First SAR Study for Overriding NRAS Mutant Driven Acute Myeloid Leukemia

J Med Chem. 2018 Sep 27;61(18):8353-8373. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00882. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Abstract

GNF-7, a multitargeted kinase inhibitor, served as a dual kinase inhibitor of ACK1 and GCK, which provided a novel therapeutic strategy for overriding AML expressing NRAS mutation. This SAR study with GNF-7 derivatives, designed to target NRAS mutant-driven AML, led to identification of the extremely potent inhibitors, 10d, 10g, and 11i, which possess single-digit nanomolar inhibitory activity against both ACK1 and GCK. These substances strongly suppress proliferation of mutant NRAS expressing AML cells via apoptosis and AKT/mTOR signaling blockade. Compound 11i is superior to GNF-7 in terms of kinase inhibitory activity, cellular activity, and differential cytotoxicity. Moreover, 10k possessing a favorable mouse pharmacokinetic profile prolonged life-span of Ba/F3-NRAS-G12D injected mice and significantly delayed tumor growth of OCI-AML3 xenograft model without causing the prominent level of toxicity found with GNF-7. Taken together, this study provides insight into the design of novel ACK1 and GCK dual inhibitors for overriding NRAS mutant-driven AML.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Survival
  • Female
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / pathology
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Mutation*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • NRAS protein, human