Modulation of DNA repair by pharmacological inhibitors of the PIKK protein kinase family

CircUGGT2 facilitates progression and cisplatin resistance of bladder cancer through nonhomologous end-joining pathway

The development of resistance to cisplatin (CDDP) in bladder cancer presents a notable obstacle, with indications pointing to the substantial role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in this resistance. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms through which circRNAs govern resistance are not yet fully understood. Our findings demonstrate that circUGGT2 is significantly upregulated in bladder cancer, facilitating cancer cell migration and invasion. Additionally, our analysis of eighty patient outcomes revealed a negative correlation between circUGGT2 expression levels and prognosis. Using circRNA pull-down assays, mass spectrometry analyses, and RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP), it was shown that circUGGT2 interacts with the KU heterodimer, consisting of KU70 and KU80. Both KU70 and KU80 are critical components of the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway, which plays a role in CDDP resistance. Flow cytometry was utilized in this study to illustrate the impact of circUGGT2 on the sensitivity of bladder cancer cell lines to CDDP through its interaction with KU70 and KU80. Additionally, a reduction in the levels of DNA repair factors associated with the NHEJ pathway, such as KU70, KU80, DNA-PKcs, and XRCC4, was observed in chromatin of bladder cancer cells following circUGGT2 knockdown post-CDDP treatment, while the levels of DNA repair factors in total cellular proteins remained constant. Thus, the promotion of CDDP resistance by circUGGT2 is attributed to its facilitation of repair factor recruitment to DNA breaks via interaction with the KU heterodimer. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that knockdown of circUGGT2 resulted in reduced levels of γH2AX, a marker of DNA damage response, in CDDP-treated bladder cancer cells, implicating circUGGT2 in the NHEJ pathway for DNA repair.

Targeting ATM and ATR for cancer therapeutics: inhibitors in clinic

The DNA Damage and Response (DDR) pathway ensures accurate information transfer from one generation to the next. Alterations in DDR functions have been connected to cancer predisposition, progression, and response to therapy. DNA double-strand break (DSB) is one of the most detrimental DNA defects, causing major chromosomal abnormalities such as translocations and deletions. ATR and ATM kinases recognize this damage and activate proteins involved in cell cycle checkpoint, DNA repair, and apoptosis. Cancer cells have a high DSB burden, and therefore rely on DSB repair for survival. Therefore, targeting DSB repair can sensitize cancer cells to DNA-damaging agents. This review focuses on ATM and ATR, their roles in DNA damage and repair pathways, challenges in targeting them, and inhibitors that are in current clinical trials.

Druggable binding sites in the multicomponent assemblies that characterise DNA double-strand-break repair through non-homologous end joining

Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is one of the two principal damage repair pathways for DNA double-strand breaks in cells. In this review, we give a brief overview of the system including a discussion of the effects of deregulation of NHEJ components in carcinogenesis and resistance to cancer therapy. We then discuss the relevance of targeting NHEJ components pharmacologically as a potential cancer therapy and review previous approaches to orthosteric regulation of NHEJ factors. Given the limited success of previous investigations to develop inhibitors against individual components, we give a brief discussion of the recent advances in computational and structural biology that allow us to explore different targets, with a particular focus on modulating protein-protein interaction interfaces. We illustrate this discussion with three examples showcasing some current approaches to developing protein-protein interaction inhibitors to modulate the assembly of NHEJ multiprotein complexes in space and time.

Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Studies of Quinoline-3-Carboxamide Derivatives with DDR Kinases–Selectivity Studies towards ATM Kinase

Quinoline-3-carboxamides are an essential class of drug-like small molecules that are known to inhibit the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinases (PIKK) family kinases. The quinoline nitrogen is shown to bind to the hinge region of the kinases, making them competitive inhibitors of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). We have previously designed and synthesized quinoline-3-carboxamides as potential ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase inhibitors to function as an adjuvant treatment with DNA damaging agents. This article discusses the molecular docking studies performed with these derivatives with the DNA damage and response (DDR) kinases-ATM, ataxia telangiectasia and rad3 related (ATR), and DNA dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and highlights their selectivity towards ATM kinase. Docking studies were also performed with mTOR and PI3Kγ, which are close homologs of the DDR kinases. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed for one of the inhibitors against all the enzymes to establish the stability of the interactions involved. Finally, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties of the inhibitors were predicted using the QikProp manual in Maestro. In conclusion, the molecules synthesized showed high selectivity towards the ATM kinase in comparison with the other kinases, though the sequence similarity between them was relatively high.

Small molecule DNA-PK inhibitors as potential cancer therapy: a patent review (2010-present)

Introduction: DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) plays a crucial role in the repair of DSBs via non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Several DNA-PK inhibitors are being investigated for potential anticancer treatment in clinical trials.Area covered: This review aims to give an overview of patents published since 2010 by analyzing the patent space and structure features of scaffolds used in those patents. It also discusses the recent clinical developments and provides perspectives on future challenges and directions in this field.Expert opinion: As a key component of the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway, DNA-PK appears to be a viable drug target for anticancer therapy. The clinical investigation of a DNA-PK inhibitor employs both a monotherapy and a combination strategy. In the combination strategy, a DNA-PK inhibitor is typically combined with a DSB inducer, radiation, a chemotherapy agent, or a PARP inhibitor, etc. Patent analyses suggest that diverse structures comprising different scaffolds from mono-heteroaryl to bicyclic heteroaryl to tricyclic heteroaryl are capable to achieve good DNA-PK inhibitory activity and good DNA-PK selectivity over other closely related enzymes. Several DNA-PK inhibitors are currently being evaluated in clinics, with the hope to get approval in the near future.

The Discovery of 7-Methyl-2-[(7-methyl[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridin-6-yl)amino]-9-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)-7,9-dihydro-8H-purin-8-one (AZD7648), a Potent and Selective DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase (DNA-PK) Inhibitor

DNA-PK is a key component within the DNA damage response, as it is responsible for recognizing and repairing double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) via non-homologous end joining. Historically it has been challenging to identify inhibitors of the DNA-PK catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) with good selectivity versus the structurally related PI3 (lipid) and PI3K-related protein kinases. We screened our corporate collection for DNA-PKcs inhibitors with good PI3 kinase selectivity, identifying compound 1. Optimization focused on further improving selectivity while improving physical and pharmacokinetic properties, notably co-optimization of permeability and metabolic stability, to identify compound 16 (AZD7648). Compound 16 had no significant off-target activity in the protein kinome and only weak activity versus PI3Kα/γ lipid kinases. Monotherapy activity in murine xenograft models was observed, and regressions were observed when combined with inducers of DSBs (doxorubicin or irradiation) or PARP inhibition (olaparib). These data support progression into clinical studies (NCT03907969).

AZD7648 is a potent and selective DNA-PK inhibitor that enhances radiation, chemotherapy and olaparib activity

DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is a critical player in the DNA damage response (DDR) and instrumental in the non-homologous end-joining pathway (NHEJ) used to detect and repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). We demonstrate that the potent and highly selective DNA-PK inhibitor, AZD7648, is an efficient sensitizer of radiation- and doxorubicin-induced DNA damage, with combinations in xenograft and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models inducing sustained regressions. Using ATM-deficient cells, we demonstrate that AZD7648, in combination with the PARP inhibitor olaparib, increases genomic instability, resulting in cell growth inhibition and apoptosis. AZD7648 enhanced olaparib efficacy across a range of doses and schedules in xenograft and PDX models, enabling sustained tumour regression and providing a clear rationale for its clinical investigation. Through its differentiated mechanism of action as an NHEJ inhibitor, AZD7648 complements the current armamentarium of DDR-targeted agents and has potential in combination with these agents to achieve deeper responses to current therapies.

DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) plays a major role in the DNA damage response upon double-strand break formation. Here, the authors show that the DNA-PK inhibitor AZD7648, enhances the activity of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and the PARP inhibitor olaparib in multiple mouse tumour models.

Kinase inhibitors as potential agents in the treatment of multiple myeloma

Recent years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of therapeutic options available for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) - from immunomodulating agents to proteasome inhibitors to histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and, most recently, monoclonal antibodies. Used in conjunction with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, these modalities have nearly doubled the disease's five-year survival rate over the last three decades to about 50%. In spite of these advances, MM still is considered incurable as resistance and relapse are common. While small molecule protein kinase inhibitors have made inroads in the therapy of a number of cancers, to date their application to MM has been less than successful. Focusing on MM, this review examines the roles played by a number of kinases in driving the malignant state and the rationale for target development in the design of a number of kinase inhibitors that have demonstrated anti-myeloma activity in both in vitro and in vivo xenograph models, as well as those that have entered clinical trials. Among the targets and their inhibitors examined are receptor and non-receptor tyrosine kinases, cell cycle control kinases, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway kinases, protein kinase C, mitogen-activated protein kinase, glycogen synthase kinase, casein kinase, integrin-linked kinase, sphingosine kinase, and kinases involved in the unfolded protein response.

Discovery of Novel 3-Quinoline Carboxamides as Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Inhibitors of Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) Kinase

A novel series of 3-quinoline carboxamides has been discovered and optimized as selective inhibitors of the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase. From a modestly potent HTS hit (4), we identified molecules such as 6-[6-(methoxymethyl)-3-pyridinyl]-4-{[(1R)-1-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)ethyl]amino}-3-quinolinecarboxamide (72) and 7-fluoro-6-[6-(methoxymethyl)pyridin-3-yl]-4-{[(1S)-1-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)ethyl]amino}quinoline-3-carboxamide (74) as potent and highly selective ATM inhibitors with overall ADME properties suitable for oral administration. 72 and 74 constitute excellent oral tools to probe ATM inhibition in vivo. Efficacy in combination with the DSB-inducing agent irinotecan was observed in a disease relevant model.

Palladium(ii)-catalyzed synthesis of dibenzothiophene derivatives via the cleavage of carbon-sulfur and carbon-hydrogen bonds

A new process has been developed for the palladium(ii)-catalyzed synthesis of dibenzothiophene derivatives via the cleavage of C-H and C-S bonds. In contrast to the existing methods for the synthesis of this scaffold by C-H functionalization, this new catalytic C-H/C-S coupling method does not require the presence of an external stoichiometric oxidant or reactive functionalities such as C-X or S-H, allowing its application to the synthesis of elaborate π-systems. Notably, the product-forming step of this reaction lies in an oxidative addition step rather than a reductive elimination step, making this reaction mechanistically uncommon.

Drugging ATR: progress in the development of specific inhibitors for the treatment of cancer

In this article, we review the ATR inhibitor field from initial pharmacological tools to first-generation clinical candidates with the potential to bring benefit to cancer patients. ATR is a critical part of the cell DNA-damage response. Over the past decade or more, compounds with weak ATR potency and low specificity have been used as tools in early studies to elucidate ATR pharmacology. More recently highly potent, selective and in vivo active ATR inhibitors have been developed enabling detailed preclinical in vitro and in vivo target assessment to be made. The published studies reveal the potential of ATR inhibitors for use as monotherapy or in combination with DNA-damaging agents. To date, VX-970 and AZD6738, have entered clinical assessment.

Depletion of ATR selectively sensitizes ATM-deficient human mammary epithelial cells to ionizing radiation and DNA-damaging agents

DNA damage response (DDR) to double strand breaks is coordinated by 3 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinase (PIKK) family members: the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM), the ATM and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase and the catalytic subunit of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs). ATM and ATR are central players in activating cell cycle checkpoints and function as an active barrier against genome instability and tumorigenesis in replicating cells. Loss of ATM function is frequently reported in various types of tumors, thus placing more reliance on ATR for checkpoint arrest and cell survival following DNA damage. To investigate the role of ATR in the G2/M checkpoint regulation in response to ionizing radiation (IR), particularly when ATM is deficient, cell lines deficient of ATM, ATR, or both were generated using a doxycycline-inducible lentiviral system. Our data suggests that while depletion of ATR or ATM alone in wild-type human mammary epithelial cell cultures (HME-CCs) has little effect on radiosensitivity or IR-induced G2/M checkpoint arrest, depletion of ATR in ATM-deficient cells causes synthetic lethality following IR, which correlates with severe G2/M checkpoint attenuation. ATR depletion also inhibits IR-induced autophagy, regardless of the ATM status, and enhances IR-induced apoptosis particularly when ATM is deficient. Collectively, our results clearly demonstrate that ATR function is required for the IR-induced G2/M checkpoint activation and subsequent survival of cells with ATM deficiency. The synthetic lethal interaction between ATM and ATR in response to IR supports ATR as a therapeutic target for improved anti-cancer regimens, especially in tumors with a dysfunctional ATM pathway.

Discovery of AZD3147: a potent, selective dual inhibitor of mTORC1 and mTORC2

High throughput screening followed by a lead generation campaign uncovered a novel series of urea containing morpholinopyrimidine compounds which act as potent and selective dual inhibitors of mTORC1 and mTORC2. We describe the continued compound optimization campaign for this series, in particular focused on identifying compounds with improved cellular potency, improved aqueous solubility, and good stability in human hepatocyte incubations. Knowledge from empirical SAR investigations was combined with an understanding of the molecular interactions in the crystal lattice to improve both cellular potency and solubility, and the composite parameters of LLE and pIC50-pSolubility were used to assess compound quality and progress. Predictive models were employed to efficiently mine the attractive chemical space identified resulting in the discovery of 42 (AZD3147), an extremely potent and selective dual inhibitor of mTORC1 and mTORC2 with physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties suitable for development as a potential clinical candidate.

Therapeutic potential of targeting mTOR in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (review)

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a heterogeneous neoplastic disorder of immature hematopoietic precursors committed to the T-cell lineage. T-ALL comprises about 15% of pediatric and 25% of adult ALL cases. Even if the prognosis of T-ALL has improved especially in the childhood due to the use of new intensified treatment protocols, the outcome of relapsed patients who are resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs or who relapse is still poor. For this reason, there is a need for novel and less toxic targeted therapies against signaling pathways aberrantly activated in T-ALL, such as the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Small molecules designed to target key components of this signaling axis have proven their efficacy both in vitro and in vivo in pre-clinical settings of T-ALL. In particular, different classes of mTOR inhibitors have been disclosed by pharmaceutical companies, and they are currently being tested in clinical trials for treating T-ALL patients. One of the most promising approaches for the treatment of T-ALL seems to be the combination of mTOR inhibitors with traditional chemotherapeutic agents. This could lead to a lower drug dosage that may circumvent the systemic side effects of chemotherapeutics. In this review, we focus on the different classes of mTOR inhibitors that will possibly have an impact on the therapeutic arsenal we have at our disposal against T-ALL.

Inhibition of DNA double-strand break repair by the dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 as a strategy for radiosensitization of glioblastoma

PURPOSE

Inhibitors of the DNA damage response (DDR) have great potential for radiosensitization of numerous cancers, including glioblastomas, which are extremely radio- and chemoresistant brain tumors. Currently, there are no DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair inhibitors that have been successful in treating glioblastoma. Our laboratory previously demonstrated that the dual phosphoinositide 3-kinase/mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 can potently inhibit the two central DDR kinases, DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) and ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM), in vitro. Here, we tested whether NVP-BEZ235 could also inhibit ATM and DNA-PKcs in tumors in vivo and assessed its potential as a radio- and chemosensitizer in preclinical mouse glioblastoma models.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

The radiosensitizing effect of NVP-BEZ235 was tested by following tumor growth in subcutaneous and orthotopic glioblastoma models. Tumors were generated using the radioresistant U87-vIII glioma cell line and GBM9 neurospheres in nude mice. These tumors were then treated with ionizing radiation and/or NVP-BEZ235 and analyzed for DNA-PKcs and ATM activation, DSB repair inhibition, and attenuation of growth.

RESULTS

NVP-BEZ235 potently inhibited both DNA-PKcs and ATM kinases and attenuated the repair of ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage in tumors. This resulted in striking tumor radiosensitization, which extended the survival of brain tumor-bearing mice. Notably, tumors displayed a higher DSB-load when compared with normal brain tissue. NVP-BEZ235 also sensitized a subset of subcutaneous tumors to temozolomide, a drug routinely used concurrently with ionizing radiation for the treatment of glioblastoma.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that it may be possible to significantly improve glioblastoma therapy by combining ionizing radiation with potent and bioavailable DNA repair inhibitors such as NVP-BEZ235.

ATP-competitive mTOR kinase inhibitors delay plant growth by triggering early differentiation of meristematic cells but no developmental patterning change

The TOR (target of rapamycin) protein, a large phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-like protein kinase (PIKK) that is conserved in eukaryotes and is a central regulator of growth and metabolism. The analysis of function of TOR in plant growth and development has been limited by the fact that plants are very poorly sensitive to rapamycin. As the kinase domain of TOR is highly conserved, this study analysed the dose-dependent effect of three sets of first- and second-generation ATP-competitive inhibitors (called asTORis for active-site TOR inhibitors) recently developed for the human TOR kinase on Arabidopsis thaliana growth. All six asTORis inhibited plant root growth in a dose-dependent manner, with 50% growth inhibitory doses (GI50) of <10 μM and <1 μM for the first- and second-generation inhibitors, respectively, similarly to the values in mammalian cells. A genetic approach further demonstrated that only asTORis inhibited root growth in an AtTOR gene-dosage-dependent manner. AsTORis decreased the length of: (i) the meristematic zone (MZ); (ii) the division zone in the MZ; (iii) epidermal cells in the elongation zone; and (iv) root hair cells. Whereas meristematic cells committed to early differentiation, the pattern of cell differentiation was not affected per se. AsTORis-induced root hair growth phenotype was shown to be specific by using other growth inhibitors blocking the cell cycle or translation. AsTORis dose-dependent inhibition of growth and root hairs was also observed in diverse groups of flowering plants, indicating that asTORis can be used to study the TOR pathway in other angiosperms, including crop plants.

DNA-dependent protein kinase is a context dependent regulator of Lmx1a and midbrain specification

The identification of small molecules capable of directing pluripotent cell differentiation towards specific lineages is highly desirable to both reduce cost, and increase efficiency. Within neural progenitors, LIM homeobox transcription factor 1 alpha (Lmx1a) is required for proper development of roof plate and cortical hem structures of the forebrain, as well as the development of floor plate and midbrain dopaminergic neurons. In this study we generated homologous recombinant cell lines expressing either luciferase or β-lactamase under the control of the Lmx1a promoter, and used these cell lines to investigate kinase-mediated regulation of Lmx1a activity during neuronal differentiation. A screen of 143 small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors yielded 16 compounds that positively or negatively modulated Lmx1a activity. Inhibition of EGF, VEGF and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) signaling significantly upregulated Lmx1a activity whereas MEK inhibition strongly downregulated its activity. Quantitative FACS analysis revealed that the DNA-PK inhibitor significantly increased the number of Lmx1a+ progenitors while subsequent qPCR showed an upregulation of Notch effectors, the basic helix-loop-helix genes, Hes5 and Hey1. FACS further revealed that DNA-PK-mediated regulation of Lmx1a+ cells is dependent on the rapamycin-sensitive complex, mTORC1. Interestingly, this DNA-PK inhibitor effect was preserved in a co-culture differentiation protocol. Terminal differentiation assays showed that DNA-PK inhibition shifted development of neurons from forebrain toward midbrain character as assessed by Pitx3/TH immunolabeling and corresponding upregulation of midbrain (En1), but not forebrain (FoxG1) transcripts. These studies show that Lmx1a signaling in mouse embryonic stem cells contributes to a molecular cascade establishing neuronal specification. The data presented here identifies a novel regulatory pathway where signaling from DNA-PK appears to suppress midbrain-specific Lmx1a expression.

