BGC 945, a novel tumor-selective thymidylate synthase inhibitor targeted to α-folate receptor-overexpressing tumors

BGC 945 is a cyclopenta[g]quinazoline-based, thymidylate synthase inhibitor specifically transported into alpha-folate receptor (alpha-FR)-overexpressing tumors. Affinity of BGC 945 for the alpha-FR is 70% of the high-affinity ligand folic acid. In contrast to conventional antifolates, BGC 945 has low affinity for the widely expressed reduced-folate carrier (RFC). The K-i for isolated thymidylate synthase is 1.2 nmol/L and the IC50 for inhibition of the growth of alpha-FR-negative mouse L1210 or human A431 cells is similar to 7 mu mol/L. In contrast, BGC 945 is highly potent in a range of alpha-FR-overexpressing human tumor cell lines (IC50 similar to 1-300 nmol/L). Pharmacokinetic variables measured following i.v. injection of 100 mg/kg BGC 945 to KB tumor-bearing mice showed rapid plasma clearance (0.021 L/h) and tissue distribution. The terminal half-lives in plasma, liver, kidney, spleen, and tumor were 2, 0.6, 5, 21, and 28 hours, respectively. Tumor BGC 945 concentration at 24 hours was similar to 1 nmol/g tissue, at least 10-fold higher than that in plasma or normal tissues. Inhibition of thymidylate synthase in tissues leads to increased incorporation of 5-[I-125]-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine ([I-125]dUrd) into DNA. Forty-eight hours after injection of 100 mg/kg 6RS-BGC 945 ([I-125]dUrd injected at 24 hours), tumor was the only tissue with incorporation above control level (6-fold). The RFC-mediated thymidylate synthase inhibitor plevitrexed also increased uptake of [I-125]dUrd in tumor (10-fold) but, in contrast, also caused increased incorporation in other normal tissues such as spleen and small bowel (4.5-and 4.6-fold, respectively). These data suggest that BGC 945 selectively inhibits thymidylate synthase in alpha-FR-overexpressing tumors and should cause minimal toxicity to humans at therapeutic doses.