Development of Alkyne-Containing Pyrazolopyrimidines To Overcome Drug Resistance of Bcr-Abl Kinase

J Med Chem. 2015 Dec 10;58(23):9228-37. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01125. Epub 2015 Nov 20.

Abstract

Despite the success of imatinib at inhibiting Bcr-Abl and treating chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), resistance to the therapy occurs over time in patients. In particular, the resistance to imatinib caused by the gatekeeper mutation T315I in Bcr-Abl remains a challenge in the clinic. Inspired by the successful development of ponatinib to curb drug resistance, we hypothesize that the incorporation of an alkyne linker in other heterocyclic scaffolds can also achieve potent inhibition of Bcr-Abl(T315I) by allowing for simultaneous occupancy of both the active site and the allosteric pocket in the Abl kinase domain. Herein, we describe the design, synthesis, and characterization of a series of alkyne-containing pyrazolopyrimidines as Bcr-Abl inhibitors. Our results demonstrate that some alkyne-containing pyrazolopyrimidines potently inhibit not only Abl(T315I) in vitro but also Bcr-Abl(T315I) in cells. These pyrazolopyrimidines can serve as lead compounds for future development of novel targeted therapy to overcome drug resistance of CML.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alkynes / chemistry
  • Alkynes / pharmacokinetics
  • Alkynes / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / chemistry
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / drug therapy
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / enzymology
  • Male
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Pyrazoles / chemistry
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacokinetics
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology*
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacokinetics
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Alkynes
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl