Paclitaxel is one of the most successful anti-cancer drugs, particularly in the treatment of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. For the investigation of the interaction between paclitaxel and MD-2 protein, and development of new antagonists for lipopolysaccharide, several C10 A-nor-paclitaxel analogs have been synthesized and their biological activities have been evaluated. In order to reduce the myelosuppression effect of the paclitaxel, several C3â ² and C4 paclitaxel analogs have been synthesized and their biological evaluation have been studied. / Master of Science

Background and Aims Gliomas account for over half of all primary brain tumours and have a very poor prognosis, with a median survival of less than two years. There is an urgent and unmet clinical need to develop new therapies against glioma. Recent reports have indicated the overexpression of FPR1 in gliomas particularly in high grade gliomas. The aim of this project was to identify and synthesise small molecule FPR1 antagonists, and to demonstrate a proof of principle in preclinical in vitro and in vivo models that small molecule FPR1 antagonism can retard expansion of glioma. Methods A number of small molecule FPR1 antagonists were identified by in silico design, or from the literature and then were prepared using chemical synthesis. FPR1 antagonists were evaluated in vitro for their ability to abrogate FPR1-induced cellular responses in a range of models including calcium mobilisation, cell migration, and invasion. The efficacy of FPR1 antagonist ICT12035 in vivo was assessed in a U-87 MG subcutaneous xenograft model. Results Virtual high throughput screening using a homology model of FPR1 led to the identification of two small molecule FPR1 antagonists. At the same time chemical synthesis of two other antagonists, ICT5100 and ICT12035 as well as their analogues were carried out. The FPR1 antagonists were assessed in calcium flux assay which gave an insight into their structure-activity relationship. Further investigation of both ICT5100 and ICT12035 demonstrated that both small molecule FPR1 antagonists were effective at abrogating FPR1-induced calcium mobilisation, migration, and invasion in U- 87 MG in vitro models in a dose-dependent manner. ICT12035 is a particularly selective and potent inhibitor of FPR1 with an IC50 of 37.7 nM in calcium flux assay. Additionally, it was shown that the FPR1 antagonist ICT12035 was able to arrest the growth rate of U-87 MG xenografted tumours in mice. Conclusion The results demonstrate that targeting FPR1 by a small molecule antagonist such as ICT12035, could provide a potential new therapy for the treatment of glioblastoma. / Yorkshire Cancer Research

Chan Ho Yee. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-138). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.II / ABSTRACT --- p.III / 摘要 --- p.V / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.VI / "TABLE OF CONTENTS, " --- p.VII / LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES --- p.XI / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- GENERAL INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes --- p.1 / Cytochrome P450 1 family --- p.4 / CYP1A1 --- p.5 / CYP1A2 --- p.5 / CYP1B1 --- p.5 / Transactivation of CYP1 enzymes by Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) --- p.8 / Implication of PAHs and CYP1 family in breast cancer --- p.10 / Potential role of phytochemicals on cancer prevention --- p.11 / Significance of this project --- p.13 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.14 / Chemicals --- p.14 / Maintenance of cells --- p.14 / Preparation of cell stock --- p.14 / Cell recovery from liquid nitrogen stock --- p.15 / Measurement of cell viability --- p.15 / Preparation of cell lysates (NP-40 cell lysis buffer) --- p.15 / XRE-luciferase gene reporter assay --- p.16 / Manipulation of DNA and RNA --- p.17 / Separation and purification of DNA from agarose gel --- p.17 / Separation of DNA from acrylamide gel --- p.17 / Restriction digestion --- p.18 / Ligation of DNA fragments --- p.18 / Transformation of DH5 a --- p.19 / Small scale plasmid purification from DH5a (mini prep) --- p.19 / Large scale plasmid isolation from DH5a (maxi-prep) --- p.20 / Construction of XRE activated luciferase reporter gene --- p.21 / Measurement of DMBA-DNA adduct formation --- p.21 / Semi-quantitative RT-PCR Assay --- p.22 / ENZYME ACTIVITIES --- p.23 / Isolation of microsomes --- p.23 / EROD activities in intact cells --- p.23 / EROD inhibition assay --- p.24 / Stattstical Analysis --- p.24 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- BAICALEIN INHIBITS DMBA-DNA ADDUCT FORMATION BY MODULATING CYP1A1 AND 1B1 ACTIVITIES --- p.26 / Introduction --- p.26 / Results --- p.28 / EROD activities in MCF-7 cells and inhibition assay --- p.28 / Baicalein suppressed DMBA-induced XRE-driven luciferase activities --- p.31 / Baicalein inhibited DMBA-induced CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNA expression --- p.31 / The cytotoxic effect of DMBA was reduced by baicalein --- p.35 / Inhibition of DMBA-DNA adduct formation after baicalein treatment --- p.35 / Discussion --- p.39 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- INHIBITION OF DMBA-DNA ADDUCT FORMATION BY (-)-EPIGALLOCATECHIN GALLATE AND THEAFLAVINS --- p.41 / Introduction --- p.41 / Results --- p.45 / Persistence of DMBA-induced DNA adducts --- p.45 / Inhibition of theaflavins and EGCG on human recombinant CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 enzyme activities --- p.48 / EGCG suppressed DMBA-induced EROD activity while thealfavin had no significant effect on this --- p.48 / Kinetic analysis of EGCG on CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 activities --- p.53 / Modulation of DMBA-induced XRE-driven luciferase activities by theaflavins and EGCG --- p.56 / The influence of theaflavins and EGCG on CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 abundance --- p.56 / Discussion --- p.65 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- ISOFLAVONES PREVENT DMBA-INDUCED CARCINOGENESIS BY INHIBITING CYP1A1 AND CYP1B1 ACTIVITIES --- p.67 / Introduction --- p.67 / Results --- p.70 / Isoflavones inhibited DMBA-induced EROD activity in MCF-7 cells --- p.70 / Inhibition of MCF-7 microsomal EROD activities by isoflavones --- p.70 / Kinetic analysis of the inhibition of human recombinant CYP1 enzymes by isoflavones --- p.74 / XRE-driven Luciferase activities --- p.83 / Both biochanin A and genistein suppressed DMBA-induced CYP1 mRNA expression --- p.83 / Cytotoxicity of DMBA and isoflavones co-treatment --- p.88 / Isoflavones reduced the binding of activated DMBA to DNA --- p.89 / Discussion --- p.93 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- IN VITRO EFFECTS OF BAICALEIN AND THEAFLAVINS ON RAT HEPATIC P450 ACTIVITIES --- p.96 / Introduction --- p.96 / Results --- p.98 / Inhibition of EROD and MROD activities in rat liver microsomes by baicalein --- p.98 / Effects of theaflavins on EROD and MROD activities in rat liver microsomes --- p.102 / Kinetic studies for EROD and MROD activities of theaflavins --- p.104 / DISCUSSION --- p.114 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- CONCLUSION --- p.116 / APPENDIX 1 PRIMER LISTS --- p.118 / APPENDIX 2 REAGENTS --- p.119 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.121

The central role of Src in the development of several malignancies including breast cancer and the accumulating evidence of its interaction with receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK), integrins and steroid receptors have identified it as an attractive therapeutic target. In the current study we have evaluated the effect of a Src/Abl kinase inhibitor SKI-606, on breast cancer growth, migration, invasion and metastasis. Treatment of human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 with SKI-606 caused a marked inhibition of cell proliferation, invasion and migration by inhibiting MAPK and Akt phosphorylation. For in vivo studies MDA-MB-231 cells transfected with the plasmid encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) [MDA-MB-231-GFP] were inoculated into mammary fat pad of female BALB/c nu/nu mice. Once tumor volume reached 30-50 mm3, animals were randomized and treated with vehicle alone or 150 mg/kg of SKI-606 by daily oral gavage. Experimental animals receiving SKI-606 developed tumors of significantly smaller volume (45-54%) as compared to control animals receiving vehicle alone. Analysis of lungs, liver and spleen of these animals showed a significant decrease in GFP positive tumor metastasis in animals receiving SKI-606 at a dose that was well tolerated. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical analysis of primary tumors showed that these effects were due to the ability of SKI-606 to block tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, growth factors expression and inhibition of Src mediated signalling pathways in vivo. Together the results from these studies provide compelling evidence for the use of Src inhibitors as therapeutic agents for blocking breast cancer growth and metastasis.

