Tirapazamine is metabolized to its DNA-damaging radical by intranuclear enzymes

Tirapazamine (TPZ), a new anticancer drug that is currently in Phase II and III clinical trials, has a unique mechanism of action. Its cytotoxicity is selective for hypoxic cells in solid tumors and results from DNA damage produced by a free radical, which is generated by enzymatic reduction of the parent molecule. However, there is no agreement as to which enzyme(s) are involved. Here, we have measured both DNA damage and TPZ metabolism in A549 human lung cancer cells and in isolated nuclei derived from the cells. We show that, although the nuclei metabolize TPZ at a rate that is only 20% of that of whole cells, they have levels of DNA damage that are similar to those of the cells. We also show that TPZ radicals that are formed outside nuclei do not contribute to intranuclear DNA damage. Thus, essentially all of the DNA damage from TPZ results from radicals generated within the nucleus, and the 80% of the drug metabolism that occurs in the cytoplasm is probably irrelevant for the activity of this drug in killing hypoxic cells.