Showing papers by "Kunzer Aaron R published in 2007"

Studies leading to potent, dual inhibitors of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL.

Abstract: Overexpression of the antiapototic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL provides a common mechanism through which cancer cells gain a survival advantage and become resistant to conventional chemotherapy. Inhibition of these prosurvival proteins is an attractive strategy for cancer therapy. We recently described the discovery of a selective Bcl-xL antagonist that potentiates the antitumor activity of chemotherapy and radiation. Here we describe the use of structure-guided design to exploit a deep hydrophobic binding pocket on the surface of these proteins to develop the first dual, subnanomolar inhibitors of Bcl-xL and Bcl-2. This study culminated in the identification of 2, which exhibited EC50 values of 8 nM and 30 nM in Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL dependent cells, respectively. Compound 2 demonstrated single agent efficacy against human follicular lymphoma cell lines that overexpress Bcl-2, and efficacy in a murine xenograft model of lymphoma when given both as a single agent and in combination with etoposide.

Discovery and Design of Novel HSP90 Inhibitors Using Multiple Fragment‐based Design Strategies

Abstract: The molecular chaperone HSP90 has been shown to facilitate cancer cell survival by stabilizing key proteins responsible for a malignant phenotype. We report here the results of parallel fragment-based drug design approaches in the design of novel HSP90 inhibitors. Initial aminopyrimidine leads were elaborated using high-throughput organic synthesis to yield nanomolar inhibitors of the enzyme. Second site leads were also identified which bound to HSP90 in two distinct conformations, an 'open' and 'closed' form. Intriguingly, linked fragment approaches targeting both of these conformations were successful in producing novel, micromolar inhibitors. Overall, this study shows that, with only a few fragment hits, multiple lead series can be generated for HSP90 due to the inherent flexibility of the active site. Thus, ample opportunities exist to use these lead series in the development of clinically useful HSP90 inhibitors for the treatment of cancers.

Regiochemistry of Addition of Aminoheterocycles to α‐Cyanocinnamonitriles: Formation of Aza‐Bridged Bi‐ and Tricycles.

Abstract: The additions of various five-membered ring aminoheterocycles to α-cyanocinnamonitriles were studied. Regiochemistry of product formation can in most cases be controlled by choosing the appropriate electrophile. An α-cyanocinnamonitrile with an additional β-leaving group normally provides products arising from initial attack of the ring amino group, while exo attack predominates in the case of the parent α-cyanocinnamonitrile. Aminopyrazole and aminoindazole provide only exo products with either electrophile. Product assignments were made via X-ray and 2D NMR methods; these assignments serve as a benchmark to several literature references and to future investigations of conjugate additions of these nucleophiles.