Becatecarin is a water-soluble, diethylaminoethyl analog of the antineoplastic antibiotic rebeccamycin. It intercalates into DNA, stabilizing the DNA-topoisomerase complex. This results in the potent catalytic inhibition of both topoisomerases I and II, initiating DNA cleavage and apoptosis. Becatecarin, alone or in combination with other compounds, has anti-cancer as well as myelosuppressive effects in vivo. It is also a transport substrate of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter ABCG2.
NO-indomethacin is a hybrid molecule of indomethacin and a nitric oxide (NO) donor. This drug design combines the anti-inflammatory properties of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with the gastrointestinal protective effects of NO. Compounds of this class retain their anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity, but have reduced gastrointestinal and kidney toxicity compared to the NSAID alone. NO-indomethacin also enhances the cancer chemopreventative activity of indomethacin. NO-indomethacin exhibits an IC50 of 82 μM, compared to >1,000 μM for indomethacin alone, for the inhibition of pancreatic cancer cell (PaCa-2) growth after 24 hours in culture.
5'-O-DMT-ibu-rG is a valuable model for a novel category of DNA binding compounds, offering the potential for the creation of highly effective and specifically targeted anti-cancer medications.
Amrubicin, also known as SM-5887, is an anthracycline used in the treatment of lung cancer. Amrubicin intercalates into DNA and inhibits the activity of topoisomerase II, resulting in inhibition of DNA replication, and RNA and protein synthesis, followed by cell growth inhibition and cell death. This agent has demonstrated a higher level of anti-tumor activity than conventional anthracycline drugs without exhibiting any indication of the cumulative cardiac toxicity common to this class of compounds. It is marketed in Japan since 2002 by Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals.