Discovery of Potent and Orally Effective Dual Janus Kinase 2/FLT3 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

J Med Chem. 2019 Nov 27;62(22):10305-10320. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01348. Epub 2019 Nov 8.

Abstract

Herein, we describe the design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of a series of unique 4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-pyrimidin-2-amine derivatives that selectively inhibit Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and FLT3 kinases. These screening cascades revealed that 18e was a preferred compound, with IC50 values of 0.7 and 4 nM for JAK2 and FLT3, respectively. Moreover, 18e was a potent JAK2 inhibitor with 37-fold and 56-fold selectivity over JAK1 and JAK3, respectively, and possessed an excellent selectivity profile over the other 100 representative kinases. In a series of cytokine-stimulated cell-based assays, 18e exhibited a higher JAK2 selectivity over other JAK isoforms. The oral administration of 60 mg/kg of 18e could significantly inhibit tumor growth, with a tumor growth inhibition rate of 93 and 85% in MV4-11 and SET-2 xenograft models, respectively. Additionally, 18e showed an excellent bioavailability (F = 58%), a suitable half-life time (T1/2 = 4.1 h), a satisfactory metabolic stability, and a weak CYP3A4 inhibitory activity, suggesting that 18e might be a potential drug candidate for JAK2-driven myeloproliferative neoplasms and FLT3-internal tandem duplication-driven acute myelogenous leukemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biological Availability
  • Dogs
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Janus Kinase 2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Janus Kinase 2 / chemistry
  • Janus Kinase 2 / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice, SCID
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / drug therapy
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / chemistry
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • FLT3 protein, human
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3
  • JAK2 protein, human
  • Janus Kinase 2