Identification of metabolites of the cell-differentiating agent hexamethylene bisacetamide in humans

Hexamethylene bisacetamide, a compound which in vitro induces differentiation in a wide variety of human and animal cancer cell lines, is being investigated in phase I clinical trials. After i.v. administration of hexamethylene bisacetamide to humans, urine contained the parent compound and at least five metabolites formed by deacetylation and oxidation pathways. Identification of urinary metabolites was accomplished by gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis after isolation by ion exchange chromatography or extraction with ethyl acetate. Metabolites with amino or alcohol groups were trifluoroacetylated and acidic functional groups were esterified with 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol or methanol. The structure of each metabolite was confirmed by comparison with authentic standards. Metabolites identified included the major metabolite, 6-acetamidohexanoic acid; the monodeacetylated product, N-acetyl-1,6-diaminohexane; the bis-deacetylated diamine, 1,6-diaminohexane; and the amino acid, 6-aminohexanoic acid and its lactam, caprolactam.