Design, Synthesis, and Structure-Activity Relationship Optimization of Pyrazolopyrimidine Amide Inhibitors of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase γ (PI3Kγ)

J Med Chem. 2022 Jan 27;65(2):1418-1444. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01153. Epub 2021 Oct 21.

Abstract

Phosphoinositide-3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ) is highly expressed in immune cells and promotes the production and migration of inflammatory mediators. The inhibition of PI3Kγ has been shown to repolarize the tumor immune microenvironment to a more inflammatory phenotype, thereby controlling immune suppression in cancer. Herein, we report the structure-based optimization of an early lead series of pyrazolopyrimidine isoindolinones, which culminated in the discovery of highly potent and isoform-selective PI3Kγ inhibitors with favorable drug-like properties. X-ray cocrystal structure analysis, molecular docking studies, and detailed structure-activity relationship investigations resulted in the identification of the optimal amide and isoindolinone substituents to achieve a desirable combination of potency, selectivity, and metabolic stability. Preliminary in vitro studies indicate that inhibition of PI3Kγ with compound 56 results in a significant immune response by increasing pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression in M1 macrophages.

MeSH terms

  • Amides / chemistry*
  • Animals
  • Class Ib Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / chemistry*
  • Drug Design*
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Amides
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Class Ib Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase
  • PIK3CG protein, human
  • pyrimidine