Dual-Inhibitors of N-Myc and AURKA as Potential Therapy for Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer.
Int J Mol Sci
; 21(21)2020 Nov 05.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33167327
ABSTRACT
Resistance to androgen-receptor (AR) directed therapies is, among other factors, associated with Myc transcription factors that are involved in development and progression of many cancers. Overexpression of N-Myc protein in prostate cancer (PCa) leads to its transformation to advanced neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) that currently has no approved treatments. N-Myc has a short half-life but acts as an NEPC stimulator when it is stabilized by forming a protective complex with Aurora A kinase (AURKA). Therefore, dual-inhibition of N-Myc and AURKA would be an attractive therapeutic avenue for NEPC. Following our computer-aided drug discovery approach, compounds exhibiting potent N-Myc specific inhibition and strong anti-proliferative activity against several N-Myc driven cell lines, were identified. Thereafter, we have developed dual inhibitors of N-Myc and AURKA through structure-based drug design approach by merging our novel N-Myc specific chemical scaffolds with fragments of known AURKA inhibitors. Favorable binding modes of the designed compounds to both N-Myc and AURKA target sites have been predicted by docking. A promising lead compound, 70812, demonstrated low-micromolar potency against both N-Myc and AURKA in vitro assays and effectively suppressed NEPC cell growth.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Prostatic Neoplasms
/
Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine
/
Aurora Kinase A
/
N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein
/
Antineoplastic Agents
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Int J Mol Sci
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Canada