Optimization and Biological Evaluation of Novel 1 H-Pyrrolo[2,3- c]pyridin Derivatives as Potent and Reversible Lysine Specific Demethylase 1 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

J Med Chem. 2024 Dec 26;67(24):22080-22103. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c02017. Epub 2024 Dec 4.

Abstract

Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) plays a vital role in the epigenetic regulation of various cancers, making it a promising therapeutic target for anticancer treatments. Herein, we designed and synthesized a novel series of 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin derivatives as potent LSD1 inhibitors. A detailed structure-activity relationship exploration was carried out to discover multiple derivatives with nanomolar enzymatic IC50 values. Further biological evaluation demonstrated that these compounds acted as selective and reversible LSD1 inhibitors. The representative compounds exhibited highly potent antiproliferative activity against both AML (MV4-11 and Kasumi-1) and SCLC (NCI-H526) cell lines. Additionally, they effectively activated CD86 mRNA expression in MV4-11 cells and induced differentiation of AML cell lines. Notably, the most promising compound 23e showed a favorable oral PK profile and effectively suppressed the tumor growth in an AML xenograft model. Overall, our medicinal chemistry efforts provide compound 23e as a lead compound for developing LSD1 inhibitors for the treatment of AML and other advanced malignancies.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation* / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Histone Demethylases* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Histone Demethylases* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* / drug therapy
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* / pathology
  • Mice
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pyridines / chemical synthesis
  • Pyridines / chemistry
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Pyridines / therapeutic use
  • Pyrroles / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrroles / chemistry
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology
  • Pyrroles / therapeutic use
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Histone Demethylases
  • KDM1A protein, human
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Pyrroles
  • Pyridines
  • Enzyme Inhibitors