Design and synthesis of 5,6-fused heterocyclic amides as Raf kinase inhibitors (original) (raw)

Structure based design and syntheses of amino-1H-pyrazole amide derivatives as selective Raf kinase inhibitors in melanoma cells

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 2011

The synthesis of a novel series of N-(5-amino-1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl amide derivatives 6a-o, 7a-s and their antiproliferative activities against A375P melanoma cell line were described. Most compounds showed competitive antiproliferative activities to sorafenib, the reference standard. Among them, N-(5-amino-1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-5-(3-(4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) ureido)-2-methylbenzamide 7c exhibited potent activities (GI 50 = 0.27 lM). Especially, 7c was found to be a potent and selective B-Raf V600E and C-Raf inhibitor (IC 50 = 0.26 lM, IC 50 = 0.11 lM, respectively), showing a possibility as melanoma therapeutics.

Discovery of a selective inhibitor of oncogenic B-Raf kinase with potent antimelanoma activity

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2008

BRAF(V600E) is the most frequent oncogenic protein kinase mutation known. Furthermore, inhibitors targeting "active" protein kinases have demonstrated significant utility in the therapeutic repertoire against cancer. Therefore, we pursued the development of specific kinase inhibitors targeting B-Raf, and the V600E allele in particular. By using a structure-guided discovery approach, a potent and selective inhibitor of active B-Raf has been discovered. PLX4720, a 7-azaindole derivative that inhibits B-Raf(V600E) with an IC(50) of 13 nM, defines a class of kinase inhibitor with marked selectivity in both biochemical and cellular assays. PLX4720 preferentially inhibits the active B-Raf(V600E) kinase compared with a broad spectrum of other kinases, and potent cytotoxic effects are also exclusive to cells bearing the V600E allele. Consistent with the high degree of selectivity, ERK phosphorylation is potently inhibited by PLX4720 in B-Raf(V600E)-bearing tumor cell lines but not...

Highly potent and selective 3-N-methylquinazoline-4(3H)-one based inhibitors of B-RafV600E kinase

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2014

Herein we describe the design of a novel series of ATP competitive B-Raf inhibitors via structure-based methods. These 3-N-methylquinazoline-4(3H)-one based inhibitors exhibit both excellent cellular potency and striking B-Raf selectivity. Optimization led to the identification of compound 16, a potent, selective and orally available agent with excellent pharmacokinetic properties and robust tumor growth inhibition in xenograft studies. Our work also demonstrates that by replacing an aryl amide with an aryl sulfonamide, a multikinase inhibitor such as AZ-628, can be converted to a selective B-Raf inhibitor, a finding that should have broad application in kinase drug discovery.

Clinical efficacy of a RAF inhibitor needs broad target blockade in BRAF-mutant melanoma

Nature, 2010

B-RAF is the most frequently mutated protein kinase in human cancers. The finding that oncogenic mutations in BRAF are common in melanoma, followed by the demonstration that these tumours are dependent on the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, offered hope that inhibition of B-RAF kinase activity could benefit melanoma patients. Herein, we describe the structure-guided discovery of PLX4032 (RG7204), a potent inhibitor of oncogenic B-RAF kinase activity. Preclinical experiments demonstrated that PLX4032 selectively blocked the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in BRAF mutant cells and caused regression of BRAF mutant xenografts. Toxicology studies confirmed a wide safety margin consistent with the high degree of selectivity, enabling Phase 1 clinical trials using a crystalline formulation of PLX4032 (ref. 5). In a subset of melanoma patients, pathway inhibition was monitored in paired biopsy specimens collected before treatment initiation and following two weeks of treatment. This analysis revealed substantial inhibition of ERK phosphorylation, yet clinical evaluation did not show tumour regressions. At higher drug exposures afforded by a new amorphous drug formulation, greater than 80% inhibition of ERK phosphorylation in the tumours of patients correlated with clinical response. Indeed, the Phase 1 clinical data revealed a remarkably high 81% response rate in metastatic melanoma patients treated at an oral dose of 960mg twice daily. These data demonstrate that BRAF-mutant melanomas are highly dependent on B-RAF kinase activity.

Discovery of Dabrafenib: A Selective Inhibitor of Raf Kinases with Antitumor Activity against B-Raf-Driven Tumors

ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2013

Hyperactive signaling of the MAP kinase pathway resulting from the constitutively active B-Raf V600E mutated enzyme has been observed in a number of human tumors, including melanomas. Herein we report the discovery and biological evaluation of GSK2118436, a selective inhibitor of Raf kinases with potent in vitro activity in oncogenic B-Rafdriven melanoma and colorectal carcinoma cells and robust in vivo antitumor and pharmacodynamic activity in mouse models of B-Raf V600E human melanoma. GSK2118436 was identified as a development candidate, and early clinical results have shown significant activity in patients with B-Raf mutant melanoma.

Mechanism and consequences of RAF kinase activation by small-molecule inhibitors

British Journal of Cancer, 2014

Despite the clinical success of RAF inhibitors in BRAF-mutated melanomas, attempts to target RAF kinases in the context of RAS-driven or otherwise RAF wild-type tumours have not only been ineffective, but RAF inhibitors appear to aggravate tumorigenesis in these settings. Subsequent preclinical investigation has revealed several regulatory mechanisms, feedback pathways and unexpected enzymatic quirks in the MAPK pathway, which may explain this paradox. In this review, we cover the various proposed molecular mechanisms for the RAF paradox, the clinical consequences and strategies to overcome it.

Dual binding site inhibitors of B-RAF kinase

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2008

Computer aided modeling guided the design of a series of diarylimidazole compounds (11-22) intended to interact with both the ATP and adjacent allosteric binding domains of B-RAF kinase. Their ability to inhibit the function of B-RAF kinase and intracellular ERK1/2 phosphorylation were evaluated.