New Generation of Selective Androgen Receptor Degraders: Our Initial Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of New Compounds with Enzalutamide-Resistant Prostate Cancer Activity

J Med Chem. 2019 Jan 24;62(2):491-511. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00973. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Abstract

In our effort to find small-molecule treatments of advanced prostate cancers (PCs), a novel series of indolyl and indolinyl propanamides (series II and III) were discovered as selective androgen receptor degraders (SARDs). Initial studies of androgen receptor (AR) antagonist (1) and agonist (2) propanamides yielded a tertiary aniline (3) with novel SARD activity but poor metabolic stability. Cyclization to II and III produced submicromolar AR antagonism and protein degradation selective to AR and AR splice variant (AR SV). II and III maintained potency against enzalutamide-resistant (Enz-R) mutant ARs and PC cells and were efficacious in Enz-R xenografts, suggesting their potential to treat advanced PCs. Design, synthesis, and biological activity of novel SARDs that could potentially be used for the treatment of a wide spectrum of PCs including castration-resistant, Enz-R, and/or AR SV-dependent advanced PCs that are often untreatable with known hormone therapies are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amides / chemistry*
  • Amides / pharmacology
  • Amides / therapeutic use
  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists / chemistry
  • Androgens / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Benzamides
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Design*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm* / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Nitriles
  • Phenylthiohydantoin / analogs & derivatives
  • Phenylthiohydantoin / pharmacology
  • Phenylthiohydantoin / therapeutic use
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Proteolysis
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Amides
  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists
  • Androgens
  • Benzamides
  • Indoles
  • Nitriles
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Phenylthiohydantoin
  • enzalutamide