Discovery of a potent and orally active hedgehog pathway antagonist (IPI-926).

Recent evidence suggests that blocking aberrant hedgehog pathway signaling may be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of several types of cancer. Cyclopamine, a plant Veratrum alkaloid, is a natural product antagonist of the hedgehog pathway. In a previous report, a seven-membered D-ring semisynthetic analogue of cyclopamine, IPI-269609 (2), was shown to have greater acid stability and better aqueous solubility compared to cyclopamine. Further modifications of the A-ring system generated three series of analogues with improved potency and/or solubility. Lead compounds from each series were characterized in vitro and evaluated in vivo for biological activity and pharmacokinetic properties. These studies led to the discovery of IPI-926 (compound 28), a novel semisynthetic cyclopamine analogue with substantially improved pharmaceutical properties and potency and a favorable pharmacokinetic profile relative to cyclopamine and compound 2. As a result, complete tumor regression was observed in a Hh-dependent medulloblastoma allograft model after daily oral administration of 40 mg/kg of compound 28.

Detection of glutathione conjugates derived from 4-ipomeanol metabolism in bile of rats by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Earlier studies postulated that bioactivation of 4-ipomeanol by cytochrome P450 enzymes may occur through oxidation of its furan ring, following a mechanism similar to the bioactivation of other furan-containing compounds. This would lead to the formation of furan epoxides and alpha,beta-unsaturated di-aldehyde-reactive metabolites that can conjugate with glutathione. These metabolites are thought to be responsible for the cytotoxic and anticancer properties of 4-ipomeanol. We hypothesized that if 4-ipomeanol is metabolized following this pathway, its glutathione conjugates would be isobaric (molecular ion mass = 492 Da) and would be excreted in bile. To investigate this hypothesis, we analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry the bile of rats administered d0/d6 4-ipomeanol (1:1 ratio) intravenously. Hexadeuterated 4-ipomeanol had all deuterium atoms incorporated on its aliphatic chain. Multiple reaction monitoring scans of bile for the mass transition: MH+/(MH - 129)+, which is characteristic of glutathione conjugates, detected four glutathione conjugates. The observation of the isotope cluster (M + 1)+ (d0)/(MH + 6)+ (d6) in a 1:1 molar ratio confirmed that these conjugates were derived from 4-ipomeanol. Retention of the six deuterium atoms in the glutathione conjugates detected, (MH + 6)+, indicates that the bioactivation of 4-ipomeanol took place on the furan ring moiety. Rat hepatic microsomal incubations provided additional evidence. From this study, the mass of the reactive metabolites of 4-ipomeanol can be inferred. The inferred mass (186 Da) matches the mass postulated. A pathway of 4-ipomeanol bioactivation is proposed here. This work represents one step forward to understanding the mechanism of bioactivation of 4-ipomeanol.

Mechanism-based inactivation of cytochrome P450 3A4 by 4-ipomeanol.

Earlier phase I and II clinical studies showed that 4-ipomeanol produced selective hepatotoxicity. To investigate the mechanism of bioactivation of 4-ipomeanol, we thoroughly studied the interaction of 4-ipomeanol with human cytochrome P450 3A4 (EC 1.14.14.1). 4-Ipomeanol produced a time- and concentration-dependent inactivation of P450 3A4. More than 80% of the P450 3A4 activity was lost after its incubation with 4-ipomeanol at the concentration of 75 microM in 12 min. The inactivation was characterized by a rate of inactivation (kinact) of 0.15 min(-1) and by an inactivation potency (KI) of 20 microM. In addition, the inhibition of P450 3A4 by 4-ipomeanol was NADPH-dependent and irreversible. Glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase failed to protect P450 3A4 from inactivation by 4-ipomeanol. The presence of testosterone, a substrate of P450 3A4, protected the enzyme from inactivation. The estimated partition ratio of the inactivation was approximately 257. Covalent binding studies demonstrated that reactive metabolites of 4-ipomeanol modified P450 3A4 but not P450 reductase (EC 1.6.2.4). The stoichiometry of binding between reactive metabolites of radiolabeled 4-ipomeanol and P450 3A4 was approximately 1.5:1. In addition to P450 3A4, reactive metabolites of 4-ipomeanol were found to covalently bind to other proteins. 4-Ipomeanol failed to inactivate P450 1A2 in human liver microsomes. In conclusion, 4-ipomeanol irreversibly inhibited P450 3A4, and it was characterized as a mechanism-based inactivator of P450 3A4. This finding facilitates the understanding of the mechanism of bioactivation of 4-ipomeanol by human hepatic enzymes.