1
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Luo J, Li Y, Zhang Y, Wu D, Ren Y, Liu J, Wang C, Zhang J. An update on small molecule compounds targeting synthetic lethality for cancer therapy. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 278:116804. [PMID: 39241482 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116804] [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: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Targeting cancer-specific vulnerabilities through synthetic lethality (SL) is an emerging paradigm in precision oncology. A SL strategy based on PARP inhibitors has demonstrated clinical efficacy. Advances in DNA damage response (DDR) uncover novel SL gene pairs. Beyond BRCA-PARP, emerging SL targets like ATR, ATM, DNA-PK, CHK1, WEE1, CDK12, RAD51, and RAD52 show clinical promise. Selective and bioavailable small molecule inhibitors have been developed to induce SL, but optimization for potency, specificity, and drug-like properties remains challenging. This article illuminated recent progress in the field of medicinal chemistry centered on the rational design of agents capable of eliciting SL specifically in neoplastic cells. It is envisioned that innovative strategies harnessing SL for small molecule design may unlock novel prospects for targeted cancer therapeutics going forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxiang Luo
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Respiratory Health and Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network and Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Respiratory Health and Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network and Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Respiratory Health and Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network and Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Defa Wu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Respiratory Health and Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network and Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yijiu Ren
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Respiratory Health and Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network and Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Chengdi Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Respiratory Health and Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network and Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Jifa Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Respiratory Health and Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network and Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
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2
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Previtali V, Bagnolini G, Ciamarone A, Ferrandi G, Rinaldi F, Myers SH, Roberti M, Cavalli A. New Horizons of Synthetic Lethality in Cancer: Current Development and Future Perspectives. J Med Chem 2024; 67:11488-11521. [PMID: 38955347 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00113] [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: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, synthetic lethality has been recognized as a solid paradigm for anticancer therapies. The discovery of a growing number of synthetic lethal targets has led to a significant expansion in the use of synthetic lethality, far beyond poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors used to treat BRCA1/2-defective tumors. In particular, molecular targets within DNA damage response have provided a source of inhibitors that have rapidly reached clinical trials. This Perspective focuses on the most recent progress in synthetic lethal targets and their inhibitors, within and beyond the DNA damage response, describing their design and associated therapeutic strategies. We will conclude by discussing the current challenges and new opportunities for this promising field of research, to stimulate discussion in the medicinal chemistry community, allowing the investigation of synthetic lethality to reach its full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viola Previtali
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Greta Bagnolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciamarone
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Ferrandi
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Rinaldi
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Samuel Harry Myers
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Marinella Roberti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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3
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Diehl CJ, Salerno A, Ciulli A. Ternary Complex-Templated Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry for the Selection and Identification of Homo-PROTACs. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202319456. [PMID: 38626385 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202319456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) leverages a reversible reaction to generate compound libraries from constituting building blocks under thermodynamic control. The position of this equilibrium can be biased by addition of a target macromolecule towards enrichment of bound ligands. While DCC has been applied to select ligands for a single target protein, its application to identifying chimeric molecules inducing proximity between two proteins is unprecedented. In this proof-of-concept study, we develop a DCC approach to select bifunctional proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) based on their ability to stabilize the ternary complex. We focus on VHL-targeting Homo-PROTACs as model system, and show that the formation of a VHL2 : Homo-PROTAC ternary complex reversibly assembled using thiol-disulfide exchange chemistry leads to amplification of potent VHL Homo-PROTACs with degradation activities which correlated well with their biophysical ability to dimerize VHL. Ternary complex templated dynamic combinatorial libraries allowed identification of novel Homo-PROTAC degraders. We anticipate future applications of ternary-complex directed DCC to early PROTAC screenings and expansion to other proximity-inducing modalities beyond PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia J Diehl
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, 1 James Lindsay Place, DD1 5JJ, Dundee, Scotland, U.K
| | - Alessandra Salerno
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, 1 James Lindsay Place, DD1 5JJ, Dundee, Scotland, U.K
| | - Alessio Ciulli
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, 1 James Lindsay Place, DD1 5JJ, Dundee, Scotland, U.K
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4
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Parameshwaraiah SM, Shivakumar R, Xi Z, Siddappa TP, Ravish A, Mohan A, Poonacha LK, Uppar PM, Basappa S, Dukanya D, Gaonkar SL, Kemparaju K, Lobie PE, Pandey V, Basappa B. Development of Novel Indazolyl-Acyl Hydrazones as Antioxidant and Anticancer Agents that Target VEGFR-2 in Human Breast Cancer Cells. Chem Biodivers 2024; 21:e202301950. [PMID: 38258537 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202301950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The increased expression of VEGFR-2 in a variety of cancer cells promotes a cascade of cellular responses that improve cell survival, growth, and proliferation. Heterocycles are common structural elements in medicinal chemistry and commercially available medications that target several biological pathways and induce cell death in cancer cells. Herein, the evaluation of indazolyl-acyl hydrazones as antioxidant and anticancer agents is reported. Compounds 4e and 4j showed inhibitory activity in free radical scavenging assays (DPPH and FRPA). The titled compounds were employed in cell viability studies using MCF-7 cells, and it was observed that compounds 4f and 4j exhibited IC50 values 15.83 μM and 5.72 μM, respectively. In silico docking revealed the favorable binding energies of -7.30 kcal/mol and -8.04 kcal/mol for these compounds towards Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), respectively. In conclusion, compounds with antioxidant activity and that target VEGFR-2 in breast cancer cells are reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sindhu M Parameshwaraiah
