Anti-tumor and anti-invasive effects of diverse delta-alkyllactones: Dependence on molecular side-chain length, action period and intracellular uptake

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) 2007-04, Vol.80 (20), p.1851-1855
• Main Authors: Tanaka, Hiroshi, Kageyama, Katsuhiro, Yoshimura, Naoko, Asada, Ryoko, Kusumoto, Kumiko, Miwa, Nobuhiko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacokinetics; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antitumor activity; Camptothecin - chemistry; Camptothecin - pharmacokinetics; Camptothecin - pharmacology; Delta-lactone; Humans; Lactones - chemistry; Lactones - pharmacokinetics; Lactones - pharmacology; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Pyrones; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumor invasion
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2007.02.028

New delta-alkyllactones (DALs) with diverse side-chain lengths (184–254 Da), which are structurally different from the widespread, naturally occurring delta-lactones of higher molecular weight (348–439 Da), such as camptothecin and sultriecin, were chemically synthesized and analyzed for their carcinostatic activity. Of the DALs with 11, 12, 13, 14, or 16 carbon atoms, delta-hexadecalactone (DH16:0) was the most carcinostatic when administered to Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells at 37 °C for 20 h, and measured by the mitochondrial dehydrogenase-based WST-1 assay. Prolongation of the administration period to 72 h enhanced the carcinostatic activity more markedly for DH16:0 than for other DALs. The carcinostatic activity of DALs was unexpectedly augmented by increasing the number of carbon atoms, in contrast to the conventional view that carcinostatic activity is attenuated by the addition of carbon atoms to fatty acids. Intracellular accumulation of DH16:0, as analyzed by gas chromatography, was detected (1.5 Pg/cell), whereas other DALs studied were rarely found. The results indicate a close relationship between carcinostatic activity and intracellular accumulation. Invasion of human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells through the reconstituted basement membrane was inhibited by several DALs, even at doses as low as 5–10% of those necessary for carcinostatic activity, suggesting an invasive mechanism different from carcinostasis. The invasion–inhibitory activity was intensified by increasing the number of carbon atoms, in a manner similar to that for the carcinostatic activity. The lifespan of EAT-cell-transplanted mice was markedly prolonged with DH16:0, presumably due to excellent distribution throughout the body and tumor cells. Thus DH16:0 may be a potent anticancer agent, in term of its carcinostatic, anti-invasive, and lifespan-prolonging activities.