Synthesis, SAR and biological evaluation of 1,6-disubstituted-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines as dual inhibitors of Aurora kinases and CDK1

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2012 Mar 1;22(5):2070-4. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2012.01.019. Epub 2012 Jan 18.

Abstract

Since the early 2000s, the Aurora kinases have become major targets of oncology drug discovery particularly Aurora-A and Aurora-B kinases (AKA/AKB) for which the selective inhibition in cells lead to different phenotypes. In addition to targeting these Aurora kinases involved in mitosis, CDK1 has been added as a primary inhibition target in hopes of enhancing the cytotoxicity of our chemotypes harboring the pyrazolopyrimidine core. SAR optimization of this series using the AKA, AKB and CDK1 biochemical assays led to the discovery of the compound 7h which combines strong potency against the 3 kinases with an acceptable microsomal stability. Finally, switching from a primary amide to a two-substituted pyrrolidine amide gave rise to compound 15a which exhibited the desired AKA/CDK1 inhibition phenotype in cells but showed moderate activity in animal models using HCT116 tumor cell lines.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Aurora Kinase A
  • Aurora Kinase B
  • Aurora Kinases
  • CDC2 Protein Kinase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • CDC2 Protein Kinase / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Colon / drug effects
  • Colon / pathology
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Pyrazoles / chemistry
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacokinetics
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacokinetics
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • AURKB protein, human
  • Aurka protein, mouse
  • Aurka protein, rat
  • Aurkb protein, mouse
  • Aurkb protein, rat
  • Aurora Kinase A
  • Aurora Kinase B
  • Aurora Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • CDC2 Protein Kinase