Acid-labile lipophilic prodrugs of cancer chemotherapeutic agents

1. An acid labile lipophilic molecular conjugate (ALLMC) of the formula 1, 1.1 or formula 2:

wherein:

R is a hydroxyl bearing cancer chemotherapeutic agent;

for formula 1 or 1.1:

R 1 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl or C 5 -C 22 alkyl;

R 2 is C 5 -C 22 alkyl;

Y is selected from O, NR′ or S wherein R′ is hydrogen or C 1 -C 6 alkyl;

Z is O or S;

Q is O or S; and T is O or S;

for formula 2:

R 2 is a C 1 -C 22 alkyl;

T is O or S; and

X is a hydrogen or a leaving group selected from the group consisting of mesylates, sulfonates and halogen (Cl, Br and I);

and their isolated enantiomers, diastereoisomers or mixtures thereof;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. The acid labile lipophilic molecular conjugate of claim 1 of the formula 1 or 1.1:

wherein:

R is a hydroxyl bearing cancer chemotherapeutic agent;

R 1 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl or C 5 -C 22 alkyl;

R 2 is C 5 -C 22 alkyl;

Y is O or S;

Z is O; and

Q is O; and T is O.

3. The acid labile lipophilic molecular conjugate of claim 1 of the formula 2:

wherein:

R 2 is C 5 -C 22 alkyl;

T is O; and

X is hydrogen or is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I.

4. The acid labile lipophilic molecular conjugate of claim 1 comprising the formula 1a, 1b or formula 2a:

wherein:

R is a hydroxyl bearing cancer chemotherapeutic agent (HBCCA);

for formula 1a or 1b:

R 1 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl or C 5 -C 22 alkyl; and

R 2 is C 5 -C 22 alkyl;

for formula 2a:

R 2 is C 1 -C 22 alkyl; and

X is hydrogen or is selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I.

5. The acid labile lipophilic molecular conjugate of claim 1 , wherein the hydroxyl bearing cancer chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of taxanes, abeo-taxanes, camptothecins, epothilones, cucurbitacins, quassinoids, anthracyclines, and their analogs and derivatives.

6. The acid labile lipophilic molecular conjugate of claim 1 , wherein the hydroxyl bearing cancer chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of aclarubicin, camptothecin, masoprocol, paclitaxel, pentostatin, amrubicin, cladribine, cytarabine, docetaxel, elliptinium acetate, epirubicin, etoposide, formestane, fulvestrant, gemcitabine, idarubicin, pirarubicin, topotecan, valrubicin and vinblastine.

7. The acid labile lipophilic molecular conjugate of claim 1 , wherein the conjugate is selected from the compounds in FIG. 18 , FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 .

8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising: a) a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 , in the form of a single diastereoisomer; and b) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

9. A method for the treatment of cancer in a patient comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or composition of claim 1 , to a patient in need of such treatment.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of leukemia, neuroblastoma, glioblastoma, cervical, colorectal, pancreatic, renal and melanoma.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of lung, breast, prostate, ovarian and head and neck.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the method provides at least a 10% to 50% diminished degree of resistant expressed by the cancer cells when compared with the non-conjugated hydroxyl bearing cancer chemotherapeutic agent.

13. A method for reducing or substantially eliminating the side effects of chemotherapy associated with the administration of a cancer chemotherapeutic agent to a patient, the method comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an acid labile lipophilic molecular conjugate of the formula 1, 1.1 or formula 2:

wherein:

R is a hydroxyl bearing cancer chemotherapeutic agent;

for formula 1 or 1.1:

R 1 is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4 alkyl or C 5 -C 22 alkyl;

R 2 is C 5 -C 22 alkyl;

Y is selected from O, NR′ or S wherein R′ is hydrogen or C 1 -C 6 alkyl;

Z is O or S; and

Q is O or S; and T is O or S;

for formula 2:

R 2 is C 1 -C 22 alkyl;

T is O or S; and

X is hydrogen or a leaving group selected from the group consisting of mesylates, sulfonates and halogen (Cl, Br and I);

and their isolated enantiomers, diastereoisomers or mixtures thereof.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the method provides a higher concentration of the cancer chemotherapeutic agent in a cancer cell of the patient.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the method delivers a higher concentration of the cancer chemotherapeutic agent in the cancer cell, when compared to the administration of a non-conjugated cancer chemotherapeutic agent to the patient, by at least 5%, 10%, 20% or at least 50%.