Analogs of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 with a reversed configuration at C-1 or C-24 and E or Z geometry of the double bond at C-22 in the side chain or at C-5 in the triene system were examined for their antiproliferative activity in vitro against a spectrum of various human cancer cell lines. The analogs coded PRI-2201 (calcipotriol), PRI-2202 and PRI-2205, such as calcitriol and tacalcitol (used as a referential agents), revealed antiproliferative activity against human HL-60, HL-60/MX2, MCF-7, T47D, SCC-25 and mouse WEHI-3 cancer cell lines. The toxicity studies in vivo showed that PRI-2202 and PRI-2205 are less toxic than referential agents. Even at total doses of 2.5–5.0 mg/kg distributed during 5 successive days, no changes in body weight were observed. Calcitriol and tacalcitol showed toxicity in the same protocol at 100 times lower doses. Calcipotriol was lethal to all mice after administration of a total dose of 5.0 mg/kg. The analog PRI-2205 appeared to be more active in mouse Levis lung cancer tumor growth inhibition than calcitriol, calcipotriol or PRI-2202. This analog did not reveal calcemic activity at doses which inhibit tumor growth in vivo nor at higher doses.

Analogs of 1,25-dihydroxyergocalciferol, modified in the side-chain and in the A-ring, were tested for their antiproliferative activity against a series of human cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo toxicity. The proliferation inhibition caused by the analogs was higher than that of the parent compounds, while the toxicity, measured as the serum calcium level, was lower. All analogs were able to induce, in HL-60 and MV4-11 leukemic cells, G₀/G₁ cell cycle arrest and differentiation expressed as morphological signs typical for monocytes. The analogs also induced the expression of CD11b and/or CD14 cell-differentiation markers. The most potent analogs, PRI-5105, PRI-5106, PRI-5201 and PRI-5202, were also able to induce vitamin D receptor (VDR) protein expression, mainly in the cytoplasmic fraction of HL-60 or MV4-11 cells. The most active analogs were the 19-nor ones with an extended and rigidified side-chain (PRI-5201 and PRI-5202), as in the former analogs PRI-1906 and PRI-1907. Epimerization at C-24 (PRI-5101) or introduction of an additional hydroxyl at C-23 (PRI-5104) reduced the toxicity of the analog with retained antiproliferative activity.

Diastereomeric and geometric analogs of calcipotriol, PRI-2202 and PRI-2205, were synthesized as advanced intermediates from vitamin D C-22 benzothiazoyl sulfones and side-chain aldehydes using our convergent strategy. Calcitriol, calcipotriol (PRI-2201) and tacalcitol (PRI-2191) were used as the reference compounds. Among a series of tested analogs the diastereomeric analog PRI-2202 showed the strongest antiproliferative activity on the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, whereas the geometric analog PRI-2205 was the weakest. Both analogs were less potent in antiproliferative activity against HL-60 cells compared to the reference compounds. The ability to potentiate antiproliferative effect of cisplatin or doxorubicin against HL-60 cells or that of tamoxifen against the MCF-7 cell line was observed at higher doses of PRI-2202 or PRI-2205 than those of the reference compounds. The proapoptotic activity of tamoxifen, expressed as the diminished mitochondrial membrane potential, as well as the increased phosphatidylserine expression, was partially attenuated by calcitriol, PRI-2191, PRI-2201 and PRI-2205. The treatment of the MCF-7 cells with tamoxifen alone resulted in an increase in VDR expression. Moreover, a further increase in VDR expression was observed when the analogs PRI-2201 or PRI-2205, but not PRI-2191, were used in combination with tamoxifen. This observation could partially explain the potentiation of the antiproliferative effect of tamoxifen by vitamin D analogs.

Plant polyphenols and vitamins D exhibit chemopreventive and therapeutic anticancer effects. We first evaluated the biological effects of the plant polyphenol resveratrol (RESV) and vitamin D active metabolite PRI-2191 on lung cancer cells having different genetic backgrounds. RESV and PRI-2191 showed divergent responses depending on the genetic profile of cells. Antiproliferative activity of PRI-2191 was noticeable in EGFRmut cells, while RESV showed the highest antiproliferative and caspase-3-inducing activity in KRASmut cells. RESV upregulated p53 expression in wtp53 cells, while downregulated it in mutp53 cells with simultaneous upregulation of p21 expression in both cases. The effect of PRI-2191 on the induction of CYP24A1 expression was enhanced by RESV in two KRASmut cell lines. The effect of RESV combined with PRI-2191 on cytokine production was pronounced and modulated. RESV cooperated with PRI-2191 in regulating the expression of IL-8 in EGFRmut cells, while OPN in KRASmut cells and PD-L1 in both cell subtypes. We hypothesize that the differences in response to RESV and PRI-2191 between EGFRmut and KRASmut cell lines result from the differences in epigenetic modifications since both cell subtypes are associated with the divergent smoking history that can induce epigenetic alterations.