Interfering with the Tumor-Immune Interface: Making Way for Triazine-Based Small Molecules as Novel PD-L1 Inhibitors

J Med Chem. 2021 Nov 11;64(21):16020-16045. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01409. Epub 2021 Oct 20.

Abstract

The inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis by monoclonal antibodies has achieved remarkable success in treating a growing number of cancers. However, a novel class of small organic molecules, with BMS-202 (1) as the lead, is emerging as direct PD-L1 inhibitors. Herein, we report a series of 2,4,6-tri- and 2,4-disubstituted 1,3,5-triazines, which were synthesized and assayed for their PD-L1 binding by NMR and homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence. Among them, compound 10 demonstrated to strongly bind with the PD-L1 protein and challenged it in a co-culture of PD-L1 expressing cancer cells (PC9 and HCC827 cells) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells enhanced antitumor immune activity of the latter. Compound 10 significantly increased interferon γ release and apoptotic induction of cancer cells, with low cytotoxicity in healthy cells when compared to 1, thus paving the way for subsequent preclinical optimization and medical applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Calorimetry, Differential Scanning
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Triazines / chemistry
  • Triazines / pharmacology*

Substances

  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Triazines