Application of small molecule FPR1 antagonists in the treatment of cancers.

The formylpeptide receptor-1 (FPR1) is a member of the chemotactic GPCR-7TM formyl peptide receptor family, whose principle function is in trafficking of various leukocytes into sites of bacterial infection and inflammation. More recently, FPR1 has been shown to be expressed in different types of cancer and in this context, plays a significant role in their expansion, resistance and recurrence. ICT12035 is a selective and potent (30 nM in calcium mobilisation assay) small molecule FPR1 antagonist.

Hypoxia modulates CCR7 expression in head and neck cancers.

Background: The chemokine receptor CCR7 is expressed on lymphocytes and dendritic cells and is responsible for trafficking of these cells in and out of secondary lymphoid organs. It has recently been shown that CCR7 expression is elevated in a number of cancers, including head and neck cancers, and that its expression correlates to lymph node (LN) metastasis. However, little is known about the factors that can induce CCR7 expression in head and neck cancers.

Agarose Spot as a Comparative Method for in situ Analysis of Simultaneous Chemotactic Responses to Multiple Chemokines.

We describe a novel protocol to quantitatively and simultaneously compare the chemotactic responses of cells towards different chemokines. In this protocol, droplets of agarose gel containing different chemokines are applied onto the surface of a Petri dish, and then immersed under culture medium in which cells are suspended. As chemokine molecules diffuse away from the spot, a transient chemoattractant gradient is established across the spots.

Study of the Chemotactic Response of Multicellular Spheroids in a Microfluidic Device.

We report the first application of a microfluidic device to observe chemotactic migration in multicellular spheroids. A microfluidic device was designed comprising a central microchamber and two lateral channels through which reagents can be introduced. Multicellular spheroids were embedded in collagen and introduced to the microchamber.

Synthesis of a pseudo-disaccharide library and its application to the characterisation of the heparanase catalytic site.

A novel methodology is described for the efficient and divergent synthesis of pseudodisaccharides, molecules comprising of amino carbasugar analogues linked to natural sugars. The methodology is general and enables the introduction of diversity both at the carbasugar and the natural sugar components of the pseudodisaccharides. Using this approach, a series of pseudodisaccharides are synthesised that mimic the repeating backbone unit of heparan sulfate, and are tested for inhibition of heparanase, a disease-relevant enzyme that hydrolyses heparan sulfate.

Discovery and computer aided potency optimization of a novel class of small molecule CXCR4 antagonists.

Amongst the chemokine signalling axes involved in cancer, chemokine CXCL12 acting on chemokine receptor CXCR4 is particularly significant since it orchestrates migration of cancer cells in a tissue-specific metastatic process. High CXCR4 tumour expression is associated with poor prognosis of lung, brain, CNS, blood and breast cancers. We have identified a new class of small molecule CXCR4 antagonists based on the use of computational modelling studies in concert with experimental determination of in vitro activity against CXCL12-induced intracellular calcium mobilisation, proliferation and chemotaxis.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of colchicine B-ring analogues tethered with halogenated benzyl moieties.

Deacetylcolchicine was reacted with substituted benzyl halides to provide a library of compounds for biological analysis. Compound 7 (3,4-difluorobenzyl-N-aminocolchicine) was shown to possess cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines in the low nanomolar range. Significantly, it showed no loss of activity in the resistant A2780AD ovarian carcinoma cell line known to overexpress the ABCB1 drug transporter and was also unaffected by overexpression of class III β-tubulin in HeLa transfected cells.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of colchicine C-ring analogues tethered with aliphatic linkers suitable for prodrug derivatisation.

Colchicine was modified at the 10-OCH(3) position of the C-ring by reaction with heterocyclic amines or commercially available amines to afford a library of target colchicinoids in high yields (62-99%). Molecular modeling revealed that the incorporation of the linker groups led to a reduction in entropy and therefore binding affinity when compared with colchicine. Some colchicinoids were shown to be equicytotoxic with colchicine when evaluated in the DLD-1 colon cancer cells and retained activity in resistant A2780AD or HeLa cells with mutant Class III β-tubulin.

The emerging role of CXC chemokines and their receptors in cancer.

Chemokines and their receptors have a multifaceted role in tumor biology and are implicated in nearly all aspects of cancer growth, survival and dissemination. Modulation of the interaction between chemokines and their cell surface receptor is, therefore, a promising area for the development of new cancer medicines. In this review, we look at the compelling evidence that is emerging to support targeting CXC chemokines, also known as family α chemokines, as novel therapeutic strategies in the treatment of cancer.

A beginner's guide to chemokines.

This review provides an overview of chemokines and their receptors, with an emphasis on general features and nomenclature along with a short summary of their properties and functions. It is intended as an introduction to the subject and a reference point for those wishing to learn key facts about chemokines and their role in biology.

Enantioselective synthesis of tetrafluorinated ribose and fructose.

A perfluoroalkylidene lithium mediated cyclisation approach for the enantioselective synthesis of a tetrafluorinated aldose (ribose) and of a tetrafluorinated ketose (fructose), both in the furanose and in the pyranose form, is described.

Oxazolidinones as novel human CCR8 antagonists.

High-throughput screening of the corporate compound collection led to the discovery of a novel series of N-substituted-5-aryl-oxazolidinones as potent human CCR8 antagonists. The synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and optimization of the series that led to the identification of SB-649701 (1a), are described.

Dissociated nonsteroidal glucocorticoid receptor modulators; discovery of the agonist trigger in a tetrahydronaphthalene-benzoxazine series.

The tetrahydronaphthalene-benzoxazine glucocorticoid receptor (GR) partial agonist 4b was optimized to produce potent full agonists of GR. Aromatic ring substitution of the tetrahydronaphthalene leads to weak GR antagonists. Discovery of an "agonist trigger" substituent on the saturated ring of the tetrahydronaphthalene leads to increased potency and efficacious GR agonism.

Asymmetric allylic substitution catalyzed by C1-symmetrical complexes of molybdenum: structural requirements of the ligand and the stereochemical course of the reaction.

Application of new chiral ligands (R)-(-)-12 a and (S)-(+)-12 c (VALDY), derived from amino acids, to the title reaction, involving cinnamyl (linear) and isocinnamyl (branched) type substrates (4 and 5 --> 6), led to excellent regio- and enantioselectivities (>30:1, < or =98 % ee), showing that ligands with a single chiral center are capable of high asymmetric induction. The structural requirements of the ligand and the mechanism are discussed. The application of single enantiomers of deuterium-labeled substrates (both linear 38 c and branched 37 c) and analysis of the products (41-43) by (2)H{(1)H} NMR spectroscopy in a chiral liquid crystal matrix allowed the stereochemical pathways of the reaction to be distinguished.

Conformational arm-wrestling: battles for stereochemical control in benzamides bearing matched and mismatched chiral 2- and 6-substituents.

The orientation of a tertiary amide group adjacent to an aromatic ring may be governed by the stereochemistry of an adjacent chiral substituent. With a chiral substituent in both ortho positions, matched/mismatched pairs of isomers result. Evidence for matched stereochemistry is provided by the clean NMR spectra of single conformers, while mismatching gives poor or unexpected selectivities in the formation of chiral substituents, or mixtures of amide conformers.

Design and synthesis of new nonsteroidal glucocorticoid modulators through application of an "agreement docking" method.

Structurally related glucocorticoid receptor (GR) binders were docked into the GR active site to select the binding mode closest to the true docking mode. This process, termed an "agreement docking method", led to the design of tetrahydronaphthalene 9. The method was validated by the syntheses of 9 and related analogues, which are potent binders of GR.