4-(((4-Iodophenyl)methyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-ylamino)-benzonitrile: A Potential Imaging Agent for Aromatase

J Med Chem. 2016 Oct 27;59(20):9370-9380. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00849. Epub 2016 Oct 11.

Abstract

Aromatase (CYP19) is a rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes the biosynthesis of estrogens. Imaging agents based on aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have been developed for a PET/SPECT study. A series of compounds was synthesized based on YM511, which has previously been used for breast cancer treatment. Two examples of these derivatives, 4-(((4-iodophenyl)methyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl-amino)-benzonitrile (5) and 4-((1H-imidazol-1-yl)(4-iodobenzyl)amino)benzonitrile (11), displayed potent binding affinities to human aromatase (IC50 = 0.17 and 0.04 nM, respectively). Biodistribution and autoradiographic studies revealed that [125I]5 and [125I]11 were highly accumulated in the stomach (16.21 and 10.88% dose/g, respectively) and ovaries (8.56 and 3.32% dose/g, respectively) of female rats. Log P of [125I]5 was 2.49, meaning good brain penetration. Autoradiograms of brain sections showed a high uptake in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and amygdala. These results suggest that [125I]5 and [125I]11 are potent probes for aromatase imaging in both the brain and peripheral organs.

MeSH terms

  • Aniline Compounds / analysis*
  • Aniline Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Aniline Compounds / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Aromatase / analysis*
  • Aromatase / chemistry
  • Aromatase / metabolism
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / analysis*
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Triazoles / analysis*
  • Triazoles / chemical synthesis
  • Triazoles / chemistry

Substances

  • 4-(((4-iodophenyl)methyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-ylamino)benzonitrile
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Aromatase Inhibitors
  • Triazoles
  • Aromatase
  • CYP19A1 protein, human