Briana Foley

Bio: Briana Foley is an academic researcher from Durham University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Small molecule & In vivo. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 8 publications receiving 370 citations.

Discovery of novel 2-aminobenzamide inhibitors of heat shock protein 90 as potent, selective and orally active antitumor agents.

Abstract: A novel class of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitors was developed from an unbiased screen to identify protein targets for a diverse compound library These indol-4-one and indazol-4-one derived 2-aminobenzamides showed strong binding affinity to Hsp90, and optimized analogues exhibited nanomolar antiproliferative activity across multiple cancer cell lines Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) induction and specific client protein degradation in cells on treatment with the inhibitors supported Hsp90 inhibition as the mechanism of action Computational chemistry and X-ray crystallographic analysis of selected member compounds clearly defined the protein-inhibitor interaction and assisted the design of analogues 4-[6,6-Dimethyl-4-oxo-3-(trifluoromethyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-1-yl]-2-[(trans-4-hydroxycyclohexyl)amino]benzamide (SNX-2112, 9) was identified as highly selective and potent (IC(50) Her2 = 11 nM, HT-29 = 3 nM); its prodrug amino-acetic acid 4-[2-carbamoyl-5-(6,6-dimethyl-4-oxo-3-trifluoromethyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indazol-1-yl)-phenylamino]-cyclohexyl ester methanesulfonate (SNX-5422, 10) was orally bioavailable and efficacious in a broad range of xenograft tumor models (eg 67% growth delay in a HT-29 model) and is now in multiple phase I clinical trials

Targeting of multiple signaling pathways by the Hsp90 inhibitor SNX-2112 in EGFR resistance models as a single agent or in combination with erlotinib.

Abstract: Inhibition of Hsp90 has emerged as a therapeutic strategy to target NSCLC subtypes, which are refractory to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor-based treatment. We report on a novel small molecule inhibitor of Hsp90, SNX-2112, and an orally bioavailable prodrug analog, SNX-5422. In cellular models of wild-type or mutant EGFR (L858R and T790M mutations), SNX-2112 alone and in combination with erlotinib inhibited EGF activation of pAKT(473) and pSTAT3(705). pERK1/2 and pS6 were also potently inhibited by similar treatments. SNX-2112 reduced EGF cross-talk and activation of the c-Met receptor by causing c-Met degradation. In NCI-H1975 xenograft models, SNX-5422 showed activity as a single agent and in combination with erlotinib resulted in prolonged animal survival at reduced compound concentrations relative to either compound alone. These results support the advanced evaluation of SNX-5422 as a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially in cases where the cancer is driven by c-Met amplification or mutated EGFR forms that are resistant to EGFR inhibitors.

The use of high-content screening for the discovery and characterization of compounds that modulate mitotic index and cell cycle progression by differing mechanisms of action.

Abstract: The advent of high-content screening has expanded the ability of researchers to identify and quantify compound effects on a number of cellular events in a manner that allows for the rapid screening...

Applications of Palladium-Catalyzed C–N Cross-Coupling Reactions

Abstract: Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions that form C–N bonds have become useful methods to synthesize anilines and aniline derivatives, an important class of compounds throughout chemical research. A key factor in the widespread adoption of these methods has been the continued development of reliable and versatile catalysts that function under operationally simple, user-friendly conditions. This review provides an overview of Pd-catalyzed N-arylation reactions found in both basic and applied chemical research from 2008 to the present. Selected examples of C–N cross-coupling reactions between nine classes of nitrogen-based coupling partners and (pseudo)aryl halides are described for the synthesis of heterocycles, medicinally relevant compounds, natural products, organic materials, and catalysts.

Hsp90 molecular chaperone inhibitors: are we there yet?

Abstract: Heat shock protein (Hsp) 90 is an ATP-dependent molecular chaperone exploited by malignant cells to support activated oncoproteins, including many cancer-associated kinases and transcription factors, and is essential for oncogenic transformation. Originally viewed with skepticism, Hsp90 inhibitors are now actively pursued by the pharmaceutical industry, with 17 agents having entered clinical trials. Hsp90’s druggability was established using the natural products geldanamycin and radicicol which mimic the unusual ATP structure adopted in the chaperone’s N-terminal nucleotide-binding pocket and cause potent and selective blockade of ATP binding/hydrolysis, inhibit chaperone function, deplete oncogenic clients, and demonstrate antitumor activity. Preclinical data with these natural products have heightened interest in Hsp90 as a drug target, and 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG, tanespimycin) has demonstrated clinical activity (as defined by RECIST criteria) in HER2+ breast cancer. Many optimized synthetic small molecule Hsp90 inhibitors from diverse chemotypes are now in clinical trials. We review the discovery and development of Hsp90 inhibitors and assess their future potential. There has been significant learning from experience in both the basic biology and the translational drug development around Hsp90, enhanced by the use of Hsp90 inhibitors as chemical probes. Success will likely lie in treating cancers addicted to particular driver oncogene products, such as HER2, ALK, EGFR and BRAF, that are sensitive Hsp90 clients, as well as in malignancies, especially multiple myeloma, where buffering of proteotoxic stress is critical for survival. We discuss approaches to enhancing the effectiveness of Hsp90 inhibitors and highlight new chaperone and stress response pathway targets, including HSF1 and Hsp70.

Targeting Heat Shock Proteins in Cancer: A Promising Therapeutic Approach

Abstract: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a large family of chaperones that are involved in protein folding and maturation of a variety of “client” proteins protecting them from degradation, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and thermal stress. Hence, they are significant regulators of cellular proliferation, differentiation and strongly implicated in the molecular orchestration of cancer development and progression as many of their clients are well established oncoproteins in multiple tumor types. Interestingly, tumor cells are more HSP chaperonage-dependent than normal cells for proliferation and survival because the oncoproteins in cancer cells are often misfolded and require augmented chaperonage activity for correction. This led to the development of several inhibitors of HSP90 and other HSPs that have shown promise both preclinically and clinically in the treatment of cancer. In this article, we comprehensively review the roles of some of the important HSPs in cancer, and how targeting them could be efficacious, especially when traditional cancer therapies fail.