Discovery of a Dual Tubulin and Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) Inhibitor with Potent In Vivo Anti-Tumor Activity via Pharmacophore-based Docking Screening, Structure Optimization, and Biological Evaluation

J Med Chem. 2023 Dec 14;66(23):16187-16200. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01572. Epub 2023 Nov 24.

Abstract

Dual inhibition of tubulin and neuropilin-1 (NRP1) may become an effective method for cancer treatment by simultaneously killing tumor cells and inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. Herein, we identified dual tubulin/NRP1-targeting inhibitor TN-2, which exhibited good inhibitory activity against both tubulin polymerization (IC50 = 0.71 ± 0.03 μM) and NRP1 (IC50 = 0.85 ± 0.04 μM). Importantly, it significantly inhibited the viability of several human prostate tumor cell lines. Further mechanism studies indicated that TN-2 could inhibit tubulin polymerization and cause G2/M arrest, thereby inducing cell apoptosis. It could also suppress cell tube formation, migration, and invasion. Moreover, TN-2 showed obvious antitumor effects on the PC-3 cell-derived xenograft model with negligible side effects and good pharmacokinetic profiles. These data demonstrate that TN-2 could be a promising dual-target chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints
  • Humans
  • Neuropilin-1
  • Pharmacophore
  • Polymerization
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tubulin Modulators / chemistry
  • Tubulin Modulators / pharmacology
  • Tubulin Modulators / therapeutic use
  • Tubulin* / metabolism

Substances

  • Tubulin
  • Neuropilin-1
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Tubulin Modulators