Abstract: Analogs of the antitumor antibiotics CC-1065 and the duocarmycins incorporate the 1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]benz[e]indol-4-one (CBI) alkylation subunit. The CBI-based analogs have potent cytotoxic activity and are useful as efficacious antitumor compounds. A direct relationship between functional stability and in vitro cytotoxic potency is disclosed. The CBI-based analogs are easily synthesized and are 4× more stable and 4× more potent than the corresponding analogs containing the authentic CPI alkylation subunit of CC-1065 and comparable in potency to agents containing the authentic alkylation subunit of duocarmycin SA. Similarly, the CBI-based agents alkylate DNA with an unaltered sequence selectivity at an enhanced rate and with a greater efficiency than the corresponding CPI analog and were comparable to the corresponding analog incorporating the duocarmycin SA alkylation subunit.

Abstract: An extensive series of CBI analogues of the duocarmycins and CC-1065 exploring substituent effects within the first indole DNA binding subunit is detailed. In general, substitution at the indole C5 position led to cytotoxic potency enhancements that can be ?1000-fold providing simplified analogues containing a single DNA binding subunit that are more potent (IC50=2-3 pM) than CBI-TMI, duocarmycin SA, or CC-1065. The increases in cytotoxicity correlate well with accompanying increases in the rate and efficiency of DNA alkylation. This effect is more pronounced with the CBI versus DSA or CPI based analogues. Moreover, this effect is largely insensitive to the electronic character of the C5 substituent but is sensitive to the size, rigid length, and shape (sp, sp2, sp3 hybridization) of this substituent consistent with expectation that the impact is due simply to its presence.

Abstract: 132 CBI analogues of CC-1 065 and the duocarmycins having dimeric monocyclic, bicyclic, and tricyclic heteroaromatics substituents were synthesized by a parallel route. The resultant analogues were evaluated with respect to their catalytic and cytotoxic activities. The relative contribution of the various dimeric monocyclic, bicyclic, and tricyclic heteroaromatics substituents within the DNA binding domain were characterized. Several of the resultant CBI analogues of CC-1065 and the duocarmycins were characterized as having enhanced catalytic and cytotoxic activities and were identified as having utility as anti-cancer agents.

Abstract: Sleep may be induced by administration of fatty acid primary amides, including cis-9,10-octadecenoamide. Furthermore, sleep deprivation may be assayed by analyzing cerebrospinal fluid with respect to the presence of fatty acid primary amides, including cis-9,10-octadecenoamide. The presence of cis-9,10-octadecenoamide in cerebrospinal fluid is correlated with comparative sleep deprivation.