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Xiong S, Song K, Xiang H, Luo G. Dual-target inhibitors based on ERα: Novel therapeutic approaches for endocrine resistant breast cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 270:116393. [PMID: 38588626 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), a nuclear transcription factor, is a well-validated therapeutic target for more than 70% of all breast cancers (BCs). Antagonizing ERα either by selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) or selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) forms the foundation of endocrine therapy and has achieved great success in the treatment of ERα positive (ERα+) BCs. Unfortunately, despite initial effectiveness, endocrine resistance eventually emerges in up to 30% of ERα+ BC patients and remains a significant medical challenge. Several mechanisms implicated in endocrine resistance have been extensively studied, including aberrantly activated growth factor receptors and downstream signaling pathways. Hence, the crosstalk between ERα and another oncogenic signaling has led to surge of interest to develop combination therapies and dual-target single agents. This review briefly introduces the synergisms between ERα and another anticancer target and summarizes the recent advances of ERα-based dual-targeting inhibitors from a medicinal chemistry perspective. Accordingly, their rational design strategies, structure-activity relationships (SARs) and biological activities are also dissected to provide some perspectives on future directions for ERα-based dual target drug discovery in BC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangshuang Xiong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Ke Song
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hua Xiang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Guoshun Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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2
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Wang Y, Min J, Deng X, Feng T, Hu H, Guo X, Cheng Y, Xie B, Yang Y, Chen CC, Guo RT, Dong C, Zhou HB. Discovery of novel covalent selective estrogen receptor degraders against endocrine-resistant breast cancer. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:4963-4982. [PMID: 38045063 PMCID: PMC10692362 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Endocrine-resistance remains a major challenge in estrogen receptor α positive (ERα+) breast cancer (BC) treatment and constitutively active somatic mutations in ERα are a common mechanism. There is an urgent need to develop novel drugs with new mode of mechanism to fight endocrine-resistance. Given aberrant ERα activity, we herein report the identification of novel covalent selective estrogen receptor degraders (cSERDs) possessing the advantages of both covalent and degradation strategies. A highly potent cSERD 29c was identified with superior anti-proliferative activity than fulvestrant against a panel of ERα+ breast cancer cell lines including mutant ERα. Crystal structure of ERα‒29c complex alongside intact mass spectrometry revealed that 29c disrupted ERα protein homeostasis through covalent targeting C530 and strong hydrophobic interaction collied on H11, thus enforcing a unique antagonist conformation and driving the ERα degradation. These significant effects of the cSERD on ERα homeostasis, unlike typical ERα degraders that occur directly via long side chains perturbing the morphology of H12, demonstrating a distinct mechanism of action (MoA). In vivo, 29c showed potent antitumor activity in MCF-7 tumor xenograft models and low toxicity. This proof-of-principle study verifies that novel cSERDs offering new opportunities for the development of innovative therapies for endocrine-resistant BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Wang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jian Min
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Xiangping Deng
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Tian Feng
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hebing Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Xinyi Guo
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yan Cheng
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Baohua Xie
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Chun-Chi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Rey-Ting Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Chune Dong
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hai-Bing Zhou
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Wuhan Research Center for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
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3
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Deng X, Deng X, Ning W, Xin L, Li Q, Hu Z, Xie B, Liang K, Min C, Dong C, Huang J, Zhou HB. Identification of Novel Dual-Target Estrogen Receptor α Degraders with Tubulin Inhibitory Activity for the Treatment of Endocrine-Resistant Breast Cancer. J Med Chem 2023; 66:11094-11117. [PMID: 37584263 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine resistance remains a significant problem in the clinical treatment of estrogen receptor α-positive (ERα+) breast cancer (BC). In this study, we developed a series of novel dual-functional ERα degraders based on a bridged bicyclic scaffold with selenocyano (SeCN) side chains. These compounds displayed potent ERα degradation and tubulin depolymerization activity. Among them, compounds 35s and 35t exhibited the most promising antiproliferative and ERα degradation activity in multiple ERα+ BC cell lines bearing either wild-type or mutant ERα. Meanwhile, compounds 35s and 35t disrupted the microtubule network by restraining tubulin polymerization, evidenced by 35t inducing cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. In MCF-7 and LCC2 xenograft models, compounds 35s and 35t remarkably suppressed tumor growth without noticeable poisonousness. Finally, this study provided guidance for developing new dual-target antitumor drug candidates for the ERα+ BC therapy, especially for the resistant variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangping Deng
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xiaofei Deng
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Wentao Ning
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Lilan Xin
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Qiuzi Li
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Bayi Road, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zhiye Hu
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Baohua Xie
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Kaiwei Liang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Chang Min
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Chune Dong
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jian Huang
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Bayi Road, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Hai-Bing Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
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4
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Xie B, Yin Z, Hu Z, Lv J, Du C, Deng X, Huang Y, Li Q, Huang J, Liang K, Zhou HB, Dong C. Discovery of a Novel Class of PROTACs as Potent and Selective Estrogen Receptor α Degraders to Overcome Endocrine-Resistant Breast Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo. J Med Chem 2023; 66:6631-6651. [PMID: 37161783 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c02032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The estrogen receptor (ER) is a well-established target for endocrine therapies of ER-positive breast cancer (ER+ BC), but endocrine resistance limits the efficacy of clinical drugs. Using proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology to degrade ERα may be an effective alternative to endocrine therapies. Herein, we disclose a novel series of potent and selective ERα PROTACs based on an oxabicycloheptane sulfonamide (OBHSA) scaffold, with no associated ERβ degradation. These PROTACs showed significant antiproliferation and ERα degradation activities against a broad spectrum of ER+ BC cells including tamoxifen-resistant and ERα mutant cell lines. Genomics analysis confirmed that these PROTACs inhibited the nascent RNA synthesis of ERα target genes and impaired genome-wide ERα binding. Compound ZD12 exhibited excellent antitumor potency and ERα degradation activity in both tamoxifen-sensitive and -resistant BC mice models, which are superior to fulvestrant. This study demonstrates the potential of these PROTACs as novel drug candidates for endocrine-resistant BC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baohua Xie
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhinang Yin
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhiye Hu
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Junhui Lv
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Chuanqian Du
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xiangping Deng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yuan Huang
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Qiuzi Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jian Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Kaiwei Liang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hai-Bing Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Chune Dong
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
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5
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Xie B, Xu B, Xin L, Wei Y, Guo X, Dong C. Discovery of estrogen receptor α targeting caged hypoxia-responsive PROTACs with an inherent bicyclic skeleton for breast cancer treatment. Bioorg Chem 2023; 137:106590. [PMID: 37163809 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In view of the potential off-target effects of antitumor drugs, including proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC), certain toxic effects may be caused in normal tissues. Herein, based on the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment, we reported the first estrogen receptor α (ERα) targeting hypoxia-responsive PROTACs in order to improve their safety in breast cancer treatment by introducing two hypoxia-activated groups, nitroimidazole and nitrobenzene, into the ER ligand or E3 ligand of an active PROTAC, which has certain cytotoxicity in normal cells. Bioactivity studies showed that these hypoxia-responsive PROTACs exhibited excellent hypoxic responsiveness and ERα degradation activity under hypoxic conditions, and thus improved the toxic effects of the active PROTAC in normal cells. It is expected that our caged compounds provide a new strategy for precise functional control of PROTAC drugs for breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baohua Xie
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Lilan Xin
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yizhou Wei
- Wuhan Britain-China School, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Xinyi Guo
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Chune Dong
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
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6
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Bhatia N, Hazra S, Thareja S. Selective Estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) for the treatment of breast cancer: An overview. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 256:115422. [PMID: 37163948 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Discovery of SERDs has changed the direction of anticancer research, as more than 70% of breast cancer cases are estrogen receptor positive (ER+). Therapies such as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM) and aromatase inhibitors (AI's) have been effective, but due to endocrine resistance, SERDs are now considered essential therapeutics for the treatment of ER+ breast cancer. The present review deliberates the pathophysiology of SERDs from the literature covering various molecules in clinical trials. Estrogen receptors active sites distinguishing characteristics and interactions with currently available FDA-approved drugs have also been discussed. Designing strategy of previously reported SERDs, their SAR analysis, in silico, and the biological efficacy have also been summarized along with appropriate examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Bhatia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India
| | - Shreejita Hazra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India
| | - Suresh Thareja
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India.
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Calvo-Martín G, Plano D, Martínez-Sáez N, Aydillo C, Moreno E, Espuelas S, Sanmartín C. Norbornene and Related Structures as Scaffolds in the Search for New Cancer Treatments. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15121465. [PMID: 36558915 PMCID: PMC9780886 DOI: 10.3390/ph15121465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The norbornene scaffold has arisen as a promising structure in medicinal chemistry due to its possible therapeutic application in cancer treatment. The development of norbornene-based derivatives as potential chemotherapeutic agents is attracting significant attention. Here, we report an unprecedented review on the recent advances of investigations into the antitumoral efficacy of different compounds, including the abovementioned bicyclic scaffold in their structure, in combination with chemotherapeutic agents or forming metal complexes. The impact that structural modifications to these bicyclic compounds have on the antitumoral properties and the mechanisms by which these norbornene derivatives act are discussed in this review. In addition, the use of norbornene, and its related compounds, encapsulation in nanosystems for its use in cancer therapies is here detailed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gorka Calvo-Martín
- Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Irunlarrea, 3, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Daniel Plano
- Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Irunlarrea, 3, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Correspondence: (D.P.); (C.A.); Tel.: +34-948425600 (ext. 806358) (D.P.); +34-948425600 (ext. 803183) (C.A.)
| | - Nuria Martínez-Sáez
- Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Irunlarrea, 3, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Carlos Aydillo
- Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Irunlarrea, 3, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Correspondence: (D.P.); (C.A.); Tel.: +34-948425600 (ext. 806358) (D.P.); +34-948425600 (ext. 803183) (C.A.)
| | - Esther Moreno
- Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Irunlarrea, 3, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Socorro Espuelas
- Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Irunlarrea, 3, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Carmen Sanmartín
- Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Irunlarrea, 3, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
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8
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Liang JJ, Yu WL, Yang L, Xie BH, Qin KM, Yin YP, Yan JJ, Gong S, Liu TY, Zhou HB, Hong K. Design and synthesis of marine sesterterpene analogues as novel estrogen receptor α degraders for breast cancer treatment. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 229:114081. [PMID: 34992039 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.114081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation using small molecules is an intriguing strategy for drug development. The marine sesterterpene compound MHO7 had been reported to be a potential ERα degradation agent. In order to further improve its biological activity, two series of novel MHO7 derivatives with long side chains were designed and identified as novel selective estrogen receptor down-regulators (SERDs). The growth inhibition activity of the novel SERD compounds were significantly affected by the type and length of the side chain. Most of the derivatives were significantly more potent than MHO7 against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant breast cancer cells. Among them, compound 16a, with IC50 values of 0.41 μM against MCF-7 cell lines and 9.6-fold stronger than MHO7, was the most potential molecule. A whole-genome transcriptomic analysis of MCF-7 cells revealed that the mechanism of 16a against MCF-7 cell was similar with that of MHO7. The estrogen signaling pathway was the most affected among the disturbed genes, but the ERα degradation activity of 16a was observed higher than that of MHO7. Other effects of 16a were confirmed similar with MHO7, which means that the basic mechanisms of the derivatives are the same with the ophiobolin backbone, i.e. the degradation of ERα is mediated via proteasome-mediated process, the induction of apoptosis and the cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase. Meanwhile, a decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase of cellular ROS were also detected. Based on these results, as a novel modified ophiobolin derived compound, 16a may warrant further exploitation as a promising SERD candidate agent for the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Jia Liang
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Wu-Lin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Liang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Bao-Hua Xie
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Kong-Ming Qin
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Yu-Ping Yin
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Jing-Jing Yan
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Shuang Gong
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Ten-Yue Liu
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Hai-Bing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China
| | - Kui Hong
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, PR China.
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9
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Scott JS, Barlaam B. Selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) and covalent antagonists (SERCAs): a patent review (2015-present). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2021; 32:131-151. [PMID: 34763600 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2022.2006185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The estrogen receptor (ER) is a clinically validated oncology target with a pivotal role in hormonally driven breast cancer, the most prevalent form of female cancer. Current treatments which directly modulate ER include antagonists (SERMs), such as tamoxifen, and degraders (SERDs), such as fulvestrant which is administered by intramuscular injection. AREAS COVERED This review covers patent applications that claim estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) and covalent antagonists (SERCAs) between the period January 2015 to June 2021. A total of 114 patent applications from 23 different applicants are evaluated with stratification into acidic SERDs, basic SERDs and SERCAs. EXPERT OPINION The clinical success of fulvestrant in the treatment of ER+ breast cancer has spurred research over the last decade into the discovery and development of novel SERDs, with a particular focus on the discovery of orally bioavailable drugs. This has resulted in a diverse range of candidates entering clinical trials. Although some have faltered in development, a cohort of oral SERDs has generated encouraging efficacy and safety data that has allowed advancement into late stage clinical trials. Data from these trials is eagerly awaited, with these molecules having the potential to offer significant benefits in the treatment of ER+ breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S Scott
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Bernard Barlaam
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
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10
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Zhao C, Tang C, Li C, Ning W, Hu Z, Xin L, Zhou HB, Huang J. Novel hybrid conjugates with dual estrogen receptor α degradation and histone deacetylase inhibitory activities for breast cancer therapy. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 40:116185. [PMID: 33965842 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hormone therapy targeting estrogen receptors is widely used clinically for the treatment of breast cancer, such as tamoxifen, but most of them are partial agonists, which can cause serious side effects after long-term use. The use of selective estrogen receptor down-regulators (SERDs) may be an effective alternative to breast cancer therapy by directly degrading ERα protein to shut down ERα signaling. However, the solely clinically used SERD fulvestrant, is low orally bioavailable and requires intravenous injection, which severely limits its clinical application. On the other hand, double- or multi-target conjugates, which are able to synergize antitumor activity by different pathways, thus may enhance therapeutic effect in comparison with single targeted therapy. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of novel dual-functional conjugates targeting both ERα degradation and histone deacetylase inhibiton by combining a privileged SERD skeleton 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane sulfonamide (OBHSA) with a histone deacetylase inhibitor side chain. We found that substituents on both the sulfonamide nitrogen and phenyl group of OBHSA unit had significant effect on biological activities. Among them, conjugate 16i with N-methyl and naphthyl groups exhibited potent antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 cells, and excellent ERα degradation activity and HDACs inhibitory ability. A further molecular docking study indicated the interaction patterns of these conjugates with ERα, which may provide guidance to design novel SERDs or PROTAC-like SERDs for breast cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Zhao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Chu Tang
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Wuhan University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Changhao Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Wentao Ning
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Wuhan University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhiye Hu
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Wuhan University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Lilan Xin
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Wuhan University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hai-Bing Zhou
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Wuhan University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Jian Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
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11
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Lu Y, Liu W. Selective Estrogen Receptor Degraders (SERDs): A Promising Strategy for Estrogen Receptor Positive Endocrine-Resistant Breast Cancer. J Med Chem 2020; 63:15094-15114. [PMID: 33138369 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor (ER) plays important roles in gene transcription and the proliferation of ER positive breast cancers. Selective modulation of ER has been a therapeutic target for this specific type of breast cancer for more than 30 years. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) and aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have been demonstrated to be effective therapeutic approaches for ER positive breast cancers. Unfortunately, 30-50% of ER positive tumors become resistant to SERM/AI treatment after 3-5 years. Fulvestrant, the only approved selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), is currently an important therapeutic approach for the treatment of endocrine-resistant breast cancers. The poor pharmacokinetic properties of fulvestrant have inspired the development of a new generation of oral SERDs to overcome drug resistance. In this review, we describe recent advances in ERα structure, functions, and mechanisms of endocrine resistance and summarize the development of oral SERDs in both academic and industrial areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlong Lu
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
| | - Wukun Liu
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.,State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
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12
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Kumar N, Gulati HK, Sharma A, Heer S, Jassal AK, Arora L, Kaur S, Singh A, Bhagat K, Kaur A, Singh H, Singh JV, Bedi PMS. Most recent strategies targeting estrogen receptor alpha for the treatment of breast cancer. Mol Divers 2020; 25:603-624. [PMID: 32886304 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-020-10133-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most prominent, frequently diagnosed and leading cause of death among women. Estrogen is an agonist of estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α), expressed in mammary glands and is responsible for initiating many signalling pathways that lead to differentiation and development of breast tissue. Any mutations in these signalling pathways result in irregular growth of mammary tissue, leading to the development of tumour or cancer. All these observations attract the attention of researchers to antagonize ER-α receptor either by developing selective estrogen receptor modulators or by selective estrogen receptor degraders. Therefore, this article provides a brief overview of various factors that are responsible for provoking breast cancer in women and design strategies recently used by the various research groups across the world for antagonizing or demodulating ER-α.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitish Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India.,Drug and Pollution Testing Laboratory, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Harmandeep Kaur Gulati
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Aakriti Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Shilpa Heer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Anupmjot Kaur Jassal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Lovenish Arora
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Simranpreet Kaur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Atamjit Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Kavita Bhagat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Arshmeet Kaur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Harbinder Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India.
| | - Jatinder Vir Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India.
| | - Preet Mohinder Singh Bedi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India. .,Drug and Pollution Testing Laboratory, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India.
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13
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1,2,4-Triazine Sulfonamides: Synthesis by Sulfenamide Intermediates, In Vitro Anticancer Screening, Structural Characterization, and Molecular Docking Study. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25102324. [PMID: 32429377 PMCID: PMC7288137 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25102324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we synthesized novel sulfonamides with a 1,2,4-triazine moiety according to pharmacophore requirements for biological activity. All the synthesized compounds were tested in vitro to verify whether they exhibited anticancer activity against the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. Among them, two most active ones, having IC50 values of 50 and 42 µM, respectively, were found to show higher anticancer activity than chlorambucil used as the reference in the in vitro tests. In addition, two other compounds, which had IC50 values of 78 and 91 µM, respectively, exhibited a similar level of activity as chlorambucil. X-ray analysis carried out for two of the compounds confirmed their synthesis pathway as well as their assumed molecular structures. Furthermore, a conformational analysis was performed, and electronic parameters of molecules were characterized using theoretical calculations at AM1 and DFT level. Moreover, molecular docking revealed the mode of binding of the investigated 1,2,4-triazine sulfonamides with the human estrogen receptor alpha (ERα).
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