7-(2-Anilinopyrimidin-4-yl)-1-benzazepin-2-ones Designed by a "Cut and Glue" Strategy Are Dual Aurora A/VEGF-R Kinase Inhibitors.

Although overexpression and hyperactivity of protein kinases are causative for a wide range of human cancers, protein kinase inhibitors currently approved as cancer drugs address only a limited number of these enzymes. To identify new chemotypes addressing alternative protein kinases, the basic structure of a known PLK1/VEGF-R2 inhibitor class was formally dissected and reassembled. The resulting 7-(2-anilinopyrimidin-4-yl)-1-benzazepin-2-ones were synthesized and proved to be dual inhibitors of Aurora A kinase and VEGF receptor kinases.

Novel SAR for quinazoline inhibitors of EHMT1 and EHMT2.

Detailed structure activity relationship of two series of quinazoline EHMT1/EHMT2 inhibitors (UNC0224 and UNC0638) have been elaborated. New and active alternatives are presented for the ubiquitous substitution patterns found in literature for the linker to the lysine mimicking region and the lysine mimic itself. These findings could allow for advancing EHMT1/EHMT2 inhibitors of that type beyond tool compounds by fine-tuning physicochemical properties making these inhibitors more drug-like.

Targeting hormone refractory prostate cancer by in vivo selected DNA libraries in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model.

The targeting of specific tissue is a major challenge for the effective use of therapeutics and agents mediating this targeting are strongly demanded. We report here on an in vivo selection technology that enables the de novo identification of pegylated DNA aptamers pursuing tissue sites harbouring a hormone refractory prostate tumour. To this end, two libraries, one of which bearing an 11 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG) modification, were used in an orthotopic xenograft prostate tumour mouse model for the selection process.

Hydrophobic Derivatives of Glycopeptide Antibiotics as Inhibitors of Protein Kinases.

As key regulators of cell signaling, protein kinases (PKs) are attractive targets for therapeutic intervention in a variety of diseases. Herein, we report for the first time the inhibitory activity of polycyclic peptides, particularly, derivatives of glycopeptide antibiotics teicoplanin and eremomycin, against a panel of 12 recombinant human protein kinases and two protein kinases (CK1 and CK2) isolated from rat liver. Several of the investigated compounds inhibited various PKs with IC values below 10 μM and caused >90% suppression of the enzyme activity at 10 µM concentration.

-Acetyl-3-aminopyrazoles block the non-canonical NF-kB cascade by selectively inhibiting NIK.

NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK), an oncogenic drug target that is associated with various cancers, is a central signalling component of the non-canonical pathway. A blind screening process, which established that amino pyrazole related scaffolds have an effect on IKKbeta, led to a optimization process that identified the aminopyrazole as a low μM selective NIK inhibitor. Compound effectively inhibited the NIK-dependent activation of the NF-κB pathway in tumour cells, confirming its selective inhibitory profile.

4-Hydroxy--[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1,2,5-thiadiazole-3-carboxamide: a novel inhibitor of the canonical NF-κB cascade.

The NF-κB signaling pathway is a validated oncological target. Here, we applied scaffold hopping to IMD-0354, a presumed IKKβ inhibitor, and identified 4-hydroxy--[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1,2,5-thiadiazole-3-carboxamide () as a nM-inhibitor of the NF-κB pathway. However, both and IMD-0354, being potent inhibitors of the canonical NF-κB pathway, were found to be inactive in human IKKβ enzyme assays.

Bioactive pyrrole alkaloids isolated from the Red Sea: marine sponge Stylissa carteri.

Fifteen pyrrole alkaloids were isolated from the Red Sea marine sponge Stylissa carteri and investigated for their biological activities. Four of them were dibrominated [(+) dibromophakelline, Z-3-bromohymenialdisine, (±) ageliferin and 3,4-dibromo-1H-pyrrole-2-carbamide], nine compounds were monobrominated [(-) clathramide C, agelongine, (+) manzacidin A, (-) 3-bromomanzacidin D, Z-spongiacidin D, Z-hymenialdisine, 2-debromostevensine, 2-bromoaldisine and 4-bromo-1H-pyrrole-2-carbamide)] and finally, two compounds were non-brominated derivatives viz., E-debromohymenialdisine and aldisine.

Scaffold hopping identifies 6,8-disubstituted purines as novel anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors.

Rearrangements of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) are associated with several cancer diseases. Due to resistance development against existing ALK-inhibitors, new, structurally unrelated inhibitors are required. By a scaffold hopping strategy, 6,8-disubstituted purines were designed as analogues of similar ALK-inhibiting thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines.

Cytotoxic effects of the anthraquinone derivatives 1'-deoxyrhodoptilometrin and (S)-(-)-rhodoptilometrin isolated from the marine echinoderm Comanthus sp.

We investigated cytotoxic effects of the anthraquinone derivatives 1'-deoxyrhodoptilometrin (SE11) and (S)-(-)-rhodoptilometrin (SE16) isolated from the marine echinoderm Comanthus sp. in two tumor cell lines (C6 glioma, Hct116 colon carcinoma). Both compounds showed cytotoxic effects, with SE11 [IC-value (MTT assay): 13.

Discovery of antitumor anthra[2,3-b]furan-3-carboxamides: Optimization of synthesis and evaluation of antitumor properties.

Anthraquinones and their analogues, in particular heteroarene-fused anthracendiones, are prospective scaffolds for new compounds with improved antitumor characteristics. We herein report the use of a 'scaffold hopping' approach for the replacement of the core structure in the previously discovered hit compound naphtho[2,3-f]indole-5,10-dione 2 with an alternative anthra[2,3-b]furan-5,10-dione scaffold. Among 13 newly synthesized derivatives the majority of 4,11-dihydroxy-2-methyl-5,10-dioxoanthra[2,3-b]furan-3-carboxamides demonstrated a high antiproliferative potency against a panel of wild type and drug resistant tumor cell lines, a property superior over the reference drug doxorubicin or lead naphtho[2,3-f]indole-5,10-dione 2.

Cell lines expressing recombinant transmembrane domain-activated receptor kinases as tools for drug discovery.

Many receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) represent bona fide drug targets in oncology. Effective compounds are available, but treatment invariably leads to resistance, often due to RTK mutations. The discovery of second-generation inhibitors requires cellular models of resistant RTKs.

Development of first lead structures for phosphoinositide 3-kinase-C2γ inhibitors.

The importance of complete elucidation of the biological functions of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) was realized years ago. They generate 3-phosphoinositides, which are known to function as important second messengers in many inter- and intracellular signaling pathways. However, the functional role of class II PI3Ks is still unclear.

Cytotoxic and protein kinase inhibiting nakijiquinones and nakijiquinols from the sponge Dactylospongia metachromia.

Chemical investigation of the sponge Dactylospongia metachromia afforded five new sesquiterpene aminoquinones (1-5), two new sesquiterpene benzoxazoles (6 and 7), the known analogue 18-hydroxy-5-epi-hyrtiophenol (8), and a known glycerolipid. The structures of all compounds were unambiguously elucidated by one- and two-dimensional NMR and by MS analyses, as well as by comparison with the literature. Compounds 1-5 showed potent cytotoxicity against the mouse lymphoma cell line L5178Y with IC50 values ranging from 1.

Novel 2-chloro-4-anilino-quinazoline derivatives as EGFR and VEGFR-2 dual inhibitors.

Novel 2-chloro-4-anilino-quinazolines designed as EGFR and VEGFR-2 dual inhibitors were synthesized and evaluated for inhibitory effects. EGFR and VEGFR-2 are validated targets in cancer therapy and combined inhibition might be synergistic for both antitumor activity and resistance prevention. The biological data obtained proved the potential of 2-chloro-4-anilino-quinazoline derivatives as EGFR and VEGFR-2 dual inhibitors, highlighting compound 8o, which was approximately 7-fold more potent on VEGFR-2 and approximately 11-fold more potent on EGFR compared to the prototype 7.

Compounds isolated from Psoralea corylifolia seeds inhibit protein kinase activity and induce apoptotic cell death in mammalian cells.

Objectives: Psoralea corylifolia is a plant widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, e.g. for its chemopreventive effect.

Trimeric hemibastadin congener from the marine sponge Ianthella basta.

The first naturally occurring trimeric hemibastadin congener, sesquibastadin 1 (1), and the previously reported bastadins 3, 6, 7, 11, and 16 (2-6) were isolated from the marine sponge Ianthella basta, collected in Indonesia. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR measurements and by HRMS. Among all the isolated compounds, the linear sesquibastadin 1 (1) and bastadin 3 (2) showed the strongest inhibition rates for at least 22 protein kinases (IC(50) = 0.

Assessing the target differentiation potential of imidazole-based protein kinase inhibitors.

A library of 484 imidazole-based candidate inhibitors was tested against 24 protein kinases. The resulting activity data have been systematically analyzed to search for compounds that effectively differentiate between kinases. Six imidazole derivatives with high kinase differentiation potential were identified.

2-Anilino-4-(benzimidazol-2-yl)pyrimidines--a multikinase inhibitor scaffold with antiproliferative activity toward cancer cell lines.

2-Anilino-4-(benzimidazol-2-yl)-pyrimidines, synthesized by reaction of a readily available benzimidazole-substituted enaminone with suitable arylguanidines, were shown to inhibit four cancer-related protein kinases (Aurora B, PLK1, FAK, and VEGF-R2). The most potent derivative exhibited antiproliferative activity for several cancer cell lines of the NCI in vitro cell line panel in submicromolar concentrations. Both the anilinopyrimidine structure and the substitution pattern at the aniline ring appear to be important for the protein kinase inhibitory activity.

Tri- and tetrasubstituted pyrazole derivates: regioisomerism switches activity from p38MAP kinase to important cancer kinases.

In the course of searching for new p38α MAP kinase inhibitors, we found that the regioisomeric switch from 3-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-(pyridin-4-yl)-1-(aryl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine to 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1-(aryl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine led to an almost complete loss of p38α inhibition, but they showed activity against important cancer kinases. Among the tested derivatives, 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine (6a) exhibited the best activity, with IC(50) in the nanomolar range against Src, B-Raf wt, B-Raf V600E, EGFRs, and VEGFR-2, making it a good lead for novel anticancer programs.

Generation of a conditionally transformed murine embryonic fibroblast cell line using doxycycline-dependent IGF-1R overexpression.

The insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF1-R) system has long been implicated in cancer and is a promising target for tumor therapy. Besides in vitro screening assays, the discovery of specific inhibitors against IGF-1R requires relevant cellular models, ideally applicable to both in vitro and in vivo studies. With this aim in mind, the authors generated an inducible cell line using the tetracycline-responsive gene expression system to mimic the effects of therapeutic inhibition of the IGF-1R both in vitro and on established tumors in vivo.

Arthrinins A-D: novel diterpenoids and further constituents from the sponge derived fungus Arthrinium sp.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of a methanolic extract of the fungus Arthrinium sp., isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Geodia cydonium, afforded 10 natural products including five new diterpenoids, arthrinins A-D (1-4) and myrocin D (5). In addition, five known compounds were obtained, which included myrocin A (6), norlichexanthone (7), anomalin A (8), decarboxycitrinone (9) and 2,5-dimethyl-7-hydroxychromone (10).

Dual IGF-1R/SRC inhibitors based on a N'-aroyl-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxoacetohydrazide structure.

The N'-aroyl-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxoacetohydrazide motif was identified as a novel scaffold for the development of kinase inhibitors. Derivatives with a biphenyl element attached to the hydrazide structure proved to be submicromolar dual inhibitors of the cancer-related kinases IGF-1R and SRC. One of the most potent kinase inhibitors of the series produced a selective growth inhibition in a panel of cultivated cancer cell lines.

A SUMOylation Motif in Aurora-A: Implications for Spindle Dynamics and Oncogenesis.

Aurora-A is a serine/threonine kinase that plays critical roles in centrosome maturation, spindle dynamics, and chromosome orientation and it is frequently over-expressed in human cancers. In this work, we show that Aurora-A interacts with the SUMO-conjugating enzyme UBC9 and co-localizes with SUMO1 in mitotic cells. Aurora-A can be SUMOylated in vitro and in vivo.

Identification of 2-anilino-9-methoxy-5,7-dihydro-6H-pyrimido[5,4-d][1]benzazepin-6-ones as dual PLK1/VEGF-R2 kinase inhibitor chemotypes by structure-based lead generation.

To develop multikinase inhibitors with dual PLK1/VEGF-R2 inhibitory activity, the d-annulated 1-benzazepin-2-one scaffold present in the paullone family of kinase inhibitors was investigated as a general structure template suitable for anchoring annulated heterocycles at the hinge region of the ATP binding site. For this purpose, the indole substructure of the paullones was replaced by other nitrogen containing heteroaromatics. The designed scaffolds were synthesized and tested on the indicated kinases.