In vitro evidence for direct complexation of ADR-529/ICRF-187 [(+)-1,2-bis-(3,5-dioxo-piperazin-1-yl)propane] onto an existing ferric-anthracycline complex

ADR-529 protects against anthracycline cardiotoxicity, possibly by preventing free radical induction. We hypothesize that this occurs by ADR-529 forming a ternary anthracycline-iron-ADR-529 complex. This study used 200-MHz Fourier-transformed NMR to demonstrate the ability of ADR-529 to do this. Peak assignments were by proton-correlated spectroscopy and proton-carbon heteronuclear-correlated spectroscopy. Ga³⁺ served as a probe for Fe³⁺, and D₂O was the system solvent. Doxorubicin and epirubicin were the studied drugs. Proton spectra of multiple combinations (including pure standards as controls) were obtained. Both Ga³⁺ plus ADR-529 and Ga³⁺ plus doxorubicin showed evidence of complexation, as seen by appropriate peak shifts and changes in the associated coupling constants. Ga³⁺ plus ADR-529 plus epirubicin showed complexation different from that of Ga³⁺ plus ADR-529 or Ga³⁺ plus doxorubicin and consistent with the proposed structure. We conclude that ADR-529 would be able to form a ternary complex with an existing anthracycline-Fe³⁺ complex in an isolated aqueous environment.