Cancer-Cell-Selective Targeting by Arylcyclopropylamine-Vorinostat Conjugates.
Ota Y, Itoh Y, Kurohara T, Singh R, Elboray EE, Hu C, Zamani F, Mukherjee A, Takada Y, Yamashita Y, Morita M, Horinaka M, Sowa Y, Masuda M, Sakai T, Suzuki T.
Anticancer drug delivery by small molecules offers a number of advantages over conventional macromolecular drug delivery systems. We previously developed phenylcyclopropylamine (PCPA)-drug conjugates (PDCs) as small-molecule-based drug delivery vehicles for targeting lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1)-overexpressing cancers. In this study, we applied this PDC strategy to the HDAC-inhibitory anticancer agent vorinostat. Among three synthesized PCPA or arylcyclopropylamine (ACPA)-vorinostat conjugates <b>1</b>, <b>9</b>, and <b>32</b>, conjugate <b>32</b> with a 4-oxybenzyl linker showed sufficient stability in buffer solutions, potent LSD1 inhibition, efficient LSD1-dependent vorinostat release, and potent and selective antiproliferative activity toward LSD1-expressing human breast cancer and small-cell lung cancer cell lines. These results indicate that the conjugate selectively releases vorinostat in cancer cells. A similar strategy may be applicable to other anticancer drugs.