Discovery of Novel Coumarin-quinolinium Derivatives as Pan-KRAS Translation Inhibitors by Targeting 5'-UTR RNA G-Quadruplexes

J Med Chem. 2024 Feb 8;67(3):1961-1981. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01773. Epub 2024 Jan 25.

Abstract

Hyperactivated KRAS mutations fuel tumorigenesis and represent attractive targets for cancer treatment. While covalent inhibitors have shown clinical benefits against the KRASG12C mutant, advancements for non-G12C mutants remain limited, highlighting the urgent demand for pan-KRAS inhibitors. RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) in the 5'-untranslated region of KRAS mRNA can regulate KRAS translation, making them promising targets for pan-KRAS inhibitor development. Herein, we designed and synthesized 50 novel coumarin-quinolinium derivatives, leveraging our previously developed rG4-specific ligand, QUMA-1. Notably, several compounds exhibited potent antiproliferative activity against cancer cells as pan-KRAS translation inhibitors. Among them, 15a displayed exceptional capability in stabilizing KRAS rG4s, suppressing KRAS translation, and consequently modulating MAPK and PI3K-AKT pathways. 15a induced cell cycle arrest, prompted apoptosis in KRAS-driven cancer cells, and effectively inhibited tumor growth in a KRAS mutant xenograft model. These findings underscore the potential of 15a as a pan-KRAS translation inhibitor, offering a novel and promising approach to target various KRAS-driven cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • G-Quadruplexes*
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)* / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)* / metabolism

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
  • KRAS protein, human