Alison McGonagle

Reversible inhibitors of LSD1 as therapeutic agents in acute myeloid leukemia: clinical significance and progress to date

In the 10 years since the discovery of lysine‐specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), this epigenetic eraser has emerged as an important target of interest in oncology. More specifically, research has demonstrated that it plays an essential role in the self‐renewal of leukemic stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This review will cover clinical aspects of AML, the role of epigenetics in the disease, and discuss the research that led to the first irreversible inhibitors of LSD1 entering clinical trials for the treatment of AML in 2014. We also review recent achievements and progress in the development of potent and selective reversible inhibitors of LSD1. These compounds differ in their mode of action from tranylcypromine derivatives and could facilitate novel biochemical studies to probe the pathways mediated by LSD1. In this review, we will critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of published series of reversible LSD1 inhibitors. Overall, while the development of reversible inhibitors to date has been less fruitful than that of irreversible inhibitors, there is still the possibility for their use to facilitate further research into the roles and functions of LSD1 and to expand the therapeutic applications of LSD1 inhibitors in the clinic.

Toxoflavins and Deazaflavins as the First Reported Selective Small Molecule Inhibitors of Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase II

The recently discovered enzyme tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 2 (TDP2) has been implicated in the topoisomerase-mediated repair of DNA damage. In the clinical setting, it has been hypothesized that TDP2 may mediate drug resistance to topoisomerase II (topo II) inhibition by etoposide. Therefore, selective pharmacological inhibition of TDP2 is proposed as a novel approach to overcome intrinsic or acquired resistance to topo II-targeted drug therapy. Following a high-throughput screening (HTS) campaign, toxoflavins and deazaflavins were identified as the first reported sub-micromolar and selective inhibitors of this enzyme. Toxoflavin derivatives appeared to exhibit a clear structure-activity relationship (SAR) for TDP2 enzymatic inhibition. However, we observed a key redox liability of this series, and this, alongside early in vitro drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) issues, precluded further exploration. The deazaflavins were developed from a singleton HTS hit. This series showed distinct SAR and did not display redox activity; however low cell permeability proved to be a challenge.

Development of (4-Cyanophenyl)glycine Derivatives as Reversible Inhibitors of Lysine Specific Demethylase 1

Inhibition of lysine specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) has been shown to induce the differentiation of leukemia stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Irreversible inhibitors developed from the nonspecific inhibitor tranylcypromine have entered clinical trials; however, the development of effective reversible inhibitors has proved more challenging. Herein, we describe our efforts to identify reversible inhibitors of LSD1 from a high throughput screen and subsequent in silico modeling approaches. From a single hit (12) validated by biochemical and biophysical assays, we describe our efforts to develop acyclic scaffold-hops from GSK-690 (1). A further scaffold modification to a (4-cyanophenyl)glycinamide (e.g., 29a) led to the development of compound 32, with a Kd value of 32 nM and an EC50 value of 0.67 μM in a surrogate cellular biomarker assay. Moreover, this derivative does not display the same level of hERG liability as observed with 1 and represents a promising lead for further development.

Development of 5-hydroxypyrazole derivatives as reversible inhibitors of lysine specific demethylase 1

A series of reversible inhibitors of lysine specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) with a 5-hydroxypyrazole scaffold have been developed from compound 7, which was identified from the patent literature. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and biochemical analysis showed it to be a reversible LSD1 inhibitor with an IC50 value of 0.23µM. Optimisation of this compound by rational design afforded compounds with Kd values of <10nM. In human THP-1 cells, these compounds were found to upregulate the expression of the surrogate cellular biomarker CD86. Compound 11p was found to have moderate oral bioavailability in mice suggesting its potential for use as an in vivo tool compound.

Abstract 2745: Pharmacological characterisation of cell active inhibitors of Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG)

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) is the only enzyme known to catalyse hydrolysis of the O-glycosidic linkages of ADP-ribose polymers, thereby reversing the effects of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases. Total PARG deficiency leads to cell death whilst PARG depletion, using RNAi, leads to pleiotropic effects such as PAR chain persistence, progression of single- to double-strand DNA lesions and NAD+ depletion. Whilst efforts to develop small molecule inhibitors of PARG activity have generally been hampered by poor physiochemical properties, off-target pharmacology and a lack of cell permeability, we have now developed a series of PARG inhibitors which have proved to be useful biological tool compounds. Displaying selective activity in both biochemical and, more importantly, cellular assays of PARG function, these derivatives have allowed an exploration of the phenotypes resulting from reversible, pharmacological PARG inhibition. Citation Format: Dominic James, Allan Jordan, Nicola Hamilton, Alison McGonagle, Kate Smith, Alexandra Stowell, Ian Waddell, Bohdan Waszkowycz, Donald Ogilvie. Pharmacological characterisation of cell active inhibitors of Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2745. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2745

Development and evaluation of 4-(pyrrolidin-3-yl)benzonitrile derivatives as inhibitors of lysine specific demethylase 1

As part of our ongoing efforts to develop reversible inhibitors of LSD1, we identified a series of 4-(pyrrolidin-3-yl)benzonitrile derivatives that act as successful scaffold-hops of the literature inhibitor GSK-690. The most active compound, 21g, demonstrated a Kd value of 22nM and a biochemical IC50 of 57nM. In addition, this compound displayed improved selectivity over the hERG ion channel compared to GSK-690, and no activity against the related enzymes MAO-A and B. In human THP-1 acute myeloid leukaemia cells, 21g was found to increase the expression of the surrogate cellular biomarker CD86. This work further demonstrates the versatility of scaffold-hopping asa method to develop structurally diverse, potent inhibitors of LSD1.

Abstract 3714: Optimisation of quinazolinedione sulphonamides as novel inhibitors of poly(ADP Ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG)

The macrodomain protein poly(ADP ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) has been shown to be a critical component in the repair of single stand DNA breaks and counteracts the function of the ARTD family of poly(ADP ribose) polymerases, commonly known as the PARPs. As PARG exists as a single protein, it presents an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in cancer cells with enhanced dependence upon DNA repair. Inhibitors of this enzyme have proved difficult to discover and develop. Moreover, intact cell-active tool compounds which have the propensity to be used as robust chemical probes to understand PARG pharmacology, are absent from the literature. This poster will describe our work in this emerging area, optimising a series of drug-like quinazolinedione derivatives to deliver molecules with the correct physicochemical and biochemical properties to function as in vitro cell probe compounds. These unprecedented agents display potent on-target biochemical (5 nM) and cell (10 nM) activity with a significant window to acute 3-day cytotoxicity. Moreover, these agents are selective against PARP family members and the close glycohydrolase homologue ARH3. The medicinal chemistry optimisation of the scaffold will be described, alongside the outline pharmacology demonstrating on-target, selective inhibition of PARG in cells. Such tool compounds will be of value in revealing the detailed mechanisms of action of PARG in DNA repair and other PAR chain-mediated cellular processes, with the ultimate goal of delivering novel and clinically relevant therapeutic agents. Citation Format: Kate Smith, Ben Acton, Dominic James, Cliff Jones, Stuart Jones, Allan Jordan, Nicola Hamilton, Alison McGonagle, Daniel Mould, Helen Small, Alex Stowell, Julie Tucker, Ian Waddell, Bohdan Waszkowycz, Donald Ogilvie. Optimisation of quinazolinedione sulphonamides as novel inhibitors of poly(ADP Ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG). [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 3714.

Abstract 3715: Benzimidazolone sulphonamides - potent, selective and drug-like inhibitors of poly(ADP Ribose) Glycohydrolase (PARG)

In recent years, many proteins involved in DNA repair, such as ATR, ATM and PARP, have received considerable attention as potential points of therapeutic intervention in cancer. Indeed, these efforts have recently delivered several agents into clinical evaluation or FDA regulatory approval. However, the DNA repair protein poly(ADP ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG), which plays an equally critical role in DNA single stand break repair, to successful drug discovery efforts. Through our innovative collaboration with AstraZeneca, we have discovered a novel PARG-binding pharmacophore and have employed this information to discover drug-like chemotypes, facilitating the development of potent and selective inhibitors. This poster will describe our emerging results in this area, where a novel benzimidazolone sulphonamide scaffold has been shown potently to inhibit PARG in both biochemical and cellular assays with potencies of 40 nM and 60 nM respectively. Moreover, these agents display pharmacology consistent with the anticipated mode of action, appropriate drug-like properties and are selective against PARP1 and the close glycohydrolase homologue ARH3. The medicinal chemistry optimisation of this scaffold will be described, alongside the recent biological results obtained. Ultimately, this work has helped deliver tool compounds which may help to elucidate the true pharmacology and roles of PARG in cancer and other disease settings. Citation Format: Allan Jordan, Ben Acton, Nicola Hamilton, James Hitchin, Colin Hutton, Dominic James, Cliff Jones, Stuart Jones, Alison McGonagle, Helen Small, Kate Smith, Alex Stowell, Julie Tucker, Ian Waddell, Bohdan Waszkowycz, Donald Ogilvie. Benzimidazolone sulphonamides - potent, selective and drug-like inhibitors of poly(ADP Ribose) Glycohydrolase (PARG). [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 3715.

Abstract C39: First-in-class inhibitors of the putatively undruggable DNA repair target Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG)

Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) is the only enzyme known to catalyse hydrolysis of the O-glycosidic linkages of ADP-ribose polymers, thereby reversing the effects of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs). PARG depletion, using RNAi, results in several effects such as PAR chain persistence, progression of single- to double-strand DNA lesions and NAD+ depletion. Given these findings, inhibition of PARG with a small molecule agent offers a potential opportunity to interfere with DNA repair mechanisms and induce cell death in those cells with increased susceptibility to DNA damage, such as tumour cells. Previous efforts to develop small molecule inhibitors of PARG activity have generally been hampered by poor physicochemical properties, off-target pharmacology and a lack of cell permeability, leading some to suggest that PARG may be undruggable. In contrast, we have now developed a series of first-in-class PARG inhibitors which display drug-like properties and attractive pharmacokinetic parameters. These compounds have proved to be useful biological tool compounds. Moreover, displaying selective activity in both biochemical and, more importantly, cellular assays of PARG function, these derivatives have allowed an exploration of the phenotypes resulting from reversible, pharmacological PARG inhibition in both in vitro cell panels and in vivo models. Furthermore, our initial bioinformatic analysis suggests that deficiency of a known tumour suppressor confers sensitivity to PARG inhibition, suggesting patient populations that will potentially benefit from PARGi therapies. Citation Format: Bohdan Waszkowycz, Dominic James, Ben Acton, Emma Fairweather, Sam Fritzl, Niall Hamilton, Nicola Hamilton, Sarah Holt, James Hitchen, Colin Hutton, Stuart Jones, Allan Jordan, Alison McGonagle, Daniel Mould, Helen Small, Kate Smith, Alexandra Stowell, Ian D. Waddell, Donald Ogilvie. First-in-class inhibitors of the putatively undruggable DNA repair target Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr C39.

Abstract 3324: The discovery and optimisation of small-molecule inhibitors of human 5’-tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterase (Tdp2).

Topoisomerases (topo) regulate DNA topology by the transient cleavage and re-ligation of DNA during transcription and replication. Topo II poisons such as etoposide can induce abortive DNA strand breaks in which topo II remains covalently bound to a 5? DNA strand terminus via a phosphotyrosyl linker. Tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterase 2 (Tdp2, TTRAP, EAPII) is a recently discovered human 5?-tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterase which repairs this topo-mediated DNA damage, therefore playing a central role in maintaining normal DNA topology in cells. Cellular depletion of Tdp2 has been shown to result in an increased susceptibility and sensitivity to topo II-induced DNA double strand breaks. It has therefore been proposed that selective pharmacological inhibition of Tdp2 may be a novel approach to overcome intrinsic or acquired resistance to topo II targeted drug therapy. To date, no known drug-like inhibitors of Tdp2 have been identified. We have recently reported a robust ?mix and read? HTS compatible assay and this was used to screen a diverse chemical library of approximately 92,000 compounds. From this, 2 distinct hit series have been identified. Following further chemical exploration of the original hit compounds small molecule inhibitors of Tdp2 with sub-100nM potencies have been identified. This poster will describe our preliminary results in this area.