Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Androgen Receptor Degrading and Antagonizing Bifunctional Steroidal Analogs for the Treatment of Advanced Prostate Cancer

J Med Chem. 2022 Sep 22;65(18):12460-12481. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01164. Epub 2022 Sep 7.

Abstract

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with high mortality has seriously threatened men's health. Bifunctional agents simultaneously degrade and antagonize androgen receptor (AR), display robust AR signaling pathway blockade, and show the therapeutic prospect for mCRPC. Herein, systemic structural modifications on the C-3, C-6, and C-17 positions of galeterone led to the discovery of 67-b with the dual functions of AR antagonism and degradation. In vitro, 67-b exhibited excellent antiproliferative activity and potent AR degradation activity in different PCa cells (LNCaP and 22RV1), as well as outstanding antagonistic activity against wild-type and mutant (W741L, T877A, and F876L) ARs. In vivo, 67-b effectively inhibited the growth of hormone-sensitive organs in the Hershberger assay and exhibited tumor regression in the enzalutamide-resistant (c4-2b-ENZ) xenograft model. These results confirmed 67-b to be a promising AR degrader and antagonist for the treatment of mCRPC patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Hormones / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nitriles / pharmacology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant* / metabolism
  • Receptors, Androgen* / metabolism

Substances

  • Androgen Receptor Antagonists
  • Hormones
  • Nitriles
  • Receptors, Androgen