Structure-based design of potent aromatase inhibitors by high-throughput docking

J Med Chem. 2011 Jun 23;54(12):4006-17. doi: 10.1021/jm2000689. Epub 2011 May 23.

Abstract

Cytochrome P450 aromatase catalyzes the conversion of androgen substrates into estrogens. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have been used as first-line drugs in the treatment of estrogen-dependent breast cancer in postmenopausal women. However, the search for new, more potent, and selective AIs still remains necessary to avoid the risk of possible resistances and reduce toxicity and side effects of current available drugs. The publication of a high resolution X-ray structure of human aromatase has opened the way to structure-based virtual screening to identify new small-molecule inhibitors with structural motifs different from all known AIs. In this context, a high-throughput docking protocol was set up and led to the identification of nanomolar AIs with new core structures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aromatase / chemistry*
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Binding Sites
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Drug Design
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / chemistry
  • Imidazoles / metabolism
  • Ligands
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Permeability
  • Protein Binding
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Triazoles / chemistry
  • Triazoles / metabolism

Substances

  • Aromatase Inhibitors
  • Imidazoles
  • Ligands
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Triazoles
  • Aromatase