Designing Dual Inhibitors of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) and Bromodomain-4 (BRD4) by Tuning Kinase Selectivity

J Med Chem. 2019 Mar 14;62(5):2618-2637. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01947. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Abstract

Concomitant inhibition of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and bromodomain-4 (BRD4) is a potential therapeutic strategy for targeting two key oncogenic drivers that co-segregate in a significant fraction of high-risk neuroblastoma patients, mutation of ALK and amplification of MYCN. Starting from known dual polo-like kinase (PLK)-1-BRD4 inhibitor BI-2536, we employed structure-based design to redesign this series toward compounds with a dual ALK-BRD4 profile. These efforts led to compound ( R)-2-((2-ethoxy-4-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)phenyl)amino)-7-ethyl-5-methyl-8-((4-methylthiophen-2-yl)methyl)-7,8-dihydropteridin-6(5 H)-one (16k) demonstrating improved ALK activity and significantly reduced PLK-1 activity, while maintaining BRD4 activity and overall kinome selectivity. We demonstrate the compounds' on-target engagement with ALK and BRD4 in cells as well as favorable broad kinase and bromodomain selectivity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • BRD4 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors
  • ALK protein, human
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase