Identification and characterization of in vitro metabolites of 2-[2'-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-1,2-dihydro-3H-dibenz [de,h]isoquinoline-1,3-dione (Azonafide).

Azonafide (2-[2'-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-1,2-dihydro-3H-dibenz[de, h]isoquinoline-1,3-dione) is the parent of a new series of anthracene-containing antitumor agents. Its structure is based on amonafide but lacks a primary amine and has an anthracene chromophore rather than a naphthalene chromophore. Using a rat liver cytosol incubation and HPLC/MS detection, we have identified four metabolites resulting from in vitro metabolism of azonafide. These alkyl-modified derivatives include a mono- and a di-N'-desmethyl metabolite, an N'-oxide metabolite, and a carboxylic acid metabolite. Purified samples of these metabolites were analyzed for cytotoxic activity using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium vital dye (mitochondrial reductase) assay and for inhibition of topoisomerase II (TOPO II) using a cell-free enzymatic system. Each metabolite had decreased cytotoxicity relative to azonafide with the following relative potencies in descending order: the mono-N'-desmethyl metabolite, di-N'-desmethyl metabolite, the N-oxide metabolite, and the carboxylic acid metabolite. Similarly, the N'-desmethyl metabolites retained TOPO II inhibitory activity but with lower potency than azonafide. The N-oxide and carboxylic acid metabolites did not inhibit TOPO II at 0. 05 and 0.5 microg/ml, respectively. Thus, metabolism of azonafide by rat liver cytosol represents a detoxification pathway rather than a bioactivation scheme for this DNA intercalator.