Derivatives of amsacrine: determinants required for high activity against Lewis lung carcinoma.

Antitumor activity against the Lewis lung carcinoma in mice is reported for the series of 36 acridine-substituted derivatives of the antileukemia agent amsacrine. This series is the one from which the analogue N,5-dimethyl-9-[(2-methoxysulfonylamino)phenylamino]-4-acridinecarboxamide (CI-921), presently in clinical trial, was chosen. The analogues also were tested in vitro by comparing growth inhibition data [IC50 values (concentration required to reduce growth of cultured cells to 50% of that of untreated cultures)], using L1210 murine leukemia cells and HCT-8 human colon carcinoma cells. Determined IC50 values were highly dependent on the culture medium used, and it was found that the presence of ascorbate in the medium had a major effect on the stability of compounds to oxidation. A survey of 115 analogues of amsacrine indicates that a low ratio of IC50 values (HCT-8/L1210) is necessary but not sufficient for good antitumor activity against the solid tumor. DNA binding constants did not in themselves predict activity, although they were related to dose potency. Other factors, such as drug lipophilicity, acridine base strength, and drug solubility, also are involved, probably in providing effective drug distribution. It is concluded that in vitro assay data provide information useful for drug design but that other factors also are important for in vivo activity.