Discovery of BPR1R024, an Orally Active and Selective CSF1R Inhibitor that Exhibits Antitumor and Immunomodulatory Activity in a Murine Colon Tumor Model

J Med Chem. 2021 Oct 14;64(19):14477-14497. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01006. Epub 2021 Oct 4.

Abstract

Colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF1R) is implicated in tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) repolarization and has emerged as a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. Herein, we describe the discovery of orally active and selective CSF1R inhibitors by property-driven optimization of BPR1K871 (9), our clinical multitargeting kinase inhibitor. Molecular docking revealed an additional nonclassical hydrogen-bonding (NCHB) interaction between the unique 7-aminoquinazoline scaffold and the CSF1R hinge region, contributing to CSF1R potency enhancement. Structural studies of CSF1R and Aurora kinase B (AURB) demonstrated the differences in their back pockets, which inspired the use of a chain extension strategy to diminish the AURA/B activities. A lead compound BPR1R024 (12) exhibited potent CSF1R activity (IC50 = 0.53 nM) and specifically inhibited protumor M2-like macrophage survival with a minimal effect on antitumor M1-like macrophage growth. In vivo, oral administration of 12 mesylate delayed the MC38 murine colon tumor growth and reversed the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment with the increased M1/M2 ratio.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Immunomodulating Agents / administration & dosage
  • Immunomodulating Agents / chemistry
  • Immunomodulating Agents / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neoplasms, Experimental
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptor, Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Immunomodulating Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Receptor, Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor