Structure-Based Design and Optimization of Methionine Adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A) Inhibitors with High Selectivity, Brain Penetration, and In Vivo Efficacy

J Med Chem. 2024 Jun 13;67(11):9431-9446. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00552. Epub 2024 May 31.

Abstract

Synthetic lethality has recently emerged as a new approach for the treatment of mutated genes that were previously considered undruggable. Targeting methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A) in cancers with deletion of the methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) gene leads to synthetic lethality and thus has attracted significant interest in the field of precise anticancer drug development. Herein, we report the discovery of a series of novel MAT2A inhibitors featuring a pyrazolo[3,4-c]quinolin-4-one skeleton based on structure-based drug design. Further optimization led to compound 39, which has a high potency for inhibiting MAT2A and a remarkable selectivity for MTAP-deleted cancer cell lines. Compound 39 has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile with high plasma exposure and oral bioavailability, and it exhibits significant efficacy in xenograft MTAP-depleted models. Moreover, 39 demonstrates excellent brain exposure with a Kpuu of 0.64 in rats.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Brain* / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Design*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors* / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Inhibitors* / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors* / pharmacokinetics
  • Enzyme Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methionine Adenosyltransferase* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Methionine Adenosyltransferase* / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Methionine Adenosyltransferase
  • MAT2A protein, human
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents