The Medicinal Chemist’s Toolbox: An Analysis of Reactions Used in the Pursuit of Drug Candidates

The Medicinal Chemist's Toolbox: An Analysis of Reactions Used in the Pursuit of Drug Candidates

The electronic properties and relatively small size of fluorine endow it with considerable versatility as a bioisostere and it has found application as a substitute for lone pairs of electrons, the hydrogen atom, and the methyl group while also acting as a functional mimetic of the carbonyl, carbinol, and nitrile moieties. In this context, fluorine substitution can influence the potency, conformation, metabolism, membrane permeability, and P-gp recognition of a molecule and temper inhibition of the hERG channel by basic amines. However, as a consequence of the unique properties of fluorine, it features prominently in the design of higher order structural metaphors that are more esoteric in their conception and which reflect a more sophisticated molecular construction that broadens biological mimesis. In this Perspective, applications of fluorine in the construction of bioisosteric elements designed to enhance the in vitro and in vivo properties of a molecule are summarized.

Fluorine and Fluorinated Motifs in the Design and Application of Bioisosteres for Drug Design.

The Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ephrin ligands have intriguing expression patterns in cancer cells and tumour blood vessels, which suggest important roles for their bidirectional signals in many aspects of cancer development and progression. Eph gene mutations probably also contribute to cancer pathogenesis. Eph receptors and ephrins have been shown to affect the growth, migration and invasion of cancer cells in culture as well as tumour growth, invasiveness, angiogenesis and metastasis in vivo. However, Eph signalling activities in cancer seem to be complex, and are characterized by puzzling dichotomies. Nevertheless, the Eph receptors are promising new therapeutic targets in cancer.

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Eph receptors and ephrins in cancer: bidirectional signalling and beyond

Compare your culture to one of the cultures discussed in this unit. On a sheet of paper, list the cultures you are comparing and make one column titled “similarities,” and a second column titled “differences.” Now, list as many similarities and differences between the two as you can think of. Are there more similarities or differences between the two cultures you selected? Have you ever met anyone from this culture? How can you use this information to build greater respect between cultures?

Similarities and Differences

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are present at low concentrations in the peripheral blood of patients with solid tumors. It has been proposed that the isolation, ex vivo culture, and characterization of CTCs may provide an opportunity to noninvasively monitor the changing patterns of drug susceptibility in individual patients as their tumors acquire new mutations. In a proof-of-concept study, we established CTC cultures from six patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Three of five CTC lines tested were tumorigenic in mice. Genome sequencing of the CTC lines revealed preexisting mutations in the PIK3CA gene and newly acquired mutations in the estrogen receptor gene (ESR1), PIK3CA gene, and fibroblast growth factor receptor gene (FGFR2), among others. Drug sensitivity testing of CTC lines with multiple mutations revealed potential new therapeutic targets. With optimization of CTC culture conditions, this strategy may help identify the best therapies for individual cancer patients over the course of their disease.

/pdf/ex-vivo-culture-of-circulating-breast-tumor-cells-for-511addtolj.pdf

Ex vivo culture of circulating breast tumor cells for individualized testing of drug susceptibility

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling axis is increasingly implicated in tumorigenesis and chemoresistance. Several small-molecule FGF receptor (FGFR) kinase inhibitors are currently in clinical development; however, the predominant activity of the most advanced of these agents is against the kinase insert domain receptor (KDR), which compromises the FGFR selectivity. Here, we report the pharmacologic profile of AZD4547, a novel and selective inhibitor of the FGFR1, 2, and 3 tyrosine kinases. AZD4547 inhibited recombinant FGFR kinase activity in vitro and suppressed FGFR signaling and growth in tumor cell lines with deregulated FGFR expression. In a representative FGFR-driven human tumor xenograft model, oral administration of AZD4547 was well tolerated and resulted in potent dose-dependent antitumor activity, consistent with plasma exposure and pharmacodynamic modulation of tumor FGFR. Importantly, at efficacious doses, no evidence of anti-KDR-related effects were observed, confirming the in vivo FGFR selectivity of AZD4547. Taken together, our findings show that AZD4547 is a novel selective small-molecule inhibitor of FGFR with potent antitumor activity against FGFR-deregulated tumors in preclinical models. AZD4547 is under clinical investigation for the treatment of FGFR-dependent tumors.

https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/72/8/2045.full.pdf

AZD4547: An Orally Bioavailable, Potent, and Selective Inhibitor of the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Family

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induces a Parkinson-like syndrome through biotransformation by monoamine oxidase B to the neurotoxic metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine. Neuroprotection may be provided by parallel N-demethylation and N-oxidation pathways mediated by the microsomal cytochrome P450 and flavin monooxygenase systems, respectively. The aims of this study were to characterise the N-demethylation of MPTP by human liver microsomes over a wide range of concentrations, and to identify the cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in this reaction. The kinetics of the N-demethylation of MPTP (1 microM - 3 mM) by microsomes from the liver of an extensive metabolizer with respect to cytochrome P4502D6 (CYP2D6) activity were biphasic (apparent Km1 and Km2 values = 48 and 2882 microM). The high affinity activity was abolished in the presence of quinidine (1 microM) and was absent in microsomes from a genotypically poor metabolizer with respect to CYP2D6. Yeast microsomes containing heterologously expressed CYP2D6 N-demethylated MPTP (Km = 39 microM), and there was a high correlation between the quinidine-inhibitable N-demethylation of MPTP (50 microM) (0.7-91%, mean 44%, of total activity) and the alpha-hydroxylation of metoprolol in microsomes from 11 human livers (rs = 0.92; P < .001). At 50 microM MPTP, N-demethylase activity in human liver microsomes was also inhibited by furafylline (10 microM) and ketoconazole (2 microM) (mean inhibition 39 and 13%, respectively; n = 11 livers). Yeast microsomes containing heterologously expressed human CYP1A2 N-demethylated MPTP with a Km of 2246 microM. These findings indicate that CYP2D6, CYP1A2 and, to a lesser extent CYP3A4, may have a role in protecting against Parkinson's disease induced by MPTP and other potential environmental neurotoxins. The data provide some biochemical support for the proposition that genotypically poor metabolizers with respect to CYP2D6 are overrepresented in some populations of Parkinson's patients, and that smokers (induced CYP1A2?) are underrepresented.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is N-demethylated by cytochromes P450 2D6, 1A2 and 3A4--implications for susceptibility to Parkinson's disease.

Induction of P-glycoprotein expression and function in human intestinal epithelial cells (T84).

Intestinal secretory movement of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic, ciprofloxacin, may limit its oral bioavailability. Active ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters such as breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) have been implicated in ciprofloxacin transport. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that BCRP alone mediates intestinal ciprofloxacin secretion. The involvement of ABC transport proteins in ciprofloxacin secretory flux was investigated with the combined use of transfected cell lines [bcrp1/BCRP-Madin-Darby canine kidney II (MDCKII) and multidrug resistance-related protein 4 (MRP4)-human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293] and human intestinal Caco-2 cells, combined with pharmacological inhibition using 3-(6-isobutyl-9-methoxy-1,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4,6, 7,12,12a-octahydropyrazino[1′,2′:1,6]pyrido[3,4-b]indol-3-yl)-propionic acid tert-butyl ester (Ko143), cyclosporine, 3-[[3-[2-(7-chloroquinolin-2-yl)vinyl]phenyl]-(2-dimethylcarbamoylethylsulfanyl)methylsulfanyl] propionic acid (MK571), and verapamil as ABC-selective inhibitors. In addition, the regional variation in secretory capacity was investigated using male Han Wistar rat intestine mounted in Ussing chambers, and the first indicative measurements of ciprofloxacin transport by ex vivo human jejunum were made. Active, Ko143-sensitive ciprofloxacin secretion was observed in bcrp1-MDCKII cell layers, but in low-passage (BCRP-expressing) Caco-2 cell layers only a 54% fraction was Ko143-sensitive. Ciprofloxacin accumulation was lower in MRP4-HEK293 cells than in the parent line, indicating that ciprofloxacin is also a substrate for this transporter. Ciprofloxacin secretion by Caco-2 cell layers was not inhibited by MK571. Secretory flux showed marked regional variability in the rat intestine, increasing from the duodenum to peak in the ileum. Ciprofloxacin secretion was present in human jejunum and was reduced by Ko143 but showed marked interindividual variability. Ciprofloxacin is a substrate for human and rodent BCRP. An additional pathway for ciprofloxacin secretion exists in Caco-2 cells, which is unlikely to be MRP(4)-mediated. BCRP is likely to be the dominant transport mechanism for ciprofloxacin efflux in both rat and human jejunum.

https://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/dmd/early/2011/09/19/dmd.111.038323.full.pdf

Intestinal Ciprofloxacin Efflux: The Role of Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (ABCG2)

The therapeutic class of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, the statins are central agents in the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia and the associated conditions of cardiovascular disease, obesity and metabolic syndrome. Although statin therapy is generally considered safe, a number of known adverse effects do occur, most commonly treatment-associated muscular pain. In vitro evidence also supports the potential for drug-drug interactions involving this class of agents, and to examine this a ligand-binding assay was used to determine the ability of six clinically used statins for their ability to directly activate the nuclear receptors pregnane X-receptor (PXR), farnesoid X-receptor (FXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), demonstrating a relative activation of PXR>FXR>CAR. Using reporter gene constructs, we demonstrated that this order of activation is mirrored at the transcriptional activation level, with PXR-mediated gene activation being pre-eminent. Finally, we described a novel regulatory loop, whereby activation of FXR by statins increases PXR reporter gene expression, potentially enhancing PXR-mediated responses. Delineating the molecular interactions of statins with nuclear receptors is an important step in understanding the full biological consequences of statin exposure. This demonstration of their ability to directly activate nuclear receptors, leading to nuclear receptor cross-talk, has important potential implications for their use within a polypharmacy paradigm.

The statin class of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors demonstrate differential activation of the nuclear receptors PXR, CAR and FXR, as well as their downstream target genes.

Tanya Coleman

Papers

AZD4547: An Orally Bioavailable, Potent, and Selective Inhibitor of the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Family

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is N-demethylated by cytochromes P450 2D6, 1A2 and 3A4--implications for susceptibility to Parkinson's disease.

Induction of P-glycoprotein expression and function in human intestinal epithelial cells (T84).

Intestinal Ciprofloxacin Efflux: The Role of Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (ABCG2)

The statin class of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors demonstrate differential activation of the nuclear receptors PXR, CAR and FXR, as well as their downstream target genes.