1. Academic Validation
  2. Synthesis, characterization, and optimization for in vivo delivery of a nonselective isopeptidase inhibitor as new antineoplastic agent

Synthesis, characterization, and optimization for in vivo delivery of a nonselective isopeptidase inhibitor as new antineoplastic agent

  • J Med Chem. 2015 Feb 26;58(4):1691-704. doi: 10.1021/jm501336h.
Ulma Cersosimo 1 Andrea Sgorbissa Carmen Foti Sara Drioli Rosario Angelica Andrea Tomasella Raffaella Picco Marta Stefania Semrau Paola Storici Fabio Benedetti Federico Berti Claudio Brancolini
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Trieste , Via Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
Abstract

Bis-arylidenecycloalkanones structurally related to the nonselective isopeptidase inhibitor G5 were synthesized and tested for cytotoxic activity against glioblastoma cells. Cytotoxicities correlate well with Hammett σ constants for substituted arylidene groups, confirming the proposed inhibition mechanism. A new inhibitor (2c) based on the 4-hydroxycyclohexanone scaffold, which favors Apoptosis over necrosis, was selected for further development. 2c inhibited representative deubiquitinases with micromolar IC50, and its proapoptotic activity was studied on several Cancer cell lines. Inhibitor 2c was conjugated to PEG via dicarbamate and diester linkers. While the dicarbamate was inactive, the diester (2cPE) behaves like a prodrug and is converted into the active species 2c by secreted esterase activities. Finally, 2cPE was also tested in vivo on A549 lung carcinoma xenografts generated in mice. Intravenous treatment with 2cPE led to a significant reduction in primary tumor growth, without appreciable toxicity to mice.

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