The
estrogen receptor α (ERα) is identified as an effective
target for the treatment of ERα+ breast cancer; thus, discovery
of novel selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) are developed
as an effective method to overcome the resistance of breast cancer.
Herein, the hot-spot residues for protein–ligand interaction
between SERDs and ERα are analyzed by molecular dynamic simulation
technology, focusing on the hot-spot residues for four series of designed
and synthesized SERDs. SAR studies revealed that while the acrylic
acid moiety of AZD9496 is scaffold hopping into benzoic
acid, compound D24 exhibits potent binding affinity with
ERα, good degradation efficacy of ERα, and inhibitory
effect against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Besides, D24 also displays good antitumor efficacy in the MCF-7 human breast
cancer xenograft model in vivo, favorable pharmacokinetic properties,
excellent druggability, and good safety property, making D24 as a promising drug candidate of SERD for further evaluation.