Biological activity of 26-succinylbryostatin 1

Bryostatin 1, a macrocyclic lactone, has undergone phase I trials as an anticancer agent. Because of the lipid solubility of this compound it must be delivered either in ethanol or in a PET formulation. During the trial, these vehicles caused a large number of treatment-related side effects. We have synthesized the triethanolamine salt of 26-succinylbryostatin 1 and find that this compound is approx. 100-fold more water soluble than bryostatin 1. Because of the potential for clinical use, we have evaluated the biologic activity of this compound. We find that in a concentration-dependent manner 26-succinylbryostatin 1 is capable of activating protein kinase C (PKC) in vitro and displacing [H-3]PDBu from PKC. However, at all concentrations tested the activity was less than the parent compound bryostatin 1. Addition of bryostatin 1 but not 26-succinylbryostatin 1 to U937 leukemic cells in culture stimulated a drop in cytosolic PKC, secondary to translocation of PKC to the membrane. Although 26-succinylbryostatin 1 did not stimulate a drop in the cytosolic levels of PKC, addition to U937 cells activated transcription from an AP-1 enhancer construct and c-Jun protein phosphorylation in a similar fashion to bryostatin 1 and differentiation of U937 cells. Unlike bryostatin 1, 26-succinylbryostatin 1 was unable to cause aggregation of human platelets. Although injection of bryostatin-1 into mice carrying B16 melanoma inhibits tumor growth, there was no significant inhibition of melanoma growth when identical doses of 26-succinylbryostatin 1 were injected. Therefore, 26-succinylbryostatin 1 shares some but not all of the pharmacologic properties of bryostatin 1. This compound can activate protein phosphorylation without lowering cytosolic levels of PKC.