Taxanes represent some of the most common chemotherapeutic agents for ovarian cancer treatment. However, they are only effective in approximately 40% of patients. As such, novel therapeutic strategies are required to potentiate their effect in ovarian cancer to improve patient outcome and prevent chemotherapy resistance. A hallmark of many cancers is the constitutive activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway, which drives cell survival and metabolism. In this thesis, I identified a potential vulnerability in ovarian cancer cell lines during paclitaxel-induced mitotic arrest, comprising of a striking decrease in AKT activity coupled with a significant reduction in glucose 6-phosphate and ATP levels. The reanalysis of a high content siRNA screen to discover metabolic enzymes important for ovarian cancer cell survival during paclitaxel-induced mitotic arrest, identified the metabolic enzyme PFKFB4. PFKFB4 depletion followed by paclitaxel treatment resulted in a significant decrease in mitotically arrested cells. This was accompanied by a significant increase in caspase-3/7 activity and the levels of reactive oxygen species only in mitotically arrested cells, and a significant enhancement in mitotic cell death and mitotic slippage. Depletion of the related family member, PFKFB3, demonstrated a similar phenotype. The exogenous expression of constitutively active AKT or siRNA-resistant PFKFB4 did not confer resistance to PFKFB4 depletion and paclitaxel treatment, indicating that the mechanism of mitotic cell reduction is complex. Nonetheless, the observation that some ovarian cancer cells lose AKT activity during mitotic arrest and could become vulnerable to metabolic targeting is a new concept in cancer therapy. In addition, I have identified previously unrecognised roles of PFKFB3 and PFKFB4 in mitotically arrested ovarian cancer cells. This work supports the notion that combining mitotic-targeted therapies with metabolic inhibitors may act to potentiate the effects of antimitotics in ovarian cancer cells.

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As part of an ongoing investigation for anticancer agents from natural resources, four plant extracts were determined to contain interesting bioactivity. These extracts were separated by chromatography to afford a number of bioactive compounds that were characterized by spectral analysis. Fractionation of the fruit extract of Cryptocarya crassifolia led to the isolation of two known flavonoids and two known cryptocaryalactones. Fractionation of the bark extract of the same plant also gave the same two cryptocaryalactones. All these compounds were weakly active in a cytotoxicity assay. Two new isoflavones were isolated from the roots of an Egyptian lotus plant, Lotus polyphyllos. Both compounds were characterized by UV, NMR, and mass spectroscopic analysis The methanol extract from the leaves and bark of a Brexiella sp. were found to display significant cytotoxic activity versus the A2780 mammalian cell line. Two highly active cardenolides, glucodigimetholide and xysmalogenin glucoside, were isolated and found to be responsible for the bioactivities. Both compounds were characterized by spectroscopic analysis and comparison to the known literature data. Two marine extracts were also investigated. The pyridoacridine alkaloids, amphimedine and neoampimedine, were isolated from the marine sponge Petrosia sp., and three bromo-tyrosine alkaloids were isolated from the marine sponge Porphyria flintae. The structures of these known compounds were all elucidated by comparison to literature data. Two 6-amino-glycoglycerolipids had been previously isolated from a marine algae species and shown to inhibit the activity of the enzyme Myt-1 kinase. These compounds and some related compounds were synthesized and their bioactivities against Myt1 kinase were determined. Two isotopically labeled paclitaxel analogs (2D, 19F) were prepared in preparation for studies of the tubulin-binding conformation of paclitaxel by REDOR NMR. A new macrocyclic A-nor-paclitaxel was also synthesized, and was found to have good cytotoxicity and improved tubulin-binding activity as compared with paclitaxel. / Ph. D.

The novel diterpenoid taxol isolated from the western yew Taxus brevifolia is one of the most important lead compounds to emerge from the search for anticancer agents from plants. It shows consistent clinical activity against ovarian cancer and may also be active against other cancers. In this study, the preparation of various taxol derivatives was investigated, with the objective of better understanding the structural requirements for activity in the taxol series. The 7-hydroxyl group of taxol was derivatized with a photoaffinity label and other reagents as a beginning of the project to understand the interaction of taxol and tubulin, and the activity of all the derivatives in a tubulin assay was determined. A study of the deacylation and reacylation reactions of baccatin 111 was carried out in order to find conditions suitable for the preparation of 2-debenzoylbaccatin Ill , and thus 2-debenzoyltaxol. Finally, the reactions of taxol with various electrophilic reagents were investigated, and the structures of products with an opened oxetane ring and/or contracted ring A were determined. Biological assay results are reported on many of the compounds in this investigation. / Ph. D.

The importance of taxol as an anticancer drug lies not only in its activity in antitumor assays but also in its unique mechanism of action. Unfortunately, taxol is not water-soluble and therefore must be given in conjunction with emulsifying agents. Modifications of taxol were carried out in order to prepare water-soluble taxol derivatives. The C-2’ hydroxyl group of taxol was substituted with various groups to increase water solubility. The synthesized taxol derivatives, 2’-((3-sulfo-1-oxopropyl)oxy)taxol sodium salt, 2’-((4-((2-sulfoethyl)amino)-1,4-dioxobutyl)oxy)taxol sodium salt, and 2’-((4-((3-sulfopropyl)amino)-1,4-dioxobutyl)oxy)taxol sodium salt were more water-soluble than taxol. The synthetic pathways to these compounds are compared and discussed. / Master of Science

Taxol®, an important anticancer drug, was first isolated in extremely low yield from the bark of the western yew, Taxus brevifolia. The clinical utility of Taxol has prompted a tremendous effort to obtain this complex molecule synthetically. Due to the chemical complexity of Taxol, its commercial production by total synthesis is not likely to be economical. Another natural product, 10-deacetyl baccatin III, is readily available in higher yield. Several methods have been reported for the synthesis of Taxol by coupling baccatin III and the N-benzoyl-β-phenylisoserine side chain. A new method for the synthesis ofTaxol from baccatin III is reported, and this method is compared with other methods. / Master of Science

The natural product, paclitaxel, has made tremendous contributions in supplying the arsenal of anticancer therapeutics, and was FDA approved for clinical use in 1992. In order to design simplified analogs, the conformation that paclitaxel adopts when binding to tubulin has been the subject of ongoing studies. Much evidence has led to a T-taxol proposal and a C3' constrained analog has been designed and synthesized as a test of this conformation. In the search for more active analogs, a number of modifications have been made to paclitaxel by other researchers. However, the nature of the alterations, and combinations thereof, have not been exhausted. To this end, synthesis of northern hemisphere B-ring analogs is underway. / Master of Science

Em estudos prévios, mostramos que uma nanoemulsão lipídica (LDE) é reconhecida e se liga aos receptores de LDL após sua injeção na corrente sanguínea. Como tais receptores estão superexpressos em células com altas taxas de proliferação, como ocorre no câncer e na aterosclerose, a LDE pode ser utilizada como veículo para direcionar fármacos a essas células, diminuindo sua toxicidade e aumentando sua eficácia terapêutica. Anteriormente, reportamos que o tratamento com um derivado do paclitaxel, o oleato de paclitaxel, associado à LDE (PTX-LDE), reduziu em 60% a área lesionada de aortas de coelhos submetidos à dieta aterogênica, comparados a animais não tratados. No presente trabalho, avaliamos o efeito da associação de sinvastatina, medicamento hipolipemiante, e PTX-LDE, sobre a aterosclerose induzida por dieta em coelhos. Trinta e seis coelhos machos da raça Nova Zelândia foram submetidos à dieta enriquecida com 1% de colesterol durante oito semanas. A partir da quinta semana, os animais foram divididos em quatro grupos, de acordo com o tratamento: controle (solução salina EV), sinvastatina (2mg/kg/dia, VO), paclitaxel (PTX-LDE, 4mg/Kg/semana, EV), ou combinação de sinvastatina (2mg/Kg/dia, VO) com paclitaxel (PTX-LDE, 4mg/Kg/semana, EV). Após oito semanas, os animais foram sacrificados para análise das aortas. Em comparação aos controles, a área lesionada das aortas foi em torno de 60% menor, tanto no grupo paclitaxel, quanto no grupo da combinação, e em torno de 40% menor no grupo sinvastatina (p<0,05). A razão entre as camadas íntima/média foi menor nos grupos tratados, em relação ao grupo controle (controles, 0,35±0,22, sinvastatina, 0,10±0,07, paclitaxel, 0,06±0,16 e combinação, 0,09±0,05, p<0,0001). Os grupos combinação e sinvastatina apresentaram um aumento da porcentagem de colágeno nas lesões (combinação, 20% e sinvastatina, 22%), em comparação aos controles (11%) e ao grupo paclitaxel (12%), (p<0,0001). Houve uma diminuição da porcentagem de macrófagos na lesão em todos os grupos tratados (paclitaxel, 11%, sinvastatina, 8% e combinação, 5%), comparados ao grupo controle (30%), (p<0,0001). O grupo paclitaxel apresentou menor porcentagem de células musculares lisas na lesão (20%) em relação aos controles (33%), (p<0,0001), já na combinação, houve aumento dessa porcentagem (44%), (p<0,0001). A combinação com sinvastatina não aumentou a eficácia do tratamento com PTX-LDE na redução da área de lesões ateroscleróticas, porém, os efeitos adicionais sobre o perfil lipídico e na composição das lesões, observadas com o uso da combinação, são achados importantes, que sugerem benefícios no sentido de aumentar a estabilidade das placas ateroscleróticas, o que nos abre um caminho de pesquisa muito promissor. / In previous studies we have shown that a lipid nanoemulsion (LDE) is recognized and binds to LDL receptors after injection into the bloodstream. As those receptors are upregulated in cells with higher proliferation rates, as occurs in cancer and atherosclerosis, LDE can be used as a vehicle to direct drugs to those cells, diminishing toxicity and increasing therapeutic efficacy. Previously, we reported that treatment with antiproliferative agent paclitaxel derivative, paclitaxel oleate, associated with LDE (PTX-LDE), reduced by 60% the injured area of the aorta of rabbits subjected to atherogenic diet compared to untreated animals. In the current study we aim to test the effect of a combination of lipid-lowering drug simvastatin with PTX-LDE on diet-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. Thirty-six male New Zealand rabbits were fed a 1% cholesterol diet for 8 weeks. Starting from week 5, animals were divided into four groups, according to the following treatments: controls (I.V. saline solution injections), simvastatin P.O. (2mg/kg/day), paclitaxel (PTX-LDE I.V. injections, 4mg/Kg/week), or paclitaxel-simvastatin combination (PTX-LDE I.V., 4mg/Kg/week + simvastatin P.O., 2mg/Kg/day). After 8 weeks, the animals were sacrificed for aorta evaluation. Compared to controls, the injured area was reduced by 60% in both paclitaxel and combination groups, and by 40% in simvastatin group (p<0,05). The intima/media ratio was reduced in treated groups, compared to control group (controls, 0,35±0,22, simvastatin, 0,10±0,07, paclitaxel, 0,06±0,16 and combination, 0,09±0,05, p<0,0001). Simvastatin and combination groups showed increased collagen content within the lesions (simvastatin, 22% and combination 20%), compared to controls (11%) and to paclitaxel group (12%), (p <0.0001). Macrophage content within the lesions was reduced in all treated groups (paclitaxel, 11%, simvastatin, 8% e combination, 5%), compared to controls (30%), (p <0.0001). The percentage of smooth muscle cells in the lesions was diminished in paclitaxel group (20%) compared to control group (33%), while the combination group showed increased percentage (44%) of smooth muscle cells in the lesions (p<0,0001). The combination of simvastatin did not improve the efficacy of the treatment with PTXLDE in reducing the area of atherosclerotic lesions, but the additional effects on lipid profile and lesion composition observed with the use of the combination are important findings that suggest benefits in order to enhance the stability of atherosclerotic plaques, which may lead us to a very promising research path.

Os agentes antineoplásicos são considerados drogas de risco, ou seja, aquelas que podem ocasionar efeitos como genotoxicidade, carcinogenicidade , teratogenicidade ou alteração na fertilidade e a exposição dos profissionais de saúde constitui-se em grande preocupação do ponto de vista de saúde ocupacional. Precedendo o seu emprego na terapia oncológica, estes medicamentos devem ser submetidos a análises físicas, químicas e biológicas para avaliação da qualidade, sendo que estes testes geram considerável volume de resíduos que também requerem tratamento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia de diferentes métodos de inativação para as moléculas de cisplatina, doxorrubicina e paclitaxel em solução injetável, utilizando cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (avaliação química) e teste de citotoxicidade in vitro (avaliação biológica). Foram avaliados os inativantes Asepto 75&#174; (solução a 0,5%), hipoclorito de sódio (solução a 10%) e tiossulfato de sódio (solução a 10%). Os ativos ficaram expostos aos inativantes por períodos que variaram de 0 a 6 horas. Os resultados demonstraram que o asepto 75 é eficiente para a inativação química e biológica dos três ativos, sendo o tempo de exposição fator determinante para a degradação química da cisplatina. Os graus de citotoxicidade variaram de nenhum a leve (IZ= 0 a 1). O hipoclorito de sódio possui um grau de citotoxicidade por si só, porém foi eficaz na inativação química dos três ativos. Já o inativante tiossulfato de sódio se mostrou eficaz na in ativação química da cisplatina, não tendo efeito sobre a doxorrubicina ou sobre o paclitaxel. Os resultados da avaliação in vitro mostraram-se compatíveis com os da avaliação química. Conclui-se que a inativação dos princípios ativos previamente ao descarte é eficaz para reduzir os riscos ocupacionais e ambientais das drogas citotóxicas. / The anti-neoplastic agents are considered risk drugs, that is, the ones that can cause effects, such as genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity or change in fertility. Because of these factors, the exposure of the health care professionals are a great concern of occupational health. Before the use of the oncological therapy, these drugs should be undergone to the physical, chemical and biological tests for the quality evaluation, considering that these test also produce a considerable amount of waste which also demand treatment. The aim of this work is to evaluate the efficacy oh the different methods of inactivation for the cisplatine molecules, doxorubicine and paclitaxel in injection solutions. Using high performance liquid chromatography (chemical evalution) and in vitro citotoxity test (biological evaluation). It has been evaluated Asepto 75 degradant (aqueous solution at 0,5%), sodium hypochlorite (aqueous solution at 10%) and sodium thyosulfate (aqueous solution at 10%). The drugs were exposed to the degradants in periods that ranged from 0 to 6 hours. The results have been demonstrated that asepto 75 is efficient for the chemical and biological inativation of the drugs, and the time of exposition is determinant for the chemical degradation of cisplatin. The citotoxicity grades have ranged from \"none\" to \"slight\". The sodium hypochlorite has a toxicity grade for itself, although it was effective in the chemical degradation of the three drugs. Yet the sodium thiosulfate degradant has demonstrated to be effective in the chemical inativation of cisplatin, not having effects over doxorubicin or paclitaxel. The results of in vitro evaluation have been compatible with the chemical evaluation. It concludes that the inactivation of the drugs before the waste is effective to reduce the occupational and environmental risks of citotoxic drugs.