WO2002079147A2 - Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase - Google Patents

Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002079147A2
WO2002079147A2 PCT/US2002/009213 US0209213W WO02079147A2 WO 2002079147 A2 WO2002079147 A2 WO 2002079147A2 US 0209213 W US0209213 W US 0209213W WO 02079147 A2 WO02079147 A2 WO 02079147A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
unsubstituted
substituted
alkyl
heterocycle
methyl
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2002/009213
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2002079147B1 (en
WO2002079147A3 (en
Inventor
S. Jane Desolms
Anthony W. Shaw
Original Assignee
Merck & Co., Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Merck & Co., Inc. filed Critical Merck & Co., Inc.
Priority to AU2002254375A priority Critical patent/AU2002254375A1/en
Publication of WO2002079147A2 publication Critical patent/WO2002079147A2/en
Publication of WO2002079147A3 publication Critical patent/WO2002079147A3/en
Publication of WO2002079147B1 publication Critical patent/WO2002079147B1/en

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D403/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, having nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by group C07D401/00
    • C07D403/14—Heterocyclic compounds containing two or more hetero rings, having nitrogen atoms as the only ring hetero atoms, not provided for by group C07D401/00 containing three or more hetero rings
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P13/00—Drugs for disorders of the urinary system
    • A61P13/12—Drugs for disorders of the urinary system of the kidneys
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
    • A61P31/12—Antivirals
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents

Definitions

  • Ras proteins are part of a signalling pathway that links cell surface growth factor receptors to nuclear signals initiating cellular proliferation.
  • Biological and biochemical studies of Ras action indicate that Ras functions like a G-regulatory protein.
  • Ras In the inactive state, Ras is bound to GDP.
  • Ras Upon growth factor receptor activation Ras is induced to exchange GDP for GTP and undergoes a conformational change.
  • the GTP-bound form of Ras propagates the growth stimulatory signal until the signal is terminated by the intrinsic GTPase activity of Ras, which returns the protein to its inactive GDP bound form (D.R. Lowy and D.M.
  • Mutated ras genes (Ha-ras, Ki4a-ras, Ki4b-r ⁇ s and N-ras) are found in many human cancers, including colorectal carcinoma, exocrine pancreatic carcinoma, and myeloid leukemias. The protein products of these genes are defective in their GTPase activity and constitutively transmit a growth stimulatory signal.
  • Ras must be localized to the plasma membrane for both normal and oncogenic functions. At least 3 post-translational modifications are involved with Ras membrane localization, and all 3 modifications occur at the C-terminus of Ras.
  • the Ras C-terminus contains a sequence motif termed a "CAAX” or "Cys-Aaal- Aaa2-Xaa” box (Cys is cysteine, Aaa is an aliphatic amino acid, the Xaa is any amino acid) (Willumsen et ⁇ l, Nature 310:583-586 (1984)).
  • this motif serves as a signal sequence for the enzymes farnesyl-protein transferase or geranylgeranyl-protein transferase, which catalyze the alkylation of the cysteine residue of the CAAX motif with a C15 or C20 isoprenoid, respectively.
  • Ras protein transferases Such enzymes may be generally termed prenyl-protein transferases.
  • the Ras protein is one of several proteins that are known to undergo post-translational famesylation.
  • Other famesylated proteins include the Ras-related GTP-binding proteins such as Rho, fungal mating factors, the nuclear lamins, and the gamma subunit of transducin. James, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269, 14182 (1994) have identified a peroxisome associated protein Pxf which is also famesylated.
  • Famesyl-protein transferase utilizes famesyl pyrophosphate to covalently modify the Cys thiol group of the Ras CAAX box with a famesyl group (Reiss et al., Cell, 62:81-88 (1990); Schaber et al., J. Biol. Chem., 265:14701-14704 (1990); Schafer et al., Science, 249:1133-1139 (1990); Manne et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA, 57:7541-7545 (1990)).
  • Inhibition of famesyl pyrophosphate biosynthesis by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase blocks Ras membrane localization in cultured cells.
  • direct inhibition of famesyl- protein transferase would be more specific and attended by fewer side effects than would occur with the required dose of a general inhibitor of isoprene biosynthesis.
  • FPTase famesyl-protein transferase
  • FPP famesyl diphosphate
  • Ras protein substrates
  • the peptide derived inhibitors that have been described are generally cysteine containing molecules that are related to the CAAX motif that is the signal for protein prenylation.
  • Such inhibitors may inhibit protein prenylation while serving as alternate substrates for the famesyl-protein transferase enzyme, or may be purely competitive inhibitors (U.S. Patent 5,141,851, University of Texas; N.E. Kohl et al., Science, 260:1934-1937 (1993); Graham, et al, J. Med. Chem., 37, 725 (1994)).
  • deletion of the thiol from a CAAX derivative has been shown to dramatically reduce the inhibitory potency of the compound.
  • the thiol group potentially places limitations on the therapeutic application of FPTase inhibitors with respect to pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicity. Therefore, a functional replacement for the thiol is desirable.
  • famesyl-protein transferase inhibitors are inhibitors of proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and are therefore useful in the prevention and therapy of arteriosclerosis and diabetic disturbance of blood vessels (JP H7-112930).
  • an object of this invention to develop compounds that will inhibit prenyl-protein transferase and thus, the post-translational isoprenylation of proteins. It is a further object of this invention to develop chemotherapeutic compositions containing the compounds of this invention and methods for producing the compounds of this invention.
  • the present invention comprises non-prodrug compounds which inhibit prenyl-protein transferase. Further contained in this invention are chemotherapeutic compositions containing these prenyl-protein transferase inhibitors and methods for their production.
  • the compounds of this invention are useful in the inhibition of prenyl- protein transferase.
  • the inhibitors of prenyl- protein transferase are illustrated by the formula A:
  • Rl a and Rib are independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, c) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, d) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl, e) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl, f) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl, g) R 8 O-, h) R 9 S(O) q -, i) CN, j) NO 2 , k) R 8 C(O)-,
  • Rl is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, ) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, e) -(Ci-C 6 alkyl)N(R8) 2 , f) -R8C(O)R8, g) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8, i) -OR8,
  • R3 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO 2 , d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-C ⁇ alkyl, ) OR 8 , g) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, h) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and i) CF 3 ;
  • R6 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) OR 8 , and d) -C(O)(C ⁇ -C 6 alkyl);
  • R7 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl,
  • R 8 is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted C ⁇ -C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, d) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and e) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
  • R 9 is independently selected from: a) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cg alkyl, b) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
  • M is selected from CH2, NH, O and S;
  • W is selected from: a) heterocycle, and b) aryl;
  • Y is selected from: a) aryl, and b) heterocycle
  • Z is selected from: a) aryl, b) heterocycle, and c) C3-C10 cycloalkyl;
  • Rla is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, c) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, d) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl, e) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C alkenyl, f) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl, g) R 8 O-, h) R 9 S(O) q -, i) CN, j) NO2, k) R 8 C(O)-,
  • Rl is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-C alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, d) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, e) -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8) 2 , f) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8, g) -(C ⁇ -C 6 alkyl)OR8, i) -OR 8 , j) -(C1-C6 alkyl)NHC(O)R8, k) -(Ci-C 6 alkyl)C(O)N(R8) 2 ,
  • R 3 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO , d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C ⁇ -C6 alkyl, f) OR 8 , g) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, h) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and i) CF 3 ;
  • R5 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO 2 , d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl
  • R6 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C alkyl, c) OR 8 , and d) -C(O)(C ⁇ -C6 alkyl);
  • R7 is selected from: a) H, and b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl
  • R 8 is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-C ⁇ alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
  • R 9 is independently selected from: a) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-C ⁇ alkyl, b) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
  • W is selected from: a) heterocycle, and b) aryl;
  • Y is selected from: a) aryl, and b) heterocycle
  • Z is selected from: a) aryl, and b) heterocycle; m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; p is 1 or 2; q is 0, 1 or 2; s is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; and t is 0, 1, 2 or 3;
  • Rla is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, c) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, d) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl, e) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl, f) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl, g) R 8 O-, h) R 9 S(O) q -, i) CN, j) NO 2 , k) R 8 C(O)-,
  • R 3 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, ) OR8, g) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, h) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and i) CF 3 ;
  • R 5 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO 2 , d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl
  • R6 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl c) OR 8 , and d) -C(O)(C ⁇ -C6 alkyl);
  • R7 is selected from: a) H, and b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl;
  • R8 is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
  • R 9 is independently selected from: a) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, b) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
  • W is selected from: a) heterocycle, and b) aryl;
  • n 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4
  • p is l or 2
  • q 0, 1 or 2
  • s is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4
  • t is 0, 1, 2 or 3;
  • a is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, c) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, d) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl, e) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C alkenyl, f) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl, g) R80-, h) R 9 S(O) q -, i) CN, j) R 8 C(O)-, k) R 8 OC(O)- 5 m) (R8) 2 NC(O)-, n) C(O)N(R8)-, and o) C1-C6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by
  • Rl is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, d) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, e) -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8) 2 , f) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8, g) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8, i) -OR8, j) -(C1-C6 alkyl)NHC(O)R8, k) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)N(R8) 2 ,
  • R 3 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO , d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, ) OR8, g) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, h) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and i) CF 3 ;
  • R6 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-C ⁇ alkyl, and c) -C(O)(C ⁇ -C 6 alkyl);
  • R7 is selected from: a) H, and b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl;
  • R8 is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-C ⁇ alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
  • R 9 is independently selected from: a) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, b) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
  • Al is selected from: a) O, b) S(O) q , and c) NR8;
  • W is a heterocycle, selected from imidazolyl or pyridyl
  • n 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4
  • q 0, 1 or 2
  • s is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4
  • t is 0, 1, 2 or 3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an optical isomer or stereoisomer thereof.
  • the compounds of the present invention may have asymmetric centers and occur as racemates, racemic mixtures, and as individual diastereomers, with all possible isomers, including optical isomers, being included in the present invention.
  • any variable, term or substituent e.g. aryl, heterocycle, n, R* a , etc.
  • substituents/or variables are permissible only if such combinations result in stable compounds.
  • alkyl is intended to include both branched and straight-chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, unless otherwise specified; "alkoxy” represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, unless otherwise indicated, attached through an oxygen bridge.
  • Hydrogen or “halo” as used herein means fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo.
  • Cycloalkyl as used herein is intended to include non-aromatic cyclic hydrocarbon groups, having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, unless indicated otherwise, which may or may not be bridged or stracturally constrained.
  • Examples of such cycloalkyls include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, adamantyl, cyclooctyl, cycloheptyl, tetrahydro-naphthalene, methylenecylohexyl, and the like.
  • aryl is intended to mean any stable monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic carbon ring of up to 7 members in each ring, wherein at least one ring is aromatic.
  • aryl elements include phenyl, naphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, indanyl, indanonyl, biphenyl, tetralinyl, tetralonyl, fluorenonyl, phenanthryl, anthryl or acenaphthyl.
  • aralkyl is intended to mean an aryl moiety, as defined above, attached through a Cj-C ⁇ alkyl linker, where alkyl is defined above.
  • aralkyls include, but are not limited to, benzyl, naphthylmethyl and phenylpropyl.
  • heterocyclylalkyl is intended to mean a heterocyclic moiety, as defined below, attached through a C1-C alkyl linker, where alkyl is defined above.
  • heterocyclylalkyls include, but are not limited to, 2-pyridylmethyl, 2-morpholinylefhyl, 2-imidazolylethyl, 2-quinolinylmethyl, 2-imidazolylmethyl, and the like.
  • heterocycle or heterocyclic represents a stable 5- to 7-membered monocyclic or stable 8- to 11-membered bicyclic heterocyclic ring which is either saturated or unsaturated, and which consists of carbon atoms and from one to four heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O, and S, and including any bicyclic group in which any of the above-defined heterocyclic rings is fused to a benzene ring.
  • the heterocyclic ring may be attached at any heteroatom or carbon atom which results in the creation of a stable structure.
  • heterocyclic elements include, but are not limited to, azepinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzofurazanyl, benzopyranyl, benzothiopyranyl, benzofuryl, benzothiazolyl, benzothienyl, benzoxazolyl, benzopyrazolyl, chromanyl, cinnolinyl, dibenzofuranyl, dihydrobenzofuryl, dihydrobenzothienyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl sulfone, furyl, imidazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolyl, indolinyl, indolyl, isochromanyl, isoindolinyl, isoquinolinyl, isothiazolidinyl, isothiazolyl, isothiazolidinyl, morpholinyl, naphth
  • heteroaryl is intended to mean any stable monocyclic or bicyclic carbon ring of up to 7 members in each ring, wherein at least one ring is aromatic and wherein from one to four carbon atoms are replaced by heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O, and S.
  • heteroaryl elements include, but are not limited to, benzimidazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzo- furazanyl, benzopyranyl, benzothiopyranyl, benzofuryl, benzothiazolyl, benzothienyl, benzoxazolyl, chromanyl, cinnolinyl, dihydrobenzofuryl, dihydrobenzothienyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl sulfone, furyl, imidazolyl, indolinyl, indolyl, isochromanyl, isoindolinyl, isoquinolinyl, isothiazolyl, naphthyridinyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, quinazol
  • Cg alkenyl "substituted C2- Cg alkynyl” and “substituted Cl- Cg alkoxy” are intended to include the branch or straight-chain alkyl group of the specified number of carbon atoms, wherein the carbon atoms may be substituted with F, Cl, Br, CF3, N3, NO 2 , NH 2 , oxo, -OH, -O(C ⁇ - C 6 alkyl), S(O) ⁇ -2, (Cl- C 6 alkyl)S(O) ⁇ -2-, (Cl- C 6 alkyI)S(O)0-2(Cl- C ⁇ alkyl)-, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, -C(O)NH, (Cl- C 6 alkyl)C(O)NH-, H2NC(O)NH-, H2NC(NH)-, (Cl- C 6 alkyl)C
  • substituted aryl substituted aryl
  • substituted heteroaryl substituted C3- C ⁇ o cycloalkyl
  • substituted aralkyl substituted heterocyclylalkyl
  • substituted benzyl and “substituted hetrocycle” are intended to include the cyclic group containing from 1 to 3 substitutents in addition to the point of attachment to the rest of the compound.
