Neomorphic mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) are driver mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other cancers. We report the development of new allosteric inhibitors of mutant IDH1. Crystallographic and biochemical results demonstrated that compounds of this chemical series bind to an allosteric site and lock the enzyme in a catalytically inactive conformation, thereby enabling inhibition of different clinically relevant IDH1 mutants. Treatment of IDH1 mutant primary AML cells uniformly led to a decrease in intracellular 2-HG, abrogation of the myeloid differentiation block and induction of granulocytic differentiation at the level of leukemic blasts and more immature stem-like cells, in vitro and in vivo. Molecularly, treatment with the inhibitors led to a reversal of the DNA cytosine hypermethylation patterns caused by mutant IDH1 in the cells of individuals with AML. Our study provides proof of concept for the molecular and biological activity of novel allosteric inhibitors for targeting different mutant forms of IDH1 in leukemia.

In the search of PI3K p110α wild type and H1047R mutant selective small molecule leads, an encoded library technology (ELT) campaign against the desired target proteins was performed which led to the discovery of a selective chemotype for PI3K isoforms from a three-cycle DNA encoded library. An X-ray crystal structure of a representative inhibitor from this chemotype demonstrated a unique binding mode in the p110α protein.

Abstract The EZH2 histone methyltransferase is frequently mutated in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma leading to increased trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3). Drug discovery efforts have previously identified a pyridone-based chemical series of EZH2 inhibitors that potently and selectively inhibit EZH2 catalytic activity. These compounds are capable of globally decreasing H3K27me3 levels, de-repressing EZH2 target genes, and inducing growth inhibition of many lymphoma cell lines both in cell culture and in vivo. Through medicinal chemistry optimization, we have developed EZH2 inhibitors with significantly improved potency in both biochemical and cellular assays. These compounds exhibit a prolonged enzyme residence time that can be further extended in vitro through the addition of an H3K27me3 peptide. Herein, we report the biochemical and cellular activity of these new EZH2 inhibitors. Citation Format: Heidi Ott, Glenn van Aller, Jessica Ward, BaoChau Le, Cynthia Rominger, James Foley, Susan Korenchuk, Charles McHugh, Michael Butticello, Charles Blackledge, James Brackley, Joelle Burgess, Celine Duquenne, Neil Johnson, Jiri Kasparec, Louis LaFrance, Mei Li, Kenneth McNulty, Kenneth Newlander, Stuart Romeril, Stanley Schmidt, Mark Schulz, Dai-Shi Su, Dominic Suarez, Xinrong Tian, Christopher Carpenter, Juan Luengo, Ryan Kruger, Steven Knight, Michael T. McCabe. A potent EZH2 inhibitor exhibits long residence time and anti-tumor activity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 5379. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-5379

Abstract The isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and IDH2 genes are mutated in acute myelogenous leukemia, low-grade glioma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and chondrosarcomas. IDH1 and IDH2 normally function to convert isocitrate into alpha-ketoglutarate. However, when these enzymes are mutated at select residues the mutant enzymes now convert α-KG into 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG). In normal cells, 2-HG levels are typically extremely low, but IDH1/2 mutant cells can accumulate up to 10 mM 2-HG. In an effort to counteract the neomorphic activity of mutant IDH enzymes, we identified and developed potent inhibitors of IDH1. The compounds inhibit IDH1 catalytic activity in biochemical assays and reduce 2-HG production in IDH1-mutant cell lines. Consistent with the fact that 2-HG inhibits α-KG dependent enzymes including histone demethylases and Tet family hydroxylases, these IDH1 inhibitors induce a decrease in several histone methylation marks and also DNA methylation. These data demonstrate that small molecule inhibitors can reverse many of the epigenetic effects of mutant IDH1. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Cynthia Rominger, Chad Quinn, Enoch Gao, Beth Pietrak, Alan Rendina, Angela Smallwood, Arthur Groy, Susan Korenchuk, Charles McHugh, Ken Wiggall, Alexander Reif, Stanley Schmidt, Hongwei Qi, Huizhen Zhao, Nestor Concha, Christopher Carpenter, Juan Luengo, Ryan Kruger, Benjamin Schwartz, Nicholas Adams, Michael T. McCabe. A novel inhibitor of IDH1 abrogates 2-HG production and reverses aberrant epigenetic alterations in IDH1 mutant cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3514. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3514

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase α (PI3Kα) is a critical regulator of cell growth and transformation, and its signaling pathway is the most commonly mutated pathway in human cancers. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a class IV PI3K protein kinase, is also a central regulator of cell growth, and mTOR inhibitors are believed to augment the antiproliferative efficacy of PI3K/AKT pathway inhibition. 2,4-Difluoro-N-{2-(methyloxy)-5-[4-(4-pyridazinyl)-6-quinolinyl]-3-pyridinyl}benzenesulfonamide (GSK2126458, 1) has been identified as a highly potent, orally bioavailable inhibitor of PI3Kα and mTOR with in vivo activity in both pharmacodynamic and tumor growth efficacy models. Compound 1 is currently being evaluated in human clinical trials for the treatment of cancer.

The Aurora kinases play critical roles in the regulation of mitosis and are frequently overexpressed or amplified in human tumors. Selective inhibitors may provide a new therapy for the treatment of tumors with Aurora kinase amplification. Herein we describe our lead optimization efforts within a 7-azaindole-based series culminating in the identification of GSK1070916 (17k). Key to the advancement of the series was the introduction of a 2-aryl group containing a basic amine onto the azaindole leading to significantly improved cellular activity. Compound 17k is a potent and selective ATP-competitive inhibitor of Aurora B and C with K(i)* values of 0.38 +/- 0.29 and 1.5 +/- 0.4 nM, respectively, and is >250-fold selective over Aurora A. Biochemical characterization revealed that compound 17k has an extremely slow dissociation half-life from Aurora B (>480 min), distinguishing it from clinical compounds 1 and 2. In vitro treatment of A549 human lung cancer cells with compound 17k results in a potent antiproliferative effect (EC(50) = 7 nM). Intraperitoneal administration of 17k in mice bearing human tumor xenografts leads to inhibition of histone H3 phosphorylation at serine 10 in human colon cancer (Colo205) and tumor regression in human leukemia (HL-60). Compound 17k is being progressed to human clinical trials.

Inhibition of mitotic kinesins represents a novel approach for the discovery of a new generation of anti-mitotic cancer chemotherapeutics. We report here the discovery of the first potent and selective inhibitor of centromere-associated protein E (CENP-E) 3-chloro-N-{(1S)-2-[(N,N-dimethylglycyl)amino]-1-[(4-{8-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl}phenyl)methyl]ethyl}-4-[(1-methylethyl)oxy]benzamide (GSK923295; 1), starting from a high-throughput screening hit, 3-chloro-4-isopropoxybenzoic acid 2. Compound 1 has demonstrated broad antitumor activity in vivo and is currently in human clinical trials.

Abstract Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is a critical regulator of cell growth and transformation and its signaling pathway is one of the most commonly mutated pathways in human cancer. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a class IV PI3K protein kinase, is also a central regulator of cell growth, and mTOR inhibitors are believed to augment the antiproliferative efficacy of the PI3K/AKT pathway. GSK1059615, our first PI3K clinical compound, progressed to a dose escalation study in patients with refractory malignancies. Following the discovery of GSK1059615, we sought to identify a second inhibitor with improved potency, selectivity, and pharmacokinetics. Key to our approach to achieving the desired levels of PI3K activity was to pursue structure-based design utilizing crystallography of the more amenable PI3K as a surrogate protein. Following a chemistry lead optimization effort, the pyridylsulfonamide GSK2126458 was identified as a highly potent, orally bioavailable, pan-PI3K and mTOR inhibitor (PI3K app Ki = 19 pM; mTORC1 app Ki = 180 pM; mTORC2 app Ki = 300 pM). Consistent with potent PI3K and mTORC2 enzyme inhibition, GSK2126458 decreased cellular levels of phosphorylated AKT (BT474 pAKT IC50 = 180 pM) and inhibited cell proliferation in a large panel of cancer cell lines (e.g. BT474 growth IC50 = 2 nM). GSK2126458 showed good exposure in four pre-clinical animal species and exhibited in vivo activity in both pharmacodynamic and tumor growth efficacy models. GSK2126458 is being evaluated currently in human clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. The discovery, design, and optimization of GSK2126458 and related analogs will be presented. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):C62.

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A novel synthesis of 4H-pyrazolo-[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-ones is described. This approach utilizes an in situ generated imino-chloride as a key precursor for amidine formation, with subsequent base-catalyzed ring closure. This method represents a mild and efficient entry into this ring system which is amenable to diversification of the core template. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The 3-chloro-4-carboxamido-6-arylpyridazines are a novel class of interleukin-1β converting enzyme (ICE) inhibitor. These agents are irreversible inhibitors with pyridazine 23 possessing a kobs[I] = 355 M−1s−1. A structure-activity relationship for this non-peptide class of compounds and the putative mechanism for irreversible inactivation are described.

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUELetterNEXTPyridazinodiazepines as a High-Affinity, P2−P3 Peptidomimetic Class of Interleukin-1β-Converting Enzyme InhibitorRoland E. Dolle, C. V. C. Prasad, Catherine P. Prouty, Joseph M. Salvino, Mohamed M. A. Awad, Stanley J. Schmidt, Denton Hoyer, Tina Morgan Ross, Todd L. Graybill, Gary J. Speier, Joanne Uhl, , Carla T. Helaszek, and Mark A. AtorView Author Information Sanofi Winthrop Inc., 1250 South Collegeville Road, P.O. Box 5000, Collegeville, Pennsylvania 19426 Cite this: J. Med. Chem. 1997, 40, 13, 1941–1946Publication Date (Web):June 20, 1997Publication History Received12 March 1997Published online20 June 1997Published inissue 1 June 1997https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jm9701637https://doi.org/10.1021/jm9701637rapid-communicationACS PublicationsCopyright © 1997 American Chemical SocietyRequest reuse permissionsArticle Views536Altmetric-Citations44LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail Other access optionsGet e-Alertsclose SUBJECTS:Amides,Genetics,Inhibitors,Peptides and proteins,Peptidomimetics Get e-Alerts