Development of Novel Indole-Based Covalent Inhibitors of TEAD as Potential Antiliver Cancer Agents

J Med Chem. 2024 Sep 26;67(18):16270-16295. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00925. Epub 2024 Sep 13.

Abstract

Abnormal activation of the YAP transcriptional signaling pathway drives proliferation in many hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatoblastoma (HB) cases. Current treatment options often face resistance and toxicity, highlighting the need for alternative therapies. This article reports the discovery of a hit compound C-3 from docking-based virtual screening targeting TEAD lipid binding pocket, which inhibited TEAD-mediated transcription. Optimization led to the identification of a potent and covalent inhibitor CV-4-26 that exhibited great antitumor activity in HCC and HB cell lines in vitro, xenografted human HCC, and murine HB in vivo. These outcomes signify the potential of a highly promising therapeutic candidate for addressing a subset of HCC and HB cancers. In the cases of current treatment challenges due to high upregulation of YAP-TEAD activity, these findings offer a targeted alternative for more effective interventions against liver cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation* / drug effects
  • Hepatoblastoma / drug therapy
  • Hepatoblastoma / metabolism
  • Hepatoblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Indoles* / chemical synthesis
  • Indoles* / chemistry
  • Indoles* / pharmacology
  • Liver Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • TEA Domain Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Indoles
  • TEA Domain Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors