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Three 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) conjugates of 1-S-alkyl-phospholipids (thioether phospholipids) were tested for their antitumor efficacies against L1210 and P388 leukemia in mice. These include 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-diphosphate-rac-1-S-hexadecyl-2-0-palmitoyl-1-thioglycerol (ara-CDP-beta-palmitoyl-DL-thiochimyl alcohol, I), ara-CDP-rac-1-S-octadecyl-2-0-palmitoyl-1-thioglycerol (ara-CDP-beta-palmitoyl-DL-thiobatyl alcohol, II), and ara-CDP-rac-1-S-octadecyl-2-0-hexadecyl-1-thioglycerol (ara-CDP-beta-cetyl-DL-thiobatyl alcohol, III). Conjugates I and II produced significant increase in life span (293-379%) and longterm survivors among mice bearing i.p. implanted L1210 lymphoid leukemia at a total dose of 400 mg (389-400 mumol)/kg. Conjugate II also displayed a strong antitumor activity against i.c. implanted L1210 leukemia in mice with an ILS range of 160-200% at a total dose of 300-450 mg (292-438 mumol/kg. Significant schedule dependency was not observed when the conjugates were administered i.p. once daily with following schedules: qd l; 1,5, 9; 1-5; and 1-9, but single doses typically produced the best effects. The i.p. administration of conjugate II gave the best results on survival of i.p. inoculated L1210 leukemic mice, then followed by the s.c. and i.m. treatments. The i.v. treatment produced a lower activity than the others. Conjugate II also exhibited a strong antitumor activity against i.p. implanted P388 leukemia in mice with ILS values of greater than 255-greater than 329% with 3-5 45-day survivors at a total dose of 300-500 mg (292-486 mumol)/kg (qd 1 or 1-5). The new conjugates I and II displayed a comparable or somewhat higher activity than the previous diacyl and 1-0-alkyl analogs.

Five new P1-(steroid-21-yl)-P2-(1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosin-5'-yl)pyro phosphates (ara-CDP-steroids), five 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-O-(alkyl)phosphates (ara-CMP-alkyl esters), and two P1-(alkyl)-P2-(1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosin-5'-yl)pyrophosphat e (ara-CDP-alkyl esters) have been prepared and evaluated against L1210 lymphoid leukemia in culture and in mice (C3D2F1/J). These include ara-CDP-11-deoxycorticosterone (6a), ara-CDP-cortisone (6c), ara-CDP-corticosterone (6d), ara-CDP-cortexolone (6e), and ara-CDP-prednisone (6g), ara-CMP hexadecyl ester (7a), ara-CMP 1-cyclohexylmethyl ester (7b), ara-CMP 1-adamantylmethyl ester (7c), ara-CMP 2-(1-adamanthyl)ethyl ester (7d), ara-CMP 2-chloroethyl ester (7e), ara-CDP hexadecyl ester (9a), and ara-CDP 1-cyclohexylmethyl ester (9b). The in vitro antitumor results indicated that ara-CDP-steroids were as active as the previously reported ara-CMP-steroids and that ara-CMP and ara-CDP-alkyl esters were less growth inhibiting than ara-CDP-steroids and ara-C. However, the in vivo antitumor results indicated that ara-CDP-steroids were generally less effective than the previous monophosphate derivatives. Among them ara-CDP-corticosterone (6d) and the known ara-CDP-cortisol (6b) showed greater efficacy than ara-C with ILS value of 152% and 209%, respectively, at the optimal dose of 40 and 80 (mg/kg)/day for 9 days, while that of ara-C was 138% at the optimum dose of 9.2 (mg/kg)/day. Generally, ara-CMP alkyl esters (7a-e), given ip to the L1210 leukemic mice, were found to be toxic and ineffective. However, ara-CDP hexadecyl ester (9a) showed marginal activity (ILS, 38%). These preliminary results support the thesis that the ara-C conjugates of this type may require a lipophilic and naturally occurring moiety for improved efficacy.