Lead Compound Development of SRC-3 Inhibitors with Improved Pharmacokinetic Properties and Anticancer Efficacy

J Med Chem. 2024 Apr 11;67(7):5333-5350. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01596. Epub 2024 Mar 29.

Abstract

Steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3) is a critical mediator of many intracellular signaling pathways that are crucial for cancer proliferation and metastasis. In this study, we performed structure-activity relationship exploration and drug-like optimization of the hit compound SI-2, guided by in vitro/in vivo metabolism studies and cytotoxicity assays. Our efforts led to the discovery of two lead compounds, SI-10 and SI-12. Both compounds exhibit potent cytotoxicity against a panel of human cancer cell lines and demonstrate acceptable pharmacokinetic properties. A biotinylated estrogen response element pull-down assay demonstrated that SI-12 could disrupt the recruitment of SRC-3 and p300 in the estrogen receptor complex. Importantly, SI-10 and SI-12 significantly inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in vivo without appreciable acute toxicity. These results demonstrate the potential of SI-10 and SI-12 as drug candidates for cancer therapy, given their potent SRC-3 inhibition and promising pharmacokinetic and toxicity profiles.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms*
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3
  • Antineoplastic Agents