Prostate Specific Antigen-Triggered Prodrug of S-Trityl-L-Cysteine, an Eg5 Kinesin Inhibitor and Antimitosis Agent with Low Neurotoxicity

A tripartate prodrug of S-trityl-L-cysteine was synthesized and investigated for antiprostatic potency versus the free anticancer agent S-trityl- L-cysteine in PSA-secreting cells LNCap and non-PSA-secreting cells PC3. The prodrug did not inhibit cell growth as much as S-trityl-Lcysteine itself was not selective for PSA-secreting cells, and did not release S-trityl-L-cysteine when treated with cell-free PSA. Interestingly, S-trityl-L-cysteine itself selectively inhibited the growth of LNCap versus PC3 cells.