ICI-198583

Thymidylate synthase (TS), an enzyme that catalyses the conversion of dUMP to dTMP, has been the focus of interest as a target in cancer chemotherapy for more than two decades. Over the last 10 years much research has been devoted to the design and development of nonpolyglutamatable inhibitors of TS as antitumour agents, mainly to over­ come resistance due to unfavourable expression of folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS). Lipophilic inhibitors of the enzyme were expected not to depend on the reduced folate carrier transporter (RFC) for cellular uptake, thus avoiding resistance due to an impaired RFC. Compounds of this type can be classified in three groups: A: nonclassical lipophilic inhibitors of TS, mainly folate-based analogues lacking the glutamate side chain; B: folate-based analogues in which the glutamate side chain has been- modified in such a way that polyglutamation is precluded; and C: nonpolyglutamatable gluta.mate-containing inhibitors of TS. Compounds of group A included 5- or 6-substituted quinazolin-4-ones, benzo[flquinazolines, imidazotetrahydroquinoline- and benz[cd]indole-based inhibitors. The second group is mainly related to a series of γ-linked dipeptide derivatives of ICII98583, or analogues of this inhibitor where the glutamate residue was replaced with a range of α-amino acids. The third group is concerned with some 7-substituted derivatives of ICI198583 and the pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-based inhibitor 175. A large number of structurally diverse nonpolyglutamatable inhibitors of TS were synthesised some of which were potent inhibitors of the enzyme (human or E. coli) and in vitro cell growth. Three compounds, i.e. 49 (AG 337), 83 (AG 331), 123 (ZD9331) have reached the stage of clinical evaluation.

In an effort to synthesize inhibitors of thymidylate synthase (TS) that do not undergo polyglutamation, a series of gamma-linked sterically hindered dipeptide analogues of 2-desamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (ICI 198583) was prepared. A methyl, ethyl, or propargyl group was incorporated into the gamma-glutamyl amide bond of gamma-linked L,L dipeptide derivatives of ICI 198583, such as ICI 198583-gamma-L-Glu. In addition, steric bulk was introduced on either side of the gamma-glutamyl bond of ICI 198583-gamma-L-Glu or ICI 198583-gamma-L-Ala. The resulting dipeptide analogues, e.g., ICI 198583-gamma-MeGlu and ICI 198583-gamma-Aib, were apparently stable to in vivo hydrolysis but poorer inhibitors of TS and L1210 cell growth. However, introduction of 7-Me, 2'-F substitution into the quinazoline nucleus gave significant improvement in the inhibitory activity against thymidylate synthase. Compounds 28-30, the 7-Me, 2'-F derivatives of ICI 198583-gamma-MeGlu, ICI 198583-gamma-EtGlu, and ICI 198583-gamma-PgGlu, respectively, were potent inhibitors of TS (K(iapp) = 0.21-1.1 nM) and L1210 cell growth (IC50 = 0.05-0.34 microM) and were similar to that seen with the most potent gamma-linked L,D dipeptide derivatives of ICI 198583 previously synthesized. Furthermore, the low cross-resistance ratios for the L1210:R(D1694)/L1210 cell line indicated that 28-30 do not undergo polyglutamation.