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Gzik A, Borek B, Chrzanowski J, Jedrzejczak K, Dziegielewski M, Brzezinska J, Nowicka J, Grzybowski MM, Rejczak T, Niedzialek D, Wieczorek G, Olczak J, Golebiowski A, Zaslona Z, Blaszczyk R. Novel orally bioavailable piperidine derivatives as extracellular arginase inhibitors developed by a ring expansion. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 264:116033. [PMID: 38096651 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116033] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Arginase is a multifaced enzyme that plays an important role in health and disease being regarded as a therapeutic target for the treatment of various pathological states such as malignancies, asthma, and cardiovascular disease. The discovery of boronic acid-based arginase inhibitors in 1997 revolutionized attempts of medicinal chemistry focused on development of drugs targeting arginase. Unfortunately, these very polar compounds had limitations such as analysis and purification without chromophores, synthetically challenging space, and poor oral bioavailability. Herein, we present a novel class of boronic acid-based arginase inhibitors which are piperidine derivatives exhibiting a different pharmacological profile compared to our drug candidate in cancer immunotherapy -OATD-02 - dual ARG1/2 inhibitor with high intracellular activity. Compounds from this new series show low intracellular activity, hence they can inhibit mainly extracellular arginase, providing different therapeutic space compared to a dual intracellular ARG1/2 inhibitor. The disclosed series showed good inhibitory potential towards arginase enzyme in vitro (IC50 up to 160 nM), favorable pharmacokinetics in animal models, and encouraging preliminary in vitro and in vivo tolerability. Compounds from the new series have moderate-to-high oral bioavailability (up to 66 %) and moderate clearance in vivo. Herein we describe the development and optimization of the synthesis of the new class of boronic acid-based arginase inhibitors via a ring expansion approach starting from the inexpensive chirality source (d-hydroxyproline). This upgraded methodology facilitated a gram-scale delivery of the final compound and eliminated the need for costly and time-consuming chiral resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gzik
- Molecure S.A., Zwirki i Wigury 101, Warsaw, 02-089, Poland
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Julita Nowicka
- Molecure S.A., Zwirki i Wigury 101, Warsaw, 02-089, Poland
| | | | - Tomasz Rejczak
- Molecure S.A., Zwirki i Wigury 101, Warsaw, 02-089, Poland
| | | | | | - Jacek Olczak
- Molecure S.A., Zwirki i Wigury 101, Warsaw, 02-089, Poland
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2
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Laubach K, Turan T, Mathew R, Wilsbacher J, Engelhardt J, Samayoa J. Tumor-intrinsic metabolic reprogramming and how it drives resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2023; 6:611-641. [PMID: 37842241 PMCID: PMC10571065 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2023.60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
The development of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies has been instrumental in advancing the field of immunotherapy. Despite the prominence of these treatments, many patients exhibit primary or acquired resistance, rendering them ineffective. For example, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1)/anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) treatments are widely utilized across a range of cancer indications, but the response rate is only 10%-30%. As such, it is necessary for researchers to identify targets and develop drugs that can be used in combination with existing ICB therapies to overcome resistance. The intersection of cancer, metabolism, and the immune system has gained considerable traction in recent years as a way to comprehensively study the mechanisms that drive oncogenesis, immune evasion, and immunotherapy resistance. As a result, new research is continuously emerging in support of targeting metabolic pathways as an adjuvant to ICB to boost patient response and overcome resistance. Due to the plethora of studies in recent years highlighting this notion, this review will integrate the relevant articles that demonstrate how tumor-derived alterations in energy, amino acid, and lipid metabolism dysregulate anti-tumor immune responses and drive resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra Laubach
- Computational Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
- Immuno-Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Tolga Turan
- Computational Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Rebecca Mathew
- Immuno-Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | | | - Josue Samayoa
- Computational Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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Matulevičiūtė G, Kleizienė N, Račkauskienė G, Martynaitis V, Bieliauskas A, Šachlevičiūtė U, Jankauskas R, Bartkus MR, Sløk FA, Šačkus A. Facile synthesis of new N-(aminocycloalkylene)amino acid compounds using chiral triflate esters with N-Boc-aminopyrrolidines and N-Boc-aminopiperidines. RSC Adv 2023; 13:21378-21394. [PMID: 37469966 PMCID: PMC10353522 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra03060a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we prepared a series of new N-(aminocycloalkylene)amino acid derivatives for use in chiral building blocks. The method was based on the conversion of enantiopure α-hydroxy acid esters into the corresponding chiral triflate esters, which were displaced by a nucleophilic substitution SN2 reaction with aminopyrrolidine and aminopiperidine derivatives, and the inversion of the configuration to give methyl 2-[(Boc-amino)cycloamin-1-yl]alkanoates with good yield and high enantiomeric and diastereomeric purity. Synthesized 2-[(Boc-amino)piperidin-1-yl]propanoates combined with ethyl l-phenylalaninate gave new chiral N-Boc- and N-nosyl-dipeptides containing a piperidine moiety. The structures were elucidated by 1H-, 13C-, and 15N-NMR spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gita Matulevičiūtė
- Institute of Synthetic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology K. Baršausko g. 59 Kaunas LT-51423 Lithuania
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology Radvilėnų pl. 19 Kaunas LT-50254 Lithuania
| | - Neringa Kleizienė
- Institute of Synthetic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology K. Baršausko g. 59 Kaunas LT-51423 Lithuania
| | - Greta Račkauskienė
- Institute of Synthetic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology K. Baršausko g. 59 Kaunas LT-51423 Lithuania
| | - Vytas Martynaitis
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology Radvilėnų pl. 19 Kaunas LT-50254 Lithuania
| | - Aurimas Bieliauskas
- Institute of Synthetic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology K. Baršausko g. 59 Kaunas LT-51423 Lithuania
| | - Urtė Šachlevičiūtė
- Institute of Synthetic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology K. Baršausko g. 59 Kaunas LT-51423 Lithuania
| | - Rokas Jankauskas
- Institute of Synthetic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology K. Baršausko g. 59 Kaunas LT-51423 Lithuania
| | - Martynas R Bartkus
- Institute of Synthetic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology K. Baršausko g. 59 Kaunas LT-51423 Lithuania
| | - Frank A Sløk
- Vipergen ApS Gammel Kongevej 23A Copenhagen V DK-1610 Denmark
| | - Algirdas Šačkus
- Institute of Synthetic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology K. Baršausko g. 59 Kaunas LT-51423 Lithuania
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Kaunas University of Technology Radvilėnų pl. 19 Kaunas LT-50254 Lithuania
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Park SH, Eun R, Heo J, Lim YT. Nanoengineered drug delivery in cancer immunotherapy for overcoming immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2023; 13:2015-2031. [PMID: 36581707 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-022-01282-8] [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] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Almost like a living being in and of itself, tumors actively interact with and modify their environment to escape immune responses. Owing to the pre-formation of cancer-favorable microenvironment prior to anti-cancer treatment, the numerous attempts that followed propose limited efficacy in oncology. Immunogenicity by activation of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment or recruitment of immune cells from nearby lymph nodes is quickly offset as the immunosuppressive environment, rapidly converting immunogenic cells into immune suppressive cells, overriding the immune system. Tumor cells, as well as regulatory cells, namely M2 macrophages, Treg cells, and MDSCs, derived by the immunosuppressive environment, also cloak from potential anti-tumoral factors by directly or indirectly secreting cytokines, such as IL-10 and TGF-β, related to immune regulation. Enzymes and other metabolic or angiogenetic constituents - VEGF, IDO1, and iNOS - are also employed directed for anti-cancer immune cell malfunctioning. Therefore, the conversion of "cold" immunosuppressive environment into "hot" immune responsive environment is of paramount importance, bestowing the advances in the field of cancer immunotherapy the opportunity to wholly fulfill its intended purpose. This paper reviews the mechanisms by which tumors wield to exercise immune suppression and the nanoengineered delivery strategies being developed to overcome this suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sei Hyun Park
- SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology (SAINT), Department of Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, and Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi-Do, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Ryounho Eun
- SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology (SAINT), Department of Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, and Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi-Do, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Janghun Heo
- SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology (SAINT), Department of Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, and Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi-Do, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Taik Lim
- SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology (SAINT), Department of Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, and Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Gyeonggi-Do, 16419, Republic of Korea.
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Jiménez-Alonso JJ, López-Lázaro M. Dietary Manipulation of Amino Acids for Cancer Therapy. Nutrients 2023; 15:2879. [PMID: 37447206 DOI: 10.3390/nu15132879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells cannot proliferate and survive unless they obtain sufficient levels of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids (AAs). Unlike normal cells, cancer cells have genetic and metabolic alterations that may limit their capacity to obtain adequate levels of the 20 AAs in challenging metabolic environments. However, since normal diets provide all AAs at relatively constant levels and ratios, these potentially lethal genetic and metabolic defects are eventually harmless to cancer cells. If we temporarily replace the normal diet of cancer patients with artificial diets in which the levels of specific AAs are manipulated, cancer cells may be unable to proliferate and survive. This article reviews in vivo studies that have evaluated the antitumor activity of diets restricted in or supplemented with the 20 proteinogenic AAs, individually and in combination. It also reviews our recent studies that show that manipulating the levels of several AAs simultaneously can lead to marked survival improvements in mice with metastatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miguel López-Lázaro
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
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Paterek A, Oknińska M, Pilch Z, Sosnowska A, Ramji K, Mackiewicz U, Golab J, Nowis D, Mączewski M. Arginase Inhibition Mitigates Bortezomib-Exacerbated Cardiotoxicity in Multiple Myeloma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15072191. [PMID: 37046852 PMCID: PMC10093116 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple myeloma (MM) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, while MM therapies also result in adverse cardiac effects. Endothelial dysfunction and impaired nitric oxide (NO) pathway is their possible mediator. OBJECTIVE Since MM is associated with increased arginase expression, resulting in the consumption of ʟ-arginine, precursor for NO synthesis, our aim was to test if cardiotoxicity mediated by MM and MM therapeutic, bortezomib (a proteasome inhibitor), can be ameliorated by an arginase inhibitor through improved endothelial function. METHODS We used a mouse Vĸ*MYC model of non-light chain MM. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. RESULTS MM resulted in progressive left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction, and bortezomib exacerbated this effect, leading to significant impairment of LV performance. An arginase inhibitor, OAT-1746, protected the heart against bortezomib- or MM-induced toxicity but did not completely prevent the effects of the MM+bortezomib combination. MM was associated with improved endothelial function (assessed as NO production) vs. healthy controls, while bortezomib did not affect it. OAT-1746 improved endothelial function only in healthy mice. NO plasma concentration was increased by OAT-1746 but was not affected by MM or bortezomib. CONCLUSIONS Bortezomib exacerbates MM-mediated LV systolic dysfunction in a mouse model of MM, while an arginase inhibitor partially prevents it. Endothelium does not mediate either these adverse or beneficial effects. This suggests that proteasome inhibitors should be used with caution in patients with advanced myeloma, where the summation of cardiotoxicity could be expected. Therapies aimed at the NO pathway, in particular arginase inhibitors, could offer promise in the prevention/treatment of cardiotoxicity in MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Paterek
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 99/103 Marymoncka Street, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Oknińska
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 99/103 Marymoncka Street, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zofia Pilch
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 5 Nielubowicza Street, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Sosnowska
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 5 Nielubowicza Street, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kavita Ramji
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 5 Nielubowicza Street, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Urszula Mackiewicz
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 99/103 Marymoncka Street, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Golab
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 5 Nielubowicza Street, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
- Centre of Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, 1B Banacha Street, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dominika Nowis
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, 5 Nielubowicza Street, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 5 Nielubowicza Street, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Mączewski
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 99/103 Marymoncka Street, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
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Wu Y, Yang Z, Cheng K, Bi H, Chen J. Small molecule-based immunomodulators for cancer therapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:4287-4308. [PMID: 36562003 PMCID: PMC9764074 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of cancer. Current cancer immunotherapies are mostly antibody-based, thus possessing advantages in regard to pharmacodynamics (e.g., specificity and efficacy). However, they have limitations in terms of pharmacokinetics including long half-lives, poor tissue/tumor penetration, and little/no oral bioavailability. In addition, therapeutic antibodies are immunogenic, thus may cause unwanted adverse effects. Therefore, researchers have shifted their efforts towards the development of small molecule-based cancer immunotherapy, as small molecules may overcome the above disadvantages associated with antibodies. Further, small molecule-based immunomodulators and therapeutic antibodies are complementary modalities for cancer treatment, and may be combined to elicit synergistic effects. Recent years have witnessed the rapid development of small molecule-based cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we describe the current progress in small molecule-based immunomodulators (inhibitors/agonists/degraders) for cancer therapy, including those targeting PD-1/PD-L1, chemokine receptors, stimulator of interferon genes (STING), Toll-like receptor (TLR), etc. The tumorigenesis mechanism of various targets and their respective modulators that have entered clinical trials are also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kui Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Huichang Bi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jianjun Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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