Cytotoxic Action of Carboxyborane Heterocyclic Amine Adducts

The heterocyclic carboxyborane amines were found to be potent cytotoxic agents in the murine L1210 lymphoid leukemia and human HeLa suspended carcinoma cells. These agents were observed to inhibit HeLa DNA topoisomerase II activity ~ 200 muM and L1210 topoisomerase II activity >/= 100 muM. These agents did not cause DNA protein linked breaks themselves, but upon incubation for 14-24 hr did enhance the ability of VP-16 to cause cleavable complexes. The heterocyclic amineboranes inhibited DNA synthesis and caused DNA strand scission. They were additive with VP-16 in affording these results as well as inhibiting colony growth of L1210 cells after co-incubation for 1 hr. The agents inhibited in vitro PKC phosphorylation of both L1210 lymphoid leukemia and human topoisomerase II enzyme.