The long range objective of this research proposal is to develop anticancer drugs in the antifolate series that are very selective with low host toxicity. To achieve this objective, we propose to synthesize a series of antifolates that are: a) Synthetic substrates of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) that can be enzymatically activated to inhibitors of other folate based enzymes; b) Specific inhibitors of thymidylate synthase (TS), glycinamide- ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFTase), amino imidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (AICARFTase), folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS), and the nonpolyglutamatable counterparts of each of these enzyme inhibitors that are capable of facile transport to mammalian cells. Preferential accumulation of cytotoxic antifolate polyglutamates in tumors as a strategy for achieving selective toxicity in cancer chemotherapy will be investigated by exploiting the differential folylpolyglutamate hydrolase activity in tumor versus normal proliferative tissues. For this purpose, we propose to develop the required chemistry to deliver antifolate polyglutamates intact to mammalian cells via conjugation with macromolecules to cell cytosol subsequent to endocytosis. A Mass Spectral facility for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of folate and antifolate metabolites will be established at the University of South Alabama. All potential drugs will be evaluated thoroughly for their anticancer activity by our biological and industrial collaborators, using the appropriate biochemical and pharmacological test systems. Promising compounds will be evaluated in vivo for their antitumor activity in tumor bearing animals.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA027101-18
Application #
2894513
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG2-ET-2 (02))
Program Officer
Lees, Robert G
Project Start
1981-09-30
Project End
2001-09-29
Budget Start
1999-09-30
Budget End
2001-09-29
Support Year
18
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of South Alabama
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Mobile
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
36688
Lobo, A P; Nair, M G; Changchien, L et al. (1998) Mode of action of site-directed irreversible folate analogue inhibitors of thymidylate synthase. Biochemistry 37:4535-42
Cao, S; Abraham, A; Nair, M G et al. (1996) Polyglutamylation of the dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor gamma-methylene-10-deazaaminopterin is not essential for antitumor activity. Clin Cancer Res 2:707-12
Liu, L; Nair, M G; Kisliuk, R L (1996) Novel nonclassical inhibitors of glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase: 10-formyl and 10-hydroxymethyl derivatives of 5,8,10-trideazapteroic acid. J Mol Recognit 9:169-74
Desai, A; Nair, M G (1993) Evaluation of the anti-arthritic activity and an alternate synthesis of a thiophene-substituted 10-deazaaminopterin. Adv Exp Med Biol 338:425-8
Abraham, A; McGuire, J J; Galivan, J et al. (1993) New thiophene substituted 10-deazaaminopterins: synthesis and biological evaluation. Adv Exp Med Biol 338:421-4
Abraham, A; Nair, M G; McGuire, J J et al. (1993) Antitumor efficacy of classical non-polyglutamylatable antifolates that inhibit dihydrofolate reductase. Adv Exp Med Biol 338:663-6
Alarcon, G S; Castaneda, O; Nair, M G et al. (1992) Controlled trial of methotrexate versus 10-deazaaminopterin in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 51:600-3
Weber, G F; Nair, M G (1992) Inhibition of the neutrophil NADPH oxidase by folic acid and antagonists of the folic acid metabolism. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 14:523-38
Abraham, A; McGuire, J J; Galivan, J et al. (1991) Folate analogues. 34. Synthesis and antitumor activity of non-polyglutamylatable inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase. J Med Chem 34:222-7
Li, S W; Nair, M G; Edwards, D M et al. (1991) Folate analogues. 35. Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1-deaza, 3-deaza, and bridge-elongated analogues of N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid. J Med Chem 34:2746-54

Showing the most recent 10 out of 20 publications