptidase is still affected by the structure and polarity of R4. (7) The polarity, solubility coming with R1 are related to the activation efficiency of the conjugate, and are closely relevant to the solubility, stability and efficacy of the drugs containing the cleavable linker. In addition to the conventional linking group, R1 can link to a special hydrophilic group or targeted group to bring a special function for the drugs containing the cleavable linker, such as improvement of solubility, and efficacy in the Examples. (8) In line with the distribution of the asparagine endopeptidase, the compounds containing the cleavable linker can be activated in many kinds of tumors. They can broaden the scope of the diseases to be treated by the drug due to the changed solubility. Therefore, antitumor drugs against various tumor or a specific tumor can be developed. (9) During metastasis of tumor cells, a great amount of asparagine endopeptidases are secreted by the cells to degrade intercellular matrix. Therefore, the targeted drugs after linking to the cleavable linker exhibit a special efficacy to tumor metastasis. (10) The compounds containing the cleavable linker have low toxicity and high efficacy, they are nontoxic to immune system and can be combined with immunotherapy at the same time, making a synergistic efficacy.
Description of the compounds and examples are as follows:
(1) Compounds S1˜S43, S15′, B15 and E15: Demonstrating new anti-cancer compounds can be synthesized by linking to the cleavable linker via two types of connection (Example 1-9), different anti-cancer compound shows synthetic efficiency and toxicity reduction (Example 9), different activation efficiencies (Example 10, 11) and efficacy (Example 12), providing comparative studies for the cleavable linker when used together with different R1, R2, R3 (Example 13˜14).
(2) Compounds S2′˜S4′ and S10′˜S24′, and compounds A1, A3˜A4 and A10˜A24: indicating that Docetaxel compounds containing the cleavable linker and different R1, R2 and R3 can be synthesized (Example 16, 17, 27 and 28). The linking site, steric hindrance, connection length and variation of R1 bring about different solubility (Example 17 and 28, improved solubility), different activation efficiency (Example 20 and 30), low toxicity, high efficacy and new indications (Example 20-26, 31-35 and 66).
(3) Compounds B1, B3˜B4 and B10˜B24, compounds D2˜D4 and D10˜D24: indicating that Docetaxel compounds containing the cleavable linker and different R1, R2 and R3 can be synthesized (Example 36, 37, 46 and 47). The linking site, steric hindrance, connection length and variation of R1 bring about different solubility (Example 37 and 47, improved solubility), different activation efficiency (Example 38 and 49), low toxicity, high efficacy and new indications (Example 40-45 and 50-54).
(4) Compounds E2˜E4 and E10˜E24: indicating that Mitomycin compounds containing the cleavable linker and different R1, R2 and R3 can be synthesized (Example 56 and 57). The linking site, steric hindrance, connection length and variation of R1 bring about different solubility (Example 57, improved solubility), different activation efficiency (Example 58), low toxicity, high efficacy and new indications (Example 59-65).
In one embodiment, the compound of formula (II) has a structure as set forth in any of the following formulae (IIA), (IIB), (IIC), (IID), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII), and (IX):
wherein
R1 is selected from the group consisting of 6-maleimide-C1-10 alkylcarbonyl, hydroxylaminocarbonyl-C1-10 alkylcarbonyl, C1-4 alkoxyl-(C1-4 alkoxyl)n-C1-6alkylcarbonyl, or
wherein each R is independently a C1-4alkyl, and each n is independently any integer between 1-300, preferably 1-150;
R2 is Ala, Thr, Val or Ile;
R3 is Ala, Thr, Val or Asn;
R5 is the active moiety of an anticancer compound containing a hydroxyl group (R5—OH), i.e., a moiety except the hydroxyl group used for linking, wherein the anticancer compound is selected from the group consisting of Camptothecin, 10-Hydroxyl Camptothecin, Topotecan, Floxuridine, 5′-Deoxy-5-Fluorouridine, Cytarabine, Etoposide, Fludarabine, Capecitabine, Vincristine, Epothilone B, Paclitaxel and Docetaxel; and
R6 is the active moiety of an anticancer compound containing an amino group (R5—NH2), i.e., a moiety except the amino group used for linking, wherein the anticancer compound is selected from the group consisting of Daunorubicin, Epirubicin, Methotrexate, Fludarabine, Gemcitabine, Cytarabine, MelphalaN,Nimustine, Mitoxantrone and Mitomycin.
The present disclosure also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of formula (II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
The present disclosure provides a method for preparing a compound of formula (III) or (IV), which is shown as follows:
wherein the preparation of the compound of formula (III) comprises reacting R1-R2-R3-Asn-4-amino benzyl alcohol with 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate or (CCl3O)2CO to form an active carbonic acid ester bond or chloroformate, and then reacting the active carbonic acid ester bond or chloroformate with the drug comprising a hydroxyl group (R5—OH) to form the compound of formula (III), wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of Camptothecin, 10-Hydroxyl Camptothecin, Topotecan, Floxuridine, 5′-Deoxy-5-Fluorouridine, Cytarabine, Etoposide, Fludarabine, Capecitabine, Vincristine, Epothilone B, Paclitaxel and Docetaxel;
the preparation of the compound of formula (IV) comprises reacting R1-R2-R3-Asn-4-amino benzyl alcohol with 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate or (CCl3O)2CO to form an active carbonic acid ester bond or chloroformate, and then reacting the active carbonic acid ester bond or chloroformate with the drug comprising an amino group (R6—NH2) to form the compound of formula (IV), wherein the drug is selected from the group consisting of Daunorubicin, Epirubicin, Methotrexate, Fludarabine, Gemcitabine, Cytarabine, MelphalaN,Nimustine, Mitoxantrone and Mitomycin;
wherein R1 is a conventional functional group or a protecting group; R2 is Ala, Thr, Val or Ile; and R3 is Ala, Thr, Val or Asn.
The present disclosure provides use of the compound of formula (II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or the pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure in the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing a cancer.
The present disclosure provides use of a mitomycin derivative as shown in formula (IX) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing an ophthalmic disease.
The present disclosure provides use of the compound of formula (II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or the pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure in the manufacture of a medicament for inhibiting tumor-associated macrophages, tumor growth, angiogenesis or infiltration and metastasis of tumor cells, and/or promoting anti-tumor immunization.
The present disclosure also provides a method for treating or preventing a cancer, comprising administering a subject in need thereof a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of the compound of formula (II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or the pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure also provides a method for reducing the toxicity of an anticancer compound, comprising linking the anticancer compound to R1-R2-R3, wherein R1 is a conventional functional group or a protecting group; R2 is Ala, Thr, Val or Ile; R3 is Ala, Thr, Val or Asn; and the anticancer compound is selected from the group consisting of Camptothecin, 10-Hydroxyl Camptothecin, Topotecan, Floxuridine, 5′-Deoxy-5-Fluorouridine, Cytarabine, Etoposide, Fludarabine, Capecitabine, Vincristine, Epothilone B, Daunorubicin, Epirubicin, Methotrexate, Gemcitabine, MelphalaN,Nimustine, Mitoxantrone, Paclitaxel, Docetaxel and Mitomycin.
The compounds of the present disclosure comprises conjugates as shown in formula (A), and compounds of formula (II) formed by conjugating the conjugates to a drug R4. The compounds of formula (II) could accumulate at the tumor site, and are specifically activated, thus releasing the antitumor compound.
The compound of formula (A) of the present disclosure has a structure as set forth below:
wherein, R1 is a conventional functional group or a protecting group; R2 is Ala, Thr, Val or Ile; R3 is Ala, Thr, Val or Asn; and R7 is H, XC(O)—, or optionally substituted benzyloxycarbonyl (for example, optionally substituted by 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of nitro, C1-4 alkyl, halogen, hydroxyl and amino), wherein X is halogen; wherein R1 links to R2 through an amido bond formed by the carbonyl of R1; and amino bonds are formed between R2 and R3, R3 and Asn, and Asn and —NH—.
The present disclosure also provides a compound of formula (II):
wherein R1 is a conventional functional group or a protecting group; R2 is Ala, Thr, Val or Ile; R3 is Ala, Thr, Val or Asn; and R4 is an active moiety of a drug linking through hydroxyl or amino group, and the drug is represented by formula R4—H.
In some embodiments, in the compounds of the present disclosure, R1 links to R2 by forming an amide bond via its carbonyl, R2, R3 and Asn form a tripeptide, Asn links to —NH— via its carbonyl, R4 links to the cleavable linker through carbonic acid ester bond formed by its oxygen atom with the cleavable linker or through carbamate formed by its nitrogen atom with the cleavable linker.
In some preferred embodiments, R4 links to the cleavable linker through a carbamate formed by its nitrogen atom of the amino substituent on the aromatic ring with the cleavable linker, or through carbonic acid ester bond formed by its oxygen atom of hydroxyl substituent on the aromatic ring or heterocycle with the cleavable linker.
In some embodiments, R3 is preferably Ala.
In the present disclosure, R1 can be H or an amino protecting group. For example, R1 can be a hydrophilic or hydrophobic group. Alternatively, R1 can be selected from any of C1-6 alkyl (such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl), polyethylene glycol-C1-5 alkylcarbonyl, succinyl, glucosiduronide, maleimide-C1-10 alkylcarbonyl (such as 6-maleimide caproyl), 2-methoxyethoxy-C1-6 alkylcarbonyl, hydroxylaminocarbonyl-C1-10alkylcarbonyl (such as N-hydroxylamino-1,8-octanedioic acid-1-monoacyl) and caproyl (C1-5 alkylcarbonyl).
Preferably, R1 can be 6-maleimide-C1-10 alkylcarbonyl, hydroxylaminocarbonyl-C1-10 alkylcarbonyl, C1-4alkoxyl-(C1-4alkoxyl)n-C1-6 alkylcarbonyl, or
wherein each R is independently a C1-4 alkyl, and each n is independently any integer between 1-300, preferably 1-150.
Preferably, when R4—H is a water-insoluble drug, R1 is preferably a PEG-type group, such as polyethylene glycol-C1-C5 alkylcarbonyl, or
Generally, R1 links to the amino group of R2, and when R1 links to R2 via its carbonyl, an amide linkage (—CO—NH—) forms.
In the present disclosure, R4 is the active moiety of an anticancer compound, wherein the anticancer compound includes, but is not limited to, Camptothecin, 10-Hydroxyl Camptothecin, Topotecan, Floxuridine, 5′-Deoxy-5-Fluorouridine, Cytarabine, Etoposide, Fludarabine, Capecitabine, Vincristine, Epothilone B, Daunorubicin, Epirubicin, Methotrexate, Gemcitabine, MelphalaN,Nimustine, Mitoxantrone, Paclitaxel, Docetaxel and Mitomycin.
The compounds of formula (II) may include the compounds having any of the following structures:
In one embodiment, R4 is —O—R5, and the compound of formula (II) has a structure set forth in the following formula (III):
wherein R5 is the active moiety of an anticancer compound containing a hydroxyl group (R5—OH), i.e., a moiety except the hydroxyl group used for linking, wherein the anticancer compound is selected from the group consisting of Camptothecin, 10-Hydroxyl Camptothecin, Topotecan, Floxuridine, 5′-Deoxy-5-Fluorouridine, Cytarabine, Etoposide, Fludarabine, Capecitabine, Vincristine, Epothilone B, Paclitaxel and Docetaxe.
In one embodiment, R4 is R6—NH, and the compound of formula (II) has a structure set forth in the following formula (IV):
wherein R6 is the active moiety of an anticancer compound containing an amino group (R6—NH2), i.e., a moiety except the amino group used for linking, wherein the anticancer compound is selected from the group consisting of Daunorubicin, Epirubicin, Methotrexate, Fludarabine, Gemcitabine, Cytarabine, MelphalaN,Nimustine, Mitoxantrone and Mitomycin. In formula (IV), “(H)” represents that H is present or not present; if H is not present, N links to R6 via a double bond.
In each structure of the present disclosure, n generally is an integer in the range of 1-300, i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 . . . 100, 101, 102, 103 . . . 201, 202, 203 . . . 295, 296, 297, 298, 299 and 300. It should be understood that, although each integer between 1-300 is not specifically described, these un-described integers are obvious to the skilled artisan, and it should be constructed as that the present disclosure has literally disclosed all of the integers falling within the range. In the present disclosure, n in each structure generally is in the range of 1-250, 1-200, 1-150, 1-100, 1-50, and such as 5-10, 5-50, 5-100 and the like.
In one embodiment, compounds of formula (III) include:
(1) Compound S1 in which R1 is 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl, R2 is Thr, R3 is Ala, and R4 is 10-hydroxyl camptothecin
(2) Compound S2 in which R1 is 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl, R2 is Ala, R3 is Ala, and R4 is camptothecin
(3) Compound S3 in which R1 is (N-hydroxylamino)-1,8-octanedioic acid-1-monoacyl, R2 is Ala, R3 is Ala, and R4 is Capecitabine
and
(4) Compounds S7-S18, wherein R1 is 2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)Acetyl, R2 is Thr, R3 is Ala and R4 is Camptothecin (S7), 10-Hydroxyl Camptothecin (S8), Topotecan (S9), Floxuridine (S10), 5′-Deoxy-5-Fluorouridine (S11), Cytarabine (S12), Fludarabine (S13), Etoposide (S14), Capecitabine (S15), Gemcitabine (S16), Vincristine (S17), or Epothilone B (S18). The compounds and the position of the hydroxyl are as follows:
camptothecin-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
10-hydroxyl camptothecin-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
topotecan-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
floxuridine-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
5′-Deoxy-5-Fluorouridine-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Cytarabine-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Fludarabine-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Etoposide-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
capecitabine-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Gemcitabine-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Vincristine-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Epothilone B-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
In one embodiment, compounds of formula (IV) include:
(1) Compound S4 in which R1 is 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl, R2 is Thr, R3 is Ala, and R4 is Daunorubicin
(2) Compound S5 in which R1 is 6-maleimide caproyl, R2 is Ala, R3 is Ala, and R4 is Daunorubicin
and
(3) Compounds S19-S28, wherein R1 is 2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)Acetyl, R2 and R3 are Ala, R4 is Daunorubicin (S19), Epirubicin (S20), Fludarabine (S21), Gemcitabine (S22), Nimustine (S23), Mitoxantrone (S24), Methotrexate (S25), Cytarabine (S26), Melphalan (S27) or Doxorubicin (S28). The compounds and the position of the amino group used for linking are as follows:
daunorubicin-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Epirubicin-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Fludarabine-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Gemcitabine-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Nimustine-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Mitoxantrone-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Methotrexate-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Cytarabine-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Melphalan-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
Doxorubcin-cleavable linker which is specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a paclitaxel derivative for targeted activation in the tumor microenvironment, which has a structure as set forth in the following formula (V):
wherein R2 is Ala, Thr, Val or Ile; R3 is Ala, Thr, Val or Asn; n is any integer between 1-300, preferably between 1-150.
Compounds of formula (V) include but is not limited to the following compounds:
(1) Compound S1′ in which n is 1, R2 is Ala and R3 is Ala
(2) Compound S2′ in which n is 5, R2 is Ala and R3 is Ala
(3) Compound S3′ in which n=11, R2 is Ala and R3 is Ala
(4) Compound S4′ in which n=300, R2 is Ala and R3 is Ala
and
(5) Compounds S10′-S24′ in which n is 1 and R2 and R3 are shown in the following table:
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a water-soluble paclitaxel derivative for targeted activation, which has a structure as set forth in the following formula (VI):
wherein R2 is Ala, Thr, Val or Ile, R3 is Ala, Thr, Val or Asn, and n is any integer between 1-300, preferably between 1-150.
Compounds of formula (VI) include but is not limited to the following compounds:
(1) Compound A1 in which n is 1, R2 is Ala and R3 is Ala
(2) Compound A2 in which n is 5, R2 is Ala and R3 is Ala
(3) Compound A3 in which n is 11, R2 is Ala and R3 is Ala
(4) Compound A4 in which n is 150, R2 is Ala and R3 is Ala
Other compounds of formula (IV) include the following compounds, in which n is 5 and R2 and R3 are shown in the following table:
The present disclosure further provides a water-soluble Docetaxel derivative for targeted activation of tumor, which has a structure as set forth in the following formula (VII):
wherein R2 is any one amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ala, Thr, Val and Ile; R3 is any one amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ala, Thr, Val and Asn; n is any integer between 1-300, preferably between 1-150.
Compounds of formula (VII) include but is not limited to the following compounds:
(1) Compound B1 in which n is 1, R2 is Ala and R3 is Ala
(2) Compound B2 in which n is 5, R2 is Ala and R3 is Ala
(3) Compound B3 in which n is 11, R2 is Ala and R3 is Ala
(4) Compound B4 in which n is 150, R2 is Ala and R3 is Ala
Compounds of formula (VII) further comprise the following compounds:
The present disclosure further provides a Docetaxel derivative for targeted activation of tumor microenvironment, which has a structure as set forth in the following formula (VIII):
wherein R2 is any one amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ala, Thr, Val and Ile; R3 is any one amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ala, Thr, Val and Asn; n is any integer between 1-300, preferably between 1-150, more preferably between 1-20, and most preferably between 1-11.
Compounds of formula (VIII) include:
(1) Compound D1, in which n is 1, R2 and R3 are Ala
(2) Compound D2, in which n is 5, R2 and R3 are Ala
(3) Compound D3, in which n is 11, R2 and R3 are Ala
(4) Compound D4, in which n is 300, R2 and R3 are Ala
Other compounds of formula (VIII) comprise the following compounds:
In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a mitomycin derivative for release by targeted activation having a structure shown in the following formula (IX):
wherein R2 is any amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ala, Thr, Val and Ile; R3 is any amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ala, Thr, Val and Asn; n is any integer between 1-300, preferably between 1-150, more preferably between 1-20, and most preferably between 1-11.
Examples of compounds of formula (IX) include:
(1) Compound E1, in which n is 1 and R2 and R3 are Ala
(2) Compound E2, in which n is 5 and R2 and R3 are Ala
(3) Compound E3, in which n is 11 and R2 and R3 are Ala
(4) Compound E4, in which n is 300 and R2 and R3 are Ala
Examples of compounds of formula (TX) further comprise:
The pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the above compounds are also included in the present disclosure. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include inorganic and organic acid salts, such as hydrochloride, hydrobromide, phosphate, sulphate, citrate, lactate, tartrate, maleate, fumarate, mandelate and oxalate; and inorganic and organic base salts with bases, such as sodium hydroxy, Tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (TRIS, tromethamine) and N-methyl-glucamine.
