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Hashem O, Shahin AI, Al Hindawi MA, Fageeri MF, Al-Sbbagh SA, Tarazi H, El-Gamal MI. An overview of RAF kinases and their inhibitors (2019-2023). Eur J Med Chem 2024; 275:116631. [PMID: 38954961 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116631] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Protein kinases (PKs) including RAF, perform a principal role in regulating countless cellular events such as cell growth, differentiation, and angiogenesis. Overexpression and mutation of RAF kinases are significant contributors to the development and spread of cancer. Therefore, RAF kinase inhibitors show promising outcomes as anti-cancer small molecules by suppressing the expression of RAF protein, blocking RAS/RAF interaction, or inhibiting RAF enzymes. Currently, there are insufficient reports about approving drugs with minimal degree of toxicity. Therefore, it is an urgent need to develop new RAF kinase inhibitors correlated with increased anticancer activity and lower cytotoxicity. This review outlines reported RAF kinase inhibitors for cancer treatment in patents and literature from 2019 to 2023. It highlights the available inhibitors by shedding light on their chemical structures, biochemical profiles, and current status. Additionally, we highlighted the hinge region-binding moiety of the reported compounds by showing the hydrogen bond patterns of representative inhibitors with the hinge region for each class. In recent years, RAF kinase inhibitors have gained considerable attention in cancer research and drug development due to their potential to be studied under clinical trials and their demonstration of various degrees of efficacy and safety profiles across different cancer types. However, addressing challenges related to drug resistance and safety represents a major avenue for the optimization and enhancement of RAF kinase inhibitors. Strategies to overcome such obstacles were discussed such as developing novel pan-RAF inhibitors, RAF dimer inhibitors, and combination treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Hashem
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates; College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Afnan I Shahin
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Manar A Al Hindawi
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohamed F Fageeri
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Saif A Al-Sbbagh
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hamadeh Tarazi
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed I El-Gamal
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates; College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates; Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt.
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Wang P, Laster K, Jia X, Dong Z, Liu K. Targeting CRAF kinase in anti-cancer therapy: progress and opportunities. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:208. [PMID: 38111008 PMCID: PMC10726672 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01903-x] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade is commonly dysregulated in human malignancies by processes driven by RAS or RAF oncogenes. Among the members of the RAF kinase family, CRAF plays an important role in the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway, as well as in the progression of cancer. Recent research has provided evidence implicating the role of CRAF in the physiological regulation and the resistance to BRAF inhibitors through MAPK-dependent and MAPK-independent mechanisms. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of solely targeting CRAF kinase activity remains controversial. Moreover, the kinase-independent function of CRAF may be essential for lung cancers with KRAS mutations. It is imperative to develop strategies to enhance efficacy and minimize toxicity in tumors driven by RAS or RAF oncogenes. The review investigates CRAF alterations observed in cancers and unravels the distinct roles of CRAF in cancers propelled by diverse oncogenes. This review also seeks to summarize CRAF-interacting proteins and delineate CRAF's regulation across various cancer hallmarks. Additionally, we discuss recent advances in pan-RAF inhibitors and their combination with other therapeutic approaches to improve treatment outcomes and minimize adverse effects in patients with RAF/RAS-mutant tumors. By providing a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted role of CRAF in cancers and highlighting the latest developments in RAF inhibitor therapies, we endeavor to identify synergistic targets and elucidate resistance pathways, setting the stage for more robust and safer combination strategies for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penglei Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
- Tianjian Laboratory for Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Kyle Laster
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Xuechao Jia
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
- Tianjian Laboratory for Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Zigang Dong
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
- Tianjian Laboratory for Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, AMS, College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China.
| | - Kangdong Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
- Tianjian Laboratory for Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
- China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, China-US (Henan) Hormel Cancer Institute, AMS, College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China.
- Basic Medicine Sciences Research Center, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, China.
- Provincial Cooperative Innovation Center for Cancer Chemoprevention, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, China.
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Zhu H, Song X, Pan Y, Li M, Chen L, Xiao P, Du R, Dong Z, Yang CG. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel spirocyclic compounds as potential anti-glioblastoma agents. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 258:115595. [PMID: 37385078 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115595] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor with extremely limited clinical treatment options. Because of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), it is difficult for anti-GBM drug candidates to enter the brain to exert their therapeutic effects. The spirocyclic skeleton structure exhibits good lipophilicity and permeability, enabling small-molecule compounds to cross the BBB. Herein, we designed and synthesized novel 3-oxetanone-derived spirocyclic compounds containing a spiro[3.4]octane ring and determined their structure-activity relationship for antiproliferation in GBM cells. Among these, the chalcone-spirocycle hybrid 10m/ZS44 exhibited high antiproliferative activity in U251 cells and permeability in vitro. Furthermore, 10m/ZS44 activated the SIRT1/p53-mediated apoptosis pathway to inhibit proliferation in U251 cells, whereas it minimally impaired other cell-death pathways, such as pyroptosis or necroptosis. In a mouse xenograft model, 10m/ZS44 exhibited a substantial inhibitory effect on GBM tumor growth without showing obvious toxicity. Overall, 10m/ZS44 represents a promising spirocyclic compound for the treatment of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heping Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China; Centre for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaomin Song
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China; Centre for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yihui Pan
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China; Centre for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ming Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China; Centre for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Liang Chen
- Centre for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Pan Xiao
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China; Centre for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Rong Du
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China; Centre for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ze Dong
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China; Centre for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Cai-Guang Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China; Centre for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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Meanwell NA. The pyridazine heterocycle in molecular recognition and drug discovery. Med Chem Res 2023; 32:1-69. [PMID: 37362319 PMCID: PMC10015555 DOI: 10.1007/s00044-023-03035-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
The pyridazine ring is endowed with unique physicochemical properties, characterized by weak basicity, a high dipole moment that subtends π-π stacking interactions and robust, dual hydrogen-bonding capacity that can be of importance in drug-target interactions. These properties contribute to unique applications in molecular recognition while the inherent polarity, low cytochrome P450 inhibitory effects and potential to reduce interaction of a molecule with the cardiac hERG potassium channel add additional value in drug discovery and development. The recent approvals of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonist relugolix (24) and the allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor deucravacitinib (25) represent the first examples of FDA-approved drugs that incorporate a pyridazine ring. In this review, the properties of the pyridazine ring are summarized in comparison to the other azines and its potential in drug discovery is illustrated through vignettes that explore applications that take advantage of the inherent physicochemical properties as an approach to solving challenges associated with candidate optimization. Graphical Abstract
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Zhao P, Wang X, Zhuang L, Huang S, Zhou Y, Yan Y, Shen R, Zhang F, Li J, Hu Q, Liu S, Zhang R, Dong P, Wan H, Bai C, He F, Tao W. Discovery of novel spiro compound as RAF kinase inhibitor with in vitro potency against KRAS mutant cancer. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 63:128666. [PMID: 35276360 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128666] [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: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The development of RAF inhibitors targeting cancers with wild type RAF kinase and/or RAS mutation has been challenging due to the paradoxical activation of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK cascade following RAF inhibitor treatment. Herein is the discovery and optimization of a series of RAF inhibitors with a novel spiro structure. The most potent spiro molecule 9 showed excellent in vitro potency against b/c RAF enzymes and RAS mutant H358 cancer cells with minimal paradoxical RAF signaling activation. Compound 9 also exhibited good drug-like properties as demonstrated by in vitro cytochrome P450 (CYP), liver microsome stability (LMS) data and moderate oral pharmacokinetics (PK) profiles in rat and mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhao
- Eternity Bioscience Inc., 6 Cedarbrook Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512, USA.
| | - Xiangzhu Wang
- Eternity Bioscience Inc., 6 Cedarbrook Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512, USA
| | - Linghang Zhuang
- Eternity Bioscience Inc., 6 Cedarbrook Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512, USA
| | - Song Huang
- Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 279 Wenjing Road, Shanghai 200245, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Eternity Bioscience Inc., 6 Cedarbrook Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512, USA
| | - Yuna Yan
- Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 279 Wenjing Road, Shanghai 200245, China
| | - Ru Shen
- Eternity Bioscience Inc., 6 Cedarbrook Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512, USA
| | - Fan Zhang
- Eternity Bioscience Inc., 6 Cedarbrook Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512, USA
| | - Jie Li
- Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 279 Wenjing Road, Shanghai 200245, China
| | - Qiyue Hu
- Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 279 Wenjing Road, Shanghai 200245, China
| | - Suxing Liu
- Eternity Bioscience Inc., 6 Cedarbrook Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512, USA
| | - Rumin Zhang
- Eternity Bioscience Inc., 6 Cedarbrook Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512, USA
| | - Ping Dong
- Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 279 Wenjing Road, Shanghai 200245, China
| | - Hong Wan
- Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 279 Wenjing Road, Shanghai 200245, China
| | - Chang Bai
- Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 279 Wenjing Road, Shanghai 200245, China
| | - Feng He
- Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 279 Wenjing Road, Shanghai 200245, China
| | - Weikang Tao
- Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 279 Wenjing Road, Shanghai 200245, China
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