Disposition of GDC-0879, a B-RAF kinase inhibitor in preclinical species

Oximes: Novel Therapeutics with Anticancer and Anti-Inflammatory Potential

Oximes have been studied for decades because of their significant roles as acetylcholinesterase reactivators. Over the last twenty years, a large number of oximes have been reported with useful pharmaceutical properties, including compounds with antibacterial, anticancer, anti-arthritis, and anti-stroke activities. Many oximes are kinase inhibitors and have been shown to inhibit over 40 different kinases, including AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK), serine/threonine kinases glycogen synthase kinase 3 α/β (GSK-3α/β), Aurora A, B-Raf, Chk1, death-associated protein-kinase-related 2 (DRAK2), phosphorylase kinase (PhK), serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase (SGK), Janus tyrosine kinase (JAK), and multiple receptor and non-receptor tyrosine kinases. Some oximes are inhibitors of lipoxygenase 5, human neutrophil elastase, and proteinase 3. The oxime group contains two H-bond acceptors (nitrogen and oxygen atoms) and one H-bond donor (OH group), versus only one H-bond acceptor present in carbonyl groups. This feature, together with the high polarity of oxime groups, may lead to a significantly different mode of interaction with receptor binding sites compared to corresponding carbonyl compounds, despite small changes in the total size and shape of the compound. In addition, oximes can generate nitric oxide. This review is focused on oximes as kinase inhibitors with anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Oximes with non-kinase targets or mechanisms of anti-inflammatory activity are also discussed.

Targeting a Braf/Mapk pathway rescues podocyte lipid peroxidation in CoQ-deficiency kidney disease

Mutations affecting mitochondrial coenzyme Q (CoQ) biosynthesis lead to kidney failure due to selective loss of podocytes, essential cells of the kidney filter. Curiously, neighboring tubular epithelial cells are spared early in disease despite higher mitochondrial content. We sought to illuminate noncanonical, cell-specific roles for CoQ, independently of the electron transport chain (ETC). Here, we demonstrate that CoQ depletion caused by Pdss2 enzyme deficiency in podocytes results in perturbations in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolism and the Braf/Mapk pathway rather than ETC dysfunction. Single-nucleus RNA-Seq from kidneys of Pdss2kd/kd mice with nephrotic syndrome and global CoQ deficiency identified a podocyte-specific perturbation of the Braf/Mapk pathway. Treatment with GDC-0879, a Braf/Mapk-targeting compound, ameliorated kidney disease in Pdss2kd/kd mice. Mechanistic studies in Pdss2-depleted podocytes revealed a previously unknown perturbation in PUFA metabolism that was confirmed in vivo. Gpx4, an enzyme that protects against PUFA-mediated lipid peroxidation, was elevated in disease and restored after GDC-0879 treatment. We demonstrate broader human disease relevance by uncovering patterns of GPX4 and Braf/Mapk pathway gene expression in tissue from patients with kidney diseases. Our studies reveal ETC-independent roles for CoQ in podocytes and point to Braf/Mapk as a candidate pathway for the treatment of kidney diseases.

Role of the ERK1/2 pathway in tumor chemoresistance and tumor therapy

Chemotherapy is one of the important methods for treatment in tumors. However, many tumor patients may experience tumor recurrence because of treatment failure due to chemoresistance. Although many signaling pathways could influence chemoresistance of tumor cells, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) pathway has gained significant attention because of its implications in signaling and which has crosstalk with other signaling pathways. Extensive studies conclude that ERK1/2 pathway is responding to chemoresistance in many kinds of malignant tumors. The aim of this review is to discuss on the role of ERK1/2 pathway in chemoresistance and therapy of tumors. A comprehensive understanding of ERK1/2 pathway in chemoresistance of tumors could provide novel avenues for treatment strategies of tumors.

BRAF inhibitors in cancer therapy

Activating BRAF mutations, leading to constitutive activation of the MAPK signaling pathway, are common in a variety of human cancers. Several small molecule BRAF inhibitors have been developed during the last years and shown promising results in clinical trials, especially for metastatic melanoma, while they have been less effective in colon cancer. Two inhibitors, vemurafenib and dabrafenib, have been approved for treatment of melanoma. Unfortunately, in most patients who initially respond the tumors eventually develop acquired resistance to the BRAF inhibitors. So far, a number of resistance mechanisms have been identified, including secondary NRAS mutations and BRAF alternative splicing, leading to reactivation of the MAPK pathway. Other alterations, both upstream and downstream of BRAF can have the same effect, and activation of alternative pathways can also play a role in resistance to BRAF inhibitors. In addition, intra-tumor heterogeneity with the presence of clones of tumor cells lacking BRAF mutations needs to be considered, since wildtype BRAF can be activated by inhibitors designed to target mutated BRAF. Combination of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib with the MEK inhibitor trametinib has significantly prolonged progression free survival compared to dabrafenib alone in metastatic melanoma. Combination treatments of BRAF inhibitors with other agents may not only circumvent or delay resistance, but may also lead to fewer side effects, such as development of secondary squamous tumors. Several clinical trials are underway for many different BRAF mutation positive cancers with BRAF inhibitors alone or in combination with other small molecule inhibitors, immunotherapies or conventional chemotherapy.

Preclinical disposition of GDC-0973 and prospective and retrospective analysis of human dose and efficacy predictions

[3,4-Difluoro-2-(2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino)-phenyl]-((S)-3-hydroxy-3-piperidin-2-yl-azetidin-1-yl)-methanone (GDC-0973) is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 (MEK1/2), a MAPK kinase that activates ERK1/2. The objectives of these studies were to characterize the disposition of GDC-0973 in preclinical species and to determine the relationship of GDC-0973 plasma concentrations to efficacy in Colo205 mouse xenograft models. The clearance (CL) of GDC-0973 was moderate in mouse (33.5 ml · min(-1) · kg(-1)), rat (37.9 ± 7.2 ml · min(-1) · kg(-1)), and monkey (29.6 ± 8.5 ml · min(-1) · kg(-1)). CL in dog was low (5.5 ± 0.3 ml · min(-1) · kg(-1)). The volume of distribution across species was large, 6-fold to 15-fold body water; half-lives ranged from 4 to 13 h. Protein binding in mouse, rat, dog, monkey, and human was high, with percentage unbound, 1 to 6%. GDC-0973-related radioactivity was rapidly and extensively distributed to tissues; however, low concentrations were observed in the brain. In rats and dogs, [(14)C]GDC-0973 was well absorbed (fraction absorbed, 70-80%). The majority of [(14)C]GDC-0973-related radioactivity was recovered in the bile of rat (74-81%) and dog (65%). The CL and volume of distribution of GDC-0973 in human, predicted by allometry, was 2.9 ml · min(-1) · kg(-1) and 9.9 l/kg, respectively. The predicted half-life was 39 h. To characterize the relationship between plasma concentration of GDC-0973 and tumor growth inhibition, pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling was applied using an indirect response model. The KC(50) value for tumor growth inhibition in Colo205 xenografts was estimated to be 0.389 μM, and the predicted clinical efficacious dose was ∼10 mg. Taken together, these data are useful in assessing the disposition of GDC-0973, and where available, comparisons with human data were made.

Non-oxime pyrazole based inhibitors of B-Raf kinase

The synthesis and biological evaluation of non-oxime pyrazole based B-Raf inhibitors is reported. Several oxime replacements have been prepared and have shown excellent enzyme activity. Further optimization of fused pyrazole 2a led to compound 38, a selective and potent B-Raf inhibitor.