AA1, a newly synthesized monovalent lipophilic cation, expresses potent in vivo antitumor activity

Certain lipophilic cations have been reported to display anticarcinoma activities because of their selective uptake and retention by mitochondria of cancer cells. Thus, these agents may comprise a unique class of agents directed against carcinoma. After screening more than 1000 lipophilic cations, we found that the monovalent lipophilic cation, 2,6-bis(4-amino-phenyl)-4-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]thiopyrylium chloride (AA1), displayed remarkable anticarcinoma activity both in vitro and in vivo. Unlike most other lipophilic cations, AA1 is stable and displays minimal light sensitivity. In vitro testing showed that AA1 was 10 times more toxic to the carcinoma cell line CX-1 than to the normal epithelial cell line CV-1. In vivo animal experiments showed that AA1 significantly prolonged the survival of mice implanted with tumors. For C57BL x DBA/2 F1 mice implanted with the mouse bladder carcinoma cell line, MB49, the treated:control ratio was 344%. For Swiss nu/nu mice implanted i.p. with the human melanoma cell line, LOX, the treated:control ratio was 341%. The most significant observation was obtained with Swiss nu/nu mice that were implanted i.p. with the human ovarian cell line, OVCAR-III. The treated:control ratio in this situation was greater than 450%. In all these tumor models, AA1 produced minimal toxicities. AA1 exhibited little inhibition of electron transport in isolated rat liver mitochondria; however, it inhibited mitochondrial ATPase with 50% inhibitory concentration of 6 microM. Compared with previously reported anticarcinoma lipophilic cations such as rhodamine 123 and dequalinium chloride, AA1 appeared to display more effective in vivo anticarcinoma activity. Thus, AA1 could be considered for further clinical development as a candidate for anticarcinoma chemotherapy.