Oncogenic mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1/2) occur in several types of cancer, but the metabolic consequences of these genetic changes are not fully understood. In this study, we performed 13C metabolic flux analysis on a panel of isogenic cell lines containing heterozygous IDH1/2 mutations. We observed that under hypoxic conditions, IDH1-mutant cells exhibited increased oxidative tricarboxylic acid metabolism along with decreased reductive glutamine metabolism, but not IDH2-mutant cells. However, selective inhibition of mutant IDH1 enzyme function could not reverse the defect in reductive carboxylation activity. Furthermore, this metabolic reprogramming increased the sensitivity of IDH1-mutant cells to hypoxia or electron transport chain inhibition in vitro. Lastly, IDH1-mutant cells also grew poorly as subcutaneous xenografts within a hypoxic in vivo microenvironment. Together, our results suggest therapeutic opportunities to exploit the metabolic vulnerabilities specific to IDH1 mutation.

Smac mimetic compounds targeting the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP) baculoviral IAP repeat-3 domain are presumed to reduce the threshold for apoptotic cell death by alleviating caspase-9 repression. We explored this tenet in an unbiased manner by searching for small interfering RNAs that are able to confer resistance to the Smac mimetic compound LBW242. Among the screening hits were multiple components of the tumor necrosis factor A (TNFA) signaling pathway as well as X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) itself. Here, we show that in a subset of highly sensitive tumor cell lines, activity of LBW242 is dependent on TNFA signaling. Mechanistic studies indicate that in this context, XIAP is a positive modulator of TNFA induction whereas cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1 negatively regulates TNFA-mediated apoptosis.

SHP2 is a nonreceptor protein tyrosine phosphatase encoded by the PTPN11 gene and is involved in cell growth and differentiation via the MAPK signaling pathway. SHP2 also plays an important role in the programed cell death pathway (PD-1/PD-L1). As an oncoprotein as well as a potential immunomodulator, controlling SHP2 activity is of high therapeutic interest. As part of our comprehensive program targeting SHP2, we identified multiple allosteric binding modes of inhibition and optimized numerous chemical scaffolds in parallel. In this drug annotation report, we detail the identification and optimization of the pyrazine class of allosteric SHP2 inhibitors. Structure and property based drug design enabled the identification of protein–ligand interactions, potent cellular inhibition, control of physicochemical, pharmaceutical and selectivity properties, and potent in vivo antitumor activity. These studies culminated in the discovery of TNO155, (3S,4S)-8-(6-amino-5-((2-amino-3-chloropyridin-4-yl)­thio)­pyrazin-2-yl)-3-methyl-2-oxa-8-azaspiro­[4.5]­decan-4-amine (1), a highly potent, selective, orally efficacious, and first-in-class SHP2 inhibitor currently in clinical trials for cancer.

Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) such as XIAP subvert apoptosis by binding and inhibiting caspases. Because occupation of the XIAP BIR3 peptide binding pocket by Smac abolishes the XIAP-caspase 9 interaction, it is a proapoptotic event of great therapeutic interest. An assay for pocket binding was developed based on the displacement of Smac 7-mer from BIR3. Through the physical and biochemical analysis of a variety of peptides, we have determined the minimum sequence required for inhibition of the Smac-BIR3 interaction and detailed the dimensions and topology of the BIR3 peptide binding pocket. This work describes the structure-activity relationship (SAR) for peptide inhibitors of Smac-IAP binding.

Drug resistance is a growing concern with clinical use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Utilizing in vitro models of intrinsic drug resistance and stromal-mediated chemoresistance, as well as functional mouse models of progressive and residual disease, we attempted to develop a potential therapeutic approach designed to suppress leukemia recurrence following treatment with selective kinase inhibitors. The novel IAP inhibitor, LCL161, was observed to potentiate the effects of tyrosine kinase inhibition against leukemic disease both in the absence and presence of a stromal protected environment. LCL161 enhanced the proapoptotic effects of nilotinib and PKC412, respectively, against leukemic disease in vitro and potentiated the activity of both kinase inhibitors against leukemic disease in vivo. In addition, LCL161 synergized in vivo with nilotinib to reduce leukemia burden significantly below the baseline level suppression exhibited by a moderate-to-high dose of nilotinib. Finally, LCL161 displayed antiproliferative effects against cells characterized by intrinsic resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors as a result of expression of point mutations in the protein targets of drug inhibition. These results support the idea of using IAP inhibitors in conjunction with targeted tyrosine kinase inhibition to override drug resistance and suppress or eradicate residual disease.

1-(Benzenesulfonyl-diazoacetyl)-pyrrolidin-2-one was prepared by a diazo transfer of 1-(benzenesulfonylacetyl)-pyrrolidin-2-one with p-acetamidobenzenesulfonyl azide and triethylamine. Treatment of the diazoimide with a catalytic quantity of rhodium(II) acetate resulted in the formation of an isomünchnone dipole, which underwent bimolecular trapping with various dipolarophiles in high yield. The initially formed cycloadducts were not isolable or observed, as they all readily underwent ring opening to give the 3-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridone ring system. The 3-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridones were readily converted to the corresponding triflates, which function as suitable substrates in various types of palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Commercial tetrakis(triphenylphoshine)palladium was found to be a particularly effective catalyst for the cross-coupling with aryl, vinyl, and acetylenic partners. An application of the method to the synthesis of the indolizidine alkaloid (±)-ipalbidine was carried out in eight steps in 17% overall yield. The angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (−)-A58365A was also synthesized by a process based on the [3 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction of a phenylsulfonyl substituted isomünchnone intermediate. The starting material for this process was prepared from l-pyroglutamic acid and involved using a diazo phenylsulfonyl substituted pyrrolidine imide. Treatment of the diazoimide with Rh2(OAc)4 in the presence of methyl vinyl ketone afforded a 3-hydroxy-2-pyridone derivative, which was subsequently converted to the ACE inhibitor in six additional steps.

A convenient synthesis of various substituted hexahydroindolinones has been achieved by an intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition (IMDAF) reaction of 2-amido substituted furans. The initially formed [4 + 2] cycloadduct undergoes nitrogen-assisted ring opening followed by deprotonation of the resulting zwitterion to give the rearranged ketone. The stereochemical outcome of the IMDAF cycloaddition has the sidearm of the tethered alkenyl group oriented syn with respect to the oxygen bridge. The reaction rate and product yield were found to be markedly dependent upon the electronic properties of the alkenyl pi-bond. 2-[2-(tert-Butoxycarbonylfuran-2-yl-amino)ethyl]acrylic acid methyl ester was synthesized from 3-chlorocarbonyl-but-3-enoic acid methyl ester. Thermolysis of the carbomethoxy activated furanamide occurred at 80 degrees C to produce a rearranged hexahydroindolinone. When Me(3)Al or (MeO)(3)Al was used as a Lewis acid to promote the cycloaddition, a rearranged alcohol was obtained. The initially formed [4 + 2] cycloadduct undergoes ring opening in the presence of the Lewis acid, and the resulting aluminum intermediate delivers the substituent group from the same face as the neighboring oxygen to ultimately furnish a rearranged cis-alcohol. In contrast to this result, a mixture of diastereomeric methoxy alcohols was isolated when the IMDAF cycloaddition was carried out in methanol. The major isomer corresponds to the trans-diastereomer that results from trapping of the iminium ion from the less crowded face of the pi-bond.

MELK kinase has been implicated in playing an important role in tumorigenesis. Our previous studies suggested that MELK is involved in the regulation of cell cycle and its genetic depletion leads to growth inhibition in a subset of high MELK-expressing basal-like breast cancer cell lines. Herein we describe the discovery and optimization of novel MELK inhibitors 8a and 8b that recapitulate the cellular effects observed by short hairpin ribonucleic acid (shRNA)-mediated MELK knockdown in cellular models. We also discovered a novel fluorine-induced hydrophobic collapse that locked the ligand in its bioactive conformation and led to a 20-fold gain in potency. These novel pharmacological inhibitors achieved high exposure in vivo and were well tolerated, which may allow further in vivo evaluation.