Discovery of Thieno[2,3- d]pyrimidine-Based Hydroxamic Acid Derivatives as Bromodomain-Containing Protein 4/Histone Deacetylase Dual Inhibitors Induce Autophagic Cell Death in Colorectal Carcinoma Cells

J Med Chem. 2020 Apr 9;63(7):3678-3700. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b02178. Epub 2020 Mar 18.

Abstract

Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) and histone deacetylases (HDAC) are both attractive epigenetic targets in cancer and other chronic diseases. Based on the integrated fragment-based drug design, synthesis, and in vitro and in vivo evaluations, a series of novel thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-based hydroxamic acid derivatives are discovered as selective BRD4-HDAC dual inhibitors. Compound 17c is the most potent inhibitor for BRD4 and HDAC with IC50 values at nanomolar levels, as well as the expression level of c-Myc, and increases the acetylation of histone H3. Moreover, 17c presents inhibitory effects on the proliferation of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells via inducing autophagic cell death. It also has a good pharmacokinetic profile in rats and oral bioavailability of 40.5%. In the HCT-116 xenograft in vivo models, 17c displays potent inhibitory efficiency on tumor growth by inducing autophagic cell death and suppressing IL6-JAK-STAT signaling pathways. Our results suggest that the BRD4-HDAC dual inhibition might be an attractive therapeutic strategy for CRC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Autophagy / drug effects*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Female
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Histone Deacetylases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydroxamic Acids / chemical synthesis
  • Hydroxamic Acids / metabolism
  • Hydroxamic Acids / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pyrimidines / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrimidines / metabolism
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Thiophenes / chemical synthesis
  • Thiophenes / metabolism
  • Thiophenes / therapeutic use
  • Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • BRD4 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Hydroxamic Acids
  • Pyrimidines
  • Thiophenes
  • Transcription Factors
  • Histone Deacetylases