A new avenue toward androgen receptor pan-antagonists: C2 sterically hindered substitution of hydroxy-propanamides

J Med Chem. 2014 Sep 11;57(17):7263-79. doi: 10.1021/jm5005122. Epub 2014 Aug 28.

Abstract

The androgen receptor (AR) represents the primary target for prostate cancer (PC) treatment even when the disease progresses toward androgen-independent (AIPC) or castration-resistant (CRPC) forms. Because small chemical changes in the structure of nonsteroidal AR ligands determine the pharmacological responses of AR, we developed a novel stereoselective synthetic strategy that allows sterically hindered C2-substituted bicalutamide analogues to be obtained. Biological and theoretical evaluations demonstrate that C2-substitution with benzyl and phenyl moieties is a new, valuable option toward improving pan-antagonist behavior. Among the synthesized compounds, (R)-16m, when compared to casodex, (R)-bicalutamide, and enzalutamide, displayed very promising in vitro activity toward five different prostate cancer cell lines, all representative of CPRC and AIPC typical mutations. Despite being less active than (R)-bicalutamide, (R)-16m also displayed marked in vivo antitumor activity on VCaP xenografts and thus it may serve as starting point for developing novel AR pan-antagonists.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / drug effects
  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists / chemical synthesis
  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists / chemistry*
  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Blotting, Western
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Models, Chemical
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Mutation
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Protein Conformation / drug effects
  • Receptors, Androgen / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Androgen / genetics
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • AR protein, human
  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists
  • Receptors, Androgen