Novel Nonsecosteroidal Vitamin D Receptor Modulator Combined with Gemcitabine Enhances Pancreatic Cancer Therapy through Remodeling of the Tumor Microenvironment

J Med Chem. 2021 Jan 14;64(1):629-643. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01197. Epub 2020 Dec 31.

Abstract

In a pancreatic tumor microenvironment, activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) produce extracellular matrix (ECM) to form a barrier to drug penetration. Moreover, the interaction between cancer cells and activated PSCs promotes the tumor growth. Vitamin D receptor (VDR), as a key regulator to promote the recovery of PSCs to the resting state, is an attractive therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer. Herein, we reported the design and synthesis of 57 nonsecosteroidal VDR modulators based on the skeleton of phenyl-pyrrolyl pentane. Among them, compounds C4, I5, and I8 exhibited excellent VDR affinity and effective inhibition of the activation of PSCs, as well as potent suppression of the interaction between cancer cells and PSCs in vitro. In vivo, compound I5 combined with gemcitabine achieved efficacious antitumor activity without causing hypercalcemia. In conclusion, the compounds designed in our study can remodel the tumor microenvironment and are expected to be candidates for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / pharmacology*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Deoxycytidine / pharmacology
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pancreatic Stellate Cells / drug effects
  • Pancreatic Stellate Cells / pathology
  • Receptors, Calcitriol / agonists*
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Receptors, Calcitriol
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Gemcitabine