Search

General control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) protein kinase is a cellular stress sensor within the tumor microenvironment (TME), whose signaling cascade has been proposed to contribute to immune escape in tumors. Herein, we report the discovery of cell-potent GCN2 inhibitors with excellent selectivity against its closely related Integrated Stress Response (ISR) family members heme-regulated inhibitor kinase (HRI), protein kinase R (PKR), and (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), as well as good kinome-wide selectivity and favorable PK. In mice, compound

Gene sets significantly upregulated upon USP7 inhibitor treatment of H526 cells.

Genes whose expression is significantly altered upon USP7 inhibitor treatment of H526 cells.

The deubiquitinase USP7 regulates the levels of multiple proteins with roles in cancer progression and immune response. Thus, USP7 inhibition may decrease oncogene function, increase tumor suppressor function, and sensitize tumors to DNA-damaging agents. We have discovered a novel chemical series that potently and selectively inhibits USP7 in biochemical and cellular assays. Our inhibitors reduce the viability of multiple TP53 wild-type cell lines, including several hematologic cancer and MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cell lines, as well as a subset of TP53-mutant cell lines in vitro. Our work suggests that USP7 inhibitors upregulate transcription of genes normally silenced by the epigenetic repressor complex, polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), and potentiate the activity of PIM and PI3K inhibitors as well as DNA-damaging agents. Furthermore, oral administration of USP7 inhibitors inhibits MM.1S (multiple myeloma; TP53 wild type) and H526 (small cell lung cancer; TP53 mutant) tumor growth in vivo. Our work confirms that USP7 is a promising, pharmacologically tractable target for the treatment of cancer.

Supplementary Figures S1-S6 and legends, and Tables S1, S2, S5, S6, S7.

The deubiquitinase USP7 regulates the levels of multiple proteins with roles in cancer progression and immune response. Thus, USP7 inhibition may decrease oncogene function, increase tumor suppressor function, and sensitize tumors to DNA-damaging agents. We have discovered a novel chemical series that potently and selectively inhibits USP7 in biochemical and cellular assays. Our inhibitors reduce the viability of multiple TP53 wild-type cell lines, including several hematologic cancer and MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cell lines, as well as a subset of TP53-mutant cell lines in vitro. Our work suggests that USP7 inhibitors upregulate transcription of genes normally silenced by the epigenetic repressor complex, polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), and potentiate the activity of PIM and PI3K inhibitors as well as DNA-damaging agents. Furthermore, oral administration of USP7 inhibitors inhibits MM.1S (multiple myeloma; TP53 wild type) and H526 (small cell lung cancer; TP53 mutant) tumor growth in vivo. Our work confirms that USP7 is a promising, pharmacologically tractable target for the treatment of cancer.

The C-C chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) is broadly expressed on regulatory T cells (Treg) as well as other circulating and tissue-resident T cells. Treg can be recruited to the tumor microenvironment (TME) through the C-C chemokines CCL17 and CCL22. Treg accumulation in the TME has been shown to dampen the antitumor immune response and is thought to be an important driver in tumor immune evasion. Preclinical and clinical data suggest that reducing the Treg population in the TME can potentiate the antitumor immune response of checkpoint inhibitors. We have developed small-molecule antagonists of CCR4, featuring a novel piperidinyl-azetidine motif, that inhibit the recruitment of Treg into the TME and elicit antitumor responses as a single agent or in combination with an immune checkpoint blockade. The discovery of these potent, selective, and orally bioavailable CCR4 antagonists, and their activity in in vitro and in vivo models, is described herein.

