Identification of conjugation and cleavage products in the thiolytic metabolism of the anticancer drug 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide.

Conjugation and cleavage products in the thiolytic metabolism of the anticancer drug 4′ -(9-acridinyl amino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide were identified primarily by high-pressure liquid chromatography in combination with field desorption mass spectrometry. The spontaneous metabolic pathway of the drug, as related to its susceptibility to nucleophilic attack by endogenous thiols at the 9-carbon atom of the acridine moiety, has been studied. Among the metabolite fraction of 4′-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide excreted in rat bile after administration of a therapeutic dose, a conjugate was identified as the 9-acridinyl thioether of glutathione. This conjugation product and the corresp…