Discovery of Thieno[2,3- e]indazole Derivatives as Novel Oral Selective Estrogen Receptor Degraders with Highly Improved Antitumor Effect and Favorable Druggability

J Med Chem. 2022 Apr 14;65(7):5724-5750. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00008. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Abstract

Endocrine therapies in the treatment of early and metastatic estrogen receptor α positive (ERα+) breast cancer (BC) are greatly limited by de novo and acquired resistance. Selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) like fulvestrant provide new strategies for endocrine therapy combinations due to unique mechanisms. Herein, we disclose our structure-based optimization of LSZ102 by replacing 6-hydroxybenzothiophene with 6H-thieno[2,3-e]indazole. Subsequent acrylic acid degron modifications led us to identify compound 40 as the preferred candidate. In general, compound 40 showed much better pharmacological profiles than the lead LSZ102, exhibiting growth inhibition of wild-type or tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cells, potent ERα degradation, together with superior pharmacokinetic properties, directional target tissue distribution including the brain, and robust antitumor efficacy in the mice breast cancer xenograft model. Currently, 40 is being evaluated in preclinical trials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Estrogen Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indazoles / pharmacology
  • Indazoles / therapeutic use
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Mice
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Thiophenes

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Estrogen Antagonists
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Indazoles
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Thiophenes
  • LSZ102