The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is involved in the etiology of multiple hematologic and epithelial human cancers. EBV+ tumors employ multiple immune escape mechanisms, including the recruitment of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Treg). Here, we show some EBV+ tumor cells express high levels of the chemokines CCL17 and CCL22 both in vitro and in vivo and that this expression mirrors the expression levels of expression of the EBV LMP1 gene in vitro. Patient samples from lymphoblastic (Hodgkin lymphoma) and epithelial (nasopharyngeal carcinoma; NPC) EBV+ tumors revealed CCL17 and CCL22 expression of both tumor cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic origin, depending on tumor type. NPCs grown as mouse xenografts likewise showed both mechanisms of chemokine production. Single cell RNA-sequencing revealed in vivo tumor cell-intrinsic CCL17 and CCL22 expression combined with expression from infiltrating classical resident and migratory dendritic cells in a CT26 colon cancer mouse tumor engineered to express LMP1. These data suggest that EBV-driven tumors employ dual mechanisms for CCL17 and CCL22 production. Importantly, both in vitro and in vivo Treg migration was effectively blocked by a novel, small molecule antagonist of CCR4, CCR4-351. Antagonism of the CCR4 receptor may thus be an effective means of activating the immune response against a wide spectrum of EBV+ tumors., Author summary The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is associated with many cancers worldwide, including both lymphomas and solid tumors. EBV+ tumors have been reported to have increased numbers of infiltrating regulatory T cells (Treg), a cell type that counteracts the body’s natural antitumor response. Here we show that EBV+ tumors actually have amongst the highest levels of Treg of all human tumors, as well as having very high levels of the chemokines CCL17 and CCL22, signaling molecules that promote the migration of Treg. We found that CCL17 and CCL22 production in different EBV+ tumor cell lines mirrored the levels of production of the EBV protein LMP1, and that the LMP1 gene on its own was sufficient to trigger chemokine expression and Treg migration into a mouse tumor model. Depending on the particular EBV+ tumor type, this CCL17 and CCL22 expression could be coming from the tumor cells themselves, infiltrating host immune cells, or a combination of the two. A recently developed drug that blocks the activity of CCL17 and CCL22 blocked Treg migration into EBV+ and LMP1+ tumors, suggesting that this may be part of an effective treatment for EBV+ tumors in the clinic, helping to reduce the over 140,000 annual deaths from this group of cancers.

VPS34 is a class III phosphoinositide 3-kinase involved in endosomal trafficking and autophagosome formation. Inhibitors of VPS34 were believed to have value as anticancer agents, but genetic and pharmacological data suggest that sustained inhibition of VPS34 kinase activity may not be well tolerated. Here we disclose the identification of a novel series of dihydropyrazolopyrazinone compounds represented by compound 5 as potent, selective, and orally bioavailable VPS34 inhibitors through a structure-based design strategy. A water-interacting hydrogen bond acceptor within an appropriate distance to a hinge-binding element was found to afford significant VPS34 potency across chemical scaffolds. The selectivity of compound 5 over PIK family kinases arises from interactions between the hinge-binding element and the pseudo-gatekeeper residue Met682. As recent in vivo pharmacology data suggests that sustained inhibition of VPS34 kinase activity may not be tolerated, structure-activity relationships leading to VPS34 inhibition may be helpful for avoiding this target in other ATP-competitive kinase programs.

Recruitment of suppressive CD4+ FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) to the tumor microenvironment (TME) has the potential to weaken the antitumor response in patients receiving treatment with immuno-oncology (IO) agents. Human Treg express CCR4 and can be recruited to the TME through the CC chemokine ligands CCL17 and CCL22. In some cancers, Treg accumulation correlates with poor patient prognosis. Preclinical data suggests that preventing the recruitment of Treg and increasing the population of activated effector T cells (Teff) in the TME can potentiate antitumor immune responses. We developed a novel series of potent, orally bioavailable small molecule antagonists of CCR4. From this series, several compounds exhibited high potency in distinct functional assays in addition to good in vitro and in vivo ADME properties. The design, synthesis, and SAR of this series and confirmation of its in vivo activity are reported.

USP7 is a promising target for cancer therapy as its inhibition is expected to decrease function of oncogenes, increase tumor suppressor function, and enhance immune function. Using a structure-based drug design strategy, a new class of reversible USP7 inhibitors has been identified that is highly potent in biochemical and cellular assays and extremely selective for USP7 over other deubiquitinases. The succinimide was identified as a key potency-driving motif, forming two strong hydrogen bonds to the allosteric pocket of USP7. Redesign of an initial benzofuran-amide scaffold yielded a simplified ether series of inhibitors, utilizing acyclic conformational control to achieve proper amine placement. Further improvements were realized upon replacing the ether-linked amines with carbon-linked morpholines, a modification motivated by free energy perturbation (FEP+) calculations. This led to the discovery of compound 41, a highly potent, selective, and orally bioavailable USP7 inhibitor. In xenograft studies, compound 41 demonstrated tumor growth inhibition in both p53 wildtype and p53 mutant cancer cell lines, demonstrating that USP7 inhibitors can suppress tumor growth through multiple different pathways.

The deubiquitinase USP7 regulates the levels of multiple proteins with roles in cancer progression and immune response. Thus, USP7 inhibition may decrease oncogene function, increase tumor suppressor function, and sensitize tumors to DNA-damaging agents. We have discovered a novel chemical series that potently and selectively inhibits USP7 in biochemical and cellular assays. Our inhibitors reduce the viability of multiple

Recruitment of suppressive CD4

A titanium-based catalytic enantioselective dichlorination of simple allylic alcohols is described. This dichlorination reaction provides stereoselective access to all common dichloroalcohol building blocks used in syntheses of chlorosulfolipid natural products. An enantioselective synthesis of ent-(-)-deschloromytilipin A and a concise, eight-step synthesis of ent-(-)-danicalipin A are executed and employ the dichlorination reaction as the first step. Extension of this system to enantioselective dibromination and its use in the synthesis of pentabromide stereoarrays relevant to bromosulfolipids is reported. The described dichlorination and dibromination reactions are capable of exerting diastereocontrol in complex settings allowing X-ray crystal structure analysis of natural and unnatural diastereomers of polyhalogenated stereohexads.

USP7 is a deubiquitinase that regulates the levels of multiple downstream targets with roles in cancer progression and immune response. Inhibitors of USP7 may thus decrease oncogene function, increase tumor suppressor function, enhance immune function and sensitize tumor cells to DNA damaging agents. We have discovered a novel chemical series that potently and selectively inhibits USP7 in biochemical and cellular assays. Our inhibitors reduce the viability of multiple p53-wild type cell lines, including several blood cancer and MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cell lines, as well as a subset of p53-mutant tumor cell lines in vitro. Further, oral administration of our USP7 inhibitors inhibits MM.1S (multiple myeloma; p53-wild type) and H526 (small cell lung cancer; p53-mutant) tumor growth in vivo. Our work confirms that USP7 is a pharmacologically tractable target and future studies will aim to further understand the mechanism of action of USP7 inhibitors in p53-mutant cancers. Citation Format: Yamini M. Ohol, Michael Sun, Paul Leger, Dennis Hu, Berenger Biannic, Payal Rana, Cynthia Cho, Scott Jacobson, Steve Wong, Jerick Sanchez, Xinping Han, Kyle Young, Akinori Okano, Jack Maung, Gene Cutler, Nick Shah, Lavanya Adusumilli, Deepika Kaveri, Oezcan Talay, Deepa Pookot, Betty Abraham, Delia Bradford, Nathan Kozon, Christophe Colas, Andrea Kim, Jacob Schwarz, David Wustrow, Dirk Brockstedt, Paul Kassner. Discovery of potent and selective inhibitors of USP7 with anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4441.

The cyclic prodigiosins are an important family of bioactive natural products that continue to be the subject of numerous structural, synthetic, and biosynthetic studies. In particular, the structural assignments of the isomeric cyclic prodigiosins butylcycloheptylprodigiosin (BCHP) and streptorubin B have been the cause of significant confusion. Herein, we report detailed studies regarding the electron impact (EI) mass spectra of synthetic BCHP and streptorubin B that have allowed us to distinguish the two compounds in the absence of quality historical isolation NMR data. On the basis of these fragmentation differences, the status of BCHP as a natural product is challenged. The proposed mechanism of fragmentation is supported by the EI mass spectra of synthetic pentyl-chain analogues of BCHP and streptorubin B, X-ray crystallography, and DFT calculations. Elimination of BCHP from the prodigiosin family supports a proposed evolutionary hypothesis for the surprising biosynthesis of cyclic prodigiosins.

A titanium-based catalytic enantioselective dichlorination of simple allylic alcohols is described. This dichlorination reaction provides stereoselective access to all common dichloroalcohol building blocks used in syntheses of chlorosulfolipid natural products. An enantioselective synthesis of ent-(−)-deschloromytilipin A and a concise, eight-step synthesis of ent-(−)-danicalipin A are executed and employ the dichlorination reaction as the first step. Extension of this system to enantioselective dibromination and its use in the synthesis of pentabromide stereoarrays relevant to bromosulfolipids is reported. The described dichlorination and dibromination reactions are capable of exerting diastereocontrol in complex settings allowing X-ray crystal structure analysis of natural and unnatural diastereomers of polyhalogenated stereohexads.

The prodiginine family of bacterial alkaloids is a diverse set of heterocyclic natural products that have likely been known to man since antiquity. In more recent times, these alkaloids have been discovered to span a wide range of chemical structures that possess a number of interesting biological activities. This review provides a comprehensive overview of research undertaken toward the isolation and structural elucidation of the prodiginine family of natural products. Additionally, research toward chemical synthesis of the prodiginine alkaloids over the last several decades is extensively reviewed. Finally, the current, evidence-based understanding of the various biosynthetic pathways employed by bacteria to produce prodiginine alkaloids is summarized.

The prodiginine family of bacterial alkaloids is a diverse set of heterocyclic natural products that have likely been known to man since antiquity. In more recent times, these alkaloids have been discovered to span a wide range of chemical structures that possess a number of interesting biological activities. This review provides a comprehensive overview of research undertaken toward the isolation and structural elucidation of the prodiginine family of natural products. Additionally, research toward chemical synthesis of the prodiginine alkaloids over the last several decades is extensively reviewed. Finally, the current, evidence-based understanding of the various biosynthetic pathways employed by bacteria to produce prodiginine alkaloids is summarized.

Two tandem flow chemistry processes have been developed. A single palladium-catalysed Heck reaction with ethylene gas provides an efficient synthesis for functionalised styrenes. Through further elaboration the catalyst becomes multi-functional and performs a second Heck reaction providing a single continuous process for the synthesis of unsymmetrical stilbenes. In addition, the continuous, rhodium-catalysed, hydroformylation of styrene derivatives with syngas affords branched aldehydes with good selectivity. Incorporation of an in-line aqueous wash and liquid–liquid separation allowed for the ethylene Heck reaction to be telescoped into the hydroformylation step such that a single flow synthesis of branched aldehydes directly from aryl iodides was achieved. The tube-in-tube semi-permeable membrane-based gas reactor and liquid–liquid separator both play an essential role in enabling these telescoped flow processes. MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore)

A second-generation laboratory-scale, modular liquid-liquid separation device based on computer-controlled high-pressure pumps and a high-resolution digital camera has been invented. The diazotization of amino acids to produce valuable chiral hydroxyacids is demonstrated in flow for the first time. The use of a triple-separator system in conjuction with the developed diazotization process allows the safe and efficient production and automated isolation of multigram quantities of valuable chiral hydroxyacids.

