The discovery of Polo-like kinase 4 inhibitors: design and optimization of spiro[cyclopropane-1,3'[3H]indol]-2'(1'H).ones as orally bioavailable antitumor agents

J Med Chem. 2015 Jan 8;58(1):130-46. doi: 10.1021/jm5005336. Epub 2014 Jun 24.

Abstract

Polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4), a unique member of the polo-like kinase family of serine-threonine kinases, is a master regulator of centriole duplication that is important for maintaining genome integrity. Overexpression of PLK4 is found in several human cancers and is linked with a predisposition to tumorigenesis. Previous efforts to identify potent and efficacious PLK4 inhibitors resulted in the discovery of (E)-3-((1H-indazol-6-yl)methylene)indolin-2-ones, which are superseded by the bioisosteric 2-(1H-indazol-6-yl)spiro[cyclopropane-1,3′-indolin]-2′-ones reported herein. Optimization of this new cyclopropane-linked series was based on a computational model of a PLK4 X-ray structure and SAR attained from the analogous alkenelinked series. The racemic cyclopropane-linked compounds showed PLK4 affinity and antiproliferative activity comparable to their alkene-linked congeners with improved hysicochemical, ADME, and pharmacokinetic properties. Positive xenograft results from the MDA-MB-468 human breast cancer xenograft model for compound 18 support the investigation of PLK4 inhibitors as anticancer therapeutics. A PLK4 X-ray co-structure with racemate 18 revealed preferential binding of the 1R,2S enantiomer to the PLK4 kinase domain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biological Availability
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Discovery
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Indoles / pharmacokinetics
  • Indoles / pharmacology*
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Mice
  • Models, Chemical
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / chemistry
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Spiro Compounds / chemistry
  • Spiro Compounds / pharmacokinetics
  • Spiro Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Indoles
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Spiro Compounds
  • indolin-2-one
  • PLK4 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases