Comparative structure-activity relationships of antifolate triazines inhibiting murine tumor cells sensitive and resistant to methotrexate

The inhibitory effect of 108 4,6-diamino-1,2-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-1-(substituted-phenyl)-s-triazines on murine L5178Y tumor cells, resistant and sensitive to methotrexate (MTX), has been studied. From the pI50 values, quantitative structure-activity relationships have been formulated which show that the lipophilic triazines are much more inhibitory against resistant cells than methotrexate or hydrophilic triazines. The results are compared with the behavior of other antifolate drugs that have been used in chemotherapy, as well as with eight antitumor drugs that are not antifolates. The acquired resistance of these cells toward hydrophilic antifolates may be attributed to the combined effect of an impaired active-transport system, a change in the conformation of dihydrofolate reductase in the resistant cells, and an amplified production of dihydrofolate reductase in the resistant cells.