Effects of isomeric 2-(arylmethylamino)-1,3-propanediols (AMAPs) and clinically established agents on macromolecular synthesis in P388 and MCF-7 cells.

The in vitro effects of the 2-(arylmethylamino)-1,3-propanediols (AMAPs) on macromolecular synthesis have been examined using the murine leukemia, P388, and the human mammary adenocarcinoma, MCF-7, under conditions of short-term drug exposure. AMAPs that were observed to inhibit macromolecular synthesis produced nearly equipotent inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis. Equivalent inhibition of protein synthesis generally required significantly greater concentrations of AMAP. There is a general correlation between inhibition of polynucleotide synthesis and in vivo antitumor activity. The effects of four clinical candidate AMAPs (crisnatol, 773U82, 502U83, and 7U85) on macromolecular synthesis were further compared with those of actinomycin D, doxorubicin, mitoxantrone, etoposide, amsacrine, and cisplatin in MCF-7 cells. The pattern of AMAP action was most similar to that observed for doxorubicin and mitoxantrone. Finally, the effects of these four AMAPs on the size, specific activity, and rate of incorporation of [3H]-dTTP into DNA of MCF-7 cells synchronized by pretreatment with hydroxyurea was determined. It was found that DNA synthesis was inhibited by AMAPs independent of inhibition of the uptake, phosphorylation, or retention of the metabolic precursors. These results support the theory that antitumor AMAPs interfere with the normal functioning of enzymes, such as topoisomerase II or DNA and RNA polymerases, which interact with DNA.