PRMT5 plays important roles in diverse cellular processes and is upregulated in several human malignancies. Besides, PRMT5 has been validated as an anticancer target in mantle cell lymphoma. In this study, we found a potent and selective PRMT5 inhibitor by performing structure-based virtual screening and hit optimization. The identified compound 17 (IC50 = 0.33 μM) exhibited a broad selectivity against a panel of other methyltransferases. The direct binding of 17 to PRMT5 was validated by surface plasmon resonance experiments, with a Kd of 0.987 μM. Kinetic experiments indicated that 17 was a SAM competitive inhibitor other than the substrate. In addition, 17 showed selective antiproliferative effects against MV4-11 cells, and further studies indicated that the mechanism of cellular antitumor activity was due to the inhibition of PRMT5 mediated SmD3 methylation. 17 may represent a promising lead compound to understand more about PRMT5 and potentially assist the development of treatments for leukemia indications.

•A series of cycloalkyl-fused N-thiazol-2-yl-benzamides was investigated as tissue non-specific partial GK activators.•Compound 72 showed a good balance between in vitro potency and enzyme kinetic parameters.•Chronic treatment of compound 72 demonstrated potent activity in the OGTT in diabetic db/db mice.•Chronic oral administration of 72 showed no obvious effects on CHO, HDL-C and LDL-C when compared with the vehicle group.•Acute treatment of compound 72 did not induce hypoglycemia in C57BL/6J mice even at 200 mg/kg via oral administration.Glucokinase (GK) activators are being developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, existing GK activators have risks of hypoglycemia caused by over-activation of GK in islet cells and dyslipidemia caused by over-activation of intrahepatic GK. In the effort to mitigate risks of hypoglycemia and dyslipidemia while maintaining the promising efficacy of GK activator, we investigated a series of cycloalkyl-fused N-thiazol-2-yl-benzamides as tissue non-specific partial GK activators, which led to the identification of compound 72 that showed a good balance between in vitro potency and enzyme kinetic parameters, and protected β-cells from streptozotocin-induced apoptosis. Chronic treatment of compound 72 demonstrated its potent activity in regulation of glucose homeostasis and low risk of dyslipidemia with diabetic db/db mice in oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Moreover, acute treatment of compound 72 did not induce hypoglycemia in C57BL/6J mice even at 200 mg/kg via oral administration.Download high-res image (352KB)Download full-size image

Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) represents an attractive oncology target for cancer therapy in view of its critical role in promoting cancer formation and progression, as well as causing resistance to approved therapies. In this article, we describe the identification of the potent pan-FGFR inhibitor (R)-21c (FGFR1–4 IC50 values of 0.9, 2.0, 2.0, and 6.1 nM, respectively). Compound (R)-21c exhibited excellent in vitro inhibitory activity against a panel of FGFR-amplified cell lines. Western blot analysis demonstrated that (R)-21c suppressed FGF/FGFR and downstream signaling pathways at nanomolar concentrations. Moreover, (R)-21c provided nearly complete inhibition of tumor growth (96.9% TGI) in NCI-H1581 (FGFR1-amplified) xenograft mice model at the dose of 10 mg/kg/qd via oral administration.

•A series of CH2-/CF2-linked triazolotriazines as c-Met inhibitors were reported.•The compounds were assayed c-Met activities in both enzymatic and cellular level.•Based on good antitumor potency and PK profiles, 23 was selected as a drug candidate.c-Met/HGF overexpression has been detected in many human malignancies including tumors which are resistant to anticancer therapy. Disrupting the aberrant c-Met/HGF axis has enjoyed significant progress in both preclinical and clinical antitumor campaign. To eliminate the OCH2-related metabolic deficiency of our previously reported triazolotriazine 2, we synthesized a series of CH2-/CF2-linked triazolotriazines and assessed their c-Met activities, leading to the highly potent compound 23 with IC50 values of 0.24 nM of enzymatic activity in c-Met and 0.85 nM of cellular activity in EBC-1 cancer cell line, as well as with complete tumor regression in EBC-1 xenograft mice model at dose of 25 mg/kg via oral administration. Based on its potent anti-proliferative activities and favorable pharmacokinetic properties, 23 has been selected as a drug candidate for preclinical investigation.

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are important targets for cancer therapy. Herein, we describe the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a novel series of 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine derivatives as potent and selective FGFR kinase inhibitors. On the basis of its excellent in vitro potency and favorable pharmacokinetic properties, compound 7n was selected for in vivo evaluation and showed significant antitumor activity in a FGFR1-driven H1581 xenograft model. These results indicated that 7n would be a promising candidate for further drug development.Keywords: Cancer; FGFR; inhibitor; pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine

Inhibition of VEGFR-2 signaling pathway is one of the most promising approaches for the treatment of cancer. In this paper, we reported the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of biphenylurea derivatives as VEGFR-2 inhibitors. Among these compounds, 39 exhibited potent inhibitory activity against VEGFR-2 both in vitro and in vivo. The antiangiogenesis activity of 39 was further confirmed by both tube formation assay and chick chorioallantoic membrane assay.In an effort to discover potent VEGFR-2 inhibitors, a series of O-linked biphenylurea derivatives were designed and synthesized. The structural activity relationships led to identification of a potential VEGFR-2 inhibitor compound 39.

•Solvent and palladium free microwave-assisted direct CH amination was reported.•N-Unsubstituted 1H-indazoles instead of N-aryl 1H-indazoles were constructed.•Tuning the reaction condition and substrates altered the reaction pathway.An effective and convenient method has been developed for the preparation of 1-unsubstituted 1H-indazoles via CH amination of N-acetylhydrazones in the presence of a catalytic amount of manganese dioxide under microwave irradiation. This new method featured easy operation and relatively short reaction-time.

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are important oncology targets due to the dysregulation of this signaling pathway in a wide variety of human cancers. We identified a series of pyrazolylaminoquinazoline derivatives as potent FGFR inhibitors with low nanomolar potency. The representative compound 29 strongly inhibited FGFR1–3 kinase activity and suppressed FGFR signaling transduction in FGFR-addicted cancer cells; FGFRs-driven cell proliferation was also strongly inhibited regardless of mechanistic complexity implicated in FGFR activation, which further confirmed that 29 was a potent pan-FGFR inhibitor. The flexibility of our structure offered the potential to preserve good affinity for mutant FGFR, which is important for developing TKIs with long-term efficacy.

Since the PI3K signaling pathway is the most commonly activated in human cancers, inhibition of PI3K is a promising approach to cancer therapy. In this study, a series of 2-methyl-5-nitrobenzeneacylhydrazones were designed and synthesized. All the new derivatives were tested by p110α enzymatic and Rh30 cellular assays. Further enzyme selectivity profiling proved that 6e and 7 were potential selective PI3K inhibitors.In an effort to discover potent PI3K inhibitors, a series of acylhydrazone derivatives were designed and synthesized. The structural activity relationships led to identification of a potential selective PI3K inhibitor compound 7.

Inhibition of VEGFR-2 signaling pathway has already become one of the most promising approaches for the treatment of cancer. In this study, we describe the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of O-linked indoles as potent inhibitors of VEGFR-2. Among these compounds, 18 showed significant anti-angiogenesis activities via VEGFR-2 in enzymatic proliferation assays, with IC50 value of 3.8 nmol/L. Kinase selectivity profiling revealed that 18 was a multitargeted inhibitor, and it also exhibited good potency against VEGFR-1, PDGFR-α and β.In an effort to discover potent VEGFR-2 inhibitors, a series of 2,4 or 4,6-disubstituted O-linked indoles derivatives were designed and synthesized. The structural activity relationships led to identification of a potential VEGFR-2 inhibitor compound 18.

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) plays an important role in tumor angiogenesis, and inhibition of the VEGFR-2 signaling pathway has emerged as an attractive strategy for the treatment of cancer. Herein, we describe the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of anilinopyrimidine-based naphthamide derivatives as potent VEGFR-2 inhibitors. Among the new derivatives, compound 3k exhibited high VEGFR-2 inhibitory potency in both enzymatic and VEGF-induced HUVEC cellular proliferation assays (IC50 = 0.5 and 9.8 nM, respectively). Kinase selectivity profiling revealed that 3k was a highly selective VEGFR-2 inhibitor. Moreover, 3k effectively inhibited angiogenesis in HUVEC tube formationassay.

Inhibition of VEGFR-2 signaling pathway has already become one of the most promising approaches for the treatment of cancer. In this study, we describe the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a new series of naphthamides as potent inhibitors of VEGFR-2. Among these compounds, 14c exhibited high VEGFR-2 inhibitory potency in both enzymatic and HUVEC cellular proliferation assays, with IC50 values of 1.5 and 0.9 nM, respectively. Kinase selectivity profiling revealed that 14c was a multitargeted inhibitor, and it also exhibited good potency against VEGFR-1, PDGFR-β, and RET. Furthermore, 14c effectively blocked tube formation of HUVEC at nanomolar level. Overall, 14c might be a promising candidate for the treatment of cancer.Keywords: Angiogenesis; HUVEC; inhibitor; naphthamide; VEGFR-2;

Both c-Met and VEGFR-2 are important targets for cancer therapies. Here we report a series of potent dual c-Met and VEGFR-2 inhibitors bearing an anilinopyrimidine scaffold. Two novel synthetic protocols were employed for rapid analoguing of the designed molecules for structure–activity relationship (SAR) exploration. Some analogues displayed nanomolar potency against c-Met and VEGFR-2 at enzymatic level. Privileged compounds 3a, 3b, 3g, 3h, and 18a exhibited potent antiproliferative effect against c-Met addictive cell lines with IC50 values ranged from 0.33 to 1.7 μM. In addition, a cocrystal structure of c-Met in complex with 3h has been determined, which reveals the binding mode of c-Met to its inhibitor and helps to interpret the SAR of the analogues.Keywords: Anilinopyrimidine; c-Met; dual inhibitor; SAR; VEGFR-2

A cinchona alkaloid derived primary amine catalyzed conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to enones is described. The process affords the Michael adducts in good yield and with up to 99% ee for both acyclic and cyclic enones.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide