Design and optimization of orally spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitors for treatment of solid tumor

Cathepsin K inhibition induces Raptor destabilization and mitochondrial dysfunction via Syk/SHP2/Src/OTUB1 axis-mediated signaling

The Raptor signaling pathway is a critical point of intervention in the invasion and progression of cancer. The non-receptor tyrosine kinase Src-mediated phosphorylation of OTUB1-Y26 plays a critical role in Raptor stabilization, whereas cathepsin K inhibitor (odanacatib; ODN) and knockdown (siRNA) induce Raptor destabilization. However, the mechanisms involved in cathepsin K inhibition-induced OTUB1-Y26 phosphorylation in Raptor stabilization have not been yet elucidated. This study showed that cathepsin K inhibition activates SHP2, a tyrosine phosphatase, that dephosphorylates OTUB1 and destabilizes Raptor, whereas SHP2 deletion and pharmacological inhibition increase OTUB1-Y26 phosphorylation and Raptor expression. SHP2 deletion also led to the inhibition of ODN-induced mitochondrial ROS, fusion, and dysfunction. Furthermore, cathepsin K inhibition phosphorylated spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) at Y525 and Y526, resulting in the SHP2-mediated dephosphorylation of OTUB1-Y26. Collectively, our findings identified Syk not only as an upstream tyrosine kinase required for SHP2 activation but also showed a critical mechanism that regulates ODN-induced Raptor downregulation and mitochondrial dysfunction. In conclusion, Syk/SHP2/Src/OTUB1 axis-mediated signaling can act as a therapeutic target in cancer management.

Pharmacological activity and mechanism of pyrazines

Heterocycles are common in the structure of drugs used clinically to deal with diseases. Such drugs usually contain nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, which possess electron-accepting capacity and can form hydrogen bonds. These properties often bring enhanced target binding ability to these compounds when compared to alkanes. Pyrazine is a nitrogen-containing six-membered heterocyclic ring and many of its derivatives are identified as bioactive molecules. We review here the most active pyrazine compounds in terms of their structure, activity in vitro and in vivo (mainly antitumor activity) and the reported mechanisms of action. References have been downloaded through Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar and SciFinder Scholar. Publications reporting only the chemistry of pyrazine derivatives are beyond the scope of this review and have not been included. We found that compounds in which a pyrazine ring was fused into other heterocycles especially pyrrole or imidazole were the highly studied pyrazine derivatives, whose antineoplastic activity had been widely investigated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review of pyrazine derivatives and their bioactivity, especially their antitumor activity. This review should be useful for those engaged in development of medications based on heterocyclic compounds especially those based on pyrazine.

New Derivatives of the Multi-Stage Active Malaria Box Compound MMV030666 and Their Antiplasmodial Potencies

MMV's Malaria Box compound MMV030666 shows multi-stage activity against various strains of Plasmodium falciparum and lacks resistance development. To evaluate the importance of its diarylether partial structure, diarylthioethers and diphenylamines with varying substitution patterns were prepared. A number of evident structure-activity relationships were revealed. Physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined experimentally (passive permeability) or calculated. Compared to the lead compound a diarylthioether was more active and less cytotoxic resulting in an excellent selectivity index of 850. In addition, pharmacokinetic and physicochemical parameters were improved.

Investigational spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitors for the treatment of autoimmune diseases

INTRODUCTION

Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are disorders induced by multiple inflammatory mediators, in which immune system attacks healthy tissues and triggers tissue injury. Targeted regulation of the activity of kinases that influence inflammation is one of the major therapies for ADs. Recently, investigational spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitors have shown encouraging results in the ADs therapy.

AREAS COVERED

This article provides a background on autoimmune diseases and provides an update on investigational SYK inhibitors. This literature review was conducted by searching publications about investigational Spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of ADs from experimental to clinical studies. The search terms used were SYK inhibitors, R406, fostamatinib (R788), P505-15 (PRT062607), entospletinib (GS-9973), R112, lanraplenib (GS-9876), cerdulatinib, R343, BAY-61-3606, GSK compound 143 (GSK143), R211, SKI-G-618, SKI-O-85, ER-27319, YM193306, RO9021 in conjunction with autoimmune disease using electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Google Scholar.

EXPERT OPINION

SYK inhibitors are promising drugs with unique advantages and acceptable tolerability and safety for the treatment of ADs. However, the difficulties in developing highly selective SYK inhibitors and the unknown effects are challenges. Long term and real-world data are essential to determine the risk-benefit ratio and true role of SYK inhibitors in the therapy of ADs.

Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationships of New 2-Phenoxybenzamides with Antiplasmodial Activity

The 2-phenoxybenzamide 1 from the Medicines for Malaria Venture Malaria Box Project has shown promising multi-stage activity against different strains of P. falciparum. It was successfully synthesized via a retrosynthetic approach. Subsequently, twenty-one new derivatives were prepared and tested for their in vitro activity against blood stages of the NF54 strain of P. falciparum. Several insights into structure-activity relationships were revealed. The antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity of compounds strongly depended on the substitution pattern of the anilino partial structure as well as on the size of substituents. The diaryl ether partial structure had further impacts on the activity. Additionally, several physicochemical and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated (log P, log D₇.₄ and ligand efficiency) or determined experimentally (passive permeability and CYP3A4 inhibition). The tert-butyl-4-{4-[2-(4-fluorophenoxy)-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido]phenyl}piperazine-1-carboxylate possesses high antiplasmodial activity against P. falciparum NF54 (PfNF54 IC₅₀ = 0.2690 µM) and very low cytotoxicity (L-6 cells IC₅₀ = 124.0 µM) resulting in an excellent selectivity index of 460. Compared to the lead structure 1 the antiplasmodial activity was improved as well as the physicochemical and some pharmacokinetic parameters.