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IC50: 1.0, 0.81 and 1.0 μM for L1210, CCRF-CEM and GC3/M TK- cell lines, respectively
Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a crucial enzyme in the synthesis of 2'-deoxythymidine-5'-monophosphate, an essential precursor for DNA biosynthesis. Thus, this enzyme is a critical target in cancer chemotherapy. Nolatrexed (AG-337) is a non-classical thymidylate synthase inhibitor.
In vitro: Nolatrexed was designed using X-ray crystallographic data from the TS molecular modeling and folate binding site. It is a non-classical TS inhibitor in that it lacks a terminal glutamate side chain and is uncharged at physiological pH. Nolatrexed does not require a specific transport mechanism to enter into cells and, once within the cell, is not a substrate for the enzyme folyl polyglutamate synthetase [1].
In vivo: When nolatrexed was administered to nude mice bearing Bu25TK- tumor xenografts, a time-dependent increase in antitumor activity was observed [1].
Clinical trial: Phase I clinical studies showed that Nolatrexed can be safely administered to cancer patients at a dose of 800 mg/m2/d over 5 days by continuous intravenous infusion and this schedule is associated with antitumor effects [2].
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