Discovery of a Novel BCL-XL PROTAC Degrader with Enhanced BCL-2 Inhibition

J Med Chem. 2021 Oct 14;64(19):14230-14246. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00517. Epub 2021 Sep 17.

Abstract

BCL-XL and BCL-2 are important targets for cancer treatment. BCL-XL specific proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have been developed to circumvent the on-target platelet toxicity associated with BCL-XL inhibition. However, they have minimal effects on cancer cells that are dependent on BCL-2 or both BCL-XL and BCL-2. Here we report a new series of BCL-PROTACs. The lead PZ703b exhibits high potency in inducing BCL-XL degradation and in inhibiting but not degrading BCL-2, showing a hybrid dual-targeting mechanism of action that is unprecedented in a PROTAC molecule. As a result, PZ703b is highly potent in killing BCL-XL dependent, BCL-2 dependent, and BCL-XL/BCL-2 dual-dependent cells in an E3 ligase (VHL)-dependent fashion. We further found that PZ703b forms stable {BCL-2:PROTAC:VCB} ternary complexes in live cells that likely contribute to the enhanced BCL-2 inhibition by PZ703b. With further optimization, analogues of PZ703b could potentially be developed as effective antitumor agents by co-targeting BCL-XL and BCL-2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Proteolysis / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • bcl-X Protein / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • bcl-X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • BCL2 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • bcl-X Protein