R1-R2-R3-Asn-4-amino benzyl alcohol is used as the key intermediate in the present disclosure to prepare the present compounds. Preferably, the reaction schemes for preparing the present compound are as follows:
In Scheme 1, after reacting R1-R2-R3-Asn-4-amino benzyl alcohol with 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate or (CCl3O)2CO to form an active carbonic acid ester bond or chloroformate, the active carbonic acid ester bond or chloroformate is reacted with the drug comprising a hydroxyl group (R5—OH) to form a carbonic acid diester product, which is also a conjugate. Scheme 1 can be used to prepare compounds in which R4 is Camptothecin, 10-Hydroxyl Camptothecin, Topotecan, Floxuridine, 5′-Deoxy-5-Fluorouridine, Cytarabine, Etoposide, Fludarabine, Capecitabine, Vincristine, Epothilone B, Paclitaxel or Docetaxel.
In Scheme 2, after reacting R1-R2-R3-Asn-4-amino benzyl alcohol with 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate or (CCl3O)2CO to form an active carbonic acid ester bond or chloroformate, the active carbonic acid ester bond or chloroformate is reacted with the drug comprising an amino group (R6—NH2) to form a carbonic acid diester product, which is also a conjugate. Scheme 2 can be used to prepare compounds in which R4 is Daunorubicin, Epirubicin, Methotrexate, Fludarabine, Gemcitabine, Cytarabine, MelphalaN,Nimustine, Mitoxantrone or Mitomycin.
Other reagents, reaction conditions, purification methods, etc., used in the above preparation methods will be apparent to the skilled artisan after reading the preparation examples disclosed herein.
The present disclosure comprises a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of any of the above structural formulae or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
The pharmaceutical composition may further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. The carrier or excipient may be various pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient known in the art and can be varied according to the dosage form or administration route.
In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition may comprise one or more of solvents, solubilizer/co-solvent, pH adjustor, freeze-dried excipient and osmo-regulator.
Freeze-dried excipient suitable for use in the present disclosure includes one or more of sugars, such as lactose, maltose, dextran, glucose and fructose; amino acids, such as arginine, lysine and histine; mannitol; tartaric acid; maleic acid; citric acid; sodium chloride; and cyclodextrin, such as hydroxypropyl beta cyclodextrin and sulfobutyl beta cyclodextrin.
pH regulator suitable for use in the present disclosure includes one or more of hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, carbonic acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, citric acid, DL-tartaric acid, D-tartaric acid, L-tartaric acid, NaOH, KOH, meglumine, maleic acid, ethylene diamine, triethylamine, arginine, lysine, histine, NaH2PO4 and Na2HPO4.
Solvent suitable for use in the present disclosure preferably is an organic solvent, including one or more of ethanol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol 300, polyethylene glycol 400, t-butyl alcohol, glycerin, Tween, soybean oil, hydroxylpropyl beta cyclodextrin solution and sulfobutyl beta cyclodextrin solution.
Osmo-regulator suitable for use in the present disclosure includes one or more of glucose, sodium chloride, mannitol and sodium lactate.
Solubilizer/co-solvent suitable for use in the present disclosure includes one or more of Tween 80, Tween 60, poloxamer, hydroxypropyl beta cyclodextrin, polyethylene glycol (PEG), lithium 12-hydroxy stearate, sulfobutyl beta cyclodextrin, PVP, glycerin and polyoxyethylene castor oil.
Typically, the compound of the present disclosure or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof may be administered to mammals, orally at a dose of 0.0025 to 50 mg/kg of body weight, per day, preferably, approximately 0.01 to approximately 10 mg/kg of body weight. If a known anticancer agent or other treatments are also administered, they are administered in an amount that is effective to achieve their intended purpose. The amounts of such known anticancer agents effective for cancer are well known to those skilled in the art.
The unit oral dose may comprise from approximately 0.01 mg to approximately 50 mg, preferably approximately 0.1 mg to approximately 10 mg of the compound of the invention or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt. The unit dose may be administered one or more times daily, as one or more tablets, each containing from approximately 0.1 mg to approximately 50 mg, conveniently approximately 0.25 mg to 10 mg of the compound or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt.
The pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure may be formulated into any suitable dosage forms, including but is not limited to tablet, capsule and injection, etc. The pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure may be administered via known routes in the art, including oral administration, intravenous injection, intramuscular injection, etc.
Cytokines secreted by tumor induce mononuclear cells to transform to tumor associated macrophages (TAM). Tumor associated macrophage could be stimulated to product strong immunosuppression and could directly help the tumor cells to infiltrate and metastasize. Expression of asparagine endopeptidase can distinguish the tumor-associated macrophage (M2 type) from the mononuclear cell and the inflammatory macrophage (M1 type). The compounds of the subject invention can be activated to release in the presence of asparagine endopeptidase. Since different moieties in the conjugate specifically activated by asparagine endopeptidase could greatly affect the targeting, activation, stability, toxicity and efficacy and the like of the final drug, using the conjugate specifically activated by asparagine endopeptidase of the present disclosure could effectively reduce the toxicity of the linked drug, bring new targeting, activation and metabolism properties for the final drug, increase treatment effect on tumor, produce new adaptive tumor diseases and prevent tumor from metastasis. Thus, new structure and function could be produced.
It is also found in the present disclosure that the conjugates releasable in the tumor microenvironment, such as compounds of formulae (III) to (IX) could kill tumor associated macrophage, weaken immunosuppressive cytokines in the microenvironment, and promote release of toxic CD8 cells to improve the immunization. More importantly, these compounds releasable in the tumor microenvironment could only be activated in the tumor site, which is different from the traditional chemotherapeutic drugs which impair the whole immune system. In the experiments, the compounds releasable in the tumor microenvironment and programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitory antibody (PDL1 antibody, which is commercially available and considered as a candidate having immunological treatment effect at present) show strong synergistic treatment and thus could solve the problem that immunological treatment is difficult to be used in combination with chemotherapeutic drug.
Therefore, the compound, its pharmaceutically acceptable salt or the pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure could be used to treat or prevent various diseases that were known to be treated by Camptothecin, 10-Hydroxyl Camptothecin, Topotecan, Floxuridine, 5′-Deoxy-5-Fluorouridine, Cytarabine, Etoposide, Fludarabine, Capecitabine, Vincristine, Epothilone B, Paclitaxel, Docetaxel, Daunorubicin, Epirubicin, Methotrexate, Gemcitabine, MelphalaN,Nimustine, Mitoxantrone, or Mitomycin, including cancer and ophthalmic diseases.
For example, it is known in the art that camptothecin can be used to treat or prevent malignant tumor, psoriasis, wart, acute/chronic leukaemia and hepatosplenomegaly caused by schistosomiasis; 10-hydroxyl camptothecin can be used to treat or prevent stomach cancer, liver cancer, head and neck cancer and leukaemia, etc.; paclitaxel is mainly used to treat ovarian cancer and breast cancer, and is also effective in treating lung cancer, intestinal cancer, melanoma, head and neck cancer, lymphoma, brain cancer, etc; and mitomycin can be used to chronic lymphoma, chronic myeloid leukemia, esophageal carcinoma, stomach cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, cervical cancer, cancer of the uterus, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, tumor at head and neck, bladder tumor and malignant cavity effusion, etc.
Therefore, for example, diseases that can be treated or prevented by the compound, its pharmaceutically acceptable salt or the pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure include but is not limited to cancer in bladder, brain, breast/mammary gland, cervix, colon-rectum, oesophagus, kidney, liver, lung, nasopharynx, pancreas, prostate, skin, stomach, uterus, ovary, testicle and blood. Specifically, the cancer includes bladder cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer or mammary cancer, cervical cancer, colon-rectal cancer, esophageal carcinoma, renal cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, stomach cancer, uterus cancer, ovarian cancer, testicular cancer and blood cancer.
In one specific embodiment, the mitomycin derivative as shown in formula (IX) or a pharmaceutically acceptable thereof of the present disclosure can be used to treat or prevent an ophthalmic disease, including treating or preventing scar after healing, choroidal neovascularization, or inhibiting macrophage. In other examples, the mitomycin derivative as shown in formula (IX) can also be used to treat or prevent corneal transplantation, glaucoma, sequelae of pterygium surgery, etc.
The compound or pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure can also be used to prevent tumor metastasis, especially metastasis of tumor to lung. In one example, the compound or pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure can be used to prevent metastasis of mammary cancer to lung.
Therefore, the present disclosure comprises a method for treating or preventing a disease, comprising administering a subject in need thereof a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of the compound of the present disclosure or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or the pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of the present disclosure or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
The present disclosure also comprises a method for preventing tumor metastasis, comprising administering a subject in need thereof the compound of the present disclosure or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or the pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of the present disclosure or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Prevention of tumor metastasis comprising preventing tumor for metastasizing to lung and/or bone.
Tumor associated macrophage (TAM) is a key inflammatory cell, playing crucial role in tumor associated inflammation. In the tumor microenviroment, TAM promotes tumor development through affecting various biological properties of tumor. It secretes some molecules, such as EGF, to directly promote growth of tumor cell and angiogenesis, thereby promoting tumor infiltration and metastasis and inhibiting functionating of acquired immunity. Accordingly, the present invention comprises a method for inhibiting tumor associated macrophage, comprising administering a subject in need thereof the compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof of the present disclosure, or the pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof of the present disclosure. By inhibiting tumor associated macrophage, tumor growth, angiogenesis, infiltration and metastasis of cancer cell can be inhibited, and anti-tumor immunization can be promoted, thus cancer can be treated and/or prevented. In one specific embodiment, the tumor associated macrophage expresses aspartate endopeptidase and is a M2 type cell.
The above-mentioned methods of the present disclosure can be used in combination with any radiotherapy or immunotherapy known in the art.
Therefore, the present disclosure also comprises compounds, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts or pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure useful in the above-mentioned methods and uses.
The present disclosure also comprises use of the compound of the present disclosure, its pharmaceutically acceptable salt or the pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure in the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing the above disease, such as cancer and cancer metastasis. The present disclosure also comprises use of the compound of the present disclosure or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or the pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure in the manufacture of a medicament for inhibiting tumor-associated macrophages, tumor growth, angiogenesis or infiltration and metastasis of tumor cells, or promoting anti-tumor immunization.
The present disclosure further provides a method for reducing the toxicity of an anticancer compound (R4—H), comprising linking the anticancer compound to R1-R2-R3, wherein R1, R2 and R3 are defined as above.
The method for treatment or prevention of the present disclosure comprises administering the compound or pharmaceutical composition of the present disclosure to the subject in need thereof. Administration route includes but is not limited to oral administration, intravenous inject, and intramuscular injection, etc. Subject includes mammal, especially human.
It should be understood that the “comprise” and “include” used herein also include “consist of”. The sum of all weight percentages or volume percentages should be equal to 100%. Unless specifically indicated, various reagents and products used in the Examples are commercially available. And unless specifically indicated, the methods are performed according to the conventional techniques. The following Examples are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The technical solutions of the present disclosure is further illustrated in connection with the following examples.
N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L Ala (100 g, 0.45 mol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (3 L). 1-hydroxylbenzotriazole (HOBt, 72.6 g, 0.54 mol) and 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC, 103.3 g, 0.54 mol) were added when stirring. After reacting for 1 hour under stirring, the mixture was cooled to 0° C. in an ice bath and L-Ala methyl ester (46.2 g, 0.45 mol) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (173.8 g, 1.34 mol) in the N,N-dimethylformamide solution (1 L) was dropped into the mixture. After dropping, the mixture was stirred under ambient temperature for 10 hours. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The crude product was dissolved in dichloromethane (2 L) and washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution, water and saturated sodium chloride solution. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After removing the solvents by evaporation under reduced pressure, the crude product was recrystallized to obtain a white solid I (101 g, Yield 73.1%).
N—(N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-alanyl)-L-Ala methyl ester (100 g, 0.34 mol) were dissolved in a mixed solution of tetrahydrofuran (2 L) and water (1 L). The mixture was cooled to 0° C. and 1M lithium hydroxide solution (400 mL) were dropped into the mixture. The resultant mixture was stirred for reaction for 10 hours. Concentrated hydrochloric acid was dropped to adjust the pH to be less than 6. Most of tetrahydrofuran were removed by rotary evaporation. The residual water phase was extracted by dichloromethane (1 L×3). The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. A white solid II was obtained after vaporizing and drying under reduced pressure (88 g; Yield, 92.2%).
N-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-N′-triphenylmethyl-L-asparagine (20 g, 0.03 mol), 2-(7-azabenzotriazol)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) (15 g, 0.04 mol), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) (200 mL) were added into a three-neck flask and stirred for 30 minutes. A solution of 4-amino benzyl alcohol (4.1 g, 0.03 mol) in DMF (5 mL), and N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (DIPEA) (8.7 g, 0.06 mol) were added separately under 0° C. and the mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 3 hours. Most DMF were removed by rotary evaporation. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (200 mL), washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution and saturated sodium chloride solution and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After filtration, the solvent was removed by evaporation. The resultant crude product was pulping to obtain a white solid III (21.3 g, Yield 90%).
4-N—(N-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-N′-triphenylmethyl-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol (13.0 g, 18 mmol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (80 mL). Piperidine (30 mL) was added and then stirred at ambient temperature for 2 hours. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. And the resultant product was dried under high vacuum within a vacuum drying oven to remove a small quantity of piperidine. A pale yellow solid IV was obtained, which could be use in the next step without purification.
N—(N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-alanyl)-L-Ala (6.0 g, 20.4 mmol), benzotriazol-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HBTU, 11.6 g, 30.6 mmol) and DMF (50 mL) were added into a three-neck flask and stirred for 30 minutes in an ice bath. A solution of 4-N—(N′-triphenylmethyl-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol in DMF (50 mL), and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (7.89 g, 61.2 mmol) were added separately under 0° C. The resultant mixture was stirred overnight at ambient temperature. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in acetyl acetate (200 mL), washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution and saturated sodium chloride solution and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After filtration, the solvent was removed by evaporation. The resultant crude product was recrystallized to obtain a white solid V (15 g, Yield 97%).
4-N—(N—(N—(N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-alanyl)-L-alanyl)-N′-triphenylmethyl-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol (5.0 g, 6.61 mmol) were dissolved in THF (150 mL). 10% Pd/C (1 g) was added. After introducing hydrogen gas, the resultant mixture was stirred for reaction under normal temperature and normal pressure for 5 hours. Pd/C was removed by filtration and washed by methanol. The filtrates and the washing solutions were pooled. Most solvents were removed by rotary evaporation to obtain a crude product. After column chromatography, a white solid VI was obtained (2.0 g, Yield 49%).
2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid (432 mg, 3.22 mmol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (20 mL). Benzotriazol-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (1.83 g, 4.83 mmol) were added and stirred for 30 minutes. Then 4-N—(N-(L-alanyl)-L-alanyl)-N′-triphenylmethyl-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol (2.0 g, 3.22 mmol) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (1.24 g, 9.61 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (20 mL) were dropped into the resultant mixture. After dropping, the temperature was slowly raised to ambient temperature and then the mixture was stirred for 10 hours. Most of DMF were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in acetyl acetate (200 mL), washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution and saturated sodium chloride solution and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After filtration, the solvent was removed by rotary evaporation. The resultant crude product was purified by silla gel column chromatography to obtain a white solid VII (1.2 g, Yield 50%).
4-N—(N—N—(N-2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl-L-alanyl)-L-alanyl)-N′-triphenylmethyl-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol (VII) (1.0 g, 1.36 mmol) were dissolved in dichloromethane (10 mL). Trifluoroacetic acid (2 mL) were added and then the resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 5 hours. The reaction solution was washed by water and separated. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate and the solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residual trifluoroacetic acid was removed by evaporation under high vacuum. The resultant crude product was purified by column chromatography to obtain VIII (600 mg, Yield 89%).
4-N—(N—(N—(N-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl-L-alanyl)-L-alanyl)-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol (500 mg, 1.01 mmol) were dissolved in dichloromethane (10 mL). The resultant mixture was cooled to 5° C. p-nitrophenyl chloroformate (406 mg, 2.02 mmol) in a dichloromethane solution and pyridine (160 mg, 2.03 mmol) were subsequently dropped into the mixture under protection by nitrogen gas. After dropping, the resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The reaction solution was washed by water and separated. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate and the solvents were removed by rotary evaporation. The resultant crude product was purified by column chromatography to obtain a pale yellow solid (450 mg, Yield 67%).
4-N—(N—(N—(N-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl-L-alanyl)-L-alanyl)-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol-p-nitrophenol-carbonic acid diester (330 mg, 0.5 mmol) and 10-hydroxyl camptothecin (182 mg, 0.5 mmol) were dissolved in anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL). The resultant mixture was cooled to 0° C. and then 4-dimethyl pyridine (DMAP) (122 mg, 1.0 mmol) and 1-hydroxyl benzotriazole (27 mg, 0.2 mmol) were added. The resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The reaction solution was poured into acetyl acetate (100 mL), washed subsequently by water (50 mL×3) and saturated sodium chloride (50 mL), and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. The solvents were removed by rotary evaporation to obtain a crude product. The crude product was purified by column chromatography to obtain the target product S1, which is a pale yellow solid (82 mg, Yield 19%).
Triphosgene (600 mg, 2.02 mmol) were dissolved in anhydrous dichloromethane (10 mL). The resultant mixture was cooled to −10° C. or below. 4-N—(N—(N—(N-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl-L-alanyl)-L-alanyl)-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol (500 mg, 1.01 mmol) and pyridine (0.35 mL, 12.12 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 mL) were dropped into the mixture under protection by nitrogen gas and the resultant mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1 hour. The temperature of the mixture was allowed to warm up to ambient temperature naturally. After stirring for 2 hours, camptothecin (348 mg, 1 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 mL) were dropped into the mixture. Reaction was taken place at ambient temperature for 6 hours. The reaction solution was washed subsequently by water (30 mL), saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (20 mL) and saturated sodium chloride (20 mL), and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate and then by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by column chromatography to obtain a white solid (291 mg, Yield 53.5%).
