Preclinical antitumor activity, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of imexon in mice

Imexon, a novel pro-oxidant, thiol-binding agent, is currently in phase I/II clinical trials in patients with advanced solid tumors. The aim of this study was to characterize the preclinical pharmacology of imexon in vivo. We investigated the anticancer activity of imexon in several cancer cell lines grown as xenografts in severe combined immunodeficient mice. Imexon was active against both hematologic and solid tumor types. The maximally tolerated dose, at the selected dosing schedule, was 150 mg/kg. Using the maximally tolerated dose of imexon, we sought to identify a potential pharmacodynamic biomarker to monitor the mechanistic effect systemically. As imexon binds cellular thiols in vitro, thiol depletion by imexon in vivo was evaluated as a potential biomarker. Following a single 150 mg/kg dose of imexon by intraperitoneal injection, glutathione levels decreased by 40% at 3 h in mouse erythrocytes. In mouse plasma, imexon treatment led to a significant decrease in cystine levels 2-4 h after drug administration. Notably, by this time, free imexon plasma levels were nondetectable. By investigating the pharmacokinetics of imexon, we also found that imexon undergoes rapid clearance from plasma in a dose-independent fashion with a half-life of 12-15 min. In summary, imexon is active against several cancer types in vivo. Imexon also decreases circulating thiols and exhibits dose-independent pharmacokinetics in mice. Plasma cystine levels may represent a biomarker of imexon activity in vivo.