Hypoxia-selective antitumor agents. 6. 4-(Alkylamino)nitroquinolines: a new class of hypoxia-selective cytotoxins.

A series of isomeric 4-[[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]amino]nitroquinolines has been synthesized and evaluated as hypoxia-selective cytotoxins and as radiosensitizers of hypoxic cells. The compounds showed widely-differing hypersensitivity factors (ratios of cytotoxicity against wild-type and repair-deficient mammalian cells). Many compounds showed oxygen-sensitive bioreduction resulting in DNA alkylation, while others show oxygen-insensitive modes of action. Of the nitro isomers studied, the 5-nitro showed the greatest hypoxic selectivity. A series of ring-substituted analogues were then prepared, in an effort to lower its reduction potential of -286 mV. Structure-activity studies showed that the effects of substitution on reduction potential were complex, being mediated by electronic and steric effects on the nitro group, as well as by effects on quinoline pKa. Two compounds of lower reduction potential, the 3- and 8-methyl analogues, showed improved selectivity (47- and 60-fold in a clonogenic assay). These two compounds also showed the highest "in vitro therapeutic indices" of the series as hypoxic cell radiosensitizers. Despite these favorable in vitro properties, neither compound had activity against hypoxic cells in SCCVII tumors when administered at 60% of the MTD.