Thioimidazoline based compounds reverse glucocorticoid resistance in human acute lymphoblastic leukemia xenografts

Org Biomol Chem. 2015 Jun 14;13(22):6299-312. doi: 10.1039/c5ob00779h.

Abstract

Glucocorticoids form a critical component of chemotherapy regimens for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and the initial response to glucocorticoid therapy is a major prognostic factor, where resistance is predictive of poor outcome. A high-throughput screen identified four thioimidazoline-containing compounds that reversed dexamethasone resistance in an ALL xenograft derived from a chemoresistant pediatric ALL. The lead compound (1) was synergistic when used in combination with the glucocorticoids, dexamethasone or prednisolone. Synergy was observed in a range of dexamethasone-resistant xenografts representative of B-cell precursor ALL (BCP-ALL) and T-cell ALL. We describe here the synthesis of twenty compounds and biological evaluation of thirty two molecules that explore the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of this novel class of glucocorticoid sensitizing compounds. SAR analysis has identified that the most effective dexamethasone sensitizers contain a thioimidazoline acetamide substructure with a large hydrophobic moiety on the acetamide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology*
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Glucocorticoids / chemistry
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology*
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / chemical synthesis
  • Imidazoles / chemistry
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemistry
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Imidazoles
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds