Design and synthesis of novel substituted benzyl pyrrolopyrimidine derivatives as selective BTK inhibitors for treating mantle cell lymphoma

• Published in: Bioorganic chemistry Vol. 112; p. 104968
• Main Authors: Ran, Fansheng, Liu, Yang, Chen, Xin, Zhuo, Huijun, Xu, Changqing, Li, Yuxia, Duan, Xiaoming, Zhao, Guisen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAN DIEGO Elsevier Inc 01.07.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antitumor; Apoptosis; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; BTK inhibitor; Chemistry; Chemistry, Organic; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Mantle cell lymphoma; Physical Sciences; Science & Technology; Selectivity; Selectivity; BTK inhibitor; Mantle cell lymphoma; Antitumor; Apoptosis; ANALOGS; TYROSINE KINASE; IBRUTINIB; DISCOVERY
• ISSN: 0045-2068; 1090-2120
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.104968

[Display omitted] •15c exhibited potent BTK inhibitory activity.•15c inhibited BTK signaling in Z138 cells at low micromolar effectively.•15c induced cell apoptosis in Z138 cells at low micromolar strongly.•15c showed higher ROS levels in Z138 cells than ibrutinib.•15c induced autophagy in Z138 cells. Ibrutinib, a potent irreversible Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, was approved by the FDA for treating mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Although ibrutinib exhibited excellent antitumor activity, it was associated with certain adverse reactions, with off-target effects against EGFR, Itk and Src family kinases. Our studies yielded a novel series of substituted benzyl pyrrolopyrimidine derivatives capable of potent inhibition of BTK. Compared with ibrutinib, compound 15c exhibited potent BTK inhibitory activity and enhanced antiproliferative activity, a 12–24-fold increase, against MCL cell lines, with IC50 values lower than 1 μM. Low micromolar doses of 15c inhibited the BCR signaling pathway and strongly induced the apoptosis of Z138 cells. Ibrutinib and 15c induced autophagy in a dose-dependent manner in Z138 cells. Moreover, compound 15c induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may be a reason for its potent antiproliferative activity. Importantly, compound 15c showed greater BTK selectivity than ibrutinib, indicating a potentially safer treatment of MCL.