No description available.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a rare condition characterized by endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodelling, leading to increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and right ventricular heart failure. Endothelial dysfunction is associated with an imbalance between vasoconstrictor compounds, such as endothelin and thromboxane A2, and vasodilator compounds, such as prostacyclin and nitric oxide (NO). Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a methyl derivate of L-arginine, inhibits synthesis of NO. Vardenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5-inhibitors), causes vasodilation through the NO/cGMP pathway. Aim: This thesis investigates the pharmacological effects and diagnostic utility of vardenafil in PH patients. In addition, to evaluate the change of L-arginine and dimethylarginines before and during PAHspecific therapy in PAH patients compared to patients with left ventricular heart failure (LVHF) and healthy subjects. Methods: The pharmacokinetics and hemodynamic effects of vardenafil were examined during right heart catheterization (RHC) in 16 PH patients and plasma concentrations were measured for up to nine hours after oral administration. In 20 PH patients, acute vasoreactivity test with vardenafil was performed during RHC. Hemodynamic responses were recorded, responders were defined and followed for up to seven years. Additionally, plasma ADMA, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), L-arginine, L-citrulline and L-ornithine levels before and after PAH drug treatment were monitored in 21 PAH patients and compared to values measured in 14 LVHF patients and 27 healthy subjects. Results: Vardenafil concentrations increased rapidly to maximum plasma concentration (tmax 1h) and elimination half-life was 3.4 h. Patients co-medicated with bosentan had reduced vardenafil concentration. Significant acute hemodynamic responses were observed for mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) (p<0.001), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (p<0.001), cardiac output (CO) (p=0.015), cardiac index (CI) (p=0.010), systemic vascular resistance (SVR) (p<0.001) and PVR/SVR (p=0.002) and were related to plasma vardenafil concentrations. PAH patients had significantly higher ADMA and SDMA levels and significantly lower L-arginine levels and L-arginine/ADMA ratio compared with healthy subjects (p<0.001). L-arginine was also lower in PAH patients compared to patients with LVHF (p<0.05). WHO functional class and six minutes walking distance (6MWD) correlated to Larginine and L-arginine/ADMA ratio in PAH at baseline (p<0.05). At follow-up, patients on mono- or combinationtherapy with endothelin receptor antagonists (ERA) had lower ADMA levels than patients without ERA (p<0.05). In contrast, patients on PDE5-inhibitors had higher ADMA levels compared to patients without PDE5-inhibitors (p<0.05). Conclusion: Vardenafil is safe in acute vasoreactivity test in PH patients. Cardiopulmonary hemodynamic response was related to plasma drug concentrations. There was a high inter-individual variability of vardenafil pharmacokinetics and co-medication with bosentan caused a pharmacokinetic drug interaction. Baseline L-arginine and dimethylarginines levels were different in PAH patients compared to LVHF patients and healthy controls. PAH-specific treatment influenced L-arginine and dimethylarginines. Our data suggest that L-arginine might be useful for differentiating PAH from LVHF, and L-arginine/ADMA ratios were related to the severity of PAH and might be useful for follow-up evaluations of PAH patients.

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychotic illness affecting ~21 million people globally. Currently available antipsychotic agents act through a dopamine D2 receptor mechanism, and produce extrapyramidal or metabolic side effects. Hence, there is a need for novel targets and agents. The mGlu2/5-HT2A receptor heteromer has been implicated in the action of antipsychotic agents, and represents a novel and attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of schizophrenia. A long-term goal of this project is to synthesize bivalent ligands where a 5-HT2A receptor antagonist is tethered to an mGlu2 PAM via a linker. The goals of the investigation were to study the SAR of risperidone (an atypical antipsychotic agent) at 5-HT2A receptors using a “deconstruction-reconstruction-elaboration” approach to determine the minimal structural features of risperidone that contribute to its 5-HT2A receptor affinity and antagonism, and to determine where on the “minimized risperidone” structure an mGlu2 PAM can be introduced. Additional goals included studying the binding modes of various mGlu2 PAMs and identifying where on an mGlu2 PAM a risperidone “partial” structure could be introduced. Biological studies of deconstructed/elaborated analogs of risperidone suggest that the entire structure of risperidone is not necessary for 5-HT2A receptor affinity and antagonism, and that a fluoro group contributes to 5-HT2A binding. 6-Fluoro-3-(4-piperidinyl)-1,2-benz[d]isoxazole that has only half the structural features of risperidone retains 5-HT2A receptor affinity and antagonist activity, and represents the “minimized risperidone” structure with the piperidine nitrogen atom representing a potential linker site for eventual construction of bivalent ligands. Molecular modeling studies at 5-HT2A receptors suggest that risperidone and its analogs have more than one binding mode. Modeling studies to evaluate binding modes of various PAMs at mGlu2 receptors, coupled with known SAR information, were used to identify a PAM (JNJ-40411813), and the pyridone nitrogen atom of JNJ-40411813 as a potential linker site. Additionally, potential synthetic routes for JNJ-40411813 were explored that might be of value in the synthesis of bivalent ligands. Based on the structural features of 6-fluoro-3-(4-piperidinyl)-1,2-benz[d]isoxazole, a new pharmacophore for 5-HT2A receptor antagonists, consisting of one aromatic region, a basic protonated amine and hydrogen bond acceptors, has been proposed.

Previously, the CCR5 receptor was found to be a good target for treating prostate cancer (PCa). Dr. Yan Zhang’s laboratory designed several CCR5 antagonists, which were screened for their inhibitory effect on the growth and invasion of the M12, DU145 and PC-3 PCa cell lines. Primary in vitro screening showed one compound (Drug 17) significantly inhibited the proliferation of PCa cells at 1μM concentration, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 237.68 nM. Further in vitro assays including a proliferation, cytotoxicity and invasion assay confirmed the inhibitory effect of drug 17. The physiological effect of drug 17 was tested by the Ware laboratory in vivo by subcutaneous injection of M12 cells into male, athymic nude mice. Tumor growth was slowed in mice receiving injections of drug 17 compared to sham injected controls. Thus, in vitro and in vivo assays suggest drug 17 might be an effective therapy to block PCa progression.

Our project was aimed at the development of novel CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonists that may have clinical applications for the treatment of cannabinoid and psychostimulant addiction. In this study, we designed, synthesized, and established the CB1 affinity for the 1,5-diaryl-1,2,3- triazole esters, a series of 4,5-diaryl-1-substituted-1,2,3-triazole analogues and a series of 4,5- diaryl-2-substituted-1,2,3-triazoles. Our research group has been interested in the synthesis of amphibian alkaloids due to their interesting biological activities. We have recently developed a general synthetic strategy which can rapidly prepare a few amphibian alkaloids simply from the abundant natural product (-)- cocaine This strategy was first successfully applied to the synthesis of (-)-monomorine. More recently, this strategy has also been utilized in the syntheses of both of the enantiomers of cispyrrolidine 225H and (+)-gephyrotoxin 287C.

O rebanho ovino brasileiro tem se intensificado, o que predispõe à maior incidência de transtornos digestivos, como a úlcera de abomaso. A ranitidina é utilizada na prevenção e tratamento desta afecção, no entanto há pouca informação sobre a indicação parenteral deste fármaco para a espécie ovina. São escassas as informações a respeito das alterações metabólicas concomitantes, assim como do comportamento do sistema digestório. Nesse estudo foram utilizados cinco ovinos, machos, hígidos, providos de cânula ruminal e abomasal em delineamento experimental Quadrado Latino 5 x 5, com arranjo fatorial de tratamentos 2 x 2 + 1. Foram testadas as doses de 1mg/kg e 2mg/kg, administradas por via intravenosa, (IV) a cada 12 (BID) e a cada 8 horas (TID) em relação ao grupo controle, tratado com 1 mL de solução fisiológica por 25 kg, IV, BID. Maiores concentrações de proteína total, cálcio, sódio e hemoglobina, maiores atividades de AST e aumento do pH abomasal por 150 minutos foram observados em todos os animais que receberam o fármaco, independentemente de dose e frequência. No grupo tratado BID houve diminuição do número de leucócitos. Na frequência TID houve aumento das concentrações de creatinina e diminuição do cortisol plasmático. Os tratamentos 1 mg/kg TID e 2 mg/kg BID aumentaram o número de hemácias, diminuíram o intervalo entre as contrações reticulares e as concentrações séricas de pepsinogênio. Não foram observadas alterações na dinâmica dos fluidos, no pH ruminal, nas funções vitais e na amplitude das contrações reticulares. A radiografia contrastada foi útil para a avaliação da motilidade abomasal e intestinal. A ultrassonografia em modo-M revelou-se de grande valia na avaliação da amplitude e duração da curva de contração reticular e do intervalo entre as contrações. / The brazilian sheep production intensified, predisposing to increased incidence of digestive disorders such as abomasal ulcers. Ranitidine is used to prevent and treat this disease, however there is little information about the use of parenteral form of the drug in sheep. Data about the concomitant metabolic changes, as well as the behavior of the digestive system is scant. In this study, we used five healthy male sheep with ruminal and abomasal cannula. A Latin Square experiment 5 x 5 with 2 x 2 + 1factorial arrangement of treatments was run. Four levels of 1mg/kg and 2mg/kg administered intravenously (IV) every 12 (BID) and every 8 hours (TID) was compared to the control group, treated with 1 mL of saline per 25 kg, IV, BID. Higher concentrations of total protein, calcium, sodium and hemoglobin, increased AST activity and increased pH abomasum for 150 min were observed in all animals receiving the drug, regardless of dose and frequency. The BID treatment groups showed decrease the number of leukocytes. Increase of creatinine concentrations and decrease of plasma cortisol were observed in the TID group. Treatments 1 mg/kg TID and 2 mg/kg BID increased the number of red blood cells, decreased the interval between reticular contractions and serum pepsinogen. No changes were observed in fluid dynamics, the ruminal pH, vital functions and amplitude of reticular contractions. Contrast administered through abomasal cannula allowed the evaluation of abomasal and intestinal motility by radiography. The M-mode ultrasonography proved valuable in characterizing reticular contraction by the interval of contractions and a contraction curve correlating amplitude and time and.