Hwei-Ru Tsou

Antitumor activity of HKI-272, an orally active, irreversible inhibitor of the HER-2 tyrosine kinase

HER-2 belongs to the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases, which has been implicated in a variety of cancers. Overexpression of HER-2 is seen in 25–30% of breast cancer patients and predicts a poor outcome in patients with primary disease. Trastuzumab (Herceptin), a monoclonal antibody to HER-2, is specifically approved for HER-2-positive breast cancer but is active only in a subset of these tumors. Blocking HER-2 function by a small molecule kinase inhibitor, therefore, represents an attractive alternate strategy to inhibit the growth of HER-2-positive tumors. HKI-272 is a potent inhibitor of HER-2 and is highly active against HER-2-overexpressing human breast cancer cell lines in vitro. It also inhibits the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase and the proliferation of EGFR-dependent cells. HKI-272 reduces HER-2 receptor autophosphorylation in cells at doses consistent with inhibition of cell proliferation and functions as an irreversible binding inhibitor, most likely by targeting a cysteine residue in the ATP-binding pocket of the receptor. In agreement with the predicted effects of HER-2 inactivation, HKI-272 treatment of cells results in inhibition of downstream signal transduction events and cell cycle regulatory pathways. This leads to arrest at the G1-S (Gap 1/DNA synthesis)-phase transition of the cell division cycle, ultimately resulting in decreased cell proliferation. In vivo, HKI-272 is active in HER-2- and EGFR-dependent tumor xenograft models when dosed orally on a once daily schedule. On the basis of its favorable preclinical pharmacological profile, HKI-272 has been selected as a candidate for additional development as an antitumor agent in breast and other HER-2-dependent cancers.

Syntheses and EGFR and HER-2 kinase inhibitory activities of 4-anilinoquinoline-3-carbonitriles: analogues of three important 4-anilinoquinazolines currently undergoing clinical evaluation as therapeutic antitumor agents

The syntheses and biological evaluations of 4-anilinoquinoline-3-carbonitrile analogues of the three clinical lead 4-anilinoquinazolines Iressa, Tarceva, and CI-1033 are described. The EGFR and HER-2 kinase inhibitory activities and the cell growth inhibition of the two series are compared with each other and with the clinical lead EKB-569. Similar activities are observed between these two series.

Discovery of 4-(benzylaminomethylene)isoquinoline-1,3-(2H,4H)-diones and 4-[(pyridylmethyl)aminomethylene]isoquinoline-1,3-(2H,4H)-diones as potent and selective inhibitors of the cyclin-dependent kinase 4.

The series of 4-(benzylaminomethylene)isoquinoline-1,3-(2H,4H)-dione and 4-[(pyridylmethyl)aminomethylene]isoquinoline-1,3-(2H,4H)-dione derivatives reported here represents a novel class of potential antitumor agents, which potently and selectively inhibit CDK4 over CDK2 and CDK1. In the benzylamino headpiece, a 3-OH substituent is required on the phenyl ring for CDK4 inhibitory activity, which is further enhanced when an iodo, aryl, heteroaryl, t-butyl, or cyclopentyl substituent is introduced at the C-6 position of the isoquinoline-1,3-dione core. To circumvent the metabolic liability associated with the phenolic OH group on the 4-substituted 3-OH phenyl headpiece, we take two approaches: first, introduce a nitrogen o- or p- to the 3-OH group in the phenyl ring; second, replace the phenyl headpiece with N-substituted 2-pyridones. We present here the synthesis, SAR data, metabolic stability data, and a CDK4 mimic model that explains the binding, potency, and selectivity of our CDK4 selective inhibitors.

4-(Phenylaminomethylene)isoquinoline-1,3(2H,4H)-diones as Potent and Selective Inhibitors of the Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 (CDK4)

The cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), as complexes with their respective partners, the cyclins, are critical regulators of cell cycle progression. Because aberrant regulations of CDK4/cyclin D1 lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation, a hallmark of cancer, small-molecule inhibitors of CDK4/cyclin D1 are attractive as prospective antitumor agents. The series of 4-(phenylaminomethylene)isoquinoline-1,3(2H,4H)-dione derivatives reported here represents a novel class of potent inhibitors that selectively inhibit CDK4 over CDK2 and CDK1 activities. In the headpiece of the 4-(phenylaminomethylene)isoquinoline-1,3(2H,4H)-dione, a basic amine substituent is required on the aniline ring for the CDK4 inhibitory activity. The inhibitory activity is further enhanced when an aryl or heteroaryl substituent is introduced at the C-6 position of the isoquinoline-1,3(2H,4H)-dione core. We present here SAR data and a CDK4 mimic model that explains the binding, potency, and selectivity of our CDK4 selective inhibitors.

Discovery and optimization of 2-(4-substituted-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-3-yl)methylene-4-hydroxybenzofuran-3(2H)-ones as potent and selective ATP-competitive inhibitors of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR).

We discovered 2-(4-substituted-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-3-yl)methylene-4-hydroxybenzofuran-3(2H)-ones as potent and selective ATP-competitive inhibitors of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Since phenolic OH groups pose metabolic liability, one of the two hydroxyl groups was selectively removed. The SAR data showed the structural features necessary for subnanomolar inhibitory activity against mTOR kinase as well as selectivity over PI3Kalpha. An X-ray co-crystal structure of one inhibitor with the mTOR-related PI3Kgamma revealed the key hydrogen bonding interactions.

4-Substituted-7-azaindoles bearing a ureidobenzofuranone moiety as potent and selective, ATP-competitive inhibitors of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR).

A series of 5-ureidobenzofuranones was discovered as potent and selective inhibitors of mTOR with good cellular activity. Molecular modeling studies revealed several hydrogen bond interactions of the ureido group with the enzyme at the ATP-binding site. Furthermore, modeling showed that the ureido group is best situated at C-5 of the benzofuranone. Syntheses of 4-ureido and 5-ureidobenzofuranones are presented.