Martin G. Rowlands

NVP-AUY922: A Novel Heat Shock Protein 90 Inhibitor Active against Xenograft Tumor Growth, Angiogenesis, and Metastasis

We describe the biological properties of NVP-AUY922, a novel resorcinylic isoxazole amide heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitor. NVP-AUY922 potently inhibits HSP90 (K(d) = 1.7 nmol/L) and proliferation of human tumor cells with GI(50) values of approximately 2 to 40 nmol/L, inducing G(1)-G(2) arrest and apoptosis. Activity is independent of NQO1/DT-diaphorase, maintained in drug-resistant cells and under hypoxic conditions. The molecular signature of HSP90 inhibition, comprising induced HSP72 and depleted client proteins, was readily demonstrable. NVP-AUY922 was glucuronidated less than previously described isoxazoles, yielding higher drug levels in human cancer cells and xenografts. Daily dosing of NVP-AUY922 (50 mg/kg i.p. or i.v.) to athymic mice generated peak tumor levels at least 100-fold above cellular GI(50). This produced statistically significant growth inhibition and/or regressions in human tumor xenografts with diverse oncogenic profiles: BT474 breast tumor treated/control, 21%; A2780 ovarian, 11%; U87MG glioblastoma, 7%; PC3 prostate, 37%; and WM266.4 melanoma, 31%. Therapeutic effects were concordant with changes in pharmacodynamic markers, including induction of HSP72 and depletion of ERBB2, CRAF, cyclin-dependent kinase 4, phospho-AKT/total AKT, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha, determined by Western blot, electrochemiluminescent immunoassay, or immunohistochemistry. NVP-AUY922 also significantly inhibited tumor cell chemotaxis/invasion in vitro, WM266.4 melanoma lung metastases, and lymphatic metastases from orthotopically implanted PC3LN3 prostate carcinoma. NVP-AUY922 inhibited proliferation, chemomigration, and tubular differentiation of human endothelial cells and antiangiogenic activity was reflected in reduced microvessel density in tumor xenografts. Collectively, the data show that NVP-AUY922 is a potent, novel inhibitor of HSP90, acting via several processes (cytostasis, apoptosis, invasion, and angiogenesis) to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. NVP-AUY922 has entered phase I clinical trials.

Isothiazolones as inhibitors of PCAF and p300 histone acetyltransferase activity

Histone acetylation plays an important role in regulating the chromatin structure and is tightly regulated by two classes of enzyme, histone acetyltransferases (HAT) and histone deacetylases (HDAC). Deregulated HAT and HDAC activity plays a role in the development of a range of cancers. Consequently, inhibitors of these enzymes have potential as anticancer agents. Several HDAC inhibitors have been described; however, few inhibitors of HATs have been disclosed. Following a FlashPlate high-throughput screen, we identified a series of isothiazolone-based HAT inhibitors. Thirty-five N-substituted analogues inhibited both p300/cyclic AMP–responsive element binding protein–binding protein–associated factor (PCAF) and p300 (1 to >50 μmol/L, respectively) and the growth of a panel of human tumor cell lines (50% growth inhibition, 0.8 to >50 μmol/L). CCT077791 and CCT077792 decreased cellular acetylation in a time-dependent manner (2–48 hours of exposure) and a concentration-dependent manner (one to five times, 72 hours, 50% growth inhibition) in HCT116 and HT29 human colon tumor cell lines. CCT077791 reduced total acetylation of histones H3 and H4, levels of specific acetylated lysine marks, and acetylation of α-tubulin. Four and 24 hours of exposure to the compounds produced the same extent of growth inhibition as 72 hours of continuous exposure, suggesting that growth arrest was an early event. Chemical reactivity of these compounds, as measured by covalent protein binding and loss of HAT inhibition in the presence of DTT, indicated that reaction with thiol groups might be important in their mechanism of action. As one of the first series of small-molecule inhibitors of HAT activity, further analogue synthesis is being pursued to examine the potential scope for reducing chemical reactivity while maintaining HAT inhibition.

Structure of the Ire1 autophosphorylation complex and implications for the unfolded protein response

Ire1 (Ern1) is an unusual transmembrane protein kinase essential for the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) unfolded protein response (UPR). Activation of Ire1 by association of its N‐terminal ER luminal domains promotes autophosphorylation by its cytoplasmic kinase domain, leading to activation of the C‐terminal ribonuclease domain, which splices Xbp1 mRNA generating an active Xbp1s transcriptional activator. We have determined the crystal structure of the cytoplasmic portion of dephosphorylated human Ire1α bound to ADP, revealing the ‘phosphoryl‐transfer’ competent dimeric face‐to‐face complex, which precedes and is distinct from the back‐to‐back RNase ‘active’ conformation described for yeast Ire1. We show that the Xbp1‐specific ribonuclease activity depends on autophosphorylation, and that ATP‐competitive inhibitors staurosporin and sunitinib, which inhibit autophosphorylation in vitro, also inhibit Xbp1 splicing in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrate that activated Ire1α is a competent protein kinase, able to phosphorylate a heterologous peptide substrate. These studies identify human Ire1α as a target for development of ATP‐competitive inhibitors that will modulate the UPR in human cells, which has particular relevance for myeloma and other secretory malignancies.

In vitro Biological Characterization of a Novel, Synthetic Diaryl Pyrazole Resorcinol Class of Heat Shock Protein 90 Inhibitors

The molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) has emerged as an exciting molecular target. Derivatives of the natural product geldanamycin, such as 17-allylamino-17-demethoxy-geldanamycin (17-AAG), were the first HSP90 ATPase inhibitors to enter clinical trial. Synthetic small-molecule HSP90 inhibitors have potential advantages. Here, we describe the biological properties of the lead compound of a new class of 3,4-diaryl pyrazole resorcinol HSP90 inhibitor (CCT018159), which we identified by high-throughput screening. CCT018159 inhibited human HSP90beta with comparable potency to 17-AAG and with similar ATP-competitive kinetics. X-ray crystallographic structures of the NH(2)-terminal domain of yeast Hsp90 complexed with CCT018159 or its analogues showed binding properties similar to radicicol. The mean cellular GI(50) value of CCT018159 across a panel of human cancer cell lines, including melanoma, was 5.3 mumol/L. Unlike 17-AAG, the in vitro antitumor activity of the pyrazole resorcinol analogues is independent of NQO1/DT-diaphorase and P-glycoprotein expression. The molecular signature of HSP90 inhibition, comprising increased expression of HSP72 protein and depletion of ERBB2, CDK4, C-RAF, and mutant B-RAF, was shown by Western blotting and quantified by time-resolved fluorescent-Cellisa in human cancer cell lines treated with CCT018159. CCT018159 caused cell cytostasis associated with a G(1) arrest and induced apoptosis. CCT018159 also inhibited key endothelial and tumor cell functions implicated in invasion and angiogenesis. Overall, we have shown that diaryl pyrazole resorcinols exhibited similar cellular properties to 17-AAG with potential advantages (e.g., aqueous solubility, independence from NQO1 and P-glycoprotein). These compounds form the basis for further structure-based optimization to identify more potent inhibitors suitable for clinical development.

Variation of the inhibition of calmodulin dependent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase amongst analogues of tamoxifen; Correlations with cytotoxicity

The ability of a variety of analogues of tamoxifen to inhibit calmodulin dependent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase has been determined. Effective inhibition requires that the aminoethoxy side chain bears a positive charge at physiological pH and is not too bulky. Amongst 4-substituents, inhibitory potency increases with lipophilicity. The stereochemistry about the olefinic linkage is not important. The most potent agent found (IC50 1.4 microM, compare tamoxifen = 6.75 microM) has a 4-iodine substituent and pyrrolidino in place of dimethylamino. This analogue is also more cytotoxic than tamoxifen against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells as determined in a 24-hr assay, but there was no correlation found between calmodulin inhibition and cytotoxicity against the L1210 murine leukaemia or Walker rat carcinosarcoma cells in culture. The results are consistent with the possibility that calmodulin is important to the functioning of oestrogen receptor mediated growth in MCF-7 cells.

Identification of 4-(4-Aminopiperidin-1-Yl)-7H-Pyrrolo[2,3-D]Pyrimidines as Selective Inhibitors of Protein Kinase B Through Fragment Elaboration.

Fragment-based screening identified 7-azaindole as a protein kinase B inhibitor scaffold. Fragment elaboration using iterative crystallography of inhibitor-PKA-PKB chimera complexes efficiently guided improvements in the potency and selectivity of the compounds, resulting in the identification of nanomolar 6-(piperidin-1-yl)purine, 4-(piperidin-1-yl)-7-azaindole, and 4-(piperidin-1-yl)pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidine inhibitors of PKBbeta with antiproliferative activity and showing pathway inhibition in cells. A divergence in the binding mode was seen between 4-aminomethylpiperidine and 4-aminopiperidine containing molecules. Selectivity for PKB vs PKA was observed with 4-aminopiperidine derivatives, and the most PKB-selective inhibitor (30-fold) showed significantly different bound conformations between PKA and PKA-PKB chimera.

A chemical inhibitor of PPM1D that selectively kills cells overexpressing PPM1D

The PPM1D gene is aberrantly amplified in a range of common cancers and encodes a protein phosphatase that is a potential therapeutic target. However, the issue of whether inhibition of PPM1D in human tumour cells that overexpress this protein compromises their viability has not yet been fully addressed. We show here, using an RNA interference (RNAi) approach, that inhibition of PPM1D can indeed reduce the viability of human tumour cells and that this effect is selective; tumour cell lines that overexpress PPM1D are sensitive to PPM1D inhibition whereas cell lines with normal levels are not. Loss of viability associated with PPM1D RNAi in human tumour cells occurs via the activation of the kinase P38. To identify chemical inhibitors of PPM1D, a high-throughput screening of a library of small molecules was performed. This strategy successfully identified a compound that selectively reduces viability of human tumour cell lines that overexpress PPM1D. As expected of a specific inhibitor, the toxicity to PPM1D overexpressing cell lines after inhibitor treatment is P38 dependent. These results further validate PPM1D as a therapeutic target and identify a proof-of-principle small molecule inhibitor.

Discovery of 4-Amino-1-(7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamides As Selective, Orally Active Inhibitors of Protein Kinase B (Akt)

Protein kinase B (PKB or Akt) is an important component of intracellular signaling pathways regulating growth and survival. Signaling through PKB is frequently deregulated in cancer, and inhibitors of PKB therefore have potential as antitumor agents. The optimization of lipophilic substitution within a series of 4-benzyl-1-(7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)piperidin-4-amines provided ATP-competitive, nanomolar inhibitors with up to 150-fold selectivity for inhibition of PKB over the closely related kinase PKA. Although active in cellular assays, compounds containing 4-amino-4-benzylpiperidines underwent metabolism in vivo, leading to rapid clearance and low oral bioavailability. Variation of the linker group between the piperidine and the lipophilic substituent identified 4-amino-1-(7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)piperidine-4-carboxamides as potent and orally bioavailable inhibitors of PKB. Representative compounds modulated biomarkers of signaling through PKB in vivo and strongly inhibited the growth of human tumor xenografts in nude mice at well-tolerated doses.

Discovery of 2-(6-{[(6-Fluoroquinolin-2-yl)methyl]amino}bicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-yl)-N-hydroxypyrimidine-5-carboxamide (CHR-3996), a Class I Selective Orally Active Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor

A novel series of HDAC inhibitors demonstrating class I subtype selectivity and good oral bioavailability is described. The compounds are potent enzyme inhibitors (IC₅₀ values less than 100 nM), and improved activity in cell proliferation assays was achieved by modulation of polar surface area (PSA) through the introduction of novel linking groups. Employing oral pharmacokinetic studies in mice, comparing drug levels in spleen to plasma, we selected compounds that were tested for efficacy in human tumor xenograft studies based on their potential to distribute into tumor. One compound, 21r (CHR-3996), showed good oral activity in these models, including dose-related activity in a LoVo xenograft. In addition 21r showed good activity in combination with other anticancer agents in in vitro studies. On the basis of these results, 21r was nominated for clinical development.

Assays for the identification and evaluation of histone acetyltransferase inhibitors.

There is presently enormous interest in the function and regulatory roles of histone acetyltransferase enzymes. Along with deacetylases it is now evident that these enzymes play a key role in many cellular processes including chromatin remodeling and gene transcription. As such, effective small molecule enzyme inhibitors would be useful tools for molecular pharmacology and may also be suitable for further development into agents for the treatment of diseases such as cancer. A high-throughput assay based on the use of scintillating microplates (FlashPlates) suitable for screening libraries of compounds for inhibitors of acetylase activity is described here. Confirmation of activity of selected compounds is achieved with a conventional filter assay, the details of which are also described. In addition, an assay suitable for confirming that cellular protein acetylation has been altered by inhibition of acetylases or deacetylases is also presented. On the same plate, cells are grown, exposed to compound, fixed, and permeabilized, and protein acetylation is determined using standard ELISA methodology and a europium-labeled second antibody. This latter method provides a medium-throughput alternative to the use of immunoblotting for mechanistic studies.