USP7 is a deubiquitinase (DUB) that has attracted much attention recently due to its multiple roles in promoting cancer progression. By removal of ubiquitin from protein substrates, USP7 stabilizes oncogenes such as MDM2 and Myc, destabilizes and inactivates the key tumor suppressors p53 and PTEN, and imparts resistance to DNA-damaging chemotherapy by enhancing DNA repair responses. USP7 plays an important role in suppression of immune responses in the tumor microenvironment by stabilizing the transcription factor FOXP3 and thereby enhancing the suppressive function of regulatory T cells. Thus, inhibition of USP7 is an appealing therapeutic strategy because it has the potential to impact important oncology targets such as transcription factors that have been widely viewed as undruggable. We employed structure-based and other medicinal chemistry techniques to enable the design of potent and selective USP7 inhibitors. Using a high-throughput assay of DUB activity employing rhodamine-labeled ubiquitin, we optimized several series of reversible USP7 inhibitors to sub-100 pM potency and selectivity of >10,000-fold over all other DUBs. Cellular activity was demonstrated using a luciferase reporter gene assay of p53 activation, revealing compounds with EC50 values ranging down to 20 nM. To assess the role of USP7 inhibition in enhancement of immune responses, we determined relief of suppression of effector T cells in vitro. Effector T cells (CD8+) were co-cultured with regulatory T cells (CD4+ FOXP3+) and antigen-presenting cells for 4 days, after which CD8+ cell proliferation was determined by flow cytometry. Treatment with USP7 inhibitors during co-culture resulted in relief of regulatory T cell suppression of CD8+ cell proliferation. In vivo enhancement of immune responses was assessed in rodent models of inflammation and tumor growth. Direct effects on tumor cell growth and viability were explored by profiling cytotoxicity of USP7 inhibitors as single agents and in combination with chemotherapeutic agents in a broad range of cancer cell lines. In preparation for future clinical development, compounds were modified to obtain desirable in vitro and in vivo ADME and toxicity profiles. Following extensive pre-clinical optimization, we have in hand orally bioavailable compounds with high permeability, low clearance, and minimal off-target activity. Citation Format: Betty Abraham, Lavanya Adusumilli, Berenger Biannic, Delia Bradford, Martin Brovarney, David Chian, Gene Cutler, Xinping Han, Dennis Hu, Scott Jacobson, Sherra Johnson, Paul Kassner, Deepika Kaveri, John Ketcham, Andrea Kim, Paul Leger, Lisa Marshall, Sachie Marubayashi, Jack Maung, Jenny McKinnell, Cesar Meleza, Yamini Ohol, Akinori Okano, Leanne Peiser, Deepa Pookot, Payal Rana, Jacob Schwarz, Nick Shah, Grant Shibuya, Michael Sun, Silpa Suthram, Oezcan Talay, Angela Wadsworth, David Wustrow, Kyle Young, Andrew Napper. Discovery and optimization of potent and selective inhibitors of USP7 to enhance anti-tumor immunity and target tumor growth [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2915.

