Synthesis of amide and sulfonamide substituted N-aryl 6-aminoquinoxalines as PFKFB3 inhibitors with improved physicochemical properties.

In oncology, the "Warburg effect" describes the elevated production of energy by glycolysis in cancer cells. The ubiquitous and hypoxia-induced 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) plays a noteworthy role in the regulation of glycolysis by producing fructose-2,6-biphosphate (F-2,6-BP), a potent activator of the glycolysis rate-limiting phosphofructokinase PFK-1. Series of amides and sulfonamides derivatives based on a N-aryl 6-aminoquinoxaline scaffold were synthesized and tested for their inhibition of PFKFB3 in vitro in a biochemical assay as well as in HCT116 cells. The carboxamide series displayed satisfactory kinetic solubility and metabolic stability, and within this class, potent lead compounds with low nanomolar activity have been identified with a suitable profile for further in vivo evaluation.

Discovery of 5-{2-[5-Chloro-2-(5-ethoxyquinoline-8-sulfonamido)phenyl]ethynyl}-4-methoxypyridine-2-carboxylic Acid, a Highly Selective in Vivo Useable Chemical Probe to Dissect MCT4 Biology.

Due to increased lactate production during glucose metabolism, tumor cells heavily rely on efficient lactate transport to avoid intracellular lactate accumulation and acidification. Monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4/SLC16A3) is a lactate transporter that plays a central role in tumor pH modulation. The discovery and optimization of a novel class of MCT4 inhibitors (hit 9a), identified by a cellular screening in MDA-MB-231, is described. Direct target interaction of the optimized compound 18n with the cytosolic domain of MCT4 was shown after solubilization of the GFP-tagged transporter by fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy and microscopic studies. In vitro treatment with 18n resulted in lactate efflux inhibition and reduction of cellular viability in MCT4 high expressing cells. Moreover, pharmacokinetic properties of 18n allowed assessment of lactate modulation and antitumor activity in a mouse tumor model. Thus, 18n represents a valuable tool for investigating selective MCT4 inhibition and its effect on tumor biology.

Discovery and Structure-Activity Relationships of N-Aryl 6-Aminoquinoxalines as Potent PFKFB3 Kinase Inhibitors.

Energy and biomass production in cancer cells are largely supported by aerobic glycolysis in what is called the Warburg effect. The process is regulated by key enzymes, among which phosphofructokinase PFK-2 plays a significant role by producing fructose-2,6-biphosphate; the most potent activator of the glycolysis rate-limiting step performed by phosphofructokinase PFK-1. Herein, the synthesis, biological evaluation and structure-activity relationship of novel inhibitors of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), which is the ubiquitous and hypoxia-induced isoform of PFK-2, are reported. X-ray crystallography and docking were instrumental in the design and optimisation of a series of N-aryl 6-aminoquinoxalines. The most potent representative, N-(4-methanesulfonylpyridin-3-yl)-8-(3-methyl-1-benzothiophen-5-yl)quinoxalin-6-amine, displayed an IC50 of 14 nm for the target and an IC50 of 0.49 µm for fructose-2,6-biphosphate production in human colon carcinoma HCT116 cells. This work provides a new entry in the field of PFKFB3 inhibitors with potential for development in oncology.