A concept of dual-responsive prodrugs based on oligomerization-controlled reactivity of ester groups: an improvement of cancer cells versus neutrophils selectivity of camptothecin

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Insa Klemt - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Viktor Reshetnikov - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Subrata Dutta - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Galyna Bila - , Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University (Author)
  • Rostyslav Bilyy - , Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University (Author)
  • Itziar Cossío Cuartero - , Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Author)
  • Andrés Hidalgo - , Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Author)
  • Adrian Wünsche - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Maximilian Böhm - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Marit Wondrak - , University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Leoni A. Kunz-Schughart - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Rainer Tietze - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Frank Beierlein - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Petra Imhof - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Sabrina Gensberger-Reigl - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Monika Pischetsrieder - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Marlies Körber - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Tina Jost - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Andriy Mokhir - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)

Abstract

Many known chemotherapeutic anticancer agents exhibit neutropenia as a dose-limiting side effect. In this paper we suggest a prodrug concept solving this problem for camptothecin (HO-cpt). The prodrug is programmed according to Boolean “AND” logic. In the absence of H2O2 (trigger T1), e.g. in the majority of normal cells, it exists as an inactive oligomer. In cancer cells and in primed neutrophils (high H2O2), the oligomer is disrupted forming intermediate (inactive) lipophilic cationic species. These are accumulated in mitochondria (Mit) of cancer cells, where they are activated by hydrolysis at mitochondrial pH 8 (trigger T2) with formation of camptothecin. In contrast, the intermediates remain stable in neutrophils lacking Mit and therefore a source of T2. In this paper we demonstrated a proof-of-concept. Our prodrug exhibits antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo, but is not toxic to normal cell and neutrophils in contrast to known single trigger prodrugs and the parent drug HO-cpt.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1189-1197
Number of pages9
JournalRSC Medicinal Chemistry
Volume15 (2024)
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 31 Jan 2024
Peer-reviewedYes