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Seaton G, Smith H, Brancale A, Westwell AD, Clarkson R. Multifaceted roles for BCL3 in cancer: a proto-oncogene comes of age. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:7. [PMID: 38195591 PMCID: PMC10775530 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01922-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
In the early 1990's a group of unrelated genes were identified from the sites of recurring translocations in B-cell lymphomas. Despite sharing the nomenclature 'Bcl', and an association with blood-borne cancer, these genes have unrelated functions. Of these genes, BCL2 is best known as a key cancer target involved in the regulation of caspases and other cell viability mechanisms. BCL3 on the other hand was originally identified as a non-canonical regulator of NF-kB transcription factor pathways - a signaling mechanism associated with important cell outcomes including many of the hallmarks of cancer. Most of the early investigations into BCL3 function have since focused on its role in NF-kB mediated cell proliferation, inflammation/immunity and cancer. However, recent evidence is coming to light that this protein directly interacts with and modulates a number of other signaling pathways including DNA damage repair, WNT/β-catenin, AKT, TGFβ/SMAD3 and STAT3 - all of which have key roles in cancer development, metastatic progression and treatment of solid tumours. Here we review the direct evidence demonstrating BCL3's central role in a transcriptional network of signaling pathways that modulate cancer biology and treatment response in a range of solid tumour types and propose common mechanisms of action of BCL3 which may be exploited in the future to target its oncogenic effects for patient benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian Seaton
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Biosciences, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Hannah Smith
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Biosciences, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Andrea Brancale
- UCT Prague, Technická 5, 166 28, 6 - Dejvice, IČO: 60461337, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- Cardiff University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, UK
| | - Richard Clarkson
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Biosciences, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
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2
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Almehdi AM, Soliman SSM, El-Shorbagi ANA, Westwell AD, Hamdy R. Design, Synthesis, and Potent Anticancer Activity of Novel Indole-Based Bcl-2 Inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14656. [PMID: 37834104 PMCID: PMC10572575 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Bcl-2 family plays a crucial role in regulating cell apoptosis, making it an attractive target for cancer therapy. In this study, a series of indole-based compounds, U1-6, were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their anticancer activity against Bcl-2-expressing cancer cell lines. The binding affinity, safety profile, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis effects of the compounds were tested. The designed compounds exhibited potent inhibitory activity at sub-micromolar IC50 concentrations against MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and A549 cell lines. Notably, U2 and U3 demonstrated the highest activity, particularly against MCF-7 cells. Respectively, both U2 and U3 showed potential BCL-2 inhibition activity with IC50 values of 1.2 ± 0.02 and 11.10 ± 0.07 µM using an ELISA binding assay compared with 0.62 ± 0.01 µM for gossypol, employed as a positive control. Molecular docking analysis suggested stable interactions of compound U2 at the Bcl-2 binding site through hydrogen bonding, pi-pi stacking, and hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, U2 demonstrated significant induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase. Importantly, U2 displayed a favourable safety profile on HDF human dermal normal fibroblast cells at 10-fold greater IC50 values compared with MDA-MB-231 cells. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of compound U2 as a Bcl-2 inhibitor and provide insights into its molecular mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M. Almehdi
- College of Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates;
- Research Institute for Science and Engineering (RISE), University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sameh S. M. Soliman
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates;
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates;
| | | | - Andrew D. Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK
| | - Rania Hamdy
- Research Institute for Science and Engineering (RISE), University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates;
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
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3
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Scurr MJ, Zelek WM, Lippiatt G, Somerville M, Burnell SEA, Capitani L, Davies K, Lawton H, Tozer T, Rees T, Roberts K, Evans M, Jackson A, Young C, Fairclough L, Tighe P, Wills M, Westwell AD, Morgan BP, Gallimore A, Godkin A. Whole blood-based measurement of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells reveals asymptomatic infection and vaccine immunogenicity in healthy subjects and patients with solid-organ cancers. Immunology 2022; 165:250-259. [PMID: 34775604 PMCID: PMC8653009 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate assessment of SARS-CoV-2 immunity is critical in evaluating vaccine efficacy and devising public health policies. Whilst the exact nature of effective immunity remains incompletely defined, SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses are a critical feature that will likely form a key correlate of protection against COVID-19. Here, we developed and optimized a high-throughput whole blood-based assay to determine the T-cell response associated with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination amongst 231 healthy donors and 68 cancer patients. Following overnight in vitro stimulation with SARS-CoV-2-specific peptides, blood plasma samples were analysed for TH 1-type cytokines. Highly significant differential IFN-γ+ /IL-2+ SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses were seen amongst previously infected COVID-19-positive healthy donors in comparison with unknown / naïve individuals (p < 0·0001). IFN-γ production was more effective at identifying asymptomatic donors, demonstrating higher sensitivity (96·0% vs. 83·3%) but lower specificity (84·4% vs. 92·5%) than measurement of IL-2. A single COVID-19 vaccine dose induced IFN-γ and/or IL-2 SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses in 116 of 128 (90·6%) healthy donors, reducing significantly to 27 of 56 (48·2%) when measured in cancer patients (p < 0·0001). A second dose was sufficient to boost T-cell responses in the majority (90·6%) of cancer patients, albeit IFN-γ+ responses were still significantly lower overall than those induced in healthy donors (p = 0·034). Three-month post-vaccination T-cell responses also declined at a faster rate in cancer patients. Overall, this cost-effective standardizable test ensures accurate and comparable assessments of SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses amenable to widespread population immunity testing, and identifies individuals at greater need of booster vaccinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin J. Scurr
- Division of Infection & ImmunitySchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- ImmunoServ LtdCardiffUK
| | - Wioleta M. Zelek
- School of MedicineSystems Immunity University Research InstituteCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- UK Dementia Research Institute CardiffCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | | | - Michelle Somerville
- Division of Infection & ImmunitySchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | | | - Lorenzo Capitani
- Division of Infection & ImmunitySchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | | | | | - Thomas Tozer
- Department of Gastroenterology & HepatologyUniversity Hospital of WalesCardiffUK
| | - Tara Rees
- Department of Gastroenterology & HepatologyUniversity Hospital of WalesCardiffUK
| | - Kerry Roberts
- Department of Gastroenterology & HepatologyUniversity Hospital of WalesCardiffUK
| | | | | | | | | | - Paddy Tighe
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - Mark Wills
- Department of MedicineAddenbrooke’s HospitalUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Andrew D. Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - B. Paul Morgan
- School of MedicineSystems Immunity University Research InstituteCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- UK Dementia Research Institute CardiffCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Awen Gallimore
- Division of Infection & ImmunitySchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- School of MedicineSystems Immunity University Research InstituteCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Andrew Godkin
- Division of Infection & ImmunitySchool of MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- School of MedicineSystems Immunity University Research InstituteCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Department of Gastroenterology & HepatologyUniversity Hospital of WalesCardiffUK
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4
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Soukupová J, Bordoni C, Turnham DJ, Yang WW, Seaton G, Gruca A, French R, Lee KY, Varnava A, Piggott L, Clarkson RWE, Westwell AD, Brancale A. The Discovery of a Novel Antimetastatic Bcl3 Inhibitor. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:775-786. [PMID: 33649105 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The development of antimetastatic drugs is an urgent healthcare priority for patients with cancer, because metastasis is thought to account for around 90% of cancer deaths. Current antimetastatic treatment options are limited and often associated with poor long-term survival and systemic toxicities. Bcl3, a facilitator protein of the NF-κB family, is associated with poor prognosis in a range of tumor types. Bcl3 has been directly implicated in the metastasis of tumor cells, yet is well tolerated when constitutively deleted in murine models, making it a promising therapeutic target. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of the first small-molecule Bcl3 inhibitor, by using a virtual drug design and screening approach against a computational model of the Bcl3-NF-kB1(p50) protein-protein interaction. From selected virtual screening hits, one compound (JS6) showed potent intracellular Bcl3-inhibitory activity. JS6 treatment led to reductions in Bcl3-NF-kB1 binding, tumor colony formation, and cancer cell migration in vitro; and tumor stasis and antimetastatic activity in vivo, while being devoid of overt systemic toxicity. These results represent a successful application of in silico screening in the identification of protein-protein inhibitors for novel intracellular targets, and confirm Bcl3 as a potential antimetastatic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitka Soukupová
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.,European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Cinzia Bordoni
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel J Turnham
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - William W Yang
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian Seaton
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Aleksandra Gruca
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Rhiannon French
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Kok Yung Lee
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Athina Varnava
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Luke Piggott
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Richard W E Clarkson
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Brancale
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
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Kandil SB, Kariuki BM, McGuigan C, Westwell AD. Synthesis, biological evaluation and X-ray analysis of bicalutamide sulfoxide analogues for the potential treatment of prostate cancer. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2021; 36:127817. [PMID: 33513386 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.127817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR) is a pivotal target for the treatment of prostate cancer (PC) even when the disease progresses toward androgen-independent or castration-resistant forms. In this study, a series of sulfoxide derivatives were prepared and their antiproliferative activity evaluated in vitro against four different human prostate cancer cell lines (22Rv1, DU-145, LNCaP and VCap). Bicalutamide and enzalutamide were used as positive controls. Compound 28 displayed significant enhancement in anticancer activity across the four PC cell lines with IC50 = 9.09 - 31.11 µM compared to the positive controls: bicalutamide (IC50 = 45.20 -51.61 µM) and enzalutamide (IC50 = 11.47 - 53.04 µM). Sulfoxide derivatives of bicalutamide were prepared efficiently from the corresponding sulfides using only one equivalent of mCPBA, limiting the reaction time to 15-30 min and maintaining the temperature at 0 °C. Interestingly, three pairs of sulfoxide diastereomers were separated and NMR comparison of their diastereotopic methylene (CH2) group is presented. X-ray diffraction crystal structure analysis provided relative configuration assignment at the chiral sulfur and carbon centres. Molecular modelling study of the four diastereoisomers of compound 28 is described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar B Kandil
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, United Kingdom.
| | - Benson M Kariuki
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher McGuigan
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, United Kingdom
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6
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Kandil SB, Jones SR, Smith S, Hiscox SE, Westwell AD. Structure-Based Virtual Screening, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Potential FAK-FAT Domain Inhibitors for Treatment of Metastatic Cancer. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25153488. [PMID: 32751931 PMCID: PMC7435868 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25153488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a tyrosine kinase that is overexpressed and activated in several advanced-stage solid cancers. In cancer cells, FAK promotes the progression and metastasis of tumours. In this study, we used structure-based virtual screening to filter a library of more than 210K compounds against the focal adhesion targeting FAK-focal adhesion targeting (FAT) domain to identify 25 virtual hit compounds which were screened in the invasive breast cancer line (MDA-MB-231). Most notably, compound I showed low micromolar antiproliferative activity, as well as antimigratory activity. Moreover, examination in a model of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), revealed that, despite not effecting FAK phosphorylation, compound I significantly impairs proliferation whilst impairing focal adhesion growth and turnover leading to reduced migration. Further optimisation and synthesis of analogues of the lead compound I using a four-step synthetic procedure was performed, and analogues were assessed for their antiproliferative activity against three breast cancer (MDA-MB-231, T47D, BT474) cell lines and one pancreatic cancer (MIAPaCa2) cell line. Compound 5f was identified as a promising lead compound with IC50 values in the range of 4.59–5.28 μM in MDA-MB-231, T47D, BT474, and MIAPaCa2. Molecular modelling and pharmacokinetic studies provided more insight into the therapeutic features of this new series.
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Bhattacharya S, Westmark P, Siegel N, Cai Y, Kandil S, Westwell AD, McGuigan C, O'Regan R. Abstract P5-05-06: Umbelliferon derivatives for androgen receptor positive triple negative breast cancer. Cancer Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.sabcs19-p5-05-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), which lacks hormone receptors and HER-2 over expression, has a poor prognosis due to the absence of targeted therapeutics. Gene expression profiling identified different subtypes of TNBC, several of which express androgen receptor (AR). AR inhibitors could provide a much-needed, less toxic, therapeutic intervention for patients with AR+ TNBC. However, clinical trials have shown modest activity of these agents in patients with metastatic AR+ TNBC to date. Conversion from AR antagonist to agonist is a well-recognized mechanism of resistance for AR inhibitors in the treatment of prostate cancer. To that end, we synthesized novel 7-substituted umbelliferon derivatives (UMBDs) with a distinct scaffold modified from available AR antagonists, designed to avoid such conversion. We have previously demonstrated that one of these agents, UMBD# 3 (compound 7a), demonstrates sub-micro molar inhibitory activity in a human prostate cancer with greater than 30 to 50 fold potency over the anti-androgens bicalutamide (Bica) and enzalutamide (Enza). In our current study, we tested the efficacy of UMBD# 3 in an AR+ TNBC cells that are sensitive or have acquired resistance to Bica. Methods: Bica-resistant cell lines were generated via multiple passaging of wild type (WT) MDA-MB-231 cells in media containing varying concentrations of Bica. Cell viability assays were conducted over a 72-hour period post seeding of AR+TNBC cell lines with AR antagonists Bica, Enza or UMBD#3. IC50 for respective drugs was determined via linear regression on normalized control values. Real time PCR and western blots were used to determine changes of AR at mRNA and protein level respectively, in response to the different agents. In order to isolate potential mechanistic pathway, we evaluated two proteins that are highly expressed in breast cancer, namely Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and Cadherin-11 (CAD-11) and assessed their expression in AR+ TNBC cells treated with UMBD#3. Results: The IC 50 for UMBD#3 was 6 and 4-fold lower than for Bica or Enza, respectively, in the WT AR+ TNBC cells (Bica, Enza and UMBD#3 IC50 were 136 ± 12.19, 91±12 and 20±7 µM respectively). The IC-50 for Bica in the Bica-resistant AR+ TNBC cells was 729 ± 42 µM, 6-fold higher than the WT cells. The IC50 for UMBD#3 in the Bica-resistant cells was 23.4±10 µM, similar to the WT cells. UMBD#3 caused a decrease in AR expression in the Wt and Bica-resistant calls. Expression of CAD-11 and PARP-1 were decreased in AR+ TNBC cells treated with UMBD#3 both at mRNA level and protein level. Conclusion: We show for the first time in vitro the anti-proliferative effect of a novel AR antagonist, UMBD#3, in WT and resistant AR+ TNBC. UMBD#3 appears to act via downregulation of AR with resultant decreased expression PARP and CAD-11. Given the apparent inherent resistance of AR+ TNBC to standard anti-androgens, further evaluation of this agent is warranted.
Citation Format: Saswati Bhattacharya, Pam Westmark, Noah Siegel, Yuanqi Cai, Sahar Kandil, Andrew D Westwell, Christopher McGuigan, Ruth O'Regan. Umbelliferon derivatives for androgen receptor positive triple negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-05-06.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pam Westmark
- 1School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Noah Siegel
- 1School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Yuanqi Cai
- 1School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
| | - Sahar Kandil
- 2School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- 2School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wales, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ruth O'Regan
- 1School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
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Cavaliere A, Probst KC, Paisey SJ, Marshall C, Dheere AKH, Aigbirhio F, McGuigan C, Westwell AD. Radiosynthesis of [ 18F]-Labelled Pro-Nucleotides (ProTides). Molecules 2020; 25:E704. [PMID: 32041321 PMCID: PMC7037993 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25030704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphoramidate pro-nucleotides (ProTides) have revolutionized the field of anti-viral and anti-cancer nucleoside therapy, overcoming the major limitations of nucleoside therapies and achieving clinical and commercial success. Despite the translation of ProTide technology into the clinic, there remain unresolved in vivo pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic questions. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging using [18F]-labelled model ProTides could directly address key mechanistic questions and predict response to ProTide therapy. Here we report the first radiochemical synthesis of [18F]ProTides as novel probes for PET imaging. As a proof of concept, two chemically distinct radiolabelled ProTides have been synthesized as models of 3'- and 2'-fluorinated ProTides following different radiosynthetic approaches. The 3'-[18F]FLT ProTide was obtained via a late stage [18F]fluorination in radiochemical yields (RCY) of 15-30% (n = 5, decay-corrected from end of bombardment (EoB)), with high radiochemical purities (97%) and molar activities of 56 GBq/μmol (total synthesis time of 130 min.). The 2'-[18F]FIAU ProTide was obtained via an early stage [18F]fluorination approach with an RCY of 1-5% (n = 7, decay-corrected from EoB), with high radiochemical purities (98%) and molar activities of 53 GBq/μmol (total synthesis time of 240 min).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Cavaliere
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, UK; (A.C.)
- Wales Research & Diagnostic Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Centre (PETIC), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, UK; (K.C.P.); (S.J.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Katrin C. Probst
- Wales Research & Diagnostic Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Centre (PETIC), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, UK; (K.C.P.); (S.J.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Stephen J. Paisey
- Wales Research & Diagnostic Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Centre (PETIC), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, UK; (K.C.P.); (S.J.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Christopher Marshall
- Wales Research & Diagnostic Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Centre (PETIC), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, UK; (K.C.P.); (S.J.P.); (C.M.)
| | - Abdul K. H. Dheere
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; (A.K.H.D.); (F.A.)
| | - Franklin Aigbirhio
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; (A.K.H.D.); (F.A.)
| | - Christopher McGuigan
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, UK; (A.C.)
| | - Andrew D. Westwell
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, UK; (A.C.)
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9
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Kourti M, Cai J, Jiang W, Westwell AD. Structural Modifications on CORM-3 Lead to Enhanced Anti-angiogenic Properties Against Triple-negative Breast Cancer Cells. Med Chem 2019; 17:40-59. [PMID: 31808392 DOI: 10.2174/1573406415666191206102452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CORMs) are a special class of organometallic complexes that have been reported to offer beneficial effects against different conditions including several subtypes of cancer. Especially for the aggressive and poorly treated triplenegative breast cancer (TNBC), early CORMs have been shown to diminish malignant angiogenesis and may be considered as an alternative approach. So, this study aimed at testing novel CORM molecules against angiogenesis in TNBC seeking potent drug candidates for new therapies. METHODS Based on previous studies, CORM-3 was chosen as the lead compound and a group of 15 new ruthenium-based CORMs was synthesized and subsequently evaluated in vitro for potential anti-angiogenic properties. RESULTS A similar anti-angiogenic behaviour to the lead complex was observed and a new CORM, complex 4, emerged as a promising agent from this study. Specifically, this complex offered better inhibition of the activation of VEGFR2 and other downstream proteins of vascular endothelial cells. Complex 4 also retained the ability of the parent molecule to reduce the upregulated VEGF expression from TNBC cells and inhibit endothelial cell migration and new vessel formation. The lack of significant cytotoxicity and the downregulating activity over the cytoprotective enzyme haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in cancer cells may also favour CORMs against this poorly treated subtype of breast cancer. CONCLUSION Since the anti-angiogenic approach is one of the few available targeted strategies against TNBC, both CORM-3 and the new complex 4 should be considered for further research as combination agents with existing anti-angiogenic drugs for more effective treatment of malignant angiogenesis in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malamati Kourti
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Jun Cai
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Wen Jiang
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, United Kingdom
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10
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Pertusati F, Ferla S, Bassetto M, Brancale A, Khandil S, Westwell AD, McGuigan C. A new series of bicalutamide, enzalutamide and enobosarm derivatives carrying pentafluorosulfanyl (SF5) and pentafluoroethyl (C2F5) substituents: Improved antiproliferative agents against prostate cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 180:1-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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11
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James E, Robertshaw TL, Pascoe MJ, Chapman FM, Westwell AD, Smith AP. Using the pharmacy retail model to examine perceptions and biases of a UK population sample towards regulation of specific psychoactive drugs. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/2050324519876123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background:Contemporary research indicates that the legal classifications of cannabis (Schedule 2, Class B), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (Schedule 1, Class A) and psilocybin (Schedule 1, Class A) in the United Kingdom are not entirely based on considerations of harm and therapeutic utility. The legal classifications of the substances discussed are typically determined by legislators such as Parliament and, therefore, may be a reflection of the views or perceived views of the general public.Objective:The aim of the study was to provide an indication of the underlying psychology regarding the legislated sale of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, MDMA and psilocybin in pharmacies according to a UK general population sample.Methods:A sample of 105 UK nationals was selected for the survey. Participants were asked questions on perceived relative harm of the five substances. After viewing contemporary information on reported relative harm and therapeutic applications, the participants were asked questions related to using the pharmacy retail model for the sale of the substances discussed. Participants who opposed the substances being sold primarily in pharmacies were asked to explain their rationale according to a predetermined list of options for each of the five drugs. Participants were also asked whether they consider it a human right to be legally permitted to consume the substances.Results:The participants' perceptions of relative harm (tobacco > MDMA > psilocybin > alcohol > cannabis) were not in agreement with the relative harm reported in the literature (alcohol > tobacco > cannabis > MDMA > psilocybin). Principal objections to the currently illicit substances being legally available in pharmacies include it sending the wrong message; it feels wrong; it is too dangerous; disliking the smell of cannabis; disapproval of the people; and not liking the idea of people using psychoactive drugs for entertainment or to have mystical/religious experiences. Overall, the participants determined that being legally permitted to consume the substances discussed is an issue of relevance to human rights. A majority of the male participants concluded that being legally permitted to consume alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and Psilocybe mushrooms is a human right in contrast to the majority of female participants who solely considered alcohol consumption to be a human right.Conclusions:The data suggest that the legal classifications may not simply be based on considerations of harm. Misperceptions of the dangers, biases and non-health-related aversions likely contribute to the continuation of policies that do not reflect the state of scientific research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward James
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, UK
| | | | - Michael J Pascoe
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Fiona M Chapman
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, UK
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12
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Crusco A, Whiteland H, Baptista R, Forde-Thomas JE, Beckmann M, Mur LAJ, Nash RJ, Westwell AD, Hoffmann KF. Antischistosomal Properties of Sclareol and Its Heck-Coupled Derivatives: Design, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Untargeted Metabolomics. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:1188-1199. [PMID: 31083889 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Sclareol, a plant-derived diterpenoid widely used as a fragrance and flavoring substance, is well-known for its promising antimicrobial and anticancer properties. However, its activity on helminth parasites has not been previously reported. Here, we show that sclareol is active against larval (IC50 ≈ 13 μM), juvenile (IC50 = 5.0 μM), and adult (IC50 = 19.3 μM) stages of Schistosoma mansoni, a parasitic trematode responsible for the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis. Microwave-assisted synthesis of Heck-coupled derivatives improved activity, with the substituents choice guided by the Matsy decision tree. The most active derivative 12 showed improved potency and selectivity on larval (IC50 ≈ 2.2 μM, selectivity index (SI) ≈ 22 in comparison to HepG2 cells), juvenile (IC50 = 1.7 μM, SI = 28.8), and adult schistosomes (IC50 = 9.4 μM, SI = 5.2). Scanning electron microscopy studies revealed that compound 12 induced blebbing of the adult worm surface at sublethal concentration (12.5 μM); moreover, the compound inhibited egg production at the lowest concentration tested (3.13 μM). The observed phenotype and data obtained by untargeted metabolomics suggested that compound 12 affects membrane lipid homeostasis by interfering with arachidonic acid metabolism. The same methodology applied to praziquantel (PZQ)-treated worms revealed sugar metabolism alterations that could be ascribed to the previously reported action of PZQ on serotonin signaling and/or effects on glycolysis. Importantly, our data suggest that compound 12 and PZQ exert different antischistosomal activities. More studies will be necessary to confirm the generated hypothesis and to progress the development of more potent antischistosomal sclareol derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Crusco
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Whiteland
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Rafael Baptista
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Josephine E. Forde-Thomas
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Manfred Beckmann
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Luis A. J. Mur
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J. Nash
- PhytoQuest Limited, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3EB, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D. Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Karl F. Hoffmann
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
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13
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Crusco A, Baptista R, Bhowmick S, Beckmann M, Mur LAJ, Westwell AD, Hoffmann KF. The Anti-mycobacterial Activity of a Diterpenoid-Like Molecule Operates Through Nitrogen and Amino Acid Starvation. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1444. [PMID: 31293560 PMCID: PMC6603307 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A library of 14 minimally cytotoxic diterpenoid-like compounds (CC50 > 70 μM on HepG2 human liver cells) was screened against Mycobacterium smegmatis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli to determine antimicrobial activity. Some compounds with a phenethyl alcohol (PE) core substituted with a β-cyclocitral derivative demonstrated anti-mycobacterial activity, with the most active being compound 1 (MIC = 23.4 mg/L, IC50 = 0.6 mg/L). Lower activity was exhibited against S. aureus, while no activity was displayed against E. coli. Low cytotoxicity was re-confirmed on HepG2 cells and additionally on RAW 264.7 murine macrophages (SI for both cell lines > 38). The sub-lethal (IC50 at 6 h) effect of compound 1 on M. smegmatis was examined through untargeted metabolomics and compared to untreated bacteria and bacteria treated with sub-lethal (IC50 at 6 h) concentrations of the antituberculosis drugs ethambutol, isoniazid, kanamycin, and streptomycin. The study revealed that compound 1 acts differently from the reference antibiotics and that it significantly affects amino acid, nitrogen, nucleotides and folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism of M. smegmatis, giving some insights about the mode of action of this molecule. A future medicinal chemistry optimization of this new anti-mycobacterial core could lead to more potent molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Crusco
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom.,School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Rafael Baptista
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Sumana Bhowmick
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Manfred Beckmann
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Luis A J Mur
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Karl F Hoffmann
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
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14
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Anderson RL, Balasas T, Callaghan J, Coombes RC, Evans J, Hall JA, Kinrade S, Jones D, Jones PS, Jones R, Marshall JF, Panico MB, Shaw JA, Steeg PS, Sullivan M, Tong W, Westwell AD, Ritchie JWA. A framework for the development of effective anti-metastatic agents. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2019; 16:185-204. [PMID: 30514977 PMCID: PMC7136167 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-018-0134-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Most cancer-related deaths are a result of metastasis, and thus the importance of this process as a target of therapy cannot be understated. By asking 'how can we effectively treat cancer?', we do not capture the complexity of a disease encompassing >200 different cancer types - many consisting of multiple subtypes - with considerable intratumoural heterogeneity, which can result in variable responses to a specific therapy. Moreover, we have much less information on the pathophysiological characteristics of metastases than is available for the primary tumour. Most disseminated tumour cells that arrive in distant tissues, surrounded by unfamiliar cells and a foreign microenvironment, are likely to die; however, those that survive can generate metastatic tumours with a markedly different biology from that of the primary tumour. To treat metastasis effectively, we must inhibit fundamental metastatic processes and develop specific preclinical and clinical strategies that do not rely on primary tumour responses. To address this crucial issue, Cancer Research UK and Cancer Therapeutics CRC Australia formed a Metastasis Working Group with representatives from not-for-profit, academic, government, industry and regulatory bodies in order to develop recommendations on how to tackle the challenges associated with treating (micro)metastatic disease. Herein, we describe the challenges identified as well as the proposed approaches for discovering and developing anticancer agents designed specifically to prevent or delay the metastatic outgrowth of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin L Anderson
- Translational Breast Cancer Program, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- Cancer Therapeutics Cooperative Research Centre (CTx), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Theo Balasas
- Commercial Partnerships, Cancer Research UK (CRUK), London, UK
| | - Juliana Callaghan
- Research and Innovation Services, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK
| | - R Charles Coombes
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Jeff Evans
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Jacqueline A Hall
- Research and Development, Vivacitv Ltd, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, UK
| | - Sally Kinrade
- Cancer Therapeutics Cooperative Research Centre (CTx), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Medicines Development for Global Health, Southbank, Victoria, Australia
| | - David Jones
- Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, London, UK
| | | | - Rob Jones
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - John F Marshall
- Queen Mary University of London, Barts Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Jacqui A Shaw
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, Leicestershire, UK
| | - Patricia S Steeg
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mark Sullivan
- Cancer Therapeutics Cooperative Research Centre (CTx), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Medicines Development for Global Health, Southbank, Victoria, Australia
| | - Warwick Tong
- Cancer Therapeutics Cooperative Research Centre (CTx), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - James W A Ritchie
- Commercial Partnerships, Cancer Research UK (CRUK), London, UK.
- Centre for Drug Development, CRUK, London, UK.
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15
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Seton AW, Stevens MFG, Westwell AD. A Revised Synthesis of the Antitumour Antibiotic L-azatyrosine via 2-iodo-5-methoxypyridine. Journal of Chemical Research 2019. [DOI: 10.3184/030823401103168839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A revised synthesis of the antitumour antibiotic L-azatyrosine is reported, the main features of which are the unam-biguous synthesis of the previously misinterpreted 2-iodo-5-methoxypyridine and subsequent palladium-catalysed coupling with an iodoalanine-derived zinc reagent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison W. Seton
- Cancer Research Laboratories, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Malcolm F. G. Stevens
- Cancer Research Laboratories, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Andrew D. Westwell
- Cancer Research Laboratories, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
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16
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Haynes B, Zhang Y, Liu F, Li J, Petit S, Kothayer H, Bao X, Westwell AD, Mao G, Shekhar MP. Corrigendum to "Gold nanoparticle conjugated Rad6 inhibitor induces cell death in triple negative breast cancer cells by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and PARP-1 hyperactivation: Synthesis and characterization" [Nanomedicine 12 (3) (2016), 745-757]. Nanomedicine 2019; 18:426. [PMID: 30726707 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Haynes
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 E. Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201; Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 110 E. Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Yanhua Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive, Detroit, MI 48202
| | - Fangchao Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive, Detroit, MI 48202
| | - Jing Li
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 E. Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201; Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 110 E. Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Sarah Petit
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 E. Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201; Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 110 E. Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201
| | | | - Xun Bao
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 E. Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Wales, CF10 3NB, U.K
| | - Guangzhao Mao
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive, Detroit, MI 48202
| | - Malathy Pv Shekhar
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 E. Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201; Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 110 E. Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201; Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 110 E. Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201.
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17
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Shirinzadeh H, Süzen S, Altanlar N, Westwell AD. Antimicrobial Activities of New Indole Derivatives Containing 1,2,4-Triazole, 1,3,4-Thiadiazole and Carbothioamide. Turk J Pharm Sci 2018; 15:291-297. [PMID: 32454672 DOI: 10.4274/tjps.55707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Objectives In new antimicrobial drug development studies, indole and its derivatives create an important class of compounds. In addition, azoles and their derivatives were recognized to be associated with a variety of biologic activities such as antibacterial and antifungal. In this study antimicrobial activities of some indole derivatives mainly substituted with 1,2,4-triazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole and hydrazinecarbothioamide were investigated to evaluate their efficacy. Materials and Methods The efficacy of new compounds was evaluated using 2-fold serial dilutions against Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, and Candida krusei. Results The MIC was determined for test compounds and for the reference standards sultamicillin, ampicillin, fluconazole, and ciprofloxacin. Conclusion The compounds possessed a broad spectrum of activity having MIC values of 3.125-50 µg/mL against the tested microorganisms. This study provides valuable evidence that the indole-triazole derivative compound 3d holds significant promise as a novel antibacterial and antifungal lead compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanif Shirinzadeh
- Erzincan University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Erzincan, Turkey
| | - Sibel Süzen
- Ankara University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Nurten Altanlar
- Ankara University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- Cardiff University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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18
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Dart DA, Kandil S, Tommasini-Ghelfi S, Serrano de Almeida G, Bevan CL, Jiang W, Westwell AD. Novel Trifluoromethylated Enobosarm Analogues with Potent Antiandrogenic Activity In Vitro and Tissue Selectivity In Vivo. Mol Cancer Ther 2018; 17:1846-1858. [PMID: 29895558 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-18-0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer often develops antiandrogen resistance, possibly via androgen receptor (AR) mutations, which change antagonists to agonists. Novel therapies with increased anticancer activity, while overcoming current drug resistance are urgently needed. Enobosarm has anabolic effects on muscle and bone while having no effect on the prostate. Here, we describe the activity of novel chemically modified enobosarm analogues. The rational addition of bis-trifluoromethyl groups into ring B of enobosarm, profoundly modified their activity, pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution profiles. These chemical structural modifications resulted in an improved AR binding affinity-by increasing the molecular occupational volume near helix 12 of AR. In vitro, the analogues SK33 and SK51 showed very potent antiandrogenic activity, monitored using LNCaP/AR-Luciferase cells where growth, PSA and luciferase activity were used as AR activity measurements. These compounds were 10-fold more potent than bicalutamide and 100-fold more potent than enobosarm within the LNCaP model. These compounds were also active in LNCaP/BicR cells with acquired bicalutamide resistance. In vivo, using the AR-Luc reporter mice, these drugs showed potent AR inhibitory activity in the prostate and other AR-expressing tissues, e.g., testes, seminal vesicles, and brain. These compounds do not inhibit AR activity in the skeletal muscle, and spleen, thus indicating a selective tissue inhibitory profile. These compounds were also active in vivo in the Pb-Pten deletion model. SK33 and SK51 have significantly different and enhanced activity profiles compared with enobosarm and are ideal candidates for further development for prostate cancer therapy with potentially fewer side effects. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(9); 1846-58. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Alwyn Dart
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. .,Androgen Signaling Laboratory, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sahar Kandil
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Serena Tommasini-Ghelfi
- Androgen Signaling Laboratory, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gilberto Serrano de Almeida
- Androgen Signaling Laboratory, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte L Bevan
- Androgen Signaling Laboratory, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom
| | - Wenguo Jiang
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
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Crusco A, Bordoni C, Chakroborty A, Whatley KCL, Whiteland H, Westwell AD, Hoffmann KF. Design, synthesis and anthelmintic activity of 7-keto-sempervirol analogues. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 152:87-100. [PMID: 29698860 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 04/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The plant-derived, diterpenoid 7-keto-sempervirol was recently reported to display moderate activity against larval stages of Schistosoma mansoni (IC50 = 19.1 μM) and Fasciola hepatica (IC50 = 17.7 μM), two related parasitic blood and liver flukes responsible for the neglected tropical diseases schistosomiasis and fascioliasis, respectively. Here, we aimed to increase the potency of 7-keto-sempervirol by total synthesis of 30 structural analogues. Subsequent screening of these new diterpenoids against juvenile and adult lifecycle stages of both parasites as well as the human HepG2 liver cell line and the bovine MDBK kidney cell line revealed structure-activity relationship trends. The most active analogue, 7d, displayed improved dual anthelmintic activity over 7-keto-sempervirol (IC50 ≈ 6 μM for larval blood flukes; IC50 ≈ 3 μM for juvenile liver flukes) and moderate selectivity (SI ≈ 4-5 for blood flukes, 8-13 for liver flukes compared to HepG2 and MDBK cells, respectively). Phenotypic studies using scanning electron microscopy revealed substantial tegumental alterations in both helminth species, supporting the hypothesis that the parasite surface is one of the main targets of this family of molecules. Further modifications of 7d could lead to greater potency and selectivity metrics resulting in a new class of broad-spectrum anthelmintic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Crusco
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, United Kingdom; School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Cinzia Bordoni
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Anand Chakroborty
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Kezia C L Whatley
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Whiteland
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3NB, United Kingdom.
| | - Karl F Hoffmann
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, United Kingdom.
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20
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Somasagara RR, Spencer SM, Tripathi K, Clark DW, Mani C, da Silva LM, Scalici J, Kothayer H, Westwell AD, Rocconi RP, Palle K. RAD6 promotes DNA repair and stem cell signaling in ovarian cancer and is a promising therapeutic target to prevent and treat acquired chemoresistance. Oncogene 2017; 36:6680-6690. [PMID: 28806395 PMCID: PMC5709226 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most deadly gynecological cancer and unlike most other neoplasms, survival rates for OC have not significantly improved in recent decades. We show that RAD6, an ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, is significantly overexpressed in ovarian tumors and its expression increases in response to carboplatin chemotherapy. RAD6 expression correlated strongly with acquired chemoresistance and malignant behavior of OC cells, expression of stem cell genes and poor prognosis of OC patients, suggesting an important role for RAD6 in ovarian tumor progression. Upregulated RAD6 enhances DNA damage tolerance and repair efficiency of OC cells and promotes their survival. Increased RAD6 levels cause histone 2B ubiquitination-mediated epigenetic changes that stimulate transcription of stem cell genes, including ALDH1A1 and SOX2, leading to a cancer stem cell phenotype, which is implicated in disease recurrence and metastasis. Downregulation of RAD6 or its inhibition using a small molecule inhibitor attenuated DNA repair signaling and expression of cancer stem cells markers and sensitized chemoresistant OC cells to carboplatin. Together, these results suggest that RAD6 could be a therapeutic target to prevent and treat acquired chemoresistance and disease recurrence in OC and enhance the efficacy of standard chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranganatha R. Somasagara
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, 1660 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA
| | - Sebastian M. Spencer
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, 1660 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA
| | - Kaushlendra Tripathi
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, 1660 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA
| | - David W. Clark
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, 1660 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA
| | - Chinnadurai Mani
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, 1660 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA
| | - Luciana Madeira da Silva
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, 1660 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA
| | - Jennifer Scalici
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, 1660 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA
| | - Hend Kothayer
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Egypt
| | - Andrew D. Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, UK
| | - Rodney P. Rocconi
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, 1660 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA
| | - Komaraiah Palle
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, 1660 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA
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21
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Kandil S, Prencipe F, Jones S, Hiscox S, Westwell AD. The discovery of new and more potent chloropyramine (C4) analogues for the potential treatment of invasive breast cancer. Chem Biol Drug Des 2017; 91:314-321. [PMID: 28816016 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide, accounting for 25% of all female cancers. Although the survival rate has increased significantly in the past few decades, patients who develop secondary site metastasis as well as those diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer still represent a real unmet medical challenge. Previous studies have shown that chloropyramine (C4) inhibits FAK-VEGFR3 signalling. More recently, C4 is reported to have SASH1 inducing properties. However, C4 exerts its antitumour and antiangiogenic effects at high micromolar concentrations (>100 μm) that would not be compatible with further drug development against invasive breast cancer driven by FAK signalling. In this study, molecular modelling guided structural modifications have been introduced to the chloropyramine C4 scaffold to improve its activity in breast cancer cell lines. Seventeen compounds were designed and synthesized, and their antiproliferative activity was evaluated against three human breast cancer lines (MDA-MB-231, BT474 and T47D). Compound 5c was identified to display an average activity of IC50 = 23.5-31.3 μm, which represents a significant improvement of C4 activity in the same assay model. Molecular modelling and pharmacokinetic studies provided more promising insights into the mechanistic features of this new series.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Kandil
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Filippo Prencipe
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Samuel Jones
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Stephen Hiscox
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
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22
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Hendriks HR, Govaerts AS, Fichtner I, Burtles S, Westwell AD, Peters GJ. Pharmacologically directed strategies in academic anticancer drug discovery based on the European NCI compounds initiative. Br J Cancer 2017; 117:195-202. [PMID: 28609434 PMCID: PMC5520516 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2017.167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The European NCI compounds programme, a joint initiative of the EORTC Research Branch, Cancer Research Campaign and the US National Cancer Institute, was initiated in 1993. The objective was to help the NCI in reducing the backlog of in vivo testing of potential anticancer compounds, synthesised in Europe that emerged from the NCI in vitro 60-cell screen. Methods: Over a period of more than twenty years the EORTC—Cancer Research Campaign panel reviewed ∼2000 compounds of which 95 were selected for further evaluation. Selected compounds were stepwise developed with clear go/no go decision points using a pharmacologically directed programme. Results: This approach eliminated quickly compounds with unsuitable pharmacological properties. A few compounds went into Phase I clinical evaluation. The lessons learned and many of the principles outlined in the paper can easily be applied to current and future drug discovery and development programmes. Conclusions: Changes in the review panel, restrictions regarding numbers and types of compounds tested in the NCI in vitro screen and the appearance of targeted agents led to the discontinuation of the European NCI programme in 2017 and its transformation into an academic platform of excellence for anticancer drug discovery and development within the EORTC-PAMM group. This group remains open for advice and collaboration with interested parties in the field of cancer pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans R Hendriks
- Hendriks Pharmaceutical Consulting, J. Wagenaarstraat 67, Purmerend 1443 LR, The Netherlands
| | | | - Iduna Fichtner
- Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, Berlin-Buch 13125, Germany
| | - Sally Burtles
- Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, UK
| | - Godefridus J Peters
- Secretary EORTC-PAMM group, Laboratory Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Centre, Cancer Center Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
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23
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Bassetto M, Ferla S, Giancotti G, Pertusati F, Westwell AD, Brancale A, McGuigan C. Rational design and synthesis of novel phenylsulfonyl-benzamides as anti-prostate cancer agents. Medchemcomm 2017; 8:1414-1420. [PMID: 30108852 PMCID: PMC6072516 DOI: 10.1039/c7md00164a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
A novel antiproliferative molecular scaffold was designed by rational modification of known antiandrogens, achieving a significant improvement in anti-cancer activity.
Prostate cancer is a major cause of male death worldwide and the identification of new efficient treatments is constantly needed. Different non-steroidal androgen receptor antagonists are approved also in the case of castration-resistant cancer forms. Using a rational approach and molecular modelling studies to modify the structure of antiandrogen drug bicalutamide, a new series of phenylsulfonyl-benzamide derivatives was designed and synthesised. Their antiproliferative activities were evaluated in four different human prostate cancer cell lines and several new compounds showed significantly improved IC50 values in the low μM range. The cytotoxicity profile was also evaluated for the novel structures in the HEK293 cell line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Bassetto
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue , CF10 3NB , Cardiff , Wales , UK .
| | - Salvatore Ferla
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue , CF10 3NB , Cardiff , Wales , UK .
| | - Gilda Giancotti
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue , CF10 3NB , Cardiff , Wales , UK .
| | - Fabrizio Pertusati
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue , CF10 3NB , Cardiff , Wales , UK .
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue , CF10 3NB , Cardiff , Wales , UK .
| | - Andrea Brancale
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue , CF10 3NB , Cardiff , Wales , UK .
| | - Christopher McGuigan
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue , CF10 3NB , Cardiff , Wales , UK .
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24
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Ziedan NI, Hamdy R, Cavaliere A, Kourti M, Prencipe F, Brancale A, Jones AT, Westwell AD. Virtual screening, SAR, and discovery of 5-(indole-3-yl)-2-[(2-nitrophenyl)amino] [1,3,4]-oxadiazole as a novel Bcl-2 inhibitor. Chem Biol Drug Des 2017; 90:147-155. [PMID: 28067996 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.12936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2016] [Revised: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A new series of oxadiazoles were designed to act as inhibitors of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. Virtual screening led to the discovery of new hits that interact with Bcl-2 at the BH3 binding pocket. Further study of the structure-activity relationship of the most active compound of the first series, compound 1, led to the discovery of a novel oxadiazole analogue, compound 16j, that was a more potent small-molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2. 16j had good in vitro inhibitory activity with submicromolar IC50 values in a metastatic human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) and a human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). The antitumour effect of 16j is concomitant with its ability to bind to Bcl-2 protein as shown by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IC50 = 4.27 μm). Compound 16j has a great potential to develop into highly active anticancer agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha I Ziedan
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Rania Hamdy
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | | | - Malamati Kourti
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.,Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Filippo Prencipe
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Andrea Brancale
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Arwyn T Jones
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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25
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Hamdy R, Ziedan NI, Ali S, Bordoni C, El-Sadek M, Lashin E, Brancale A, Jones AT, Westwell AD. Synthesis and evaluation of 5-(1H-indol-3-yl)-N-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-amines as Bcl-2 inhibitory anticancer agents. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2016; 27:1037-1040. [PMID: 28087272 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.12.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Revised: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
A series of 5-(1H-indol-3-yl)-N-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-amines 8a-j has been designed, synthesized and tested in vitro as potential pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-inhibitory anticancer agents based on our previous lead compound 8a. Synthesis of the target compounds was readily accomplished through a cyclisation reaction between indole-3-carboxylic acid hydrazide (5) and substituted isothiocyanates 6a-j, followed by oxidative cyclodesulfurization of the corresponding thiosemicarbazide 7a-j using 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin. Active compounds of the series 8a-j were found to have sub-micromolar IC50 values selectively in Bcl-2 expressing human cancer cell lines; notably the 2-nitrophenyl analogue 8a was found to exhibit potent activity, and compounds 8a and 8e possessed comparable Bcl-2 binding affinity (ELISA assay) to the established natural product-based Bcl-2 inhibitor, gossypol. Molecular modeling studies helped to further rationalise anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 binding, and identified compounds 8a and 8e as candidates for further development as Bcl-2 inhibitory anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rania Hamdy
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, UK; Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Egypt
| | - Noha I Ziedan
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, UK; Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Egypt
| | - Samia Ali
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, UK; National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Cinzia Bordoni
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, UK
| | | | | | - Andrea Brancale
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, UK
| | - Arwyn T Jones
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, UK
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, UK.
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26
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Wymant JM, Hiscox S, Westwell AD, Urbé S, Clague MJ, Jones AT. The Role of BCA2 in the Endocytic Trafficking of EGFR and Significance as a Prognostic Biomarker in Cancer. J Cancer 2016; 7:2388-2407. [PMID: 27994678 PMCID: PMC5166551 DOI: 10.7150/jca.15055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast Cancer Associated gene 2 (BCA2) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that is over-expressed in >50% of primary breast cancers, and has been shown to increase in vitro cell proliferation and invasion. The protein has been linked to alterations in EGFR degradation; however there is some dispute as to its role and influence on the biology of this receptor. Our work aimed to ascertain the role of BCA2 in EGFR endocytosis and down-regulation and to examine its links with breast cancer outcome. Data generated with the online expression analysis tool KM-Plotter showed that high BCA2 levels are associated with poor prognosis in ovarian, gastric and breast cancer, particularly HER2 over-expressing breast cancers. Experimentally, we demonstrate that over-expression of BCA2 induced a reduction in total EGFR levels. BCA2 over-expressing cells stimulated with EGF exhibited reduced lysosomal degradation of both this ligand and its receptor. Signalling downstream of EGFR in BCA2 over-expressing cells was characterized by a lower magnitude but increased duration. Our findings support a role for BCA2 in receptor endocytosis. Consistent with this we show that BCA2 over-expression reduces the level of vesicle-associated Rab7, a regulator of late endocytosis and documented interaction partner of BCA2. Levels of transferrin receptor and the uptake of transferrin were unaltered by over-expression of BCA2 indicating that trafficking changes may be limited to late endocytic sorting events. This report offers a thorough exploration of BCA2 biology and suggests a context-dependent role for the protein in the endocytic regulation of EGFR and as a prognostic biomarker in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Wymant
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, U.K
| | - Stephen Hiscox
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, U.K
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, U.K
| | - Sylvie Urbé
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 3BX, England, U.K
| | - Michael J Clague
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 3BX, England, U.K
| | - Arwyn T Jones
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, U.K
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27
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Kandil S, Balzarini J, Rat S, Brancale A, Westwell AD, McGuigan C. ProTides of BVdU as potential anticancer agents upon efficient intracellular delivery of their activated metabolites. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2016; 26:5618-5623. [PMID: 27818111 PMCID: PMC5131913 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.10.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Nucleosides represent a major chemotherapeutic class for treating cancer, however their limitations in terms of cellular uptake, nucleoside kinase-mediated activation and catabolism are well-documented. The monophosphate pro-nucleotides known as ProTides represents a powerful strategy for bypassing the dependence on active transport and nucleoside kinase-mediated activation. Herein, we report the structural tuning of BVdU ProTides. Forty six phosphoramidates were prepared and biologically evaluated against three different cancer cell lines; murine leukemia (L1210), human CD4+ T-lymphocyte (CEM) and human cervical carcinoma (HeLa). Twenty-fold potency enhancement compared to BVdU was achieved against L1210 cells. Interestingly, a number of ProTides showed low micromolar activity against CEM and HeLa cells compared to the inactive parent BVdU. The ProTides showed poor, if any measurable toxicity to non-tumourigenic human lung fibroblast cell cultures. Separation of four pairs of the diastereoisomeric mixtures and comparison of their spectral properties, biological activities and enzymatic activation rate is reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Kandil
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK.
| | - Jan Balzarini
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephanie Rat
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK
| | - Andrea Brancale
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK
| | - Christopher McGuigan
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK
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28
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Spencer SM, Somasagara RR, Tripathi K, Clark DW, Kothayer H, Westwell AD, Rocconi RP, Palle K. Abstract 3734: Preclinical evaluation of Rad6 inhibition to overcome platinum resistance in ovarian cancer. Cancer Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2016-3734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological cancer in women in the United States. Advances in surgery and chemotherapy have not significantly changed the overall survival rate of OC for the last few decades, which highlights the need for new therapeutic strategies. Platinum drug resistance and refractory disease pose major challenges in treating this disease and are major factors contributing to the poor survival rate of OC patients. Although most patients initially respond to platinum based chemotherapy, about 80% of cases present with recurrent disease, develop platinum resistance, and die with the advanced disease. Considering the heterogeneity, small fractions of the cells could be inherently resistant to chemotherapy and/or dormant and exhibit stem-like cell properties, contributing to the resistant phenotype and disease recurrence. Although the Cancer stem cell (CSC) theory of therapeutic resistance proposes that the proportion of CSCs correlate to enhanced chemoresistance and early disease recurrence, the specific molecular mechanisms that regulate tumor cell behavior (stemness) and integrate signaling networks with aberrant oncogenic signaling in OC cells are not known. Our analysis of clinical samples revealed upregulation of Rad6, an E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme, in more than 80% of ovarian tumors compared to normal ovarian tissues. Upregulation of Rad6 also correlated well with tumor progression. Further analysis of molecular pathways in OC cells revealed a strong correlation between Rad6 upregulation and increased β-catenin and hedgehog signaling, stem cell like characteristics and platinum resistance. Downregulation of Rad6 using siRNAs or inhibition of its catalytic activity by a small molecule inhibitor, attenuated carboplatin induced monoubiquitination of its target proteins such as histone 2B, PCNA and proteins of the Fanconi anemia pathway thereby sensitizing OC cells to carboplatin. Interestingly, inhibition of Rad6 alone in OC cells induced replication stress and reduced cell survival and proliferation by arresting cells in the G2/M phase. Moreover, inhibition of Rad6 in various OC cell lines reduced expression of β-catenin, Gli1 and several OC stem cell markers. Moreover, Rad6 plays an important role in the activation of the trans-lesion synthesis (TLS) pathway by monoubiquitinating PCNA and in the activation of the Fanconi Anemia (FA) DNA repair pathway. These are critical mechanisms for cells to repair DNA crosslinks induced by platinum drugs. Together with these observations, our data suggest that inhibition of Rad6 could be a viable therapeutic target for overcoming platinum resistance and disease recurrence in ovarian cancer.
Citation Format: Sebastian M. Spencer, Ranganatha R. Somasagara, Kaushlendra Tripathi, David W. Clark, Hend Kothayer, Andrew D. Westwell, Rodney P. Rocconi, Komaraiah Palle. Preclinical evaluation of Rad6 inhibition to overcome platinum resistance in ovarian cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3734.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - David W. Clark
- 1University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute, Mobile, AL
| | | | | | | | - Komaraiah Palle
- 1University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute, Mobile, AL
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29
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Bassetto M, Ferla S, Pertusati F, Kandil S, Westwell AD, Brancale A, McGuigan C. Design and synthesis of novel bicalutamide and enzalutamide derivatives as antiproliferative agents for the treatment of prostate cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 118:230-43. [PMID: 27131065 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.04.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the major causes of male death worldwide and the development of new and more potent anti-PC compounds is a constant requirement. Among the current treatments, (R)-bicalutamide and enzalutamide are non-steroidal androgen receptor antagonist drugs approved also in the case of castration-resistant forms. Both these drugs present a moderate antiproliferative activity and their use is limited due to the development of resistant mutants of their biological target. Insertion of fluorinated and perfluorinated groups in biologically active compounds is a current trend in medicinal chemistry, applied to improve their efficacy and stability profiles. As a means to obtain such effects, different modifications with perfluoro groups were rationally designed on the bicalutamide and enzalutamide structures, leading to the synthesis of a series of new antiproliferative compounds. Several new analogues displayed improved in vitro activity towards four different prostate cancer cell lines, while maintaining full AR antagonism and therefore representing promising leads for further development. Furthermore, a series of molecular modelling studies were performed on the AR antagonist conformation, providing useful insights on potential protein-ligand interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Bassetto
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Salvatore Ferla
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
| | - Fabrizio Pertusati
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Sahar Kandil
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Andrea Brancale
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Christopher McGuigan
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB, Cardiff, Wales, UK
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30
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Kandil S, Westwell AD, McGuigan C. 7-Substituted umbelliferone derivatives as androgen receptor antagonists for the potential treatment of prostate and breast cancer. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2016; 26:2000-4. [PMID: 26965862 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.02.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2015] [Revised: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The clinically used androgen receptor (AR) antagonists (bicalutamide, flutamide and nilutamide) bind with low affinity to AR and can induce escape mechanisms. Furthermore, under AR gene amplification or mutation conditions they demonstrate agonist activity and fail to inhibit AR, causing relapse into castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Discovery of new scaffolds distinct from the 4-cyano/nitro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl group common to currently used antiandrogens is urgently needed to avoid cross-resistance with these compounds. In this study, a series of twenty-nine 7-substituted umbelliferone derivatives was prepared and their antiproliferative activities were evaluated. The most active compound 7a demonstrated submicromolar inhibitory activity in the human prostate cancer cell line (22Rv1); IC50=0.93 μM which represents a 50 fold improvement over the clinical antiandrogen bicalutamide (IC50=46 μM) and a more than 30 fold improvement over enzalutamide (IC50=32 μM). Interestingly, this compound showed even better activity against the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7); IC50=0.47 μM. Molecular modelling studies provided a plausible theoretical explanation for our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Kandil
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher McGuigan
- School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, United Kingdom
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31
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Kothayer H, Spencer SM, Tripathi K, Westwell AD, Palle K. Synthesis and in vitro anticancer evaluation of some 4,6-diamino-1,3,5-triazine-2-carbohydrazides as Rad6 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2016; 26:2030-4. [PMID: 26965855 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.02.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Series of 4-amino-6-(arylamino)-1,3,5-triazine-2-carbohydrazides (3a-e) and N'-phenyl-4,6-bis(arylamino)-1,3,5-triazine-2-carbohydrazides (6a-e), for ease of readership, we will abbreviate our compound names as 'new triazines', have been synthesized, based on the previously reported Rad6B-inhibitory diamino-triazinylmethyl benzoate anticancer agents TZ9 and 4-amino-N'-phenyl-6-(arylamino)-1,3,5-triazine-2-carbohydrazides. Synthesis of the target compounds was readily accomplished in two steps from either bis-aryl/aryl biguanides via reaction of phenylhydrazine or hydrazinehydrate with key 4-amino-6-bis(arylamino)/(arylamino)-1,3,5-triazine-2-carboxylate intermediates. These new triazine derivatives were evaluated for their abilities to inhibit Rad6B ubiquitin conjugation and in vitro anticancer activity against several human cancer cell lines: ovarian (OV90 and A2780), lung (H1299 and A549), breast (MCF-7 and MDA-MB231) and colon (HT29) cancer cells by MTS assays. All the 10 new triazines exhibited superior Rad6B inhibitory activities in comparison to selective Rad6 inhibitor TZ9 that was reported previously. Similarly, new triazines also showed better IC50 values in survival assays of various tumor cell lines. Particularly, new triazines 6a-c, exhibited lower IC50 (3.3-22 μM) values compared to TZ9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hend Kothayer
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Egypt.
| | - Sebastian M Spencer
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, USA Mitchell Cancer Institute, 1660 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, AL 36604, USA
| | - Kaushlendra Tripathi
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, USA Mitchell Cancer Institute, 1660 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, AL 36604, USA
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, Wales, UK
| | - Komaraiah Palle
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, USA Mitchell Cancer Institute, 1660 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, AL 36604, USA
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Shirinzadeh H, Ince E, Westwell AD, Gurer-Orhan H, Suzen S. Novel indole-based melatonin analogues substituted with triazole, thiadiazole and carbothioamides: studies on their antioxidant, chemopreventive and cytotoxic activities. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2016; 31:1312-21. [PMID: 26745200 DOI: 10.3109/14756366.2015.1132209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Melatonin (MLT) is a well-known free-radical scavenger, involving in the prevention of cellular damage that can lead to cancer, ageing and a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. Research on MLT-related compounds has been required to optimise the maximum pharmaceutical activity with the lowest side effects. In our ongoing research, we have synthesized new indole-based MLT analogues as potential antioxidant agents by modifying the MLT molecule. In this study, we build on previous findings, through the synthesis, characterization and in vitro antioxidant profiling of a series of new indole-based MLT analogues which possess triazole, thiadiazole and carbothioamides on the third position on the indole ring. In vitro antioxidant activity was investigated by evaluating their reducing effect against oxidation of a redox sensitive fluorescent probe and their radical scavenging activity was assessed via the DPPH assay. In addition, in vitro cytotoxic effects of newly synthesized compounds were investigated in CHO-K1 cells using the MTT assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanif Shirinzadeh
- a Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Faculty of Pharmacy, Erzincan University , Yalnizbag Yerleskesi , Erzincan , Turkey
| | - Elif Ince
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology , Faculty of Pharmacy, Ege University , Izmir , Turkey
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- c School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University , Cardiff , Wales , UK , and
| | - Hande Gurer-Orhan
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology , Faculty of Pharmacy, Ege University , Izmir , Turkey
| | - Sibel Suzen
- d Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University , Tandogan , Ankara , Turkey
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33
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Kandil S, Wymant JM, Kariuki BM, Jones AT, McGuigan C, Westwell AD. Novel cis-selective and non-epimerisable C3 hydroxy azapodophyllotoxins targeting microtubules in cancer cells. Eur J Med Chem 2015; 110:311-25. [PMID: 26854430 PMCID: PMC4762250 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.12.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Revised: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Podophyllotoxin (PT) and its clinically used analogues are known to be powerful antitumour agents. These compounds contain a trans fused strained γ-lactone system, a feature that correlates to the process of epimerisation, whereby the trans γ-lactone system of ring D opens and converts to the more thermodynamically stable cis epimer. Since these cis epimers are known to be either less active or lacking antitumour activity, epimerisation is an undesirable feature from a chemotherapeutic point of view. To circumvent this problem, considerable efforts have been reported, amongst which is the synthesis of azapodophyllotoxins where the stereocentres at C2 and C3 are removed in order to preclude epimerisation. Herein we report the identification of a novel C3 hydroxy, cis-selective γ-lactone configuration of ring C in the azapodophyllotoxin scaffold, through an efficient stereoselective multicomponent reaction (MCR) involving fluorinated and non-fluorinated aldehydes. This configuration releases the highly strained trans γ-lactone system in podophyllotoxin analogues into the more thermodynamically stable cis γ-lactone motif and yet retains significantly potent activity. These compounds were evaluated against the human cancer lines MCF-7 and 22Rv1 in vitro. Fourteen out of the seventeen tested compounds exhibited sub-micromolar activity with IC50 values in the range of 0.11-0.91 μM, which is comparable and in some cases better than the activity profile of etoposide in this assay. Interestingly, we obtained strong evidence from spectroscopic and X-ray data analyses that the previously reported structure of similar analogues is not accurate. Molecular modelling performed using the podophyllotoxin binding site on β tubulin revealed a novel binding mode of these analogues. Furthermore, sub-cellular study of our compounds using immunolabelling and confocal microscopy analyses showed strong microtubule disruptive activity, particularly in dividing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Kandil
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer M Wymant
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Benson M Kariuki
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Arwyn T Jones
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher McGuigan
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- Cardiff School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, United Kingdom.
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34
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Cilibrasi V, Tsang K, Morelli M, Solfa F, Wiggins HL, Jones AT, Westwell AD. Synthesis of substituted carbamo(dithioperoxo)thioates as potential BCA2-inhibitory anticancer agents. Tetrahedron Lett 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2015.03.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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35
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Edwards R, Westwell AD, Daniels S, Wirth T. Convenient Synthesis of Diaryliodonium Salts for the Production of [18F]F-DOPA. European J Org Chem 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201403378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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36
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Kothayer H, Morelli M, Brahemi G, Elshanawani AA, Abu Kull ME, El-Sabbagh OI, Shekhar MP, Westwell AD. Optimised synthesis of diamino-triazinylmethyl benzoates as inhibitors of Rad6B ubiquitin conjugating enzyme. Tetrahedron Lett 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2014.10.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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37
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Meyer JP, Probst KC, Trist IML, McGuigan C, Westwell AD. A novel radiochemical approach to 1-(2'-deoxy-2'-[(18) F]fluoro-β-d-arabinofuranosyl)cytosine ((18) F-FAC). J Labelled Comp Radiopharm 2014; 57:637-44. [PMID: 25257474 DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.3233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 08/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
(18) F-FAC (1-(2'-deoxy-2'-[(18) F]fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)-cytosine) is an important 2'-fluoro-nucleoside-based positron emission tomography (PET) tracer that has been used for in vivo prediction of response to the widely used cancer chemotherapy drug gemcitabine. Previously reported synthetic routes to (18) F-FAC have relied on early introduction of the (18) F radiolabel prior to attachment to protected cytosine base. Considering the (18) F radiochemical half-life (110 min) and the technical challenges of multi-step syntheses on PET radiochemistry modular systems, late-stage radiofluorination is preferred for reproducible and reliable radiosynthesis with in vivo applications. Herein, we report the first late-stage radiosynthesis of (18) F-FAC. Cytidine derivatives with leaving groups at the 2'-position are particularly prone to undergo anhydro side-product formation upon heating because of their electron density at the 2-carbonyl pyrimidone oxygen. Our rationally developed fluorination precursor showed an improved reactivity-to-stability ratio at elevated temperatures. (18) F-FAC was obtained in radiochemical yields of 4.3-5.5% (n = 8, decay-corrected from end of bombardment), with purities ≥98% and specific activities ≥63 GBq/µmol. The synthesis time was 168 min.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Philip Meyer
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, UK; Wales Research & Diagnostic PET Imaging Centre (PETIC), Institute for Translation, Innovation, Methodology & Engagement (TIME), School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
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Tekiner-Gulbas B, Westwell AD, Suzen S. Oxidative stress in carcinogenesis: new synthetic compounds with dual effects upon free radicals and cancer. Curr Med Chem 2014; 20:4451-9. [PMID: 23834180 DOI: 10.2174/09298673113203690142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Revised: 01/22/2013] [Accepted: 02/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
DNA mutation is a very important step in carcinogenesis and elevated levels of oxidative DNA damage have been monitored in a variety of tumors. The discovery of the role of free radicals in cancer has led to a new medical approach. Minimizing oxidative damage may be a significant advance in the prevention or treatment of these diseases, since antioxidants are able to stop the free-radical formation and prevent oxidizing chain reactions. These findings have generated great interest in therapeutic antioxidant-based cancer drug development. The design and development of synthetic compounds, able to scavenge free radicals, could present a significant therapeutic advance, in particular for treating pathological conditions such as cancer. This article will outline the state of the research on the relationship between antioxidant therapy and cancer, describing the new synthetic antioxidant molecules that have anticancer activities. Investigations and association between dietary antioxidants, oxidative stress, and cancer will be also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betul Tekiner-Gulbas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, Tandogan-06100, Ankara, Turkey..
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39
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Velanguparackel W, Hamon N, Balzarini J, McGuigan C, Westwell AD. Synthesis, anti-HIV and cytostatic evaluation of 3'-deoxy-3'-fluorothymidine (FLT) pro-nucleotides. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2014; 24:2240-3. [PMID: 24751439 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.03.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2014] [Revised: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
A series of pro-nucleotide phosphoramidates and phosphorodiamidates of the antiviral lead compound 3'-deoxy-3'-fluorothymidine (FLT) have been designed and synthesized. In vitro antiretroviral and cytostatic studies revealed potent (sub-micromolar) inhibition of HIV-1 and HIV-2 replication, with retention of activity in thymidine kinase-negative cell models, as predicted by the ProTide concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winnie Velanguparackel
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB Wales, UK
| | - Nadège Hamon
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB Wales, UK
| | - Jan Balzarini
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christopher McGuigan
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB Wales, UK
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB Wales, UK.
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40
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Meyer JP, Probst KC, Westwell AD. Radiochemical synthesis of 2'-[18F]-labelled and 3'-[18F]-labelled nucleosides for positron emission tomography imaging. J Labelled Comp Radiopharm 2014; 57:333-7. [PMID: 24692121 DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.3197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Revised: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
This review article considers 2'-labelled and 3'-labelled nucleosides, which are of great importance as positron emission tomography (PET) probes in clinical diagnostics and PET research. Although the radiochemical preparation of several [(18)F]-labelled nucleosides such as [(18)F]fluorothymidine or [(18)F](fluoroarabinofuranosyl)cytosine has been accomplished within the last two decades, a number of potentially interesting nucleoside-based biomarkers are not yet available for automated good manufacturing practice production due to the lack of fast and efficient synthetic methods for late-stage [(18)F]-introduction. In order to meet recent demands for new PET-based biomarkers in various clinical applications, appropriate precursors that can easily be fluorinated and deprotected need to be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Philip Meyer
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, Wales, UK; Wales Research & Diagnostic PET Imaging Centre (PETIC), Institute for Translation, Innovation, Methodology & Engagement (TIME), School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK
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41
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Kothayer H, Elshanawani AA, Abu Kull ME, El-Sabbagh OI, Shekhar MP, Brancale A, Jones AT, Westwell AD. Design, synthesis and in vitro anticancer evaluation of 4,6-diamino-1,3,5-triazine-2-carbohydrazides and -carboxamides. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23:6886-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.09.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2013] [Revised: 09/26/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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42
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley A. Weekes
- a School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Cardiff University , Cardiff , Wales , United Kingdom
| | - Jan Frydrych
- a School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Cardiff University , Cardiff , Wales , United Kingdom
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Control , Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University in Prague , Hradec Králové , Czech Republic
| | - Andrew D. Westwell
- a School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Cardiff University , Cardiff , Wales , United Kingdom
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43
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Hamdy R, Ziedan N, Ali S, El-Sadek M, Lashin E, Brancale A, Jones AT, Westwell AD. Synthesis and evaluation of 3-(benzylthio)-5-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-4-amines as Bcl-2 inhibitory anticancer agents. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23:2391-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2012] [Revised: 02/01/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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44
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Karaaslan C, Kadri H, Coban T, Suzen S, Westwell AD. Synthesis and antioxidant properties of substituted 2-phenyl-1H-indoles. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23:2671-4. [PMID: 23540647 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.02.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2012] [Revised: 02/16/2013] [Accepted: 02/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we report the design, synthesis and antioxidant activity of a series of substituted 2-(4-aminophenyl)-1H-indoles and 2-(methoxyphenyl)-1H-indoles. The new compounds are structurally related to the known indole-based antioxidant lead compound melatonin (MLT), and the antitumour 2-(4-aminophenyl)benzothiazole and 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)benzothiazole series. Efficient access to the target 2-phenylindoles was achieved via Fischer indole synthesis between substituted phenylhydrazines and acetophenones. 2-(4-Aminophenyl)indoles (such as the 6-fluoro analogue 3b) in particular showed potent antioxidant activity in the DPPH and superoxide radical scavenging assays (80% and 81% inhibition at 1mM concentration of 3b, respectively), at a level comparable with the reference standard MLT (98% and 75% at 1 mM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Cigdem Karaaslan
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ankara University, 06100 Tandogan, Ankara, Turkey
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45
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Sanders MA, Brahemi G, Nangia-Makker P, Balan V, Morelli M, Kothayer H, Westwell AD, Shekhar MPV. Novel inhibitors of Rad6 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme: design, synthesis, identification, and functional characterization. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:373-83. [PMID: 23339190 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-12-0793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Protein ubiquitination is important for cell signaling, DNA repair, and proteasomal degradation, and it is not surprising that alterations in ubiquitination occur frequently in cancer. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2) mediate ubiquitination by selective interactions with ubiquitin-activating (E1) and ubiquitin ligase (E3) enzymes, and thus selective E2 small molecule inhibitor (SMI) will provide specificity unattainable with proteasome inhibitors. Here we describe synthesis and functional characterization of the first SMIs of human E2 Rad6B, a fundamental component of translesion synthesis DNA repair. A pharmacophore model for consensus E2 ubiquitin-binding sites was generated for virtual screening to identify E2 inhibitor candidates. Twelve triazine (TZ) analogs screened in silico by molecular docking to the Rad6B X-ray structure were verified by their effect on Rad6B ubiquitination of histone H2A. TZs #8 and 9 docked to the Rad6B catalytic site with highest complementarity. TZs #1, 2, 8, and 9 inhibited Rad6B-ubiquitin thioester formation and subsequent ubiquitin transfer to histone H2A. SMI #9 inhibition of Rad6 was selective as BCA2 ubiquitination by E2 UbcH5 was unaffected by SMI #9. SMI #9 more potently inhibited proliferation, colony formation, and migration than SMI #8, and induced MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell G2-M arrest and apoptosis. Ubiquitination assays using Rad6 immunoprecipitated from SMI #8- or 9-treated cells confirmed inhibition of endogenous Rad6 activity. Consistent with our previous data showing Rad6B-mediated polyubiquitination stabilizes β-catenin, MDA-MB-231 treatment with SMIs #8 or 9 decreased β-catenin protein levels. Together these results describe identification of the first Rad6 SMIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Sanders
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Ghali Brahemi
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Wales, UK
| | - Pratima Nangia-Makker
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Vitaly Balan
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Matteo Morelli
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Wales, UK
| | - Hend Kothayer
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Wales, UK.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Sharkeya, Egypt
| | - Andrew D Westwell
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Wales, UK
| | - Malathy P V Shekhar
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
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Md Tohid SF, Ziedan NI, Stefanelli F, Fogli S, Westwell AD. Synthesis and evaluation of indole-containing 3,5-diarylisoxazoles as potential pro-apoptotic antitumour agents. Eur J Med Chem 2012; 56:263-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2012.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2012] [Revised: 08/03/2012] [Accepted: 08/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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47
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Altug C, Burnett AK, Caner E, Dürüst Y, Elliott MC, Glanville RP, Guy C, Westwell AD. An efficient one-pot multicomponent approach to 5-amino-7-aryl-8-nitrothiazolo[3,2-a]pyridines. Tetrahedron 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2011.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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48
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Weekes AA, Bagley MC, Westwell AD. An efficient synthetic route to biologically relevant 2-phenylbenzothiazoles substituted on the benzothiazole ring. Tetrahedron 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2011.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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49
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Ziedan NI, Stefanelli F, Fogli S, Westwell AD. Design, synthesis and pro-apoptotic antitumour properties of indole-based 3,5-disubstituted oxadiazoles. Eur J Med Chem 2010; 45:4523-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2010.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2010] [Revised: 07/02/2010] [Accepted: 07/05/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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50
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Weekes AA, Dix MC, Bagley MC, Westwell AD. Rapid and Convenient Thermal or Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Substituted 2-Phenylbenzothiazoles. SYNTHETIC COMMUN 2010. [DOI: 10.1080/00397910903353739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley A. Weekes
- a Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University , Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Matthew C. Dix
- b School of Chemistry, Cardiff University , Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Mark C. Bagley
- b School of Chemistry, Cardiff University , Cardiff, Wales, UK
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