Discovery of N-phenyl-4-(thiazol-5-yl)pyrimidin-2-amine aurora kinase inhibitors.
Through cell-based screening of our kinase-directed compound collection, we discovered that a subset of N-phenyl-4-(thiazol-5-yl)pyrimidin-2-amines were potent cytotoxic agents against cancer cell lines, suppressed mitotic histone H3 phosphorylation, and caused aberrant mitotic phenotypes. It was subsequently established that these compounds were in fact potent inhibitors of aurora A and B kinases. It was shown that potency and selectivity of aurora kinase inhibition correlated with the presence of a substituent at the aniline para-position in these compounds. The anticancer effects of lead compound 4-methyl-5-(2-(4-morpholinophenylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl)thiazol-2-amine (18; K(i) values of 8.0 and 9.2 nM for aurora A and B, respectively) were shown to emanate from cell death following mitotic failure and increased polyploidy as a consequence of cellular inhibition of aurora A and B kinases. Preliminary in vivo assessment showed that compound 18 was orally bioavailable and possessed anticancer activity. Compound 18 (CYC116) is currently undergoing phase I clinical evaluation in cancer patients.
Wang
Shudong
S
Cyclacel Ltd., 1 James Lindsay Place, Dundee DD1 5JJ, Scotland, UK.
Midgley
Carol A
CA
Scaërou
Frederic
F
Grabarek
Joanna B
JB
Griffiths
Gary
G
Jackson
Wayne
W
Kontopidis
George
G
McClue
Steven J
SJ
McInnes
Campbell
C
Meades
Christopher
C
Mezna
Mokdad
M
Plater
Andy
A
Stuart
Iain
I
Thomas
Mark P
MP
Wood
Gavin
G
Clarke
Rosemary G
RG
Blake
David G
DG
Zheleva
Daniella I
DI
Lane
David P
DP
Jackson
Robert C
RC
Glover
David M
DM
Fischer
Peter M
PM
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D064096:Aurora Kinase A; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D051379:Mice; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
C550465:4-methyl-5-(2-(4-morpholinophenylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl)thiazol-2-amine; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013844:Thiazoles; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; C576918:Aurka protein, mouse; D064096:Aurora Kinase A; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases