Design of Novel Inhibitors of Human Thymidine Phosphorylase: Synthesis, Enzyme Inhibition, in Vitro Toxicity, and Impact on Human Glioblastoma Cancer

J Med Chem. 2019 Feb 14;62(3):1231-1245. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01305. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Abstract

Overexpressed human thymidine phosphorylase (hTP) has been associated with cancer aggressiveness and poor prognosis by triggering proangiogenic and antiapoptotic signaling. Designed as transition-state analogues by mimicking the oxacarbenium ion, novel pyrimidine-2,4-diones were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of hTP activity. The most potent compound (8g) inhibited hTP in the submicromolar range with a noncompetitive inhibition mode with both thymidine and inorganic phosphate substrates. Furthermore, compound 8g was devoid of apparent toxicity to a panel of mammalian cells, showed no genotoxicity signals, and had low probability of drug-drug interactions and moderate in vitro metabolic rates. Finally, treatment with 8g (50 mg/(kg day)) for 2 weeks (5 days/week) significantly reduced tumor growth using an in vivo glioblastoma model. To the best of our knowledge, this active compound is the most potent in vitro hTP inhibitor with a kinetic profile that cannot be reversed by the accumulation of any enzyme substrates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Area Under Curve
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Design*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Thymidine Phosphorylase / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Thymidine Phosphorylase