Double-edged swords as cancer therapeutics: novel, orally active, small molecules simultaneously inhibit p53-MDM2 interaction and the NF-κB pathway

J Med Chem. 2014 Feb 13;57(3):567-77. doi: 10.1021/jm401800k. Epub 2014 Jan 24.

Abstract

Simultaneous inactivation of p53 and hyperactivation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a common occurrence in human cancer. Currently, antitumor agents are being designed to selectively activate p53 or inhibit NF-κB. However, there is no concerted effort yet to deliberately design inhibitors that can simultaneously do both. This paper provided a proof-of-concept study that p53-MDM2 interaction and NF-κB pathway can be simultaneously targeted by a small-molecule inhibitor. A series of pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrazole derivatives were rationally designed and synthesized as the first-in-class inhibitors of p53-MDM2 interaction and NF-κB pathway. Most of the compounds were identified to possess nanomolar p53-MDM2 inhibitory activity. Compounds 5q and 5s suppressed NF-κB activation through inhibition of IκBα phosphorylation and elevation of the cytoplasmic levels of p65 and phosphorylated IKKα/β. Biochemical assay for the kinases also supported the fact that pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrazole compounds directly targeted the NF-κB pathway. In addition, four compounds (5j, 5q, 5s, and 5u) effectively inhibited tumor growth in the A549 xenograft model. Further pharmacokinetic study revealed that compound 5q exhibited excellent oral bioavailability (72.9%).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus
  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Biological Availability
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 / metabolism*
  • Pyrazoles / chemical synthesis*
  • Pyrazoles / chemistry
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Pyrroles / chemical synthesis*
  • Pyrroles / chemistry
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology
  • Pyrrolidinones / chemical synthesis*
  • Pyrrolidinones / chemistry
  • Pyrrolidinones / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Signal Transduction
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • NF-kappa B
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrroles
  • Pyrrolidinones
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2