Discovery of Potent and Novel Dual PARP/BRD4 Inhibitors for Efficient Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

J Med Chem. 2021 Dec 9;64(23):17413-17435. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01535. Epub 2021 Nov 23.

Abstract

Targeting poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase1/2 (PARP1/2) is a promising strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer with breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA) mutation. Inducing the deficiency of homologous recombination (HR) repair is an effective way to broaden the indication of PARP1/2 inhibitor for more patients with pancreatic cancer. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) repression has been reported to elevate HR deficiency. Therefore, we designed, synthetized, and optimized a dual PARP/BRD4 inhibitor III-16, with a completely new structure and high selectivity against PARP1/2 and BRD4. III-16 showed favorable synergistic antitumor efficacy in pancreatic cancer cells and xenografts by arresting cell cycle progression, inhibiting DNA damage repair, and promoting autophagy-associated cell death. Moreover, III-16 reversed Olaparib-induced acceleration of cell cycle progression and recovery of DNA repair. The advantages of III-16 over Olaparib suggest that dual PARP/BRD4 inhibitors are novel and promising agents for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Autophagy / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA Repair
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Genes, BRCA1
  • Humans
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Phthalazines / pharmacology
  • Phthalazines / therapeutic use*
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use*
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Rad51 Recombinase / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • BRD4 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Phthalazines
  • Piperazines
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors
  • RAD51 protein, human
  • Rad51 Recombinase
  • olaparib