Targeted delivery of paclitaxel to tumor cells: synthesis and in vitro evaluation

J Med Chem. 2010 Apr 22;53(8):3127-32. doi: 10.1021/jm901763f.

Abstract

We previously reported a novel drug delivery system, drug-linker-Phe-Phe-Arg-methylketone (FFR-mk)-factor VIIa (fVIIa). The method utilizes tissue factor (TF), which is aberrantly and abundantly expressed on many cancer cells. The advantage of this delivery system is its ability to furnish a potent anticancer drug specifically to the tumor vasculature and cancer cells. In this paper, we describe the synthesis of paclitaxel (PTX)-Phe-Phe-Arg-chloromethyl ketone (FFR-ck), followed by coupling with fVIIa to form PTX-FFR-mk-fVIIa. FFRck was separately linked to the OH groups at the C2' or C7 positions of PTX (C2'- or C7-PTX-FFRck), the C2' analogue exhibiting better activity against human head and neck squamous KB 3-1 cells. The activity order against PTX-sensitive KB 3-1 cells is C2'-PTX-FFRmk-fVIIa > PTX > C2'-PTX-FFRck. The C2' complex shows an IC(50) of 12 nM against the PTX-sensitive cell line and 130 nM against PTX-resistant cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Factor VIIa / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Paclitaxel / analogs & derivatives*
  • Paclitaxel / chemical synthesis*
  • Paclitaxel / chemistry
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology
  • Umbilical Veins / cytology

Substances

  • Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Factor VIIa
  • Paclitaxel