Comparison of bioactivities of 5-Fluoro, 5-Iodo, 5-Iodovinyl, and 5-fluorovinyl arabinosyl uridines against SR-39 TK-transfected murine prostate cancer cells

A cell survival assay of the four arabinosyl uridine analogs with functionalities of 5-fluoro, 5-fluorovinyl, 5-iodo, and 5-iodovinyl as potential positron-emitter tagged probe for monitoring cancer gene therapy were performed. Cytotoxicities of 5-fluoro-, 5-iodo-, 5-fluorovinyl, and 5-iodovinyl arabinosyl uridines against SR-39 thymidine kinase transfected murine prostate cancer cells have been evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. None of them showed significant bioactivity. A syn conformation derived from intra-hydrogen bonding was suggested for the unfavorable interaction and diminished bioactivity.