1-substituted (Dibenzo[b,d]thiophen-4-yl)-2-morpholino-4H-chromen-4-ones endowed with dual DNA-PK/PI3-K inhibitory activity

Analogues of (dibenzo[b,d]thiophen-4-yl)-2-morpholino-4H-chromen-4-one (NU7441), a potent inhibitor of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK; IC50 = 42 ± 2 nM), have been synthesized in which water-solubilizing groups [NHCO(CH₂)nNR¹R², where n = 1 or 2 and the moiety R¹R²N was derived from a library of primary and secondary amines, e.g., morpholine] were placed at the 1-position. Several of the newly synthesized compounds exhibited high potency against DNA-PK and potentiated the cytotoxicity of ionizing radiation (IR) in vitro 10-fold or more (e.g., 2-(4-ethylpiperazin-1-yl)-N-(4-(2-morpholino-4-oxo-4H-chromen-8-yl)dibenzo[b,d]thio-phen-1-yl)acetamide, 39; DNA-PK IC₅₀ = 5.0 ± 1 nM, IR dose modification ratio = 13). Furthermore, 39 was shown to potentiate not only IR in vitro but also DNA-inducing cytotoxic anticancer agents, both in vitro and in vivo. Counter-screening against other members of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K) related kinase (PIKK) family unexpectedly revealed that some of the compounds were potent mixed DNA-PK and PI-3K inhibitors.

Structure-based design and evaluation of naphthalene diimide G-quadruplex ligands as telomere targeting agents in pancreatic cancer cells

Tetra-substituted naphthalene diimide (ND) derivatives with positively charged termini are potent stabilizers of human telomeric and gene promoter DNA quadruplexes and inhibit the growth of human cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The present study reports the enhancement of the pharmacological properties of earlier ND compounds using structure-based design. Crystal structures of three complexes with human telomeric intramolecular quadruplexes demonstrate that two of the four strongly basic N-methyl-piperazine groups can be replaced by less basic morpholine groups with no loss of intermolecular interactions in the grooves of the quadruplex. The new compounds retain high affinity to human telomeric quadruplex DNA but are 10-fold more potent against the MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cell line, with IC50 values of ~10 nM. The lead compound induces cellular senescence but does not inhibit telomerase activity at the nanomolar dosage levels required for inhibition of cellular proliferation. Gene array qPCR analysis of MIA PaCa-2 cells treated with the lead compound revealed significant dose-dependent modulation of a distinct subset of genes, including strong induction of DNA damage responsive genes CDKN1A, DDIT3, GADD45A/G, and PPM1D, and repression of genes involved in telomere maintenance, including hPOT1 and PARP1.

Discovery of 4-{4-[(3R)-3-Methylmorpholin-4-yl]-6-[1-(methylsulfonyl)cyclopropyl]pyrimidin-2-yl}-1H-indole (AZ20): a potent and selective inhibitor of ATR protein kinase with monotherapy in vivo antitumor activity

ATR is an attractive new anticancer drug target whose inhibitors have potential as chemo- or radiation sensitizers or as monotherapy in tumors addicted to particular DNA-repair pathways. We describe the discovery and synthesis of a series of sulfonylmorpholinopyrimidines that show potent and selective ATR inhibition. Optimization from a high quality screening hit within tight SAR space led to compound 6 (AZ20) which inhibits ATR immunoprecipitated from HeLa nuclear extracts with an IC50 of 5 nM and ATR mediated phosphorylation of Chk1 in HT29 colorectal adenocarcinoma tumor cells with an IC50 of 50 nM. Compound 6 potently inhibits the growth of LoVo colorectal adenocarcinoma tumor cells in vitro and has high free exposure in mouse following moderate oral doses. At well tolerated doses 6 leads to significant growth inhibition of LoVo xenografts grown in nude mice. Compound 6 is a useful compound to explore ATR pharmacology in vivo.

New paradigms and future challenges in radiation oncology: an update of biological targets and technology

Radiation oncology exploits the biological interaction of radiation within tissue to promote tumor death while minimizing damage to surrounding normal tissue. The clinical delivery of radiation relies on principles of radiation physics that define how radiation energy is deposited in the body, as well as technology that facilitates accurate tumor targeting. This review will summarize the current landscape of recent biological and technological advances in radiation oncology, describe the challenges that exist, and offer potential avenues for improvement.