Lead Optimization of Androgen Receptor-HSP27 Disrupting Agents in Glioblastoma

  • Yaxin Li
  • , Cody Orahoske
  • , Fatma Salem
  • , Aidyn Johnson
  • , Christia Tannous
  • , Lucas Devole
  • , Wenjing Zhang
  • , Justin D. Lathia
  • , Bingcheng Wang
  • , Bin Su

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor with poor prognosis under the current standard treatment. It is critical to develop new approaches to selectively battle the disease. GBM sex differences suggest that an androgen receptor (AR) is a potential therapeutic target to treat AR-overexpressed GBM. Heat shock 27 kDa protein (HSP27) is a well-documented chaperone protein that stabilizes AR. Inhibition of HSP27 leads to AR degradation, indicating that HSP27 inhibitors could suppress AR activity in GBM. We have identified a lead HSP27 inhibitor that could induce AR degradation. Lead optimization resulted with two new derivatives (compounds 4 and 26) showing potent anti-GBM activity and improved drug distribution in comparison to the lead compound. Compounds 4 and 6 exhibit IC50s of 35 and 23 nM, respectively, to inhibit cell proliferation and also show significant activity to decrease the tumor growth in vivo.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5567-5583
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry
Volume66
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 27 2023

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