Amonafide

Amonafide is a DNA intercalating agent and inhibitor of topoisomerase II that has been extensively studied in patients with malignant solid tumors. Topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage induced by Amonafide is affected only slightly (less than 3-fold) by 1 mM ATP, suggeting that Amonafide is an ATP-insensitive topoisomerase II inhibitor in contrast to doxorubicin, etoposide, and mitoxantrone. Amonafide significantly inhibits the growth of HT-29, HeLa, and PC3 cells with IC50 of 4.67 μM, 2.73 μM, and 6.38 μM, respectively. Amonafide (originally AS1413) is a new imide derivative of naphthalic acid. It belongs to the families of drugs called topoisomerase inhibitors and DNA intercalators. Amonafide (trade name Quinamed) has shown significant efficacy for remission induction in patients with sAML in combination with cytarabine. Amonafide is a promising therapeutic candidate directed toward bypassing this common mechanism of drug resistance encountered in the treatment of patients with AML, and possibly in other resistant hematological malignancies as well.