Discovery of Novel Heterotricyclic Compounds as DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase (DNA-PK) Inhibitors with Enhanced Chemosensitivity, Oral Bioavailability, and the Ability to Potentiate Cancer Immunotherapy

J Med Chem. 2024 Apr 25;67(8):6253-6267. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02231. Epub 2024 Apr 8.

Abstract

In this work, a novel series of heterotricyclic DNA-PK inhibitors were rationally designed, synthesized, and assessed for their biological activity. In the DNA-PK biochemical assay, most compounds displayed potent enzymatic activity, with IC50 values between 0.11 and 71.5 nM. Among them, SK10 exhibited the most potent DNA-PK-inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.11 nM). Studies of the mechanism of action indicated that SK10 could lower γH2A.X expression levels and demonstrate optimal synergistic antiproliferative activity against Jurkat cells (IC50 = 25 nM) when combined with doxorubicin. Importantly, in CT26 and B16-F10 tumor-bearing mouse models, the combination therapies of SK10 with chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin, a PD-L1 antibody, and SWS1 (a potent PD-L1 small-molecule inhibitor) demonstrated superior synergistic anticancer and potential immunomodulatory effects. Furthermore, SK10 possessed favorable in vivo pharmacokinetic properties [e.g., oral bioavailability (F) = 31.8%]. Taken together, SK10 represents a novel heterotricyclic DNA-PK inhibitor with antitumor immune effects and favorable pharmacokinetics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Biological Availability*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • DNA-Activated Protein Kinase* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DNA-Activated Protein Kinase* / metabolism
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Discovery
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / pharmacokinetics
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • DNA-Activated Protein Kinase
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Doxorubicin