Issue 18, 2007

Dual aromatase–sulfatase inhibitors based on the anastrozole template: synthesis, in vitro SAR, molecular modelling and in vivo activity

Abstract

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of novel Dual Aromatase–Sulfatase Inhibitors (DASIs) are described. It is postulated that dual inhibition of the aromatase and steroid sulfatase enzymes, both responsible for the biosynthesis of oestrogens, will be beneficial in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer. The compounds are based upon the Anastrozolearomatase inhibitor template which, while maintaining the haem ligating triazole moiety crucial for enzyme inhibition, was modified to include a phenol sulfamate ester motif, the pharmacophore for potent irreversible steroid sulfatase inhibition. Adaption of a synthetic route to Anastrozole was accomplished via selective radical bromination and substitution reactions to furnish a series of aromatase inhibitory pharmacophores. Linking these fragments to the phenol sulfamate ester moiety employed SN2, Heck and Mitsunobu reactions with phenolic precursors, from where the completed DASIs were achieved via sulfamoylation. In vitro, the lead compound, 11, had a high degree of potency against aromatase (IC50 3.5 nM), comparable with that of Anastrozole (IC50 1.5 nM) whereas, only moderate activity against steroid sulfatase was found. However, in vivo, 11 surprisingly exhibited potent dual inhibition. Compound 11 was modelled into the active site of a homology model of human aromatase and the X-ray crystal structure of steroid sulfatase.

Graphical abstract: Dual aromatase–sulfatase inhibitors based on the anastrozole template: synthesis, in vitro SAR, molecular modelling and in vivo activity

Supplementary files

Additions and corrections

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 May 2007
Accepted
18 Jul 2007
First published
12 Sep 2007

Org. Biomol. Chem., 2007,5, 2940-2952

Dual aromatase–sulfatase inhibitors based on the anastrozole template: synthesis, in vitro SAR, molecular modelling and in vivo activity

T. Jackson, L. W. L. Woo, M. N. Trusselle, S. K. Chander, A. Purohit, M. J. Reed and B. V. L. Potter, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2007, 5, 2940 DOI: 10.1039/B707768H

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