We have performed experiments to test whether Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)-infected tumors are enhanced for regulatory T cell (Treg) infiltration and whether selective and potent CCR4 antagonists would be a particularly effective therapeutic in this class of indications. Treg cells, which contribute to an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), are attracted to tumors via the recognition of CCL17 and CCL22 ligands by the CCR4 receptor. These chemokines have been shown to be expressed in cells infected by the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) via the viral LMP1 gene. Tumor types which are frequently associated with EBV-infection include gastric adenocarcinoma (~10% positive), classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma (~50%), and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (~100%). Analyzing RNA expression in EBV-associated tumors, we found strong expression of CCL17, CCL22, and FOXP3, a marker of Treg, when compared to EBV-negative tumors. In fact, NPC tumors show extremely high FOXP3 levels. To further test this link, we obtained EBV-associated tumor samples and performed RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) to measure co-expression of these genes. Strong co-localization, was indeed found, further supporting a link between EBV and Treg recruitment. To directly test whether EBV-positive tumors recruit Treg into tumors via CCL22/17 upregulation, we developed models in which mice were inoculated subcutaneously with EBV-positive cancer cell lines. These EBV-positive cancer cells were assessed for chemokine production in vitro and in vivo by ELISA. We assessed tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in established tumors, including Treg, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells as well as T cell activation markers. Treating these tumor-bearing mice with selective and potent CCR4 small-molecule antagonists alone or in combination with checkpoint-targeting antibodies allowed us to demonstrate meaningful antitumor responses in EBV-positive tumors. Together, these data suggest that EBV-positive tumors, such as gastric adenocarcinomas, Hodgkin's lymphomas, and nasopharyngeal carcinomas, are a class of indications of particular interest and potentially increased responsiveness to small-molecule CCR4 antagonists. These results are helping to inform the ongoing FLX475 trials currently in the clinic. Citation Format: Oezcan Talay, Aparna Jorapur, Scott Jacobson, Sachie Marubayashi, Lisa Marshall, Silpa Suthram, Omar Robles, John Ketcham, Maureen K. Reilly, Ashkaan Younai, Berenger Biannic, Dennis Hu, Minna Bui, Jacob Schwarz, Paul Kassner, Gene Cutler. EBV associated tumors have increased regulatory T cell recruitment and are therefore a potential indication for treatment with potent and selective small molecule CCR4 antagonists [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4752.

A practical and scalable enantio- and regioselective bromochlorination of a variety of substituted allylalcohols is developed using a reagent combination of NBS/(iOPr)3TiCl and a tridentate Schiff base as chiral catalyst.

A nine-step (longest linear) batch total synthesis of the cyclic hexadepsipeptide (−)-enniatin B is described. The synthesis minimizes precipitation during reaction conditions for adaptability to flow synthesis. The route was used to prepare >100 mg of the natural product.

The new dibromination reaction employs a combination of dibromomalonate as the bromonium source and a titanium bromide species as the bromide source and a tartaric acid-derived diol (TND) as chiral reagent/ligand.

A new dibromination reaction involving the combination of dibromomalonate as the bromonium source and a titanium bromide species as the bromide source has been developed. Enantioselective catalysis has been achieved through apparent ligand acceleration by a tartaric acid-derived diol.

The existence of rotamers in a solution of analyte complicates (1)H NMR analysis, especially when the presence of diastereomers is also possible. Organic chemists have often responded to this problem by conducting variable-temperature (VT) NMR experiments, changing NMR solvents, or adding complexing agents. Here, with specific examples, we illustrate the use of simple yet widely overlooked chemical-exchange NMR experiments which allow the nonintrusive rapid distinguishment of rapidly equilibrating small molecules such as rotamers from nonequilibrating diastereomers.

The synthetic studies confirm the (7′S) stereochemistry of the anti atropdiastereomer as the absotute configuration of the natural product.

The enantioselective total synthesis of the pyrrolophane natural product streptorubin B is described. Key steps in the concise route include the application of a one-pot enantioselective aldol cyclization/Wittig reaction and an anionic oxy-Cope rearrangement to forge the crucial 10-membered ring. Comparisons between CD spectra of synthetic and natural samples of streptorubin B coupled with X-ray crystallography allowed for the determination of the absolute stereochemistry of this natural product for the first time. These studies also provided unambiguous proof of the relative configuration between the butyl side chain and the bispyrrole subunit. Additional studies revealed a novel atropstereoselective Paal−Knorr pyrrole condensation and provided fundamental experimental insight into the barrier for atropisomerization of the natural product.

An approach toward the synthesis of the complex polycyclic diterpene maoecrystal V (1) is described. Construction of the advanced tetracyclic core structure (i.e., 19) was achieved in 13 steps from 3,3-dimethylcyclohexanone (6) by employing a stereoselective Nazarov cyclization followed by a Diels-Alder reaction to forge the two contiguous quaternary stereocenters.