4-N—(N—(N—(N-(8-(N-hydroxylamino)-1,8-octanedioic acid-1-monoacyl)-L-alanyl)-L-alanyl)-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol-p-nitrophenol-carbonic acid diester (715 mg, 1.0 mmol) and capecitabine (360 mg, 1.0 mmol) were dissolved by anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide (20 mL) and cooled to 0° C. or below. Then DMAP (244 mg, 2.0 mmol) and 1-hydroxylbenzotriazole (27 mg, 0.2 mmol) were added. The resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The reaction solution was poured into acetyl acetate (100 mL), washed subsequently by water (100 mL×3) and saturated sodium chloride (100 mL), and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. The solvents were removed by rotary evaporation to obtain a crude product. The crude product was purified by column chromatography to obtain the target product S3, which is a pale yellow solid (198 mg, Yield 21%).
4-N—(N—(N—(N-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl-L-threonyl)-L-alanyl)-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol-p-nitrophenol-carbonic acid diester (264 mg, 0.4 mmol) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (1 mL) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL). Daunorubicin (211 mg, 0.4 mmol) in a N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) solution were dropped into the resultant mixture at 20° C. After dropping, reaction was allowed to take place at embient temperature for 3 hours. The reaction solution was poured into methyl tert-butyl ether, stirred for 0.5 hour and then filtered. The resultant red solid was purified by column chromatography to obtain a rid solid product S4 (177 mg, Yield 42.2%).
6-Maleimide caproic acid (120 mg, 0.57 mmol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (20 mL). 1-hydroxylbenzotriazole (92 mg, 0.68 mmol) and N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (0.19 mL, 1.15 mmol) were added. 4-N—(N—(N-(L-alanyl)-L-alanyl)-N′-triphenylmethyl-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol (353 mg, 0.57 mmol) was added into under protection by nitrogen gas. The resultant mixture was stirred for 0.5 hour and then cooled to 0° C. in an ice bath. Then 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (120 mg, 0.62 mmol) in a N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) solution were dropped into the mixture. After dropping, the resultant mixture was warmed up to ambient temperature and then stirred overnight. The reaction solution was poured into acetyl acetate (150 mL), and washed subsequently by water (100 mL×3), 5% dilute hydrochloric acid (50 mL) and 5% sodium carbonate (50 mL). The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate and then by evaporation under reduced pressure. The resultant product was purified by column chromatography to obtain the product, which is a white solid (300 mg, Yield 64.8%).
4-N—(N—(N—(N-(6-maleimido caproyl-L-alanyl)-L-alanyl)-N′-triphenylmethyl-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol (163 mg, 0.2 mmol) were dissolved in dichloromethane (5 mL). Trifluoroacetic acid (2 mL) were added. The resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 5 hours. The reaction solution was washed by water and then separated. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate and the solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residual trifluoroacetic acid was removed by evaporation under high vacuum. The resultant crude product was purified by column chromatography to obtain a pale yellow solid (97 mg, Yield 85%).
4-N—(N—(N—(N-(6-maleimido caproyl)-L-alanyl)-L-alanyl)-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol (814 mg, 1.0 mmol) were dissolved in dichloromethane (100 mL) and cooled to 0° C. in an ice bath. p-nitrophenyl chloroformate (406 mg, 2.0 mmol) in a dichloromethane solution (20 mL) and pyridine (160 mg, 2.0 mmol) were subsequently dropped into the resultant mixture under protection by nitrogen gas. After dropping, the resultant mixture was warmed up to ambient temperature and then stirred overnight. The reaction solution was washed by water and separated. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate and the solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The resultant crude product was purified by column chromatography to obtain a white solid (597 mg, Yield 81%).
4-N—(N—(N—(N-(6-maleimido caproyl)-L-alanyl)-L-alanyl)-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol-p-nitrophenol-carbonic acid diester (200 mg, 0.27 mmol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (30 mL). Daunorubicin hydrochloride (152 mg, 0.27 mmol) were added. The resultant mixture was cooled to 5° C. and then N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (0.1 mL, 0.6 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (2 mL) solution were dropped into the mixture under protection by nitrogen gas. After dropping, the mixture was warmed up to ambient temperature and stirred for reaction overnight. The reaction solution was poured into methyl tert-butyl ether (600 mL), stirred for 0.5 hour and then filtered. The resultant red solid was purified by column chromatography to obtain a rid solid product S5 (164 mg, Yield 54%).
4-N—(N—(N—(N-(6-maleimido caproyl)-L-alanyl)-L-alanyl)-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol-p-nitrophenol-carbonic acid diester (298 mg, 0.40 mmol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (30 mL). MMAE (monomethyl auristatin) hydrochloride (305 mg, 0.40 mmol) were added. The resultant mixture was cooled to 5° C. and then N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (0.1 mL, 0.6 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (2 mL) solution under protection by nitrogen gas. After dropping, the mixture was warmed up to ambient temperature and stirred for reaction overnight. The reaction solution was poured into methyl tert-butyl ether (600 mL), stirred for 0.5 hour and then filtered. The resultant red solid was purified by column chromatography to obtain a rid solid product S6 (434 mg, Yield 82.4%).
The synthetic results of compounds S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5 are summarized in Table 1. The mass-to-charge ratios of S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5 detected by mass spectrum (MS) are 916, 885, 880, 1079 and 1513, respectively, which are consistent to their calculated mass-to-charge ratios, as shown in Table 1.
Using different R2 and R3 merely results in the use of different starting materials when linking the amino acid. Different side chains of the amino acid R2 and R3 did not influence the synthesis. Consistent with the above methods, merely the corresponding R2 amino acid and R3 amino acid were used in the synthesis. The reaction for linking R4 was also the same as the method mentioned above, except that the catalytic conditions and the reaction drugs were different in the tumor microenvironment.
1) In the above compounds, method for linking R4 via hydroxyl is different from the method for linking R4 via amino.
Whether R1R2R3-Asn-amino benzyl alcohol-p-nitrophenol-carbonic acid diester could be successfully linked to R6 via amino depends on selection of R6. For example, the reaction between R1R2R3-Asn-amino benzyl alcohol-p-nitrophenol-carbonic acid diester and camptothecin is different from the reaction with MMAE, mainly in that the reaction with MMAE is taken place via the strong nucleophilicity of the amino group of MMAE (82.4%), while reaction of camptothecin is taken place via replacement of p-nitrophenol through nucleophilicity of the hydroxyl group of camptothecin. The nucleophilicity of hydroxyl is weaker than that of amino and is equal to or slightly weaker than p-nitrophenol, thus theoretically replacement of hydroxyl by p-nitrophenol cannot be carried out.
We found that only when adding HOBT into the reaction mixture as a catalyst, strictly controlling the temperature to the screened temperature and controlling the reaction time, a bound HOBT transition state that could easily be left was formed to there effectively exchange with hydroxyl of camptothecin and thus to produce less reaction impurities. The highest yield we obtained is 53.5%.
2) Whether the reaction between AAN-Asn-amino benzyl alcohol-p-nitrophenol-carbonic acid diester and drug R5 via amino could be successfully taken place fully depends on selection of R5.
The steric hindrance of the amino group in R5 and the substituent of R5 have crucial effects on the linking reaction. The linking reaction between an aliphatic amino and R1-R2-R3-Asn-amino benzyl alcohol-p-nitrophenol-carbonic acid diester could produce high yield (such as MMAE) at mild condition. However, for the aromatic amino, no reaction product is obtained because the nucleophilicity of the amino is reduced due to its lone paired electron and the conjugation of aromatic ring. By high-throughput screening and severe reaction conditions, for example the linking reaction between nimustine and R1-R2-R3-Asn-amino benzyl alcohol-p-nitrophenol-carbonic acid diester, we finally found that a small amount of products (yield 20%) could be obtained when using DMAP as a base and reacting at 80-85° C.
3) In the above compounds R1 has different effects on linking of R4.
Different R1 groups have significant effect on the linking reaction conditions between R1-R2-R3-Asn-amino benzyl alcohol-p-nitrophenol-carbonic acid diester and R4. For example, linking reaction between 4-N—(N—(N—(N-(6-maleimido caproyl)-L-alanyl)-L-alanyl)-L-Asn)-amino benzyl alcohol-p-nitrophenol-carbonic acid diester and camptothecin did not produce a product. Therefore, different reactants and experimental conditions should be screened in order to obtain the product. For example, 4-N—(N—(N—(N-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl-L-alanyl)-L-alanyl)-L-asparaginyl)-amino benzyl alcohol-p-nitrophenol-carbonic acid diester was used to react with camptothecin under a special temperature condition, thereby producing a corresponding product.
When R1 is 2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)Acetyl, R2 is Thr, and R3 is Ala, the compounds comprising an R4 indicated below linking to the cleavable linker could be screened by using similar catalysts used in the reactions for producing S1˜S3: camptothecin (S7), 10-hydroxy camptothecin (S8), topotecan (S9), Floxuridine (S10), 5′-Deoxy-S-Fluorouridine (S11), cytarabine (S12), fludarabine (S13), etoposide (S14), Capecitabine (S15), gemcitabine (S16), vincristine (S17) and Epothilone B (S18), paclitaxel (S13′), Docetaxel (B13).
When R1 is 2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)Acetyl, R2 is Thr, and R3 is Ala, compounds (R4) that could be successfully linked to the cleavable linker which is specifically activated in a tumor microenvironment include: daunorubicin (S19), epirubicin (S20), fludarabine (S21), gemcitabine (S22), nimustine (S23), mitoxantrone (S24), methotrexate (S25), Cytarabine (S26), Melphalan (S27), Doxorubicin (S28), and Mitomycin (E13).
Toxicity detection method: a standard universal test program was used to perform the in vitro cytotoxicity test. 2500 HEK293 cells were cultured in a 96-well plate, and allowed to grow overnight. Cytotoxic compounds and their corresponding conjugated compounds were added into each well in different concentrations, cultivated with the cells at 37° C. for 72 hours, and then treated with MTT reagents. OD changes were read. The approximate multiples of the toxicity change were obtained by comparing the IC50 of the modified compounds to their corresponding cytotoxic compounds.
The structure-efficacy relationship between the linking group and the groups of the linked compound determines the activation effect. At 37° C., 1 mg/ml of S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6 were added into 10 μg/ml acidified asparagine endopeptidase solution or a homogenate from different tumor tissues (30 μg/ml), respectively. Reduction of reactant and increase of product were detected by HPLC, thereby comparing the activation efficiency of these compounds (the ratio between the amount of the compound released by cleaving by asparagine endopeptidase and the initial amount of the compound, higher activation efficiency indicating stronger activation efficiency). It was found that S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5 exhibited very high activation efficiency by the tumor tissue, while S6 had a relatively low activation efficiency by the tumor tissue (Table 2). Our experimental results show that R1 in S3, which is (N-hydroxylamino)-1,8-octanedioic acid-1-monoacyl, could target and bind to metalloprotease MMP2 which is highly expressed in tumor, and R1 in S5, which is 6-maleimido caproyl, could target and bind to cathepsin which is highly expressed in tumor. Thus, they have higher activation efficiency.
The structure-efficacy relationship between the linking group and the groups of the linked compound determines the activation effect. At 37° C., 1 mg/ml of S7-S27 were added into 10 μg/ml acidified asparagine endopeptidase solution, respectively. Reduction of reactant and increase of product were detected by HPLC, thereby comparing the activation efficiency of these compounds. The results are shown in Table 3.
From Table 4, it can be found that different compounds have different activation efficiencies by asparagine endopeptidase. The activation efficiencies of most of S7-S27 are all higher than 60%. S6 and S16 show a very low activation efficiency, which is less than 30%. Asparagine endopeptidase activates at the linkage between asparaginyl and 4-amino benzyl alcohol. After cleaving by activation, 4-amino benzyl alcohol (4-aminobenzyl-OC(O)—) can be freely released, thereby releasing the drug, R4—H. The active center of asparagine endopeptidase locates at the bottom of its globular depression. The cleavage site should be close to the active center. Thus, it is very important to determine whether there is a steric hindrance to the cleavage site produced by the linked compound and to change the polarity of the linking site. According to the above results, it is supposed that the steric hindrances and polarities of S6 and S16 may affect their activation, resulting that they have relatively low activation efficiencies while other compounds have a relatively high activation efficiencies.
The results show that the cleavable liner which is specifically activated in a tumor microenvironment can link to and activate different compounds, in which the compounds may be classified into activatable compounds and un-activatable compounds based on their different steric hindrance.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S16, S22 and S28 via mouse tumor treatment model.
Test drug: S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S16, S22 and S28 injections, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: nude mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
2. Production of tumor model
1) Human breast cancer MDA-MB231 cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in dulbecco's minimum essential medium (DMEM culture medium) containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor. 5×106 MDA-MB231 cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the nude mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor reached at least 100 mm3. Then treatment began and the day on which the treatment began was day 1.
3) Course of treatment. According to the clinical application of S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S16, S22 and S28, drugs were intravaneously injected (IV). A dose of 13.2 μmol/kg was used for S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S16, S22 and S28, camptothecin, capecitabine and daunorubicin, respectively. The drugs were administered once weekly for four weeks.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 5.
5) Results and discussion: as shown in Table 5, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S22 and S28 exhibit strong inhibitory effect on tumor growth as compared to the control group, the camptothecin group, the capecitabine group and the daunorubicin group while S6 and S16 show less efficacy as they were not activated. These indicate that the conjugates could significantly improve the efficacy of the drugs and the treatment effect is determined by the cleaving efficiency. Comparing the structures of S6 with S4, S5 and S19˜S27, it could be found that the amino of MMAE used for linking is positioned at the two adjacent hydrophobic valines in MMAE. After linking to 4-aminobenzyl-OC(O)—, the hydrophobic region of valine and the little peptide of S6 are presented to a position which is unfavorable in relation to the active center of asparagine endopeptidase, resulting in formation of steric hindrance and obstruction of the active center of asparagine endopeptidase to approach the cleavable bond. As a result, the efficiency of cleavage and activation is very low. The activation efficiency of S6 is lower than the AANVV polypeptide. The 4-aminobenzyl-OC(O)— linker is no effect in this compound. From the viewpoint of synthesis, it is more complicated to add the 4-aminobenzyl-OC(O)— linker than to form a peptide bond. On the contrary, the amino position for linking in S4, S5 and S19-S27 is not the amino group in their peptide, but it is the amino on the aromatic ring. We firstly discovered that the aromatic ring did not affect the polarity of the linker. Thus, use of the 4-aminobenzyl-OC(O)— linker could eliminate the steric hindrance due to direct linking to an amino group and favorable activation results could be produced. The activation efficiency is generally higher than the compounds having a direct linking and this property is not limited to the compounds containing an aromatic ring.
When R1 is 2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)Acetyl, and R3 selected Ala, activation study and efficacy study were carried out by using compounds having different cleavable linker. The study methods are identical to those in Examples 10, 11 and 12. The in vitro activation efficiency was tested by asparagine endopeptidase and the tumor inhibition rate was tested by using human breast cancer MDA-MB231 model.
Compounds S29-S43 were synthesized by the same method as S1, except that the amino acids used as starting material were different. In this Example, compounds having different amino acids were tested for their activation property and inhibitory rate on tumor. The test methods are identical to the methods in Examples 4, 6, 8, 12 and 13. The test results are shown in the following Table 7.
Results and discussion: As shown in Table 7, S29-S43 exhibit a certain activation property and inhibitory effect on tumor growth and metastasis. The results also demonstrate that in the compounds being highly activated, R2 can be any of Thr, Val, Ile and Ala, and R3 can be any of Ala, Thr, Val and Asn.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6 in a D121 lung cancer model for immune treatment.
Test drug: S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, camptothecin, capecitabine and daunorubicin, all used in 13.2 μmol/kg; PDL1 antibody, 5 μg/kg.
Animal: C57 mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
Production of Tumor Model:
1) D121 lung tumor cells were purchased from ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Tumor immunization. 5×105 D121 lung cancer cells (purchased from ATCC) which were killed by irradiation were intraperitoneally injected to mice. The mice were injected for 3 times, once every two weeks. After immunization, mice were injected with tumor cells and the drugs were administered weekly for 4 weeks.
3) Production of tumor. At day 32, 106 live lung tumor cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the C57 mice immunized by tumor. Treatment began when the tumor grew to 0.3-0.4 cm.
4) Analysis on tumor CD8+ T cells. The tumor tissue was homogenated and individual cells in the tumor were filtered, separated and washed by buffer twice, then cultivated with the leucocyte common antigen CD45-PE and CD8-FITC marked antibodies for 1 hour at ambient temperature. The cells were washed by phosphate buffer containing 1% fetal bovine serum twice and then analyzed for the ratio of the T lymphocyte antigen (CD8) positive cells in the leucocyte common antigen (CD45) positive cells by flow cytometry.
5) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 8.
6) Results and discussion. Treatment effects of S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5 on C57 mice were greatly improved as compared to the control group and the other treatment groups. The S6 group also has an improved treatment effect as compared to the daunorubicin group. S1 and PDL1-antibody show an excellent synergistic effect in promoting immunization and treatment. The results show that S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5 can inhibit tumor growth via improving immunization.
N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L Ala (100 g, 0.45 mol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (3 L). 1-hydroxylbenzotriazole (72.6 g, 0.54 mol) and 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (103.3 g, 0.54 mol) were added when stirring. After reacting for 1 hour under stirring, the mixture was cooled in an ice bath and L-Ala methyl ester (46.2 g, 0.45 mol) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (173.8 g, 1.34 mol) in the N,N-dimethylformamide solution (1 L) was dropped into the mixture. After dropping, the mixture was stirred under ambient temperature (25° C.) for 10 hours. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The crude product was dissolved in dichloromethane (2 L) and washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution, water and saturated sodium chloride solution. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After removing the solvents by evaporation under reduced pressure, the crude product was recrystallized to obtain a white solid I (101 g, Yield 73.1%). LC-MS: 309[M+1]+.
