1
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Walker RL, Hornicek FJ, Duan Z. Transcriptional regulation and therapeutic potential of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) in sarcoma. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 226:116342. [PMID: 38848777 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116342] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Sarcomas include various subtypes comprising two significant groups - soft tissue and bone sarcomas. Although the survival rate for some sarcoma subtypes has improved over time, the current methods of treatment remain efficaciously limited, as recurrent, and metastatic diseases remain a major obstacle. There is a need for better options and therapeutic strategies in treating sarcoma. Cyclin dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is a transcriptional kinase and has emerged as a promising target for treating various cancers. The aberrant expression and activation of CDK9 have been observed in several sarcoma subtypes, including rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chordoma. Enhanced CDK9 expression has also been correlated with poorer prognosis in sarcoma patients. As a master regulator of transcription, CDK9 promotes transcription elongation by phosphorylation and releasing RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) from its promoter proximal pause. Release of RNAPII from this pause induces transcription of critical genes in the tumor cell. Overexpression and activation of CDK9 have been observed to lead to the expression of oncogenes, including MYC and MCL-1, that aid sarcoma development and progression. Inhibition of CDK9 in sarcoma has been proven to reduce these oncogenes' expression and decrease proliferation and growth in different sarcoma cells. Currently, there are several CDK9 inhibitors in preclinical and clinical investigations. This review aims to highlight the recent discovery and results on the transcriptional role and therapeutic potential of CDK9 in sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert L Walker
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Papanicolaou Cancer Research Building, 1550 N.W. 10(th) Avenue, Miami, FL 33136. USA
| | - Francis J Hornicek
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Papanicolaou Cancer Research Building, 1550 N.W. 10(th) Avenue, Miami, FL 33136. USA
| | - Zhenfeng Duan
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sarcoma Biology Laboratory, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Papanicolaou Cancer Research Building, 1550 N.W. 10(th) Avenue, Miami, FL 33136. USA.
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2
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Wang WJ, Gao L, Wang S, Huang W, Meng XY, Hu H, Chen Z, Sun J, Yuan Y, Zhou Y, Diao X, Huang R, Li J, Chen XH. Discovery of Orally Bioavailable and Potent CDK9 Inhibitors for Targeting Transcription Regulation in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. J Med Chem 2024; 67:10035-10056. [PMID: 38885173 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a highly aggressive and heterogeneous malignancy. Currently, effective therapies for TNBC are very limited and remain a significant unmet clinical need. Targeting the transcription-regulating cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) has emerged as a promising avenue for therapeutic treatment of TNBC. Herein, we report the design, synthesis, optimization, and evaluation of a new series of aminopyrazolotriazine compounds as orally bioavailable, potent, and CDK9/2 selectivity-improved inhibitors, enabling efficacious inhibition of TNBC cell growth, as well as notable antitumor effect in TNBC models. The compound C35 demonstrated low-nanomolar potency with substantially improved CDK9/2 selectivity, downregulated the CDK9-downstream targets (e.g., MCL-1), and induced apoptosis in TNBC cell lines. Moreover, with the desired oral bioavailability, oral administration of C35 could significantly suppress the tumor progression in two TNBC mouse models. This study demonstrates that target transcriptional regulation is an effective strategy and holds promising potential as a targeted therapy for the treatment of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jing Wang
- 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
| | - Lixin Gao
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- School of Life Sciences and Health Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Simei Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wensi Huang
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xin-Yu Meng
- 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
| | - Hao Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ziqiang Chen
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jingya Sun
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yali Yuan
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yubo Zhou
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, The Institutes of Drug Discovery and Development, CAS, Zhongshan 528400, China
| | - Xingxing Diao
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ruimin Huang
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jia Li
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, The Institutes of Drug Discovery and Development, CAS, Zhongshan 528400, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong 264117, China
| | - Xiao-Hua Chen
- 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
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
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3
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Voutsadakis IA. Targeting super-enhancer activity for colorectal cancer therapy. Am J Transl Res 2024; 16:700-719. [PMID: 38586095 PMCID: PMC10994804 DOI: 10.62347/qkhb5897] [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: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
In addition to genetic variants and copy number alterations, epigenetic deregulation of oncogenes and tumor suppressors is a major contributor in cancer development and propagation. Regulatory elements for gene transcription regulation can be found in promoters which are located in the vicinity of transcription start sites but also at a distance, in enhancer sites, brought to interact with proximal sites when occupied by enhancer protein complexes. These sites provide most of the specific regulatory sequences recognized by transcription factors. A sub-set of enhancers characterized by a longer structure and stronger activity, called super-enhancers, are critical for the expression of specific genes, usually associated with individual cell type identity and function. Super-enhancers show deregulation in cancer, which may have profound repercussions for cancer cell survival and response to therapy. Dysfunction of super-enhancers may result from multiple mechanisms that include changes in their sequence, alterations in the topological neighborhoods where they belong, and alterations in the proteins that mediate their function, such as transcription factors and epigenetic modifiers. These can become potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Genes that are targets of super-enhancers are cell and cancer type specific and could also be of interest for therapeutic targeting. In colorectal cancer, a super-enhancer regulated and over-expressed oncogene is MYC, under the influence of the WNT/β-catenin pathway. Identification and targeting of additional oncogenes regulated by super-enhancers in colorectal cancer may pave the way for combination therapies targeting the super-enhancer machinery and signal transduction pathways that regulate the specific transcription factors operative on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis A Voutsadakis
- Algoma District Cancer Program, Sault Area HospitalSault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada
- Division of Clinical Sciences, Section of Internal Medicine, Northern Ontario School of MedicineSudbury, ON, Canada
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4
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Gasimli K, Raab M, Mandal R, Krämer A, Peña-Llopis S, Tahmasbi Rad M, Becker S, Strebhardt K, Sanhaji M. Synergistic Sensitization of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Cells Lacking Caspase-8 Expression to Chemotherapeutics Using Combinations of Small-Molecule BRD4 and CDK9 Inhibitors. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:107. [PMID: 38201534 PMCID: PMC10778249 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010107] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecological cancers worldwide, with approximately 70% of cases diagnosed in advanced stages. This late diagnosis results from the absence of early warning symptoms and is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. A standard treatment entails a combination of primary chemotherapy with platinum and taxane agents. Tumor recurrence following first-line chemotherapy with Carboplatin and Paclitaxel is detected in 80% of advanced ovarian cancer patients, with disease relapse occurring within 2 years of initial treatment. Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer is one of the biggest challenges in treating patients. Second-line treatments involve PARP or VEGF inhibitors. Identifying novel biomarkers and resistance mechanisms is critical to overcoming resistance, developing newer treatment strategies, and improving patient survival. In this study, we have determined that low Caspase-8 expression in ovarian cancer patients leads to poor prognosis. High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC) cells lacking Caspase-8 expression showed an altered composition of the RNA Polymerase II-containing transcriptional elongation complex leading to increased transcriptional activity. Caspase-8 knockout cells display increased BRD4 expression and CDK9 activity and reduced sensitivities to Carboplatin and Paclitaxel. Based on our work, we are proposing three potential therapeutic approaches to treat advanced ovarian cancer patients who exhibit low Caspase-8 expression and resistance to Carboplatin and/or Paclitaxel-combinations of (1) Carboplatin with small-molecule BRD4 inhibitors; (2) Paclitaxel with small-molecule BRD4 inhibitors, and (3) small-molecule BRD4 and CDK9 inhibitors. In addition, we are also proposing two predictive markers of chemoresistance-BRD4 and pCDK9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khayal Gasimli
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (K.G.); (M.R.); (R.M.); (A.K.)
| | - Monika Raab
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (K.G.); (M.R.); (R.M.); (A.K.)
| | - Ranadip Mandal
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (K.G.); (M.R.); (R.M.); (A.K.)
| | - Andrea Krämer
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (K.G.); (M.R.); (R.M.); (A.K.)
| | - Samuel Peña-Llopis
- Translational Genomics, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany;
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 45147 Essen, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Morva Tahmasbi Rad
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (K.G.); (M.R.); (R.M.); (A.K.)
| | - Sven Becker
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (K.G.); (M.R.); (R.M.); (A.K.)
| | - Klaus Strebhardt
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (K.G.); (M.R.); (R.M.); (A.K.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Mourad Sanhaji
- Department of Gynecology, University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; (K.G.); (M.R.); (R.M.); (A.K.)
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5
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Freeman DB, Hopkins TD, Mikochik PJ, Vacca JP, Gao H, Naylor-Olsen A, Rudra S, Li H, Pop MS, Villagomez RA, Lee C, Li H, Zhou M, Saffran DC, Rioux N, Hood TR, Day MAL, McKeown MR, Lin CY, Bischofberger N, Trotter BW. Discovery of KB-0742, a Potent, Selective, Orally Bioavailable Small Molecule Inhibitor of CDK9 for MYC-Dependent Cancers. J Med Chem 2023; 66:15629-15647. [PMID: 37967851 PMCID: PMC10726352 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptional deregulation is a hallmark of many cancers and is exemplified by genomic amplifications of the MYC family of oncogenes, which occur in at least 20% of all solid tumors in adults. Targeting of transcriptional cofactors and the transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK9) has emerged as a therapeutic strategy to interdict deregulated transcriptional activity including oncogenic MYC. Here, we report the structural optimization of a small molecule microarray hit, prioritizing maintenance of CDK9 selectivity while improving on-target potency and overall physicochemical and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties. This led to the discovery of the potent, selective, orally bioavailable CDK9 inhibitor 28 (KB-0742). Compound 28 exhibits in vivo antitumor activity in mouse xenograft models and a projected human PK profile anticipated to enable efficacious oral dosing. Notably, 28 is currently being investigated in a phase 1/2 dose escalation and expansion clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B. Freeman
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Tamara D. Hopkins
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Peter J. Mikochik
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Joseph P. Vacca
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Hua Gao
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Adel Naylor-Olsen
- Naylor
Olsen Consulting, LLC, 3369 Saddle Wood Court, Lansdale, Pennsylvania 19446, United States
| | - Sonali Rudra
- TCG
Lifesciences Private Limited, Block BN, Plot 7, Salt-lake Electronics Complex, Sector V, Kolkata 700091, West Bengal, India
| | - Huixu Li
- WuXi
AppTec (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., 168 NanHai Road, 10th Avenue, TEDA, Tianjin 300457, P. R. China
| | - Marius S. Pop
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Rosa A. Villagomez
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Christina Lee
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Heng Li
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Minyun Zhou
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Douglas C. Saffran
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Nathalie Rioux
- Certara
Strategic Consulting, 100 Overlook Center, Suite 101, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, United States
| | - Tressa R. Hood
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Melinda A. L. Day
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Michael R. McKeown
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Charles Y. Lin
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Norbert Bischofberger
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - B. Wesley Trotter
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
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6
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Wu T, Yu B, Xu Y, Du Z, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Chen H, Zhang LA, Chen R, Ma F, Gong W, Yu S, Qiu Z, Wu H, Xu X, Wang J, Li Z, Bian J. Discovery of Selective and Potent Macrocyclic CDK9 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Osimertinib-Resistant Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. J Med Chem 2023; 66:15340-15361. [PMID: 37870244 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Effectiveness of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors, including Osimertinib, for treating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is limited due to the continuous emergence of drug resistance. Hence, it is urgent to develop new therapeutic approaches. CDK9, a key regulator of RNA transcription, has emerged as a promising target for the development of antitumor drugs due to its crucial role in modulating the levels of antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1. Herein, we present the synthesis, optimization, and evaluation of selective CDK9 inhibitors with a macrocyclic scaffold that effectively suppresses the growth of NSCLC cells. Notably, compound Z11, a potent CDK9 inhibitor (IC50 = 3.20 nM) with good kinase selectivity, significantly inhibits cell proliferation and colony formation and induces apoptosis in Osimertinib-resistant H1975 cells. Furthermore, Z11 demonstrates a significant suppression of tumor growth in six patient-derived organoids, including three organoids resistant to Osimertinib. Overall, Z11 served as a promising macrocycle-based CDK9 inhibitor for treating Osimertinib-resistant NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tizhi Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Bin Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Yifan Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Zekun Du
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Zhiming Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Yuxiao Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Haoming Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Li Ao Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Rui Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Feihai Ma
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Weihong Gong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Sixian Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Zhixia Qiu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Hongxi Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Xi Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Jubo Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Zhiyu Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Jinlei Bian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
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7
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Wu T, Zhang Z, Gong G, Du Z, Xu Y, Yu S, Ma F, Zhang X, Wang Y, Chen H, Wu S, Xu X, Qiu Z, Li Z, Wu H, Bian J, Wang J. Discovery of novel flavonoid-based CDK9 degraders for prostate cancer treatment via a PROTAC strategy. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 260:115774. [PMID: 37672930 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115774] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
CDK9 plays a vital role in regulating RNA transcription and significantly impacts the expression of short-lived proteins such as Mcl-1 and c-Myc. Thus, targeting CDK9 holds great promise for the development of antitumor drugs. Natural flavonoid derivatives have recently gained considerable attention in the field of antitumor drug research due to their broad bioactivity and low toxicity. In this study, the PROTAC strategy was used to perform structural modifications of the flavonoid derivative LWT-111 to design a series of flavonoid-based CDK9 degraders. Notably, compound CP-07 emerged as a potent CDK9 degrader, effectively suppressing the proliferation and colony formation of 22RV1 cells by downregulating Mcl-1 and c-Myc. Moreover, CP-07 exhibited significant tumor growth inhibition with a TGI of 75.1% when administered at a dose of 20 mg/kg in the 22RV1 xenograft tumor model. These findings demonstrated the potential of CP-07 as a powerful flavonoid-based CDK9 degrader for prostate cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tizhi Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Zhiming Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Guangyue Gong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Zekun Du
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Yifan Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Sixian Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Feihai Ma
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Yuxiao Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Haoming Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Shiqi Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Xi Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Zhixia Qiu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Zhiyu Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Hongxi Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China.
| | - Jinlei Bian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China.
| | - Jubo Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China.
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8
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Wu T, Yu B, Gong W, Zhang J, Yu S, Tian Y, Zhao T, Li Z, Wang J, Bian J. Design and optimization of selective and potent CDK9 inhibitors with flavonoid scaffold for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 259:115711. [PMID: 37572539 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115711] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a prevalent hematological tumor associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate. CDK9, functioning as a pivotal transcriptional regulator, facilitates transcriptional elongation through phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II, which further governs the protein levels of Mcl-1 and c-Myc. Therefore, CDK9 has been considered as a promising therapeutic target for AML treatment. Here, we present the design, synthesis, and evaluation of CDK9 inhibitors bearing a flavonoid scaffold. Among them, compound 21a emerged as a highly selective CDK9 inhibitor (IC50 = 6.7 nM), exhibiting over 80-fold selectivity towards most other CDK family members and high kinase selectivity. In Mv4-11 cells, 21a effectively hindered cell proliferation (IC50 = 60 nM) and induced apoptosis by down-regulating Mcl-1 and c-Myc. Notably, 21a demonstrated significant inhibition of tumor growth in the Mv4-11 xenograft tumor model. These findings indicate that compound 21a holds promise as a potential candidate for treating AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tizhi Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Bin Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Weihong Gong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Sixian Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Yucheng Tian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Tengteng Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China
| | - Zhiyu Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China.
| | - Jubo Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China.
| | - Jinlei Bian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China.
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9
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Eskandrani R, Al-Rasheed LS, Ansari SA, Bakheit AH, Almehizia AA, Almutairi M, Alkahtani HM. Targeting Transcriptional CDKs 7, 8, and 9 with Anilinopyrimidine Derivatives as Anticancer Agents: Design, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and In Silico Studies. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28114271. [PMID: 37298748 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28114271] [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: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are promising targets in chemotherapy. In this study, we report a series of 2-anilinopyrimidine derivatives with CDK inhibitory activity. Twenty-one compounds were synthesized and their CDK inhibitory and cytotoxic activities were evaluated. The representative compounds demonstrate potent antiproliferative activities toward different solid cancer cell lines and provide a promising strategy for the treatment of malignant tumors. Compound 5f was the most potent CDK7 inhibitor (IC50 = 0.479 µM), compound 5d was the most potent CDK8 inhibitor (IC50 = 0.716 µM), and compound 5b was the most potent CDK9 inhibitor (IC50 = 0.059 µM). All the compounds satisfied the Lipinski's rule of five (molecular weight < 500 Da, number of hydrogen bond acceptors <10, and octanol-water partition coefficient and hydrogen bond donor values below 5). Compound 5j is a good candidate for lead optimization because it has a non-hydrogen atom (N) of 23, an acceptable ligand efficiency value of 0.38673, and an acceptable ligand lipophilic efficiency value of 5.5526. The synthesized anilinopyrimidine derivatives have potential as anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razan Eskandrani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lamees S Al-Rasheed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Siddique Akber Ansari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed H Bakheit
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrahman A Almehizia
- Drug Exploration and Development (DEDC), Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha Almutairi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamad M Alkahtani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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