Effects of 5,8-dideazaisopteroylglutamate and its possible tri-gamma-glutamyl metabolite (5,8-dideazaisoPteGlu3) on colon adenocarcinoma, and the folate dependent enzymes thymidylate synthase and dihydrofolate reductase.

A series of 2-amino-4-hydroxy-quinazolines was synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of colon adenocarcinoma and the folate-dependent enzymes, thymidylate synthase and dihydrofolate reductase. Of the quinazolines tested, 5,8-dideazaisopteroylglutamate, (IAHQ), when administered at 85 mg/kg on days 2 and 10 after tumor implantation delayed the growth of colon tumor No. 38, and resulted in 6 of 20 tumor-free animals at 90 days. In contrast, methotrexate had no effect on the growth of colon tumor No. 38 at maximally tolerated doses. IAHQ was also active against human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HCT-8) in tissue culture, requiring a concentration of 5 X 10(-7) M to inhibit cell growth 50% after 72 hours continuous exposure. Since IAHQ was an effective substrate for folylpolyglutamate synthetase, we examined the effects of IAHQ and its possible tri-gamma-glutamyl metabolite, 5,8-dideazaisoPteGLu3, on thymidylate synthase and dihydrofolate reductase. Neither IAHQ nor 5,8-dideazaisoPteGlu3 stimulated significant binding of 5-fluorodeoxyuridylate to thymidylate synthase. This was consistent with the observation that IAHQ antagonized the killing of HCT-8 cells by 5-fluorouracil. 5,8 DideazaisoPteGlu3 bound more tightly to thymidylate synthase than dihydrofolate reductase as indicated by Kis of 0.09 and 0.7 microM when deoxyuridylate and dihydropteroylglutamate, respectively, were the variable substrates. Inhibition studies also revealed that binding of IAHQ and 5,8-dideazaisoPteGlu3 to thymidylate synthase is promoted and not antagonized by deoxyuridylate. The data suggests that the biochemical basis for the antitumor effects of IAHQ is the intracellular conversion of IAHQ to poly-gamma-glutamyl metabolites, which inhibit thymidylate synthase via formation of an inhibitor-deoxyuridylate-enzyme complex.