(R)-2-(2-(R)-(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino) propionylamino)methyl propionate (100 g, 0.34 mol) were dissolved in a mixed solution of tetrahydrofuran (2 L) and water (1 L). The mixture was cooled to 0° C. and 1M lithium hydroxide solution (400 mL) were dropped into the mixture. The resultant mixture was stirred for reaction under ambient temperature (25° C.) for 10 hours. Concentrated hydrochloric acid was dropped to adjust the pH to be less than 6. Most of tetrahydrofuran were removed by rotary evaporation. The residual water phase was extracted by dichloromethane (1 L×3). The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. A white solid II was obtained after vaporizing and drying under reduced pressure (88 g; Yield, 92.2%). LC-MS: 295 [M+1]+.
(R)-2-((9H-fluorene-9-yl) methoxycarbonylamino)-4-(triphenylmethylamino) butyrate (20 g, 0.03 mol), 2-(7-azabenzotriazol)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) (15 g, 0.04 mol), N,N-dimethylformamide (200 mL) were added into a 500 mL three-neck flask and stirred for 30 minutes. A solution of 4-amino benzyl alcohol (4.1 g, 0.03 mol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 mL), and N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (8.7 g, 0.06 mol) were added separately under 0° C. and the mixture was stirred at ambient temperature (25° C.) for 3 hours. Most N,N-dimethylformamide were removed by rotary evaporation. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (200 mL), washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution and saturated sodium chloride solution and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After filtration, the solvent was removed by evaporation. The resultant crude product was pulping by n-hexane/ethyl acetate (5/1,300 mL) to obtain a white solid III (21.3 g, Yield 90%). LC-MS: 702 [M+1]+.
(R)-2-((9H-fluorene-9-yl) methoxycarbonylamino)-4-(triphenylmethylamino)-1-hydroxymethylphenyl succinic acid amide (13.0 g, 18 mmol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (80 mL). Piperidine (30 mL) was added and then stirred at ambient temperature (25° C.) for 2 hours. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. And the resultant product was dried under high vacuum within a vacuum drying oven (100° C.) to remove a small quantity of piperidine. A pale yellow solid IV (8.43 g, yield: 95%) was obtained, which could be used in the next step without purification.
(R)-2-((R)-2-(carboxybenzylamino) propionylamino) propionic acid (6.0 g, 20.4 mmol), benzotriazol-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HBTU, 11.6 g, 30.6 mmol) and N,N-dimethylformamide (50 mL) were added into a three-neck flask and stirred for 30 minutes in an ice bath. A solution of (R)-2-amino-4-(triphenylmethylamino)-1-hydroxymethylphenyl succinic acid amide in N,N-dimethylformamide (50 mL), and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (7.89 g, 61.2 mmol) were added separately under 0° C. The resultant mixture was stirred for 17 hours at ambient temperature (25° C.). The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in acetyl acetate (200 mL), washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution (100 mL) and saturated sodium chloride solution (100 mL) and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After filtration, the solvent was removed by evaporation. The resultant crude product was recrystallized to obtain a white solid V (15 g, Yield 97%). LC-MS: 756 [M+1]+.
(R)-2-((R)-2-((R)-2-carboxybenzylamino) propionylamino) propionylamino-4-(triphenylmethylamino)-1-hydroxymethylphenyl succinic acid amide (5.0 g, 6.61 mmol) were dissolved in THF (150 mL). 10% Pd/C (1 g) was added. After introducing hydrogen gas, the resultant mixture was stirred for reaction under normal temperature (22° C.) for 5 hours. Pd/C was removed by filtration and washed by methanol (100 mL). The filtrates and the washing solutions were pooled. Most solvents were removed by rotary evaporation to obtain a crude product. After silicagel column chromatography (200-300 mesh, dichloromethane/methanol=20/1-10/1, 2.5 L), a white solid VI was obtained (2.0 g, Yield 49%). LC-MS: 622 [M+1]+.
2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid (432 mg, 3.22 mmol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (20 mL). Benzotriazol-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (1.83 g, 4.83 mmol) were added and stirred for 30 minutes. Then (R)-2-((R)-2-((R)-aminopropionylamino) propionylamino(triphenylmethylamino)-1-hydroxymethylphenyl succinic acid amide (2.0 g, 3.22 mmol) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (1.24 g, 9.61 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (20 mL) were dropped into the resultant mixture. After dropping, the temperature was slowly raised to ambient temperature (25° C.) and then the mixture was stirred for 10 hours. Most of N,N-dimethylformamide were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in acetyl acetate (200 mL), washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution (150 mL) and saturated sodium chloride solution (150 mL) and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After filtration, the solvent was removed by rotary evaporation. The resultant crude product was purified by silla gel column chromatography (200-300 mesh, dichloromethane/methanol=20/1-10/1, 2 L) to obtain a white solid VII (1.2 g, Yield 50%). LC-MS: 738 [M+1]+.
(R)-2-((R)-2-((R)-2-(methoxyethoxyacetylamino) propionylamino) propionylamino-4-(triphenylmethylamino)-1-hydroxymethylphenyl succinic acid amide (VII) (1.0 g, 1.36 mmol) were dissolved in dichloromethane (10 mL). Trifluoroacetic acid (2 mL) were added and then the resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature (25° C.) for 5 hours. The reaction solution was washed by water (20 mL) and separated. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate and the solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residual trifluoroacetic acid was removed by evaporation. The resultant crude product was purified by silicagel column chromatography (200-300 mesh, dichloromethane/methanol=15/1-8/1, 1.5 L) to obtain VIII (600 mg, Yield 89%). LC-MS: 496 [M+1]+.
(R)-2-((R)-2-((R)-2-(methoxyethoxyacetylamino) propionylamino) propionylamino-1-hydroxymethylphenyl Succinimide (500 mg, 1.01 mmol) were added into a 50 mL three-neck flask, dissolved in dichloromethane (10 mL). The resultant mixture was cooled to 0-5° C. p-nitrophenyl chloroformate (406 mg, 2.02 mmol) and pyridine (160 mg, 2.03 mmol) were subsequently dropped into the mixture under protection by nitrogen gas. After dropping, the resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature (25° C.) for 18 hours. The reaction solution was washed by water (10 mL) and separated. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate and the solvents were removed by rotary evaporation. The resultant crude product was purified by silicagel column chromatography (200-300 mesh, dichloromethane/methanol=30/1-20/1, 1 L) to obtain IX (450 mg, Yield 67%). LC-MS: 661 [M+1]+.
4-((R)-2-((R)-2-((R)-2-(methoxyethoxyacetylamino)propionylamino) propionylamino-4-amino-succinyl))amino-benzyl-paclitaxel-carbonic acid diester (250 mg, 0.293 mmol) and paclitaxel (194 mg, 0.293 mmol) were dissolved in anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL). The resultant mixture was cooled to 0° C. and then 4-dimethyl pyridine (DMAP) (54 mg, 0.44 mmol) were added. The resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature (25° C.) for 18 hours. The reaction solution was poured into acetyl acetate (20 mL), the organic phase was combined and washed subsequently by water (30 mL) and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. The solvents were removed by rotary evaporation to obtain a crude product. The crude product was purified by silicagel column chromatography (200-300 mesh, dichloromethane/methanol=20/1-15/1, 500 mL) to obtain the target product S1 (150 mg, Yield 57%). LC-MS: 1375 [M+1]+. The LC-MS result showed that the corresponding mass-to-charge ratio of elution peak 8.59 was 1375, which are consistent to its calculated mass-to-charge ratio of 1374.5.
S2′, S3′ and S4′ were synthesized by making reference to S1′, as shown in the below table, except that the acetic acids substituted by alkoxy group used in step 7 have different molecular weights. When synthesizing S2′, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18-hexaoxanonadecanoic acid was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid; in synthesis of S3′, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36-dodecaoxaheptatriacontanoic acid was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid; and in synthesis of S4′, purchased long chain polyoxa fatty acid (customized from GL Biochem (Shanghai) Ltd., n=300) was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid. According to mass spectrum (MS) detection results, the mass-to-charge ratios of S2′ and S3′ are 1551 and 1816, respectively, which are consistent to their calculated molecular weights, 1550.6 and 1815.9. According to Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), S4's molecular weight is about 14524, which is consistent with its calculated molecular weight, 14524.7.
The synthetic method was similar to that for S1′, except for the starting amino acids used for linking are different, as shown in Table 10. Corresponding R2 amino acid and R3 amino acid were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide, respectively. The same condensating agent, 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride, was added and reactions were allowed to take place at 0-25° C. for 0.5-2 hours. Then Asn was added and reaction was taken place at 0-25° C. for 2-24 hours to obtain a tripeptide. As determined by mass spectrum (MS), the molecular weights of S10′-524′ (n=1) are shown in the following table, which are consistent with their calculated molecular weights.
(1) Sample Treatment
Compounds S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′(prepared in example 16) and various control compounds C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6 were lyophilized (−70° C.), separately packing in a sterile room. Before animal test, S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ were dissolved by solvent 1 (injectable water) or solvent 2 (50% injectable water, 42%˜49% propanediol, 1%˜8% Tween80) in sterile room. S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ could completely dissolved in both solvent 1 and solvent 2, achieving a concentration of 10 mg/ml, and can be diluted by injectable water to the desired concentration. On the contrary, comparative compounds (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5) did not satisfy the formulating requirement, as shown in Table 11.
In Table 11, AAN, AANL and AANK indicate the linkage formed by small peptides in the compounds, A is Ala, N is Asn, L is Leu and K is Lys. Solvent 1 is injectable water, solvent 2 contains 50% injectable water, 45%˜49% propanediol, 1%˜5% Tween80. The dissolution concentration is 10 mg/ml.
According to Table 11, solubility of the present Paclitaxel derivatives is significantly changed, with increased solubility in solvent 1 or 2. Change in solubility may greatly affect the formulation scheme of a drug. Solubility of comparative compounds (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5) did not satisfy the formulating requirement. As compared to the traditional Paclitaxel which is insoluble in water, S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ can be used to produce a soluble formulation. Their injection doses and efficacies can be improved and auxiliary materials that cause allergy generally used for Paclitaxel can be avoided, indicating that they have a promising innovation and prospect of use.
As detected by analytic HPLC (Agilent 1220 series, C8 column 5 μm, 4.6 mm ID×250 mm; the mobile phase is 0-95% acetonitrile (ACN)), the purities of S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ are all in the range of 95-99%.
Solvent (50% injectable water, 45%-49% alcohol, 1%-5% Tween 80) was used to dissolve sample compound 51′, S2′, S3′ and S4′, and they were diluted for ten times to a concentration of 1 mg/ml. At 37° C., sample compounds were added into 100 μg acidized tumor tissue homogenates (pH6.0) in a concentration of 1 mg/ml. The enzyme in tumor tissue homogenates could release Paclitaxel. Reduction of compounds and increase of Paclitaxel were detected by HPLC, thereby comparing the activation efficiency of the drugs by the tumor tissue. It was found that the current compounds S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ exhibited highest activation efficiency among the screened compounds.
Solvent (50% injectable water, 42%-49% alcohol, 1%-8% Tween 80) was used to dissolve sample compounds S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′, and they were diluted for ten times to a concentration of 1 mg/ml. At 37° C., sample compounds were added into 100 μg acidized human breast cancer (MDA-MB435) tumor tissue homogenates (pH6.0) in a concentration of 1 mg/ml. The enzyme in tumor tissue homogenates could release Paclitaxel. Reduction of compounds and increase of Paclitaxel were detected by HPLC, thereby comparing the activation efficiency of the drugs by the tumor tissue. Results were showed in table 13.
According to the results, different groups in the present Paclitaxel for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment have various effects on the activation of Paclitaxel drugs in tumor tissue. The mutual structure-efficacy of Paclitaxel with the groups linked determined the targeting and activation effects in tissues. Activation of S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ in different tumor types (10 kinds) proved their broad treatment spectru (Table 13). Meanwhile, certain compounds produced in the screening were compared, and the activation efficiency in the same human breast cancer MDA-MB435 tissue was examined. It was proved that the respective group selection in S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ had relatively higher activation efficiency (Table 13).
The Paclitaxel derivatives for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment of the present disclosure were based on a great amount of synthetic experiments. In these experiments, we designed a lot of complicated compounds having different linking manners. Then the complicated compounds were linked to position 2 or 7 of Paclitaxel, that is, they were linked to Paclitaxel via the OH at position 2 or position 7. The resultant Paclitaxel derivatives were screened through activation efficiency in tumor tissues. The screened derivatives were further screened through inhibition of tumor for R2, R3 and n. The activated site that is specific to the tumor tissue locates between AAN and group 2. After cleaving by activation, group 2 can be freely released, thereby releasing Paclitaxel. Because the active center of asparagine endopeptidase locates at the bottom of its globular depression and the cleavage site should be close to the active center, it is very important if there is a steric hindrance to the cleavage site produced by the complicated compounds.
According to the screening results, it is presumed that linking of group 2 may effectively avoid steric hindrance produced by directly linking Paclitaxel, which thereby not affecting approach of asparagine endopeptidase. And, the structure-efficacy of group 1 may increase the polarity of the cleavage site, which allows the more water-soluble protease to be easily to approach the cleavage site and thereby to increase the cleaving efficiency. Linking to position 2 of Paclitaxel could obviously reduce steric hindrance produced by Paclitaxel to protease, expose more groups, each of which as a whole is hydrophilic, and increase cleaving efficiency and water solubility. Whereas an additional polar amino acid K or L would decrease the activation efficiency.
Test purpose: to investigate the acute toxicity of the present Paclitaxel derivatives via detecting MTD (maximum tolerated dose) by intravenous injection.
Test drugs: Solvent (50% injectable water, 42%-49% alcohol, 1%-8% Tween 80) was used to dissolve sample compounds S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing, to prepare S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ injections.
Animal: the first class BALB/C mice purchased from SHANGHAI SLAC LABORATORY ANIMAL CO. LTD, weighing 19-21 g and all mice being female.
Method and Results:
42 BALB/C mice were randomly divided into 7 groups according to their body weights, with 6 mice in each group. As shown in Table 14, the mice were intravenously injected with S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ for just one time in a dose of 0 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, 70 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg, and 960 mg/kg. Control tests were performed by injecting 0.2 ml physiological saline or Paclitaxel (purchased from Youcare Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd). Animals were observed for 17 continuous days for presence or absence of the following behaviors on each day: pilo-erection, hair tousle and lackluster, lethargy, stoop and irritable reaction, and body weight and death were recorded. Blood samples were taken on the 3, 5 and 14 days for counting the whole blood cells. Animals were anatomized on day 14 to take the heart, liver, kidney, lung, spleen, and pancreas for HE staining.
Results and discussions: no pilo-erection, hair tousle and lackluster, lethargy, stoop, irritable reaction and death were observed in mice receiving 90 mg/kg S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ injections. As shown in Table 11, the MTD of the S1′ and S2′ injections were about 90 mg/kg, which is far beyond the MTD of Paclitaxel, 6 mg/kg. The MTD for intravenous administration of a test drug is an important reference index for drug toxicity. The results indicate that the toxicity of the Paclitaxel released by targeted activation is significantly reduced as compared with Paclitaxel.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ in mice model for tumor treatment.
Test drug: S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ injections (same as Example 21) and Paclitaxel injection (purchased from Youcare Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd), diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: nude mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female (purchased from SHANGHAI SLAC LABORATORY ANIMAL CO. LTD).
2. Production of tumor model
1) Human prostate cancer PC-3 cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor. 5×106 Panc-1 cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the nude mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor reached at least 100 mm3. Then treatment began and the day on which the treatment began was day 1.
3) Course of Treatment
According to the clinical application of S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′, drugs were intravenously injected (IV). S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ were administered in a dose of less than ⅙ MTD, i.e., 24 mg/kg, and Paclitaxel was administered in a dose of ⅓ MTD, i.e., 8 mg/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Drugs were administered once weekly for four weeks.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 15.
5) Results and discussions: As shown in Table 15, inhibition on tumor growth by S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ were greatly improved as compared with the groups treating by Paclitaxel using the same molar concentration and the control group.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ in a D121 lung cancer model for immune treatment.
Animal: C57 mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female (purchased from SHANGHAI SLAC LABORATORY ANIMAL CO. LTD).
Test drug: S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ injections (same as Example 21) and Paclitaxel injection (purchased from Youcare Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd), diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Production of Tumor Model:
1) D121 lung tumor cells were purchased from ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Tumor immunization. 5×105 D121 lung cancer cells (purchased from ATCC) which were killed by irradiation were intraperitoneally injected to mice. The mice were injected for 3 times, once every two weeks. After immunization, mice were injected with tumor cells and the drugs were administered weekly for 4 weeks. In table 16 below the immune group was immuned with D121 lung tumor cells and the group without dead D121 lung tumor cells was injected with physiological saline as controls.
3) Production of tumor. After immunization (4 weeks later), 106 live lung tumor cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the C57 mice immunized by tumor. Treatment began when the tumor grew to 0.3-0.4 cm. Tumor size (mm3) were noted and tumor inhibition rates were calculated.
4) Analysis on tumor CD8+ T cells. The tumor tissue was homogenated and individual cells in the tumor were filtered, separated and washed by buffer twice, then cultivated with the leucocyte common antigen CD45-PE and CD8-FITC marked antibodies for 1 hour at ambient temperature. The cells were washed by phosphate buffer containing 1% fetal bovine serum twice and then analyzed for the ratio of the T lymphocyte antigen (CD8) positive cells in the leucocyte common antigen (CD45) positive cells by flow cytometry.
5) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 16.
6) Results and discussion. As shown in table 13, treatment effects of S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ on C57 mice were greatly improved as compared to the control group and the other treatment groups. S1′ and PDL1-antibody show an excellent synergistic effect in promoting immunization and treatment. They can inhibit tumor growth via improving immunization.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ in BALB/C mice model for treatment of tumor metastasis.
Test drug: 51′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ injections (same as Example 31) and Paclitaxel injection (purchased from Youcare Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd), diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: the first class BALB/C mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female (purchased from SHANGHAI SLAC LABORATORY ANIMAL CO. LTD).
2. Production of tumor model
1) 4T1 cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor metastasis. 106 T1 cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the BALB/C mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor grew to about 1.5 cm. The subcutaneous tumor was removed by surgery and drug treatment began. Mice were killed after anesthesia on day 27. The whole lung was taken out and put into Bouin's solution for staining. The number of the tumor metastasized to lung was counted with anatomical microscope.
3) Course of treatment
According to the clinical application of S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′, drugs were intravenously injected (IV). S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′ were administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.e., 12 mg/kg, and Paclitaxel was administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.e., 4 mg/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Drugs were administered once for every three days for 4 times.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 17.
5) Results and discussion. As shown in Table 17, the inhibitory effect on tumor metastasis of BALB/C mice was greatly improved after intraperitoneal injection of S1′, S2′, S3′ and S4′, as compared with the Paclitaxel group and the control group, indicating that this kind of drugs exhibits an excellent efficacy on anti-tumor metastasis.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor spectrum of S1′ through multiple tumor models from mice
Test drug: S1′ injection (same as Example 21), diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: nude mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female (purchased from SHANGHAI SLAC LABORATORY ANIMAL CO. LTD).
2. Production of tumor model
1) Corresponding tumor cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor. 5×106 corresponding cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the nude mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor reached at least 100 mm3. Then treatment began and the day on which the treatment began was day 1.
3) Course of treatment. According to the clinical application of S1′, S1′ was administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.v., 17.6 μmol/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Animals were administered once weekly for three weeks.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 18.
5) Results and discussion. As shown in Table 18, S1′ shows an excellent efficacy in multiple tumor models, demonstrating that the anti-tumor drug has a wide anti-tumor spectrum.
The activation efficiency, inhibitory rate on tumor and inhibitory rate on metastasis of S10′˜S24′ were examined respectively using methods same as that in example 20, 22 and 24. Results were showed in table 19.
In the present disclosure, other Paclitaxel derivatives for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment were synthesised, of which n is any integer between 1-300, R2 is Ala, Thr, Val or Ile; R3 is Ala, Thr, Val or Asn. And they were subjected to activation test as done in Examples 17, study on efficacy on tumor as done in Examples 23 and 24, study on efficacy of inhibiting metastasis as done in Example 25 and study on efficacy on multiple tumors as done in Example 26. Results showed that they had similar results to S1′-S4′. As demonstrated by the experiments, when n is in the range of 1-300, the inhibitory rate on tumor is slightly reduced as n increases. The activation activity also slightly decreases and mass of drugs in the same mole increases, as n increases. However, the metabolic half life of the drug also increases as n increases. Therefore, the entire efficacy is only slightly decreased and when n is in the range of 1-300, all compounds could produce similar technical effect to S1′-S4′.
1). Synthesis of di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-lysine ethyl ester (I)
2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid (161 mg, 1.2 mmol) were dissolved N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) and cooled in an ice bath. 2-(7-azabenzotriazol)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (462 mg, 1.2 mmol), N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (313 mg, 2.4 mmol) and L-lysine ethyl ester dihydrochloride (100 mg, 0.4 mmol) were added when stirring. After addition, the resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by reversed phase column to obtain I (128 mg, Yield 7.8%).
2). Synthesis of di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-lysine (II)
Di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-lysine ethyl ester (I) (122 mg, 0.3 mmol) were dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (15 mL). An aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide (39 mg, 0.9 mmol) was dropped into the resultant mixture after it was cooled to 0° C. The resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 2 hours and then cooled in an ice bath. Then pH was adjusted by concentrated hydrochloric acid to 2. Tetrahydrofuran was removed by evaporation. The resultant product was freeze-dried to produce a crude product II (112 mg, Yield 99%), which could be directly used in the next step without purification.
3). Synthesis of di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-Lys-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn (Trt)-4-amino benzyl alcohol (III)
Di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-lysine (112 mg, 0.3 mmol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL). 3-(Diethoxyphosphoryloxy)-1, 2, 3-benzotrizin-4-one (109 mg, 0.36 mmol), L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn (Trt)-4-amino benzyl alcohol (188 mg, 0.3 mmol) and N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (117 mg, 0.9 mmol) were dropped into the resultant mixture after it was cooled to 0° C. After dropping, the resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by reversed phase column to obtain 111 (159 mg, Yield 54.0%).
4). Synthesis of di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-Lys-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn (Trt)-4-aminobenzyl-4-nitrophenyl carbonate (IV)
Di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-Lys-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn (Trt)-4-amino benzyl alcohol (167 mg, 0.17 mmol) dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (10 mL) was added into a three-neck flask. 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate (73 mg, 0.36 mmol) and pyridine (39 mg, 0.50 mmol) were dropped into the resultant mixture after it was cooled to 0° C. The resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by reversed phase column to obtain IV (153 mg, Yield 78.5%).
5). Synthesis of di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-Lys-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn-4-aminobenzyl-4-nitrophenyl carbonate (V)
Di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-Lys-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn (Trt)-4-aminobenzyl-4-nitrophenyl carbonate (IV) (100 mg, 0.087 mmol) were dissolved in trifluoroacetic acid (1 mL). Two drops of water were added and then pumped by an oil pump immediately to obtain a crude product V (80 mg), which could be directly used in the next step without purification.
6). Synthesis of di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn-4-aminobenzyl-Paclitaxel (A1)
Di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-Lys-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn-4-aminobenzyl-4-nitrophenyl carbonate (80 mg, 0.088 mmol) and Paclitaxel (76 mg, 0.089 mmol) were dissolved by anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) and cooled to 0° C. DMAP (22 mg, 0.18 mmol) were added and then stirred at ambient temperature overnight. Again Paclitaxel (38 mg, 0.044 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred overnight. The reaction solution was poured into ethyl acetate. The organic phases were pooled, washed by water, dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. The solvents were removed by rotary evaporation. The crude product was purified by reverse phase column to obtain the target product A1 (25 mg, Yield 37.5%). According to the detection result by LC-MS, the mass-to-charge ratio of elution peak is 1619, which is consistent with its calculated molecular weight.
7) A2, A3 and A4 were synthesized by making reference to A1, except that the acetic acids substituted by alkoxy group used in step 7 have different molecular weights. When synthesizing A2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18-hexaoxanonadecanoic acid was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid, in synthesis of A3, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36-dodecaoxaheptatriacontanoic acid was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid, and in synthesis of A4, polyoxa fatty acid was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid. According to mass spectrum (MS) detection results, the mass-to-charge ratios of A2, A3 and A4 are 1619, 1972 and 2500, respectively, which are consistent to their calculated molecular weights, 1619.71, 1972.13 and 2500.77. According to Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), A4's molecular weight is about 14739, which is consistent with its calculated molecular weight, 14739.59, as shown in the table 20 below.
8) Compounds A10-A24 (n=5) were also prepared in the present disclosure by similar method for synthesizing A2, except that the starting amino acids used for linking were different, as shown in Table 21. Corresponding R2 amino acid and R3 amino acid were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide. The same condensating agent, 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride, was added respectively and reactions were allowed to take place at 0-25° C. for 0.5-2 hours. Then Asn was added and reaction was taken place at 0-25° C. for 2-24 hours. The resultant was purified to obtain a tripeptide. The tripeptide Ala-Ala-Asn was replaced to the systhesised intermediate to prepare A10-A24. Molecular weights of A10-A24, as detected by mass spectrum (MS), are shown in Table 21, which are consistent to their respective calculated molecular weights.
lyophilized (−70° C.) compounds A1, A2, A3, A4 and various control compounds C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6 were separately packing in a sterile room. Before animal test, A1, A2, A3 and A4 were dissolved by solvent 1 (injectable water) or solvent 2 (45% alcohol, 55% injectable water) in sterile room. A1, A2, A3 and A4 could completely dissolved in both solvent 1 and solvent 2, achieving a concentration of 10 mg/ml, and can be diluted by injectable water to the desired concentration. On the contrary, comparative compounds (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6) did not satisfy the formulating requirement, as shown in Table 22.
In Table 22, AAN, AANL and AANK indicate the linkage formed by small peptides in the compounds, A is Ala, N is Asn, L is Leu and K is Lys.
According to Table 22, Paclitaxel is insoluble in water, but its solubility is significantly changed after modification, with increased solubility in water. Change in solubility may greatly affect the formulation scheme of a drug. As compared to the traditional Paclitaxel which is insoluble in water, A1, A2, A3 and A4 can be used to produce a soluble formulation. A1, A2, A3 and A4 can directly dissolve in water, Thus, their injection doses and efficacies can be improved and auxiliary materials that cause allergy generally used for Paclitaxel can be avoided. This is a great progress in drug development, and indicates that the water-soluble Paclitaxel for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment has a promising innovation and prospect of use. On the contrary, comparative compounds (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6) did not satisfy the formulating requirement.
As detected by analytic HPLC (Agilent 1220 series, C8 column 5 μm, 4.6 mm ID×250 mm; the mobile phase is 0-95% acetonitrile (ACN)), the purities of A1, A2, A3 and A4 are all in the range of 95-99%.
Solvent (50% injectable water, 45%-49% alcohol, 1%-5% Tween 80) was used to dissolve sample compound A1, A2, A3 and A4, and they were diluted for ten times to a concentration of 1 mg/ml. At 37° C., sample compounds were added into 100 μg acidized tumor tissue homogenates (pH6.0) in a concentration of 1 mg/ml. The enzyme in tumor tissue homogenates could release Paclitaxel. Reduction of compounds and increase of Paclitaxel were detected by HPLC, thereby comparing the activation efficiency of the drugs by the tumor tissue. It was found that the current compounds A1, A2, A3 and A4 exhibited highest activation efficiency among the screened compounds.
The affect to drug activation of similar ingredients in control compounds was evaluated. Solvent (50% injectable water, 42%-49% alcohol, 1%-8% Tween 80) was used to dissolve sample compound A1, A2, A3 and A4, and they were diluted for ten times to a concentration of 1 mg/ml. At 37° C., sample compounds were added into 100 μg acidized human breast cancer (MDA-MB435) tumor tissue homogenates (pH6.0) in a concentration of 1 mg/ml. The enzyme in tumor tissue homogenates could release Paclitaxel. Reduction of compounds and increase of Paclitaxel were detected by HPLC, thereby comparing the activation efficiency of the drugs by the tumor tissue. Results were showed in table 24.
According to the results, different groups in the present Paclitaxel for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment have various effects on the activation of Paclitaxel drugs in tumor tissue. The mutual structure-efficacy of Paclitaxel with the groups linked determined the targeting and activation effects in tissues. Activation of A1, A2, A3 and A4 in different tumor types (10 kinds) proved their broad treatment spectru (Table 24). Meanwhile, certain compounds produced in the screening were compared, and the activation efficiency in the same human breast cancer MDA-MB435 tissue was examined. It was proved that the respective group selection in A1, A2, A3 and A4 had relatively higher activation efficiency (Table 24).
The Paclitaxel derivatives (A1˜A4 and A10˜A23) for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment of the present disclosure were based on a great amount of synthetic experiments. In these experiments, we designed a lot of complicated compounds having different linking manners. Then the complicated compounds were linked to position 2 or 7 of Paclitaxel, that is, they were linked to Paclitaxel via the OH at position 2 or position 7. The resultant Paclitaxel derivatives were screened through activation efficiency in tumor tissues. The screened derivatives were further screened through inhibition of tumor for R2, R3 and n. The activated site that is specific to the tumor tissue locates between AAN and group 2. After cleaving by activation, group 2 can be freely released, thereby releasing Paclitaxel. Because the active center of asparagine endopeptidase locates at the bottom of its globular depression and the cleavage site should be close to the active center, it is very important if there is a steric hindrance to the cleavage site produced by the complicated compounds.
According to the screening results, it is presumed that linking of group 2 may effectively avoid steric hindrance produced by directly linking Paclitaxel, which thereby not affecting approach of asparagine endopeptidase. And, the structure-efficacy of group 1 may increase the polarity of the cleavage site, which allows the more water-soluble protease to be easily to approach the cleavage site and thereby to increase the cleaving efficiency. Linking to position 2 of Paclitaxel could obviously reduce steric hindrance produced by Paclitaxel to protease, expose more groups, each of which as a whole is hydrophilic, and increase cleaving efficiency and water solubility. Whereas an additional polar amino acid K or L would decrease the activation efficiency.
Test purpose: to investigate the acute toxicity of the present Paclitaxel derivatives via detecting MTD by intravenous injection.
Test drugs: Solvent (50% injectable water, 42%-49% alcohol, 1%-8% Tween 80) was used to dissolve sample compound A1, A2, A3 and A4, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing, to prepare A1, A2, A3 and A4 injections.
Animal: the first class BALB/C mice purchased from SHANGHAI SLAC LABORATORY ANIMAL CO. LTD, weighing 19-21 g and all mice being female.
Method and Results:
42 BALB/C mice were randomly divided into 7 groups according to their body weights, with 6 mice in each group. As shown in Table 21, the mice were intravenously injected with A1, A2, A3 and A4 for just one time in a dose of 0 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, 70 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg, and 960 mg/kg. Control tests were performed by injecting 0.2 ml physiological saline or Paclitaxel (purchased from Youcare Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd). Animals were observed for 17 continuous days for presence or absence of the following behaviors on each day: pilo-erection, hair tousle and lackluster, lethargy, stoop and irritable reaction, and body weight and death were recorded. Blood samples were taken on the 3, 5 and 14 days for counting the whole blood cells. Animals were anatomized on day 14 to take the heart, liver, kidney, lung, spleen, and pancreas for HE staining.
Results and discussions: no pilo-erection, hair tousle and lackluster, lethargy, stoop, irritable reaction and death were observed in mice receiving 90 mg/kg A1, A2, A3 and A4 injections. As shown in Table 25, the MTD of the A1 and A2 injections were about 90 mg/kg, which is far beyond the MTD of Paclitaxel, 6 mg/kg. The MTD for intravenous administration of a test drug is an important reference index for drug toxicity. The results indicate that the toxicity of the Paclitaxel released by targeted activation is significantly reduced as compared with Paclitaxel.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of A1, A2, A3 and A4 in mice model for tumor treatment.
Test drug: A1, A2, A3 and A4 injections (same as Example 31) and Paclitaxel injection (purchased from Youcare Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd), diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: nude mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
2. Production of tumor model
1) Human prostate cancer PC-3 cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor. 5×106 Panc-1 cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the nude mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor reached at least 100 mm3. Then treatment began and the day on which the treatment began was day 1.
3) Course of treatment
According to the clinical application of A1, A2, A3 and A4, drugs were intravenously injected (IV). A1, A2, A3 and A4 were administered in a dose of less than ⅙ MTD, i.e., 24 mg/kg, and Paclitaxel was administered in a dose of ⅓ MTD, i.e., 8 mg/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Drugs were administered once weekly for four weeks.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 26.
5) Results and discussions: As shown in Table 26, inhibition on tumor growth by A1, A2, A3 and A4 were greatly improved as compared with the groups treating by Paclitaxel using the same molar concentration and the control group.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of A1, A2, A3 and A4 in a D121 lung cancer model for immune treatment.
Animal: C57 mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
Test drug: A1, A2, A3 and A4 injections (same as Example 31) and Paclitaxel injection (purchased from Youcare Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd), diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Production of Tumor Model:
1) D121 lung tumor cells were purchased from ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Tumor immunization. 5×105 D121 lung cancer cells (purchased from ATCC) which were killed by irradiation were intraperitoneally injected to mice. The mice were injected for 3 times, once every two weeks. After immunization, mice were injected with tumor cells and the drugs were administered weekly for 4 weeks. In the table below the immune group was immuned with D121 lung tumor cells and the group without dead D121 lung tumor cells was injected with physiological saline as controls.
3) Production of tumor. After immunization (4 weeks later), 106 live lung tumor cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the C57 mice immunized by tumor. Treatment began when the tumor grew to 0.3-0.4 cm. Tumor size (mm3) were noted and tumor inhibition rates were calculated.
4) Analysis on tumor CD8+ T cells. The tumor tissue was homogenated and individual cells in the tumor were filtered, separated and washed by buffer twice, then cultivated with the leucocyte common antigen CD45-PE and CD8-FITC marked antibodies for 1 hour at ambient temperature. The cells were washed by phosphate buffer containing 1% fetal bovine serum twice and then analyzed for the ratio of the T lymphocyte antigen (CD8) positive cells in the leucocyte common antigen (CD45) positive cells by flow cytometry.
5) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 27.
6) Results and discussion. As shown in table 27, treatment effects of A1, A2, A3 and A4 on C57 mice were greatly improved as compared to the control group and the other treatment groups. A1 and PDL1-antibody show an excellent synergistic effect in promoting immunization and treatment. They can inhibit tumor growth via improving immunization.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of A1, A2, A3 and A4 in BALB/C mice model for treatment of tumor metastasis.
Test drug: A1, A2, A3 and A4 injections (same as Example 31) and Paclitaxel injection (purchased from Youcare Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd), diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: BALB/C mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
2. Production of tumor model
1) 4T1 cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor metastasis. 106 T1 cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the BALB/C mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor grew to about 1.5 cm. The subcutaneous tumor was removed by surgery and drug treatment began. Mice were killed after anesthesia on day 27. The whole lung was taken out and put into Bouin's solution for staining. The number of the tumor metastasized to lung was counted with anatomical microscope.
3) Course of treatment
According to the clinical application of A1, A2, A3 and A4, drugs were intravenously injected (IV). A1, A2, A3 and A4 were administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.e., 12 mg/kg, and Paclitaxel was administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.e., 4 mg/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Drugs were administered once for every three days for 4 times.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 28.
5) Results and discussion. As shown in Table 24, the inhibitory effect on tumor metastasis of BALB/C mice was greatly improved after intraperitoneal injection of A1, A2, A3 and A4, as compared with the Paclitaxel group and the control group, indicating that this kind of drugs exhibits an excellent efficacy on anti-tumor metastasis.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor spectrum of A1 through multiple tumor models from mice
Test drug: A1 injection (same as Example 31), diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: nude mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
2. Production of tumor model
1) Corresponding tumor cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor. 5×106 corresponding cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the nude mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor reached at least 100 mm3. Then treatment began and the day on which the treatment began was day 1.
3) Course of treatment. According to the clinical application of A1, A1 was administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.v., 17.6 μmol/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Animals were administered once weekly for three weeks.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 29.
5) Results and discussion. As shown in Table 29, A1 shows an excellent efficacy in multiple tumor models, demonstrating that the anti-tumor drug has a wide anti-tumor spectrum.
In other examples (A10˜A24) of the present disclosure, activation efficiency, inhibitory rate on tumor and inhibitory rate on metastasis of the present water-soluble Paclitaxel derivatives for targeted activation with different amino acid structures were examined using methods same as that in example 30, 32 and 34. Results were showed in table 30.
Results and discussion. As shown in Table 30, compounds A10˜A24 could be activated and had some effects on inhibition of tumor growth and on metastasis, indicating the screening of inventors could optimize the activation and treatment of tumor. It should be understood that the above descriptions of preferred Examples are not intended to limit the subject invention. After reading the above details, it is apparent to the skilled artisan that amino acids at position R2 and R3 of the present drugs or compounds can be changed or replaced.
In some examples of the invention, other water-soluble Paclitaxel derivatives for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment were synthesised, of which n is any integer between 1-150, R2 is Ala, Thr, Val or Ile; R3 is Ala, Thr, Val or Asn. And they were subjected to activation test as done in Examples 28, study on efficacy on tumor as done in Examples 32 and 33, study on efficacy of inhibiting metastasis as done in Example 34 and study on efficacy on multiple tumors as done in Example 35. Results showed that they had similar results to A1-A4. As demonstrated by the experiments, when n is in the range of 1-300, the inhibitory rate on tumor is slightly reduced as n increases. The activation activity also slightly decreases and mass of drugs in the same mole increases, as n increases. However, the metabolic half life of the drug also increases as n increases. Therefore, the entire efficacy is only slightly decreased and when n is in the range of 1-150, all compounds could produce similar technical effect to A1-A4.
2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid (161 mg, 1.2 mmol) were dissolved N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL) and cooled in an ice bath. 2-(7-azabenzotriazol)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (462 mg, 1.2 mmol), N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (313 mg, 2.4 mmol) and L-lysine ethyl ester dihydrochloride (100 mg, 0.4 mmol) were added when stirring. After addition, the resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by reversed phase column to obtain I (128 mg, Yield/7.3%).
Di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-lysine ethyl ester (I) (122 mg, 0.3 mmol) were dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (15 mL). An aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide (39 mg, 0.9 mmol) was dropped into the resultant mixture after it was cooled to 0° C. The resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 2 hours and then cooled in an ice bath. Then pH was adjusted by concentrated hydrochloric acid to 2. Tetrahydrofuran was removed by evaporation. The resultant product was freeze-dried to produce a crude product II (112 mg, Yield 99%), which could be directly used in the next step without purification.
Di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-lysine (112 mg, 0.3 mmol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL). 3-(Diethoxyphosphoryloxy)-1, 2, 3-benzotrizin-4-one (109 mg, 0.36 mmol), L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn (Trt)-4-amino benzyl alcohol (188 mg, 0.3 mmol) and N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (117 mg, 0.9 mmol) were dropped into the resultant mixture after it was cooled to 0° C. After dropping, the resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by reversed phase column to obtain III (159 mg, Yield 54.0%).
Di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-Lys-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn (Trt)-4-amino benzyl alcohol (167 mg, 0.17 mmol) dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (10 mL) was added into a three-neck flask. 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate (73 mg, 0.36 mmol) and pyridine (39 mg, 0.50 mmol) were dropped into the resultant mixture after it was cooled to 0° C. The resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by reversed phase column to obtain IV (153 mg, Yield 78.5%).
Di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-Lys-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn (Trt)-4-aminobenzyl-4-nitrophenyl carbonate (IV) (100 mg, 0.087 mmol) were dissolved in trifluoroacetic acid (1 mL). Two drops of water were added and then pumped by an oil pump immediately to obtain a crude product V (80 mg), which could be directly used in the next step without purification.
Di (2-methoxyethoxyacetyl)-L-Lys-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn-4-aminobenzyl-4-nitrophenyl carbonate (1176 mg, 1.3 mmol) and Docetaxel (1293 mg, 1.6 mmol) were dissolved by anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide (20 mL) and cooled to 0° C. DMAP (318 mg, 2.6 mmol) were added and then stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The reaction solution was poured into dichloromethane. The organic phases were pooled, washed by water, dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. The solvents were removed by rotary evaporation. The crude product was purified by reverse phase column to obtain the target product B1 (511 mg, Yield 25%). According to the detection result by mass spectrum (MS), the mass-to-charge ratio of B1 is 1573, which is consistent with its calculated molecular weight, 1573.69.
B2, B3 and B4 were synthesized by making reference to B1, except that the acetic acids substituted by alkoxy group used in step 1 have different molecular weights. When synthesizing B2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18-hexaoxanonadecanoic acid was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid, in synthesis of B3, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36-dodecaoxaheptatriacontanoic acid was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid, and in synthesis of B4, polyoxa fatty acid was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid. According to mass spectrum (MS) detection results, the mass-to-charge ratios of B2 and B3 are 1926 and 2454, respectively, which are consistent to their calculated molecular weights, 1926.11 and 2454.74. According to Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), B4's molecular weight is about 14964, which is consistent with its calculated molecular weight, 14964.56, as shown in Table 31.
B10-B24 were synthesized by a similar method for B1, except that the amino acids used for linking are different, as shown in Table 32.
Corresponding R2 amino acid and R3 amino acid were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide, respectively. The condensating agent, such as 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride, was added and reactions were allowed to take place at 0-25° C. for 0.5-2 hours. Then Asn was added and reaction was taken place at 0-25° C. for 2-24 hours. The reaction solution was purified to obtain a tripeptide. The tripeptide was used to replace Ala-Ala-Asn as an intermediate to prepare B10-B24 according to Example 36. Molecular weights of B10-B24, as detected by mass spectrum, are shown in the following table, which are consistent to their respective calculated molecular weights.
B1, B2, B3 and B4 and various control compounds were dried under vacuum, sterilized via gas sterilization, and separately packing in a sterile room. Before animal test, B1, B2, B3 and B4 were dissolved by solvent 1 (injectable water) or solvent 2 (30% alcohol, 70% injectable water) and diluted by injectable water to the desired concentration in sterile room. On the contrary, comparative compounds (C1′, C2′, C3′, C4′, C5′, and C6′) did not satisfy the formulating requirement, as shown in Table 33. Docetaxel is insoluble in water, but its solubility is significantly changed after modification, with increased solubility in water. Change in solubility may greatly affect the formulation scheme of a drug. As compared to the traditional Docetaxel which is insoluble in water, B1, B2, B3 and B4 can be used to produce a soluble formulation. Thus, their injection doses and efficacies can be improved and auxiliary materials that cause allergy generally used for Docetaxel can be avoided. This is a great progress in drug development, and indicates that the water-soluble Docetaxel for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment has a promising innovation and prospect of use.
Group 1 and group 2 mentioned below are identical to the above group 1 and 2, respectively.
In Table 33, AAN, AANL and AANK indicate the linkage formed by a small peptide in the compounds, A is Ala, N is Asn, L is Leu and K is Lys.
The water-soluble Docetaxel derivatives for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment of the present disclosure were based on a great amount of synthetic experiments. In these experiments, we designed a lot of complicated compounds having different linking manners. Then the complicated compounds were linked to position 2 or 7 of Docetaxel, that is, they were linked to Docetaxel via the OH at position 2 or position 7. The resultant Docetaxel derivatives were screened through activation efficiency in the presence of tumor tissue or aspartate endopeptidase. The screened derivatives were further screened through inhibition of tumor for R2, R3 and n. The activated site that is specific to the tumor tissue locates between AAN and group 2. After cleaving by activation, group 2 can be freely released, thereby releasing Docetaxel. Because the active center of asparagine endopeptidase locates at the bottom of its globular depression and the cleavage site should be close to the active center, it is very important if there is a steric hindrance to the cleavage site produced by the complicated compound.
According to the screening results, it is presumed that linking of group 2 may effectively avoid steric hindrance produced by directly linking Docetaxel, which thereby not affecting approach of asparagine endopeptidase. And, the structure-efficacy of group 1 may increase the polarity of the cleavage site, which allows the more water-soluble protease to be easily to approach the cleavage site and thereby to increase the cleaving efficiency. Linking to position 2 of Docetaxel could obviously reduce steric hindrance produced by Docetaxel to protease, expose more groups, each of which as a whole is hydrophilic, and increase cleaving efficiency and water solubility.
As detected by analytic HPLC (Agilent 1220 series, C8 column 5 μm, 4.6 mm ID×250 mm; the mobile phase is 0-95% acetonitrile (ACN)), the purities of B1, B2, B3 and B4 are all in the range of 95-99%.
The mutual structure-efficacy of Docetaxel with the groups linked determined the targeting and activation effects in tissues. At 37° C., sample compounds were added into 100 μg acidized tumor tissue homogenates in a concentration of 1 mg/ml. The enzyme in tumor tissue homogenates could release Docetaxel. Reduction of compounds and increase of Docetaxel were detected by HPLC, thereby comparing the activation efficiency of the drugs by the tumor tissue.
As table 35 shows, activation efficiency of linkage to Docetaxel at its 2-position is far higher than that at 7-position.
According to the results, different groups in the present Docetaxel for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment have various effects on the activation of Docetaxel drugs in tumor tissue. The mutual structure-efficacy of Docetaxel with the groups linked determined the targeting and activation effects in tissues. Activation of B1, B2, B3 and B4 in different tumor types (10 kinds) proved their broad treatment spectru (Table 36). Meanwhile, certain compounds produced in the screening were compared, and the activation efficiency in the same human breast cancer MDA-MB435 tissue was examined. It was proved that the respective group selection in B1, B2, B3 and B4 had relatively higher activation efficiency (Table 36).
Test purpose: to investigate the acute toxicity of the present new formulations via detecting MTD by intravenous injection.
Test drugs: B1, B2, B3 and B4 injections, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Animal: the first class BALB/C mice, weighing 19-21 g and all mice being female.
Method and Results:
210 BALB/C mice were randomly divided into 21 groups according to their body weights, with 10 mice in each group. As shown in Table 37, the mice were intravenously injected with B1, B2, B3 and B4 for just one time in a dose of 0 mg/kg, 125 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, 175 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg. Control tests were performed by injecting 0.2 ml physiological saline or Docetaxel. Animals were observed for 17 continuous days for presence or absence of the following behaviors on each day: pilo-erection, hair tousle and lackluster, lethargy, stoop and irritable reaction, and body weight and death were recorded. Blood samples were taken on the 3, 5 and 14 days for counting the whole blood cells. Animals were anatomized on day 14 to take the heart, liver, kidney, lung, spleen, and pancreas for HE staining.
Results and discussions: no pilo-erection, hair tousle and lackluster, lethargy, stoop, irritable reaction and death were observed in mice receiving 175 mg/kg B1, B2, B3 and B4 injections. As shown in Table 37, the MTD of the B1 and B2 injections were about 150 mg/kg, which is far beyond the MTD of Docetaxel, 25 mg/kg. The MTD for intravenous administration of a test drug is an important reference index for drug toxicity. The results indicate that the toxicity of the Docetaxel released by targeted activation is significantly reduced as compared with Docetaxel.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of B1, B2, B3 and B4 in mice model for tumor treatment.
Test drug: B1, B2, B3 and B4 injections and Docetaxel injection, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: nude mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
2. Production of tumor model
1) Human prostate cancer PC-3 cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor. 5×106 Panc-1 cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the nude mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor reached at least 100 mm3. Then treatment began and the day on which the treatment began was day 1.
3) Course of treatment
According to the clinical application of B1, B2, B3 and B4, drugs were intravenously injected (IV). B1, B2, B3 and B4 were administered in a dose of less than ⅙ MTD, i.e., 25 mg/kg, and Docetaxel was administered in a dose of ⅓ MTD, i.e., 8.3 mg/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Drugs were administered once weekly for four weeks.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 38.
5) Results and discussions: As shown in Table 38, inhibition on tumor growth by B1, B2, B3 and B4 were greatly improved as compared with the groups treating by Docetaxel using the same molar concentration and the control group.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of B1, B2, B3 and B4 in a D121 lung cancer model for immune treatment.
Test drugs: B1, B2, B3, B4, and Docetaxel were administered in a dose of 13.2 μmol/kg, and the dose of PDL1-antibody was 5 μg/kg.
Animal: C57 mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
Production of Tumor Model:
1) D121 lung tumor cells were purchased from ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Tumor immunization. 5×105 D121 lung cancer cells (purchased from ATCC) which were killed by irradiation were intraperitoneally injected to mice. The mice were injected for 3 times, once every two weeks. After immunization, mice were injected with tumor cells and the drugs were administered weekly for 4 weeks.
3) Production of tumor. At day 32, 106 live lung tumor cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the C57 mice immunized by tumor. Treatment began when the tumor grew to 0.3-0.4 cm.
4) Analysis on tumor CD8+ T cells. The tumor tissue was homogenated and individual cells in the tumor were filtered, separated and washed by buffer twice, then cultivated with the leucocyte common antigen CD45-PE and T-lymphocyte antigen CD8-FITC marked antibodies for 1 hour at ambient temperature. The cells were washed by phosphate buffer containing 1% fetal bovine serum twice and then analyzed for the ratio of the T lymphocyte antigen (CD8) positive cells in the leucocyte common antigen (CD45) positive cells by flow cytometry. Increasement of the ratio indicates increased T lymphocyte cells and thus the animal immunity against the tumor was improved.
5) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 39.
6) Results and discussion. As shown in table 39, treatment effects of B1, B2, B3 and B4 on C57 mice were greatly improved as compared to the control group and the other treatment groups. B1 and PDL1-antibody show an excellent synergistic effect in promoting immunization and treatment. They can inhibit tumor growth via improving immunization.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of B1, B2, B3 and B4 in BALB/C mice model for treatment of tumor metastasis.
Test drug: B1, B2, B3 and B4 injections and Docetaxel injection, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: BALB/C mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
2. Production of tumor model
1) 4T1 cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor metastasis. 106 T1 cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the BALB/C mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor grew to about 1.5 cm. The subcutaneous tumor was removed by surgery and drug treatment began. Mice were killed after anesthesia on day 27. The whole lung was taken out and put into Bouin's solution for staining. The number of the tumor metastasized to lung was counted with anatomical microscope.
3) Course of treatment
According to the clinical application of B1, B2, B3 and B4, drugs were intravenously injected (IV). B1, B2, B3 and B4 were administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.e., 17.6 μmol/kg, and Docetaxel was administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.e., 3 μmol/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Drugs were administered once for every three days for 4 times.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 40.
5) Results and discussion. As shown in Table 40, the inhibitory effect on tumor metastasis of BALB/C mice was greatly improved after intraperitoneal injection of B1, B2, B3 and B4, as compared with the Docetaxel group and the control group, indicating that this kind of drugs exhibits an excellent efficacy on anti-tumor metastasis.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor spectrum of B1 through multiple tumor models from mice
Test drug: B1 injection, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: nude mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
2. Production of tumor model
1) Corresponding tumor cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor. 5×106 corresponding cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the nude mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor reached at least 100 mm3. Then treatment began and the day on which the treatment began was day 1.
3) Course of treatment. According to the clinical application of B1, B1 was administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.v., 17.6 μmol/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Animals were administered once weekly for three weeks.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 41.
5) Results and discussion. As shown in Table 41, B1 shows an excellent efficacy in multiple tumor models, demonstrating that the anti-tumor drug has a wide anti-tumor spectrum.
In other examples of the present disclosure, activation efficiency, inhibitory rate on tumor and inhibitory rate on metastasis of the present water-soluble Docetaxel derivatives (B10˜B24) for targeted activation with different amino acid structures were examined using methods same as that in example 40, 42 and 44. Results were showed in table 42.
Results and discussion. As shown in Table 42, compounds B10˜B24 could be activated and had some effects on inhibition of tumor growth and on metastasis, indicating the screening of inventors could optimize the activation and treatment of tumor. It should be understood that the above descriptions of preferred Examples are not intended to limit the subject invention. After reading the above details, it is apparent to the skilled artisan that amino acids at position R2 and R3 of the present drugs or compounds can be changed or replaced.
In some examples of the invention, other water-soluble Docetaxel derivatives for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment were synthesised, of which n is any integer between 1-150, R2 is Ala, Thr, Val or Ile; R3 is Ala, Thr, Val or Asn. And they were subjected to formulation test as done in Examples 38, MTD test as done in Example 41, study on efficacy on tumor as done in Examples 42 and 43, study on efficacy of inhibiting metastasis as done in Example 44 and study on efficacy on multiple tumors as done in Example 45. Similar results to B1-B4 were obtained. As demonstrated by the experiments, when n is in the range of 1-150, the inhibitory rate on tumor is slightly reduced as n increases. The activation activity also slightly decreases and mass of drugs in the same mole increases, as n increases. However, the metabolic half life of the drug also increases as n increases. Therefore, the entire efficacy is only slightly decreased and when n is in the range of 1-150, all compounds could produce similar technical effect to B1-B4.
N-Carboxybenzyl-L-Ala (N-Cbz-L-Ala) (100 g, 0.45 mol) was dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (3 L). 1-hydroxylbenzotriazole (72.6 g, 0.54 mol) and 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (103.3 g, 0.54 mol) were added when stirring. After reaction for 1 hour. The mixture was cooled to 0° C. and L-Ala methyl ester (46.2 g, 0.45 mol) and N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (173.8 g, 1.34 mol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (1 L) were added when stirring and then the resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 10 hours. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The crude product was dissolved in dichloromethane (2 L), washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution, water and saturated sodium chloride solution. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After removing the solvents by evaporation under reduced pressure, the crude product was recrystallized to obtain a white solid I (101 g, Yield 73.1%).
Cbz-L-Ala-L-Ala-OMe (100 g, 0.34 mol) prepared in step 1) was dissolved in a mixed solution of tetrahydrofuran (2 L) and water (1 L). After cooling to 0° C., 1M lithium hydroxide solution (400 mL) were added. The resultant mixture was stirred for reaction for 10 hours. Concentrated hydrochloric acid was dropped to adjust the pH to be less than 6 and tetrahydrofuran were removed by rotary evaporation. The residual water phase was extracted by dichloromethane (1 L×3). The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. A white solid II was obtained after vaporizing and drying under reduced pressure (88 g; Yield, 92.2%).
