A Conformational Restriction Strategy for the Identification of a Highly Selective Pyrimido-pyrrolo-oxazine mTOR Inhibitor

J Med Chem. 2019 Sep 26;62(18):8609-8630. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00972. Epub 2019 Sep 11.

Abstract

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a pivotal role in growth and tumor progression and is an attractive target for cancer treatment. ATP-competitive mTOR kinase inhibitors (TORKi) have the potential to overcome limitations of rapamycin derivatives in a wide range of malignancies. Herein, we exploit a conformational restriction approach to explore a novel chemical space for the generation of TORKi. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies led to the identification of compound 12b with a ∼450-fold selectivity for mTOR over class I PI3K isoforms. Pharmacokinetic studies in male Sprague Dawley rats highlighted a good exposure after oral dosing and a minimum brain penetration. CYP450 reactive phenotyping pointed out the high metabolic stability of 12b. These results identify the tricyclic pyrimido-pyrrolo-oxazine moiety as a novel scaffold for the development of highly selective mTOR inhibitors for cancer treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Dogs
  • Drug Design
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Kinetics
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Oxazines / chemistry*
  • Oxazines / pharmacokinetics
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics
  • Pyrimidinones / chemistry*
  • Pyrimidinones / pharmacokinetics
  • Pyrroles / chemistry*
  • Pyrroles / pharmacokinetics
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Oxazines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidinones
  • Pyrroles
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • mTOR protein, rat
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases