Polyribonucleotides (PTMG and PMTI) containing 1-methyl-6-thioguanosine or 1-methyl-6-thioinosine, respectively, as the sole nucleoside component are shown to be potent inhibitors of various strains of HIV-1 and HIV-2 in a number of human lymphocyte and macrophage cell lines in tissue culture as well as in fresh human peripheral blood lymphocytes and macrophages. PMTI and PMTG exhibit potencies in the range of 10(-7)-10(-8) M in these systems. The polynucleotides are active against virus strains resistant to AZT and pyridinone derivatives. Both PMTI and PMTG are synergistic with AZT and with ddI, and both inhibit HIV reverse transcriptase at nanomolar concentrations. The polymers show little or no toxicity in human cell lines at the highest doses tested (100 micrograms/mL, or about 0.2-1 microM). This class of compounds represents a new lead in AIDS therapeutic drug discovery.

The development and progression of cancer is marked by the acquisition of specific genetic hallmarks that endow tumour cells with a survival advantage over their normal tissue counterparts. In the process, tumours frequently develop resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and acquire the ability to evade the host immune response. Cancer gene therapy (CGT) represents an ideal therapeutic tool to target one or more of these underlying genetic abnormalities, and restore some form of order, to the otherwise autonomous and discordant microenvironment of the tumour. Most of the current research in CGT is aimed at its development as a novel form of targeted therapy that can be combined with other treatment modalities such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. CGT may be integrated into radical chemoradiotherapy regimens, with the rationale of optimising the therapeutic index, through selective enhancement of radiosensitivity and cytotoxicity in tumour compared to normal tissues. CGT strategies have been developed that are aimed at enhancing the radiosensitivity of tissues by targeting angiogenesis, silencing abnormal cellular signalling, restoration of apoptosis, and promotion of immune detection and destruction of tumour cells. In addition, cytotoxic approaches such as virus directed enzyme prodrug therapy (VDEPT), genetic radionuclide therapy (GRANT) and oncolytic viral therapy have been combined with radiation to augment the cumulative tumour cell kill and overall therapeutic effect. In this article, we discuss various CGT strategies that have been investigated in combination with radiation. All the available preclinical and clinical evidence is reviewed with special emphasis on strategies that have already found their way into the clinic, or those with significant translational potential for the future.

Ausgehend von den durch Kondensation entsprechend substituierter o‐Phenylendiamine und Milchsäure erhaltenen 2‐Hydroxyethylbenzirnidazole (I) werden durch die Reaktion ihrer Chlor‐Analogen (II) mit den cycloaliphatischen Aminen (III) die 2,5‐disubstituierten Benzimidazole (IVa‐c) dargestellt.

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Several amphipathic (hydrophobic base, hydrophilic backbone) polyribonucleotides have recently been shown to have potent antiviral activity against HIV and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). The working hypothesis developed during these studies was that the ability to form an ordered, non-hydrogen-bonded array in solution was an important criterion for activity. To explore further the role of structure and molecular size on the inhibition of virus replication, one new polynucleotide and two 32-mer oligonucleotides based on the triazolo[2,3-a]purine ring system have now been prepared. High-molecular-weight polynucleotide 4a (PTPR) and sulfur-containing 32-mer 5b (TTPR) were moderately active against HIV but showed greater potency against HDMV than ganciclovir. Both 4a and 5b gave clear evidence of cooperative melting behavior, whereas inactive 32-mer 5a showed no such behavior.

A new 32-mer 2',5'-oligoribonucleotide of 1-methyl-6-thioinosinic acid (10) has been synthesized. The design of this unique oligoribonucleotide is based on the reported HIV inhibitory activities of both 2',5'-oligonucleotides and the 3',5'-oligoribonucleotides containing the 1-methyl-6-mercaptopurine base. Tm and CD studies of 10 revealed that it has no organized secondary structure, presumably due to the rigidity of the molecule. The synthesized oligomer, 10, showed a potent inhibitory effect on HIV-1RF and significantly inhibited HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

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The unmethylated racemic precursor of the title compound centperazine (CP) can be resolved using di‐p‐toluoyl‐d‐tartaric acid.