The anthracycline anti-cancer drugs are intensely usedin the clinicto treat a wide variety of cancers. They generate DNA double strandbreaks, but recently the induction of chromatin damage was... Show moreThe anthracycline anti-cancer drugs are intensely usedin the clinicto treat a wide variety of cancers. They generate DNA double strandbreaks, but recently the induction of chromatin damage was introducedas another major determinant of anti-cancer activity. The combinationof these two events results in their reported side effects. Whileour knowledge on the structure-activity relationship of anthracyclineshas improved, many structural variations remain poorly explored. Therefore,we here report on the preparation of a diverse set of anthracyclineswith variations within the sugar moiety, amine alkylation pattern,saccharide chain and aglycone. We assessed the cytotoxicity in vitro in relevant human cancer cell lines, and the capacityto induce DNA- and chromatin damage. This coherent set of data allowedus to deduce a few guidelines on anthracycline design, as well asdiscover novel, highly potent anthracyclines that may be better toleratedby patients. Show less
Gelder, M.A. van; Zanden, S.Y. van der; Vriends, M.B.L.; Wagensveld, R.A.; Marel, G.A. van der; Codee, J.D.C.; ... ; Neefjes, J.J.C. 2023
The anthracycline anti-cancer drugs are intensely used in the clinic to treat a wide variety of cancers. They generate DNA double strand breaks, but recently the induction of chromatin damage was... Show moreThe anthracycline anti-cancer drugs are intensely used in the clinic to treat a wide variety of cancers. They generate DNA double strand breaks, but recently the induction of chromatin damage was introduced as another major determinant of anti-cancer activity. The combination of these two events results in their reported side effects. While our knowledge on the structure–activity relationship of anthracyclines has improved, many structural variations remain poorly explored. Therefore, we here report on the preparation of a diverse set of anthracyclines with variations within the sugar moiety, amine alkylation pattern, saccharide chain and aglycone. We assessed the cytotoxicity in vitro in relevant human cancer cell lines, and the capacity to induce DNA- and chromatin damage. This coherent set of data allowed us to deduce a few guidelines on anthracycline design, as well as discover novel, highly potent anthracyclines that may be better tolerated by patients. Show less
Anthracyclines are effective drugs in the treatment of various cancers, but their use comes with severe side effects. The archetypal anthracycline drug, doxorubicin, displays two molecular modes of... Show moreAnthracyclines are effective drugs in the treatment of various cancers, but their use comes with severe side effects. The archetypal anthracycline drug, doxorubicin, displays two molecular modes of action: DNA double-strand break formation (through topoisomerase II alpha poisoning) and chromatin damage (via eviction of histones). These biological activities can be modulated and toxic side effects can be reduced by separating these two modes of action through alteration of the aminoglycoside moiety of doxorubicin. We herein report on the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a coherent set of configurational doxorubicin analogues featuring all possible stereoisomers of the 1,2-amino-alcohol characteristic for the doxorubicin 3-amino-2,3-dideoxyfucoside, each in nonsubstituted and N,N-dimethylated forms. The set of doxorubicin analogues was synthesized using appropriately protected 2,3,6-dideoxy-3-amino glycosyl donors, equipped with an alkynylbenzoate anomeric leaving group, and the doxorubicin aglycon acceptor. The majority of these glycosylations proceeded in a highly stereoselective manner to provide the desired axial alpha-linkage. We show that both stereochemistry of the 3-amine carbon and N-substitution state are critical for anthracycline cytotoxicity and generally improve cellular uptake. N,N-Dimethylepirubicin is identified as the most potent anthracycline that does not induce DNA damage while remaining cytotoxic. Show less
Wander, D.P.A.; Zanden, S.Y. van der; Marel, G.A. van der; Overkleeft, H.S.; Neefjes, J.; Codee, J.D.C. 2020
Anthracycline anticancer drugs doxorubicin and aclarubicin have been used in the clinic for several decades to treat various cancers. Although closely related structures, their molecular mode of... Show moreAnthracycline anticancer drugs doxorubicin and aclarubicin have been used in the clinic for several decades to treat various cancers. Although closely related structures, their molecular mode of action diverges, which is reflected in their biological activity profile. For a better understanding of the structure-function relationship of these drugs, we synthesized ten doxorubicin/aclarubicin hybrids varying in three distinct features: aglycon, glycan, and amine substitution pattern. We continued to evaluate their capacity to induce DNA breaks, histone eviction, and relocated topoisomerase II alpha in living cells. Furthermore, we assessed their cytotoxicity in various human tumor cell lines. Our findings underscore that histone eviction alone, rather than DNA breaks, contributes strongly to the overall cytotoxicity of anthracyclines, and structures containing N,N-dimethylamine at the reducing sugar prove that are more cytotoxic than their nonmethylated counterparts. This structural information will support further development of novel anthracycline variants with improved anticancer activity. Show less
Wander, D.P.A.; Zanden, S.Y. van der; Marel, G.A. van der; Overkleeft, H.S.; Neefjes, J.J.C.; Codee, J.D.C. 2020
Anthracycline anticancer drugs doxorubicin and aclarubicin have been used in the clinic for several decades to treat various cancers. Although closely related structures, their molecular mode of... Show moreAnthracycline anticancer drugs doxorubicin and aclarubicin have been used in the clinic for several decades to treat various cancers. Although closely related structures, their molecular mode of action diverges, which is reflected in their biological activity profile. For a better understanding of the structure-function relationship of these drugs, we synthesized ten doxorubicin/aclarubicin hybrids varying in three distinct features: aglycon, glycan, and amine substitution pattern. We continued to evaluate their capacity to induce DNA breaks, histone eviction, and relocated topoisomerase II alpha in living cells. Furthermore, we assessed their cytotoxicity in various human tumor cell lines. Our findings underscore that histone eviction alone, rather than DNA breaks, contributes strongly to the overall cytotoxicity of anthracyclines, and structures containing N,N-dimethylamine at the reducing sugar prove that are more cytotoxic than their nonmethylated counterparts. This structural information will support further development of novel anthracycline variants with improved anticancer activity. Show less
Maurits, E.; Graaff, M.J. van de; Maiorana, S.; Wander, D.P.A.; Dekker, P.M.; Zanden, S.Y. van der; ... ; Kasteren, S.I. van 2020
Proteasome inhibitors are established therapeutic agents for the treatment of hematological cancers, as are anthracyclines such as doxorubicin. We here present a new drug targeting approach that... Show moreProteasome inhibitors are established therapeutic agents for the treatment of hematological cancers, as are anthracyclines such as doxorubicin. We here present a new drug targeting approach that combines both drug classes into a single molecule. Doxorubicin was conjugated to an immunoproteasome-selective inhibitor via light-cleavable linkers, yielding peptide epoxyketone-doxorubicin prodrugs that remained selective and active toward immunoproteasomes. Upon cellular uptake and immunoproteasome inhibition, doxorubicin is released from the immunoproteasome inhibitor through photoirradiation. Multiple myeloma cells in this way take a double hit: immunoproteasome inhibition and doxorubicin-induced toxicity. Our strategy, which entails targeting of a cytotoxic agent, through a covalent enzyme inhibitor that is detrimental to tumor tissue in its own right, may find use in the search for improved anticancer drugs. Show less
Maurits, E.; Graaff, M.J. van de; Maiorana, S.; Wander, D.P.A.; Dekker, P.M.; Zanden, S.Y. van der; ... ; Kasteren, S.I. van 2020
Proteasome inhibitors are established therapeutic agents for the treatment of hematological cancers, as are anthracyclines such as doxorubicin. We here present a new drug targeting approach that... Show moreProteasome inhibitors are established therapeutic agents for the treatment of hematological cancers, as are anthracyclines such as doxorubicin. We here present a new drug targeting approach that combines both drug classes into a single molecule. Doxorubicin was conjugated to an immunoproteasome-selective inhibitor via light-cleavable linkers, yielding peptide epoxyketone-doxorubicin prodrugs that remained selective and active toward immunoproteasomes. Upon cellular uptake and immunoproteasome inhibition, doxorubicin is released from the immunoproteasome inhibitor through photoirradiation. Multiple myeloma cells in this way take a double hit: immunoproteasome inhibition and doxorubicin-induced toxicity. Our strategy, which entails targeting of a cytotoxic agent, through a covalent enzyme inhibitor that is detrimental to tumor tissue in its own right, may find use in the search for improved anticancer drugs. Show less