Fmoc-L-Asn (Trt)-OH (fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-triphenylmethyl-L-Asn) (20 g, 0.03 mol), 2-(7-azabenzotriazol)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) (15 g, 0.04 mol) and DMF (200 mL) were added into a three-neck flask and stirred for 30 minutes. After cooling to 0° C., a solution of 4-amino benzyl alcohol (4.1 g, 0.03 mol) in DMF (5 mL), and N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (8.7 g, 0.06 mol) were separately added. The resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 3 hours. Then Most of DMF were removed by rotary evaporation. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (200 mL), washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution and saturated sodium chloride solution and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After filtration, the solvent was removed by evaporation. The resultant crude product was pulping to obtain a white solid III (21.3 g, Yield 90%).
Fmoc-L-Asn (Trt)-L-4-amino benzyl alcohol (13.0 g, 18 mmol) prepared in step 3) was dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (80 mL). Piperidine (30 mL) was added and then stirred at ambient temperature for 2 hours. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. And the resultant product was dried under high vacuum within a vacuum drying oven to remove a small quantity of piperidine. A pale yellow solid IV was obtained, which could be use in the next step without purification.
Cbz-L-Ala-L-Ala-OH (6.0 g, 20.4 mmol) prepared in step 2), benzotriazol-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HBTU, 11.6 g, 30.6 mmol) and DMF (50 mL) were added into a three-neck flask and stirred for 30 minutes in an ice bath. A solution of L-Asn (Trt)-4-amino benzyl alcohol in DMF (50 mL), and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (7.89 g, 61.2 mmol) were added separately under 0° C. The resultant mixture was stirred overnight at ambient temperature. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in acetyl acetate (200 mL), washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution and saturated sodium chloride solution and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After filtration, the solvent was removed by evaporation. The resultant crude product was recrystallized to obtain a white solid V (15 g, Yield 97%).
Cbz-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn(Trt)-4-amino benzyl alcohol (5.0 g, 6.61 mmol) prepared in step 5) were dissolved in THF (150 mL). 10% Pd/C (1 g) was added. After introducing hydrogen gas, the resultant mixture was stirred for reaction under normal temperature and normal pressure for 5 hours. Pd/C was removed by filtration and washed by methanol. The filtrates and the washing solutions were pooled. Most solvents were removed by rotary evaporation to obtain a crude product. After column chromatography, a white solid VI was obtained (2.0 g, Yield 49%).
2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid (432 mg, 3.22 mmol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (20 mL). Benzotriazol-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (1.83 g, 4.83 mmol) were added and stirred for 30 minutes. Then L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn (Trt)-4-amino benzyl alcohol (2.0 g, 3.22 mmol) prepared in step 6) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (1.24 g, 9.61 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (20 mL) were dropped into the resultant mixture. After dropping, the temperature was slowly raised to ambient temperature and then the mixture was stirred for 10 hours. Most of DMF were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in acetyl acetate (200 mL), washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution and saturated sodium chloride solution and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After filtration, the solvent was removed by rotary evaporation. The resultant crude product was purified by silla gel column chromatography to obtain a white solid VII (1.2 g, Yield 50%).
2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn (Trt)-4-amino benzyl alcohol (1.0 g, 1.36 mmol) prepared in step 7) were dissolved in dichloromethane (10 mL). Trifluoroacetic acid (2 mL) were added and then the resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 5 hours. The reaction solution was washed by water and separated. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate and the solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residual trifluoroacetic acid was removed by evaporation under high vacuum. The resultant crude product was purified by column chromatography to obtain X (600 mg, Yield 89%).
A solution of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn-4-amino benzyl alcohol (500 mg, 1.01 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 mL) was added into a three-neck flask. P-nitrophenyl chloroformate (406 mg, 2.02 mmol) and pyridine (160 mg, 2.03 mmol) in a dichloromethane solution were subsequently dropped into the mixture in an ice bath under protection by nitrogen gas. After dropping, the resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The reaction solution was washed by water and separated. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate and the solvents were removed by rotary evaporation. The resultant crude product was purified by column chromatography to obtain IX (450 mg, Yield 67%).
2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn-4-aminobenzyl-4-nitrophenyl carbonate (880 mg, 1.3 mmol) prepared in step 9) and Docetaxel (1.3 g, 1.6 mmol) were dissolved by anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide (20 mL) and cooled to 0° C. DMAP (326 mg, 2.6 mmol) were added and then stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The reaction solution was poured into dichloromethane. The organic phases were pooled, washed by water, dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. The solvents were removed by rotary evaporation to obtain a crude product. The crude product was purified by column chromatography to obtain the target product D1 (340 mg, Yield 49.2%).
D2, D3 and D4 were synthesized by making reference to D1, except that the acetic acids substituted by alkoxy group used in step 7 have different molecular weights. When synthesizing D2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18-hexaoxanonadecanoic acid was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid, in synthesis of D3, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36-dodecaoxaheptatriacontanoic acid was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid, and in synthesis of D4, polyoxa fatty acid was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid. According to mass spectrum (MS) detection results, the mass-to-charge ratios of D1, D2 and D3 are 1329, 1505, and 1770, respectively, which are consistent to their calculated molecular weights, 1329.40, 1505.61, and 1769.93. According to Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), D4's molecular weight is about 14497, which is consistent with its calculated molecular weight, 14497.31, as shown in Table 43.
Different groups in the Docetaxel for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment show great effect on the formulation of the drug. D1, D2, D3, D4 and various control compounds were dried under vacuum, sterilized via gas sterilization, and separately packing in a sterile room. Before animal test, D1, D2, D3 and D4 were dissolved by solvent 1 (injectable water) or solvent 2 (45% alcohol, 55% injectable water) and diluted by injectable water to the desired concentration in sterile room. On the contrary, comparative compounds (C1′, C2′, C3′, C4′, C5′, and C6′) did not satisfy the formulating requirement, as shown in Table 44. Docetaxel is insoluble in water, but its solubility is significantly changed after modification, with increased solubility in water. Change in solubility may greatly affect the formulation scheme of a drug. As compared to the traditional Docetaxel which is insoluble in water, D1, D2, D3 and D4 can be used to produce a soluble formulation. Thus, their injection doses and efficacies can be improved and auxiliary materials that cause allergy generally used for Docetaxel can be avoided. This is a great progress in drug development, and indicates that the Docetaxel for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment has a promising innovation and prospect of use.
Group 1 and group 2 mentioned below are identical to the above group 1 and 2, respectively.
In Table 44, AAN, AANL and AANK indicate the linkage formed by a small peptide in the compounds, A is Ala, N is Asn, L is Leu and K is Lys.
Group 1 in the Docetaxel for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment is significantly important for the activation and efficacy of the entire drug. When group 1 is absent, the solubility and activation efficiency are greatly affected.
Group 2 in the Docetaxel for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment is significantly important for the activation and efficacy of the entire drug. When group 2 is absent, the activation efficiency and the blockage of toxicity are greatly affected.
The Docetaxel derivatives for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment of the present disclosure were based on a great amount of synthetic experiments. In these experiments, we designed a lot of complicated compounds having different linking manners. Then the complicated compounds were linked to position 2 or 7 of Docetaxel, that is, they were linked to Docetaxel via the OH at position 2 or position 7. The resultant Docetaxel derivatives were screened through activation efficiency in the presence of tumor tissue or aspartate endopeptidase. The screened derivatives were further screened through inhibition of tumor for R2, R3 and n. The activated site that is specific to the tumor tissue locates between AAN and group 2. After cleaving by activation, group 2 can be freely released, thereby releasing Docetaxel. Because the active center of asparagine endopeptidase locates at the bottom of its globular depression and the cleavage site should be close to the active center, it is very important if there is a steric hindrance to the cleavage site produced by the complicated compound.
According to the screening results, it is presumed that linking of group 2 may effectively avoid steric hindrance produced by directly linking Docetaxel, which thereby not affecting approach of asparagine endopeptidase. And, the structure-efficacy of group 1 may increase the polarity of the cleavage site, which allows the more water-soluble protease to be easily to approach the cleavage site and thereby to increase the cleaving efficiency. Linking to position 2 of Docetaxel could obviously reduce steric hindrance produced by Docetaxel to protease, expose more groups, each of which as a whole is hydrophilic, and increase cleaving efficiency and water solubility.
As detected by analytic HPLC (Agilent 1220 series, C8 column 5 μm, 4.6 mm ID×250 mm; the mobile phase is 0-95% acetonitrile (ACN)), the purities of D1, D2, D3 and D4 are all in the range of 95-99%.
Different groups in present Docetaxel derivatives for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment have different effects on the activation of Paclitaxel drugs in tumor tissue. The mutual structure-efficacy of Docetaxel with the groups linked determined the targeting and activation effects in tissues. In the experiments, at 37° C., compounds were added into proteases in 100 μg acidized tumor tissue homogenates in a concentration of 1 mg/ml. The tumor tissue homogenates could release Docetaxel. Reduction of compound and increase of Docetaxel were detected by HPLC, thereby comparing the activation efficiency of the drug by the tumor tissue. It was found that the linker linking to the screening compound exhibited highest activation efficiency. Activation in different tumor types also indicates that the drugs have a broad treatment spectrum (table 45). Meanwhile certain compounds produced in the screening were compared and their activation efficiency in same tissue was analyzed. It is proved the chemical group selection for D1 has the highest activation efficiency (table 45), and the activation efficiency of D2˜D4 in different tumor tissue homogenates is close to D1.
As table 46 shows, activation efficiency of linkage to Docetaxel at its 2-position is higher than that at 7-position.
According to the results, different groups in the present Docetaxel for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment have various effects on the activation of Docetaxel drugs in tumor tissue. The mutual structure-efficacy of Docetaxel with the groups linked determined the targeting and activation effects in tissues.
Test purpose: to investigate the acute toxicity of the new drug formulations via detecting MTD by intravenous injection.
Test drugs: D1, D2, D3 and D4 injections, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Animal: the first class BALB/C mice, weighing 19-21 g and all mice being female.
Method and Results:
210 BALB/C mice were randomly divided into 21 groups according to their body weights, with 10 mice in each group. As shown in Table 47, the mice were intravenously injected with D1, D2, D3 and D4 for just one time in a dose of 0 mg/kg, 125 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, 175 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg. Control tests were performed by injecting 0.2 ml physiological saline or Docetaxel. Animals were observed for 17 continuous days for presence or absence of the following behaviors on each day: pilo-erection, hair tousle and lackluster, lethargy, stoop and irritable reaction, and body weight and death were recorded. Blood samples were taken on the 3, 5 and 14 days for counting the whole blood cells. Animals were anatomized on day 14 to take the heart, liver, kidney, lung, spleen, and pancreas for HE staining.
Results and discussions: no pilo-erection, hair tousle and lackluster, lethargy, stoop, irritable reaction and death were observed in mice receiving 150 mg/kg D1, D2, D3 and D4 injections. As shown in Table 47, the MTD of the D1 and D2 injections were about 150 mg/kg, which is far beyond the MTD of Docetaxel, 25 mg/kg. The MTD for intravenous administration of a test drug is an important reference index for drug toxicity. The results indicate that the toxicity of the Docetaxel released by targeted activation is significantly reduced as compared with Docetaxel.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of D1, D2, D3 and D4 in mice model for tumor treatment.
Test drug: D1, D2, D3 and D4 injections and Docetaxel injection, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: nude mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
2. Production of tumor model
1) Human prostate cancer PC-3 cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor. 5×106 PC-3 cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the nude mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor reached at least 100 mm3. Then treatment began and the day on which the treatment began was day 1.
3) Course of treatment
According to the clinical application of D1, D2, D3 and D4, drugs were intravenously injected (IV). D1, D2, D3 and D4 were administered in a dose of less than ⅙ MTD, i.e., 25 mg/kg, and Docetaxel was administered in a dose of ⅓ MTD, i.e., 8.3 mg/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Drugs were administered once weekly for four weeks.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 48.
5) Results and discussions: As shown in Table 48, inhibition on tumor growth by D1, D2, D3 and D4 were greatly improved as compared with the groups treating by Docetaxel using the same molar concentration and the control group.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of D1, D2, D3 and D4 in a D121 lung cancer model for immune treatment.
Test drug: D1, D2, D3, D4 and Docetaxel, all used in 13.2 μmol/kg; PDL1 antibody, 5 ng/kg.
Animal: C57 mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
Production of Tumor Model:
1) D121 lung tumor cells were purchased from ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Tumor immunization. 5×105 D121 lung cancer cells (purchased from ATCC) which were killed by irradiation were intraperitoneally injected to mice. The mice were injected for 3 times, once every two weeks. After immunization, mice were injected with tumor cells and the drugs were administered weekly for 4 weeks.
3) Production of tumor. At day 32, 106 live D121 lung tumor cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the C57 mice immunized by tumor. Treatment began when the tumor grew to 0.3-0.4 cm.
4) Analysis on tumor CD8+ T cells. The tumor tissue was homogenated and individual cells in the tumor were filtered, separated and washed by buffer twice, then cultivated with the leucocyte common antigen CD45-PE and T-lymphocyte antigen CD8-FITC marked antibodies for 1 hour at ambient temperature. The cells were washed by phosphate buffer containing 1% fetal bovine serum twice and then analyzed for the ratio of the T lymphocyte antigen (CD8) positive cells in the leucocyte common antigen (CD45) positive cells by flow cytometry. Increasement of the ratio indicates increased T lymphocyte cells and thus the animal immunity against the tumor was improved.
5) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 49.
6) Results and discussion. Treatment effects of D1, D2, D3 and D4 on C57 mice were greatly improved as compared to the control group and the other treatment groups. D1 and PDL1-antibody show an excellent synergistic effect in promoting immunization and treatment. They can inhibit tumor growth via improving immunization.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of D1, D2, D3 and D4 in BALB/C mice model for treatment of tumor metastasis.
Test drug: D1, D2, D3 and D4 injections and Docetaxel injection, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: BALB/C mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
2. Production of tumor model
1) 4T1 cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor metastasis. 106 T1 cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the BALB/C mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor grew to about 1.5 cm. The subcutaneous tumor was removed by surgery and drug treatment began. Mice were killed after anesthesia on day 27. The whole lung was taken out and put into Bouin's solution for staining. The number of the tumor metastasized to lung was counted with anatomical microscope.
3) Course of treatment
According to the clinical application of D1, D2, D3 and D4, drugs were intravenously injected (IV). D1, D2, D3 and D4 were administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.e., 25 mg/kg, and Docetaxel was administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.e., 4.2 mg/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Drugs were administered once for every three days for 4 times.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 50.
5) Results and discussion. As shown in Table 50, the inhibitory effect on tumor metastasis of BALB/C mice was greatly improved after intraperitoneal injection of D1, D2, D3 and D4, as compared with the Docetaxel group and the control group, indicating that this kind of drugs exhibits an excellent efficacy on anti-tumor metastasis.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor spectrum of C1 through multiple tumor models from mice
Test drug: C1 injection, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: nude mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
2. Production of tumor model
1) Corresponding tumor cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor. 5×106 corresponding cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the nude mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor reached at least 100 mm3. Then treatment began and the day on which the treatment began was day 1.
3) Course of treatment. According to the clinical application of D1, D1 was administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.e., 25 mg/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Animals were administered once weekly for three weeks.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 51.
5) Results and discussion. As shown in Table 51, D1 shows an excellent efficacy in multiple tumor models, demonstrating that the drug has a wide anti-tumor spectrum.
Compounds D10-D24 were also prepared in the present disclosure by similar method for synthesizing D1, except that the starting amino acids used for linking were different, as shown in Table 52. Corresponding R2 amino acid and R3 amino acid were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide. The same condensating agent, 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride, was added respectively and reactions were allowed to take place at 0-25□ for 0.5-2 hours. Then Asn was added and reaction was taken place at 0-25□ for 2-24 hours to obtain a tripeptide. Molecular weights of D10-D24 (n=1), as detected by mass spectrum (MS), are shown in Table 47, which are consistent to their respective calculated molecular weights.
Activation property, inhibitory rate on tumor and inhibitory rate on metastasis of Docetaxel for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment having different amino acid structures were tested by the same methods as described in Examples 49, 51 and 53. The results are shown in Table 47. Since results from Examples 49, 51 and 53 indicate that n is preferably in the range of 1-11, at which range the drugs have the same treatment effects, n in D10-D24 is selected as 1 except that R2 and R3 are different.
Results and discussion: As shown in Table 52, compounds D10˜D24 could be activated and had some effects on inhibition of tumor growth and on metastasis, indicating the screening of inventors could optimize the activation and treatment of tumor.
In some other examples of the invention, other Docetaxel derivatives for targeted activation in tumor microenvironment were synthesised, of which n is any integer between 1-300, R2 is Ala, Thr, Val or Ile; R3 is Ala, Thr, Val or Asn. And they were subjected to formulation test, MTD test, study on efficacy on tumor, study on efficacy of inhibiting metastasis and study on efficacy on multiple tumors. Similar results to D1-D4 were obtained. As demonstrated by the experiments, when n is in the range of 1-300, the inhibitory rate on tumor is slightly reduced as n increases. The activation activity also slightly decreases and mass of drugs in the same mole increases, as n increases. However, the metabolic half life of the drug also increases as n increases. Therefore, the entire efficacy is only slightly decreased and when n is in the range of 1-300, all compounds could produce similar technical effect to D1-D4.
Fmoc-L-Ala-OH (fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-L-Ala) (33 g, 0.1 mol) was dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (1 L). A solution of 1-hydroxylbenzotriazole (20.2 g, 0.15 mol), 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (34 g, 0.15 mol) and L-Ala methyl ester (13.9 g, 0.1 mol) and N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (25.8 g, 0.2 mol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (500 mL) were added when stirring and then the resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 10 hours. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The crude product was dissolved in dichloromethane (2 L), washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution, water and saturated sodium chloride solution. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After removing the solvents by evaporation under reduced pressure, the crude product was recrystallized to obtain a white solid I (30 g, Yield 75.1%).
Fmoc-L-Ala-L-Ala-OMe (40 g, 0.1 mol) was dissolved in a mixed solution of tetrahydrofuran (2 L) and water (1 L). After cooling, 1M lithium hydroxide solution (400 mL) were added. The resultant mixture was stirred for reaction for 10 hours. Concentrated hydrochloric acid was dropped to adjust the pH to be less than 6 and tetrahydrofuran were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residual water phase was extracted by dichloromethane (1 L×3). The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. A white solid II was obtained after vaporizing and drying under reduced pressure (36 g; Yield, 94%).
Fmoc-L-Asn (Trt)-OH (fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-triphenylmethyl-L-Asn) (20 g, 0.03 mol), 2-(7-azabenzotriazol)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) (15 g, 0.04 mol) and DMF (200 mL) were added into a three-neck flask and stirred for 30 minutes. A solution of 4-amino benzyl alcohol (4.1 g, 0.03 mol) in DMF (5 mL), and N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (8.7 g, 0.06 mol) were separately added. The resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 3 hours. Then the solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (200 mL), washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution and saturated sodium chloride solution and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After filtration, the solvent was removed by evaporation. The resultant crude product was pulping to obtain a white solid 111 (21.3 g, Yield 90%).
Fmoc-L-Asn (Trt)-L-4-amino benzyl alcohol (13 g, 18 mmol) was dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (80 mL). Piperidine (30 mL) was added and then stirred at ambient temperature for 2 hours. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. And the resultant product was dried under high vacuum within a vacuum drying oven to remove a small quantity of piperidine. A pale yellow solid IV was obtained, which could be use in the next step without purification.
Fmoc-L-Ala-L-Ala-OH (5.4 g, 14 mmol), benzotriazol-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HBTU, 8 g, 21 mmol) and DMF (50 mL) were added into a three-neck flask and stirred for 30 minutes in an ice bath under protection by nitrogen gas. A solution of L-Asn (Trt)-4-amino benzyl alcohol (6.7 g, 14 mmol) in DMF (50 mL), and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (5.5 g, 42 mmol) were added separately under 0□. The resultant mixture was stirred overnight at ambient temperature. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in acetyl acetate (200 mL), washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution and saturated sodium chloride solution and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After filtration, the solvent was removed by evaporation. The resultant crude product was pulped to obtain a white solid V (18.5 g, Yield 78%).
Fmoc-L-Asn (Trt)-L-4-amino benzyl alcohol (864 mg, 1 mmol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (30 mL). Piperidine (10 mL) was added and then stirred at ambient temperature for 2 hours. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. A pale yellow solid IV was obtained, which could be use in the next step without purification.
2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid (134 mg, 1 mmol) were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (5 mL). After cooling to 0□, 3-(Diethoxyphosphoryloxy)-1, 2, 3-benzotrizin-4-one (DEPBT, 450 mg, 1.5 mmol) were added and stirred for 30 minutes. Then L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn (Trt)-4-amino benzyl alcohol (621 mg, 1 mmol) and N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (387 mg, 3 mmol) were added. The reaction temperature was slowly raised to ambient temperature in the dark and then stirred for 5 hours. The reaction solution was poured into 200 mL aqueous acetic acid solution and extracted by dichloromethane. The organic phases were pooled, washed by water and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure to obtain an orange red crude product. The crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography to obtain a white powder VII (479 mg, Yield 65%).
2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn (Trt)-4-amino benzyl alcohol (1.9 g, 2.6 mmol) were added into a three-neck flask and dissolved in dichloromethane (10 mL). A solution of 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate (1 g, 5.2 mmol) and pyridine (400 mg, 5.2 mmol) in dichloromethane were dropped. The resultant mixture was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The reaction solution was washed by water and separated. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography to obtain VIII (1.8 g, Yield 80%).
2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn (Trt)-4-aminobenzyl-4-nitrophenyl carbonate was dissolved in dichloromethane (2 mL). Trifluoroacetic acid (2 mL) were added and then stirred at ambient temperature for 2 hours. The reaction solution was washed by water and separated. The organic phase was dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The crude product was purified by column chromatography to obtain IX (625 mg, Yield 47%).
2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetyl-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Asn-4-aminobenzyl-4-nitrophenyl carbonate (400 mg, 0.6 mmol) was dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL). Mitomycin C (200 mg, 0.6 mmol), 1-hydroxy benzotriazole (HOBT, 17 mg, 0.12 mmol) and N,N-diisopropyl ethylamine (156 mg, 1.2 mmol) were added. The temperature was raised to ambient temperature and then the resultant mixture was stirred 10 hours. The solvents were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane (200 mL), washed subsequently by saturated ammonium chloride solution and saturated sodium chloride solution and dried by anhydrous sodium sulphate. After filtration, the solvent was removed by evaporation. The resultant crude product was purified by column chromatography to obtain a pale yellow solid, which was the target compound E1 (237 mg, Yield 46%).
E2, E3 and E4 were synthesized by making reference to E1, except that the acetic acids substituted by alkoxy group used in step 7 have different molecular weights. When synthesizing E2, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18-hexaoxanonadecanoic acid was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid, in synthesis of E3, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36-dodecaoxaheptatriacontanoic acid was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid, and in synthesis of E4, polyoxa fatty acid was used to replace 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid. According to mass spectrum (MS) detection results, the mass-to-charge ratios of E1, E2 and E3 are 855, 1032, and 1296, respectively, which are consistent to their calculated molecular weights, 855.85, 1032.06, and 1296.37. According to Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), E4's molecular weight is about 14032, which is consistent with its calculated molecular weight, 14023.76, as shown in Table 53.
E1, E2, E3 and E4 were dried under vacuum, sterilized via gas sterilization, and separately packing in a sterile room. Before animal test, E1 was dissolved by injectable water containing 50% alcohol and diluted by injectable water to the desired concentration. E2, E3 and E4 could be directly diluted by injectable water to the desired concentrations.
As detected by analytic HPLC (Agilent 1220 series, C8 column 5 μm, 4.6 mm ID×250 mm; the mobile phase is 0-95% acetonitrile (ACN)), the purities of E1, E2, E3 and E4 are all in the range of 95-99%.
At 37□, compounds were added into proteases in 100 μg acidized tumor tissue homogenates in a concentration of 1 mg/ml. The tumor tissue homogenates could release mitomycin. Reduction of compound and increase of mitomycin were detected by HPLC, thereby comparing the activation efficiency of the drug by the tumor tissue. It was found that the current compounds linking to the screened compounds exhibited highest activation efficiency. Activation in different tumor types also indicates that the drugs have a broad treatment spectrum. See Table 54.
Test purpose: to investigate the acute toxicity of the new drug formulations via detecting MTD by intravenous injection.
Test drugs: E1, E2, E3 and E4 injections, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Animal: the first class BALB/C mice, weighing 19-21 g and all mice being female.
Method and Results:
210 BALB/C mice were randomly divided into 21 groups according to their body weights, with 10 mice in each group. As shown in Table 55, the mice were intravenously injected with E1, E2, E3 and E4 for just one time in a dose of 0 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 70 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg, and 110 mg/kg. Control tests were performed by injecting 0.2 ml physiological saline or mitomycin. Animals were observed for 17 continuous days for presence or absence of the following behaviors on each day: pilo-erection, hair tousle and lackluster, lethargy, stoop and irritable reaction, and body weight and death were recorded. Blood samples were taken on the 3, 5 and 14 days for counting the whole blood cells. Animals were anatomized on day 14 to take the heart, liver, kidney, lung, spleen, and pancreas for HE staining.
Results and discussions: no pilo-erection, hair tousle and lackluster, lethargy, stoop, irritable reaction and death were observed in mice receiving 90 mg/kg E1, E2, E3 and E4 injections. As shown in Table 55, the MTD of the E1 and E2 injections were about 90 mg/kg, which is far beyond the MTD of mitomycin, 6 mg/kg. The MTD for intravenous administration of a test drug is an important reference index for drug toxicity. The results indicate that the toxicity of the mitomycin released by targeted activation is significantly reduced as compared with mitomycin.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of E1, E2, E3 and E4 in mice model for tumor treatment.
Test drug: E1, E2, E3 and E4 injections and mitomycin injection, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: nude mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
2. Production of tumor model
1) Panc-1 cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor. 5×106 Panc-1 cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the nude mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor reached at least 100 mm3. Then treatment began and the day on which the treatment began was day 1.
3) Course of treatment
According to the clinical application of E1, E2, E3 and E4, drugs were intravenously injected (IV). E1, E2, E3 and E4 were administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.e., 15 mg/kg, and mitomycin was administered in a dose of ⅓ MTD, i.e., 2 mg/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Drugs were administered once weekly for four weeks.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 56.
346.1 ± 104.74.
5) Results and discussions: As shown in Table 56, inhibition on tumor growth by E1, E2, E3 and E4 were greatly improved as compared with the groups treating by mitomycin using the same molar concentration and the control group.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of E1, E2, E3 and E4 in mice model for tumor treatment.
Test drug: E1, E2, E3 and E4 injections and mitomycin injection, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: nude mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
2. Production of tumor model
1) HT1080 cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor. 5×106HT1080 cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the nude mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor reached at least 100 mm3. Then treatment began and the day on which the treatment began was day 1.
3) Course of treatment
According to the clinical application of E1, E2, E3 and E4, drugs were intravenously injected (IV). E1, E2, E3 and E4 were administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.e., 15 mg/kg, and mitomycin was administered in a dose of ⅓ MTD, i.e., 2 mg/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Drugs were administered once weekly for four weeks.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 57.
5) Results and discussions: As shown in Table 57, inhibition on tumor growth by E1, E2, E3 and E4 were greatly improved as compared with the groups treating by mitomycin using the same molar concentration and the control group.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of E1, E2, E3 and E4 in BALB/C mice model for treatment of tumor metastasis.
Test drug: E1, E2, E3 and E4 injections and mitomycin injection, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: BALB/C mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
2. Production of tumor model
1) 4T1 cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor metastasis. 106 T1 cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the BALB/C mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor grew to about 1.5 cm. The subcutaneous tumor was removed by surgery and drug treatment began. Mice were killed after anesthesia on day 27. The whole lung was taken out and put into Bouin's solution for staining. The number of the tumor metastasized to lung was counted with anatomical microscope.
3) Course of treatment
According to the clinical application of E1, E2, E3 and E4, drugs were intravenously injected (IV). E1, E2, E3 and E4 were administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.e., 15 mg/kg, and mitomycin was administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.e., 1 mg/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Drugs were administered once for every three days for 4 times.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 58.
5) Results and discussion. As shown in Table 58, the inhibitory effect on tumor metastasis of BALB/C mice was greatly improved after intraperitoneal injection of E1, E2, E3 and E4, as compared with the mitomycin group and the control group, indicating that this kind of drugs exhibits an excellent efficacy on anti-tumor metastasis.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor efficacy of E1, E2, E3 and E4 in a D121 lung cancer model for immune treatment.
Test drug: E1, E2, E3, E4 and mitomycin, all used in 13.2 μmol/kg; PDL1 antibody, 5 μg/kg.
Animal: C57 mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
Production of Tumor Model:
1) D121 lung tumor cells were purposed from ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Tumor immunization. 5×105 D121 lung cancer cells (purchased from ATCC) which were killed by irradiation were intraperitoneally injected to mice. The mice were injected for 3 times, once every two weeks. After immunization, mice were injected with tumor cells and the drugs were administered weekly for 4 weeks.
3) Production of tumor. At day 32, 106 live lung tumor cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the C57 mice immunized by tumor. Treatment began when the tumor grew to 0.3-0.4 cm.
4) Analysis on tumor CD8+ T cells. The tumor tissue was homogenated and individual cells in the tumor were filtered, separated and washed by buffer twice, then cultivated with the leucocyte common antigen CD45-PE and CD8-FITC marked antibodies for 1 hour at ambient temperature. The cells were washed by phosphate buffer containing 1% fetal bovine serum twice and then analyzed for the ratio of the T lymphocyte antigen (CD8) positive cells in the leucocyte common antigen (CD45) positive cells by flow cytometry. Increasement of the ratio indicates increased T lymphocyte cells and thus the animal immunity against the tumor was improved.
5) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 59.
6) Results and discussion. Treatment effects of E1, E2, E3 and E4 on C57 mice were greatly improved as compared to the control group and the other treatment groups. E1 and PDL1-antibody show an excellent synergistic effect in promoting immunization and treatment. They can inhibit tumor growth via improving immunization.
Test purpose: to investigate the anti-tumor spectrum of E1 through multiple tumor models from mice
Test drug: E1 injection, diluted to corresponding concentrations by physiological saline when testing.
Method and Results:
1. Animal: nude mice of 6-8 weeks old, all female.
2. Production of tumor model
1) Corresponding tumor cells were purchased from American type culture collection (ATCC) and identified according the specification provided by ATCC. Cells were cultivated in DMEM culture solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37° C. and 5% CO2. The cells were passaged for every three days and cells within the 15th passage were used.
2) Production of tumor. 5×106 corresponding cells were subcutaneously injected to the back of the nude mice. Mice were randomly grouped after the tumor reached at least 100 mm3. Then treatment began and the day on which the treatment began was day 1.
3) Course of treatment. According to the clinical application of E1, E1 was administered in a dose of ⅙ MTD, i.e., 15 mg/kg. The control group was administered by physiological saline. Animals were administered once weekly for three weeks.
4) Grouping and test results are shown in Table 60.
5) Results and discussion. As shown in Table 60, E1 shows an excellent efficacy in multiple tumor models, demonstrating that the drug has a wide anti-tumor spectrum.
Animal: C57 mice of 16 weeks old, all female and 8 animals in each group.
Production and treatment of scar. After fixed irradiation through photocoagulation by 150 mW laser, E1, E2, E3 and E4 were dropped daily. Two weeks later, eye tissues were taken from 4 animals of each group for immunohistochemical (HE) staining. For another 4 animals, they were subjected to fixed irradiation through photocoagulation by 50 mW laser and then to treatment. 48 hours later, their eye tissues were taken, homogenated, filtered to isolate individual cells in the scar and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) tissues. The cells were washed by buffer twice and stained by biotin-conjugated anti-F4/80 (biotin-labeled precursor cell antigen from macrophage) and FITC-conjugated anti-CD45 (isothiocyanate fluorescein labeled leucocyte common antigen) at ambient temperature for 1 hour. Then the cells were washed by PBS containing 1% fetal bovine serum twice and then analyzed for the ratio of the macrophage precursor antigen positive cells in the leucocyte common antigen (CD45) positive cells by flow cytometry. Reduction in the ratio indicates decrease of the macrophage precursor antigen positive cells, demonstrating that the macrophages associated with the disease in the animal were inhibited. The results are shown in Table 61.
Results and discussion. E1, E2, E3 and E4 have greatly improved treatment effect on scar radius and inhibition of macrophage as compared to the control group and the mitomycin group.
E10-E24 were synthesized by a similar method for E1, except that the amino acids used for linking are different, as shown in Table 62.
Specifically, corresponding R2 amino acid and R3 amino acid were dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide, respectively. The condensating agent, such as 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride, was respectively added and reactions were allowed to take place at 0-25□ for 0.5-2 hours. Then Asn was added and reaction was taken place at 0-25□ for 2-24 hours. The reaction solution was purified to obtain a tripeptide. The tripeptide was used to replace Ala-Ala-Asn as an intermediate to prepare E10-E24 according to the procedures of Example 55. Molecular weights of E10-E24, as detected by mass spectrum, are shown in Table 57, which are consistent to their respective calculated molecular weights.
Compounds E10-E24 were subjected to MTD test as done in Example 59, study on efficacy on tumor as done in Examples 60 and 61, study on efficacy of inhibiting metastasis as done in Example 62 and study on efficacy on multiple tumors as done in Example 64. Results show that they have similar results to E1-E4. As demonstrated by the experiments, when n is in the range of 1-300, the inhibitory rate on tumor is slightly reduced as n increases. The activation activity also slightly decreases and mass of drugs in the same mole increases, as n increases. However, the metabolic half life of the drug also increases as n increases. Therefore, the entire efficacy is only slightly decreased and when n is in the range of 1-300, all compounds could produce similar technical effect to E1-E4.
Test purpose: to investigate the efficacy and anti-tumor immunological property of the product.
Methods and Results:
Mice were injected with Legutaxel at tail vein weekly for 3 times. According to the results of toxicity experiments observed over 21 days, no death were observed in the experiments with a dose of 140, 150 and 160 mg/kg/day. Therefore, Legutaxel's dose could at least reach 160 mg/kg/day during treatment.
Comparative experiments for a high dose of Legutaxel, Abraxane and Paclitaxel were performed in HT1080 model, which were used at an equal molar dose and at an equal toxic dose. The treatment results show significantly different treatment efficacy. Death occurred after the third treatment with Paclitaxel injection, as shown in
We further studied the immunological stimulation property of Legutaxel. As demonstrated by the immunological detection of mice receiving tumor treatment, we found that the indexes for tumor-derived immunosuppressive T cells (T reg: CD4+, CD25+, Foxp3+) obtained from the tumor-bearing group and in the treatment group by Paclitaxel were greatly increased. On the contrary, the index for tumor-derived immunosuppressive T cells in treatment group by Legutaxel decreased due to targeted chemotherapy (see panels a and b in
In the treatment of solid tumors, traditional chemotherapeutic drug, paclitaxel, could impair human immunity and thereby inducing drug resistance, which are crucial obstacles preventing cancer patients from being cured. Our experiments showed that traditional chemotherapeutic drugs, such as paclitaxel, also greatly impair leucocyte. However, Legutaxel can only be activated in the tumor site, thus it can avoid damage to immune system that caused by traditional chemotherapeutic drugs. More importantly, Legutaxel could stimulate an anti-tumor immunization, thus it can be used synergistically with immune therapy to completely cure cancer.
Although the contents of the invention have been detailedly introduced via the above preferred Examples, it should be understood that the above descriptions are not intended to limit the subject invention. From examples of S1 to S27, it can be found that the cleavage linker that is specifically activated in tumor microenvironment and is used for targeting a small molecule can be used to link and activate different compounds. Thus, it is apparent that drugs or compounds at position R4 can be changed or replaced. From the Examples in which R1 is H, a hydrophilic group or a targeting group, it can be found that replacing or changing the group at the R1 position is also obvious. Therefore, the protection scope of the subject invention should be defined by the appending claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201410415968.0 | Aug 2014 | CN | national |
| 201410415969.5 | Aug 2014 | CN | national |
| 201410415970.8 | Aug 2014 | CN | national |
| 201410417882.1 | Aug 2014 | CN | national |
| 201410417885.5 | Aug 2014 | CN | national |
| 201410417919.0 | Aug 2014 | CN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2015/087746 | 8/21/2015 | WO | 00 |
