Discovery of a Highly Potent and Orally Bioavailable STAT3 Dual Phosphorylation Inhibitor for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

J Med Chem. 2022 Nov 24;65(22):15487-15511. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01554. Epub 2022 Oct 25.

Abstract

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that STAT3 phosphorylation at Tyr705 and Ser727 is closely associated with the progression and poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Herein, we report the function-based screening, SAR studies, and biological activity evaluation of a series of novel STAT3 dual phosphorylation inhibitors with an indole-containing tetra-aromatic heterocycle scaffold. Our efforts led to the discovery of optimal compound 4c among the investigated ones, showing desirable ADME properties and highly potent antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo. By targeting the STAT3 SH2 domain, 4c significantly blocked p-Tyr705 and p-Ser727 and caused the abrogation of the corresponding nuclear transcription and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation functions of STAT3 in the low nanomolar range. Except for nanomolar antiproliferation activities in vitro, oral treatment of 4c exhibited significant suppressive effects and tolerance in a pancreatic cancer xenograft model, indicating that 4c could be useful for pancreatic cancer treatment as a STAT3 dual phosphorylation inhibitor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Humans
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Phosphorylation
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human