Barbara C. M. Potts

Discovery and development of the anticancer agent salinosporamide A (NPI-0052)

The discovery of the anticancer agent salinosporamide A (NPI-0052) resulted from the exploration of new marine environments and a commitment to the potential of the ocean to yield new natural products for drug discovery and development. Driving the success of this process was the linkage of academic research together with the ability and commitment of industry to undertake drug development and provide the resources and expertise to advance the entry of salinosporamide A (NPI-0052) into human clinical trials. This paper offers a chronicle of the important events that facilitated the rapid clinical development of this exciting molecule.

Structure-activity relationship studies of salinosporamide A (NPI-0052), a novel marine derived proteasome inhibitor.

Salinosporamide A (1, NPI-0052) is a potent proteasome inhibitor in development for treating cancer. In this study, a series of analogues was assayed for cytotoxicity, proteasome inhibition, and inhibition of NF-kappaB activation. Marked reductions in potency in cell-based assays accompanied replacement of the chloroethyl group with unhalogenated substituents. Halogen exchange and cyclohexene ring epoxidation were well tolerated, while some stereochemical modifications significantly attenuated activity. These findings provide insights into structure-activity relationships within this novel series.

The structure of calcyclin reveals a novel homodimeric fold for S100 Ca(2+)-binding proteins.

The S100 calcium-binding proteins are implicated as effectors in calcium-mediated signal transduction pathways. The three-dimensional structure of the S100 protein calcyclin has been determined in solution in the apo state by NMR spectroscopy and a computational strategy that incorporates a systematic docking protocol. This structure reveals a symmetric homodimeric fold that is unique among calcium-binding proteins. Dimerization is mediated by hydrophobic contacts from several highly conserved residues, which suggests that the dimer fold identified for calcyclin will serve as a structural paradigm for the S100 subfamily of calcium-binding proteins.

Marizomib, a Proteasome Inhibitor for All Seasons: Preclinical Profile and a Framework for Clinical Trials

The proteasome has emerged as an important clinically relevant target for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Since the Food and Drug Administration approved the first-in-class proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade) for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) and mantle cell lymphoma, it has become clear that new inhibitors are needed that have a better therapeutic ratio, can overcome inherent and acquired bortezomib resistance and exhibit broader anti-cancer activities. Marizomib (NPI-0052; salinosporamide A) is a structurally and pharmacologically unique β-lactone-γ-lactam proteasome inhibitor that may fulfill these unmet needs. The potent and sustained inhibition of all three proteolytic activities of the proteasome by marizomib has inspired extensive preclinical evaluation in a variety of hematologic and solid tumor models, where it is efficacious as a single agent and in combination with biologics, chemotherapeutics and targeted therapeutic agents. Specifically, marizomib has been evaluated in models for multiple myeloma, mantle cell lymphoma, Waldenstroms macroglobulinemia, chronic and acute lymphocytic leukemia, as well as glioma, colorectal and pancreatic cancer models, and has exhibited synergistic activities in tumor models in combination with bortezomib, the immunomodulatory agent lenalidomide (Revlimid), and various histone deacetylase inhibitors. These and other studies provided the framework for ongoing clinical trials in patients with MM, lymphomas, leukemias and solid tumors, including those who have failed bortezomib treatment, as well as in patients with diagnoses where other proteasome inhibitors have not demonstrated significant efficacy. This review captures the remarkable translational studies and contributions from many collaborators that have advanced marizomib from seabed to bench to bedside.

Lynamicins A-E, chlorinated bisindole pyrrole antibiotics from a novel marine actinomycete.

A series of chlorinated bisindole pyrroles, lynamicins A-E (1-5), was discovered from a novel marine actinomycete, NPS12745, which was isolated from a marine sediment collected off the coast of San Diego, California. Close to full length 16S rRNA sequence analysis indicated that NPS12745 is a novel strain of a recently described marine actinomycete with the proposed genus name Marinispora. The antimicrobial spectrum of these compounds was evaluated against a panel of 11 pathogens, which demonstrated that these substances possess broad-spectrum activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. Significantly, compounds 1-5 were active against drug-resistant pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium.

Pharmacodynamic and Efficacy Studies of the Novel Proteasome Inhibitor NPI-0052 (marizomib) in a Human Plasmacytoma Xenograft Murine Model

Our previous study showed that the novel proteasome inhibitor NPI‐0052 induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma (MM) cells resistant to conventional and bortezomib (Velcade™, Takeda, Boston, MA, USA) therapies. In vivo studies using human MM‐xenografts demonstrated that NPI‐0052 is well tolerated, prolongs survival, and reduces tumour recurrence. These preclinical studies provided the basis for an ongoing phase‐1 clinical trial of NPI‐0052 in relapsed/refractory MM patients. Here we performed pharmacodynamic (PD) studies of NPI‐0052 using human MM xenograft murine model. Our results showed that NPI‐0052: (i) rapidly left the vascular compartment in an active form after intravenous (i.v.) administration, (ii) inhibited 20S proteasome chymotrypsin‐like (CT‐L, β5), trypsin‐like (T‐L, β2), and caspase‐like (C‐L, β1) activities in extra‐vascular tumours, packed whole blood (PWB), lung, liver, spleen, and kidney, but not brain and (iii) triggered a more sustained (>24 h) proteasome inhibition in tumours and PWB than in other organs (<24 h). Tissue distribution analysis of radiolabeled compound (3H‐NPI‐0052) in mice demonstrated that NPI‐0052 left the vascular space and entered organs as the parent compound. Importantly, treatment of MM.1S‐bearing mice with NPI‐0052 showed reduced tumour growth without significant toxicity, which was associated with prolonged inhibition of proteasome activity in tumours and PWB but not normal tissues.

Leaving Groups Prolong the Duration of 20S Proteasome Inhibition and Enhance the Potency of Salinosporamides

Salinosporamide A ( 1 (NPI-0052)) is a potent, monochlorinated 20S proteasome inhibitor in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. To elucidate the role of the chlorine leaving group (LG), we synthesized analogues with a range of LG potentials and determined their IC 50 values for inhibition of chymotrypsin-like (CT-L), trypsin-like (T-L), and caspase-like (C-L) activities of 20S proteasomes. Proteasome activity was also determined before and after attempted removal of the inhibitors by dialysis. Analogues bearing substituents with good LG potential exhibited the greatest potency and prolonged duration of proteasome inhibition, with no recovery after 24 h of dialysis. In contrast, activity was restored after </=12 h in the case of non-LG analogues. Intermediate results were observed for fluorosalinosporamide, with poor LG potential. Kinetic studies indicate that 1 acts as a classical slow, tight inhibitor of the CT-L, T-L, and C-L activities and that inhibition occurs via a two-step mechanism involving reversible recognition followed by rate-limiting formation of a covalent enzyme-inhibitor complex.

Concise formal synthesis of (-)-salinosporamide A (marizomib) using a regio- and stereoselective epoxidation and reductive oxirane ring-opening strategy.

Expedient access to a highly functionalized 2-pyrrolidinone (8), the gamma-lactam core of 20S proteasome inhibitor (-)-salinosporamide A (marizomib; NPI-0052; 1), using a regio- and stereoselective epoxide formation/reductive oxirane ring-opening strategy is presented. Notably, the sequential construction of the C-4, C-3, and C-2 stereocenters of 1 in a completely stereocontrolled fashion is a key feature of streamlining the synthesis of intermediate 12. A related strategy is also discussed.

Generating a Generation of Proteasome Inhibitors: From Microbial Fermentation to Total Synthesis of Salinosporamide A (Marizomib) and Other Salinosporamides

The salinosporamides are potent proteasome inhibitors among which the parent marine-derived natural product salinosporamide A (marizomib; NPI-0052; 1) is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of various cancers. Methods to generate this class of compounds include fermentation and natural products chemistry, precursor-directed biosynthesis, mutasynthesis, semi-synthesis, and total synthesis. The end products range from biochemical tools for probing mechanism of action to clinical trials materials; in turn, the considerable efforts to produce the target molecules have expanded the technologies used to generate them. Here, the full complement of methods is reviewed, reflecting remarkable contributions from scientists of various disciplines over a period of 7 years since the first publication of the structure of 1.

Snapshots of the fluorosalinosporamide/20S complex offer mechanistic insights for fine tuning proteasome inhibition

Many marketed drugs contain fluorine, reflecting its ability to modulate a variety of biological responses. The unique 20S proteasome inhibition profile of fluorosalinosporamide compared to chlorinated anticancer agent salinosporamide A (NPI-0052) is exemplary and relates to each halogens leaving group potential. Crystal structures of fluoro-, hydroxy-, and bromosalinosporamide in complex with the yeast 20S proteasome core particle (CP) provide mechanistic insights into ligand binding and leaving group elimination and the ability to fine-tune the duration of proteasome inhibition. Fluorosalinosporamide/CP crystal structures determined over time offer striking snapshots of the ligand trapped with an intact fluoroethyl group in anticipation of fluoride elimination, followed by complete nucleophilic displacement of fluoride to give the highly stabilized cyclic ether found for salinosporamide A and bromosalinosporamide. This two-step reaction pathway is consistent with a mechanism for partially reversible proteasome inhibition by fluorosalinosporamide. Proteasome catalyzed fluoride displacement provides preliminary insights into the active site Thr1N pK(a).