- University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Studies in Organic Chemistry, Mysore, 570006, India
| | - Rashmi Shivakumar
- University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Studies in Organic Chemistry, Mysore, 570006, India
| | - Zhang Xi
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Tejaswini P Siddappa
- University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Studies in Organic Chemistry, Mysore, 570006, India
| | - Akshay Ravish
- University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Studies in Organic Chemistry, Mysore, 570006, India
| | - Arunkumar Mohan
- University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Studies in Organic Chemistry, Mysore, 570006, India
| | - Lisha K Poonacha
- University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Studies in Organic Chemistry, Mysore, 570006, India
| | - Pradeep M Uppar
- University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Studies in Organic Chemistry, Mysore, 570006, India
| | - Shreeja Basappa
- Department of Chemistry, BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Medchal, 500078, India
| | - Dukanya Dukanya
- University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Studies in Organic Chemistry, Mysore, 570006, India
| | - Santhosh L Gaonkar
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Department of Chemistry, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Kempaiah Kemparaju
- University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Department of Studies in Biochemistry, Mysore, 570006, India
| | - Peter E Lobie
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Tsinghua University, Tsinghua Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Tsinghua University, Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Vijay Pandey
- Tsinghua University, Tsinghua Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Tsinghua University, Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Basappa Basappa
- University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Studies in Organic Chemistry, Mysore, 570006, India
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5
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Hao W, Gao S, Cui H, Ding D, Jiang S, Zhang C, Ji Y, Zhang G. Construction of Trisubstituted Hydrazones via Base-Mediated Cascade Condensation N-Alkylation. J Org Chem 2024; 89:2605-2621. [PMID: 38315164 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.3c02621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
A practical base-promoted tandem condensation N-alkylation reaction for the formation of trisubstituted hydrazones has been developed employing aldehydes and hydrazines with alkyl halides. Crucially, this reaction successfully overcomes chemoselectivity problems, allowing for the reaction of multiple components in a one-pot manner. Halo- and heterofunctional groups, as well as free hydroxyl and amino groups, are tolerated in this transformation to produce a wide range of trisubstituted hydrazones in good to excellent yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan 030001, China
- College of Ecology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030001, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuo Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan 030001, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hongyi Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan 030001, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ding Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Shaohua Jiang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Chunyan Zhang
- College of Ecology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Yuqi Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Guoying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan 030001, China
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6
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Myers SH, Poppi L, Rinaldi F, Veronesi M, Ciamarone A, Previtali V, Bagnolini G, Schipani F, Ortega Martínez JA, Girotto S, Di Stefano G, Farabegoli F, Walsh N, De Franco F, Roberti M, Cavalli A. An 19F NMR fragment-based approach for the discovery and development of BRCA2-RAD51 inhibitors to pursuit synthetic lethality in combination with PARP inhibition in pancreatic cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 265:116114. [PMID: 38194775 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116114] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
The BRCA2-RAD51 interaction remains an intriguing target for cancer drug discovery due to its vital role in DNA damage repair mechanisms, which cancer cells become particularly reliant on. Moreover, RAD51 has many synthetically lethal partners, including PARP1-2, which can be exploited to induce synthetic lethality in cancer. In this study, we established a 19F-NMR-fragment based approach to identify RAD51 binders, leading to two initial hits. A subsequent SAR program identified 46 as a low micromolar inhibitor of the BRCA2-RAD51 interaction. 46 was tested in different pancreatic cancer cell lines, to evaluate its ability to inhibit the homologous recombination DNA repair pathway, mediated by BRCA2-RAD51 and trigger synthetic lethality in combination with the PARP inhibitor talazoparib, through the induction of apoptosis. Moreover, we further analyzed the 46/talazoparib combination in 3D pancreatic cancer models. Overall, 46 showed its potential as a tool to evaluate the RAD51/PARP1-2 synthetic lethality mechanism, along with providing a prospect for further inhibitors development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel H Myers
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Poppi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Rinaldi
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marina Veronesi
- Structural Biophysics Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy; D3 PharmaChemistry, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciamarone
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Viola Previtali
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Greta Bagnolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Schipani
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Stefania Girotto
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy; Structural Biophysics Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Di Stefano
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fulvia Farabegoli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Naomi Walsh
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, D09 NR58, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Marinella Roberti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163, Genoa, Italy; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
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7
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Kassab AE. Anticancer agents incorporating the N-acylhydrazone scaffold: Progress from 2017 to present. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2023; 356:e2200548. [PMID: 36638264 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202200548] [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: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The N-acylhydrazone motif has been shown to be particularly adaptable and promising in the area of medicinal chemistry and drug development, due to its significant biological and pharmacological characteristics. Moreover, N-acylhydrazones are appealing synthetic and biological tools because of their simple and straightforward synthesis. This scaffold has emerged as a fundamental building block for the synthesis of bioactive compounds. Particularly, the N-acylhydrazone scaffold served as a base for the synthesis of a number of potent anticancer agents acting via different mechanisms. An updated summary of the anticancer activity of N-acylhydrazone derivatives described in the literature (from 2017 to 2022) is provided in the current review. It discusses the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of N-acylhydrazone derivatives exhibiting anticancer potential, which could be helpful in designing and developing new derivatives as effective antiproliferative candidates in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa E Kassab
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
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