  • substitutents are preferably selected from the group which includes but is not limited to F, Cl, Br, CF3, NE ⁇ 2, N(C ⁇ -C6 alkyl)2, NO2, CN, N3, C1-C20 alkyl, - C 6 alkoxy, -OH, -O(Ci-C6 alkyl), S(O) 0 -2, (Cl- C 6 alkyl)S(O) 0 -2-, (Cl- C 6 alkyl)S(O) 0 -2(C ⁇ - C 6 alkyl)-, (C ⁇ -C 6 alkyl)C(O)NH-, H2NC(O)NH-, H2N-C(NH)-, (C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)-, (C1
  • Lines drawn into the ring systems from substituents indicate that the indicated bond may be attached to any of the substitutable ring carbon atoms or heteroatoms.
  • Rl is independently selected from H, unsubstituted or substituted Ci-C ⁇ alkyl, -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, -(C1-C6 alkyl)NR8c(O)N(R8) 2 .
  • Rl is independently selected from H, unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, and unsubstituted or substituted aryl.
  • R 2 is independently selected from H, OR8, CN, NO2, unsubstituted or substituted aryl or halogen. Most preferably, R is CN.
  • R 3 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO2, and unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl.
  • R ⁇ is independently selected from hydrogen or unsubstituted or substituted C1-C alkyl.
  • R6 is H or unsubstituted or substituded Ci-C ⁇ alkyl.
  • Al and A are independently selected from: a bond , O, -NR8, C(O) and S(O)q. More preferably, Al is O, -NR 8 , C(O) or S(O)q and A2 is a bond. Most preferably, Al is O.
  • M is selected from CH2 or NH.
  • W is a heterocycle. More preferably, W is pyrrolidinyl, imidazolyl, pyridyl, 2-oxopiperidinyl, and triazolyl. Most preferably, W is imidazolyl, or pyridyl.
  • Y is selected from phenyl or pyridyl. Most preferably, Y is phenyl.
  • Z is selected from aryl or heterocycle. Most preferably, Z is phenyl or pyridyl.
  • m, n, q, r and s are independently 0, 1, or 2.
  • t is 0, 1, or 2. Most preferably, t is 2. It is intended that the definition of any substituent or variable
  • -C(R ia )2 represents -CH2, -CHCH3, -CHC2H5, etc. It is understood that substituents and substitution patterns on the compounds of the instant invention can be selected by one of ordinary skill in the art to provide compounds that are chemically stable and that can be readily synthesized by techniques known in the art, as well as those methods set forth below, from readily available starting materials.
  • the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention include the conventional non-toxic salts of the compounds of this invention as formed, e.g., from non-toxic inorganic or organic acids.
  • such conventional non-toxic salts include those derived from inorganic acids such as hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, sulfamic, phosphoric, nitric and the like: and the salts prepared from organic acids such as acetic, propionic, succinic, glycolic, stearic, lactic, malic, tartaric, citric, ascorbic, pamoic, maleic, hydroxymaleic, phenylacetic, glutamic, benzoic, salicylic, sulfanilic, 2-acetoxy-benzoic, fumaric, toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic, ethane disulfonic, oxalic, isethionic, trifluoroacetic and the like.
  • the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention can be synthesized from the compounds of this invention which contain a basic moiety by conventional chemical methods. Generally, the salts are prepared either by ion exchange chromatography or by reacting the free base with stoichio- metric amounts or with an excess of the desired salt-forming inorganic or organic acid in a suitable solvent or various combinations of solvents.
  • Schemes 1-4 describe the synthesis of compounds of formula A.
  • the starting materials can be obtained from commercial sources or they can be obtained using standard transformations from commercially available materials.
  • Scheme 1 represents the synthesis of the 1-methylimidazole-containing compounds of the instant invention.
  • Double lithiation of 1 followed by reaction with 2 gave alcohol 3 which was oxidized to ketone 4.
  • Imine formation of 4 with t-butyl sulfenamine using methods described by J. Ellman et al. (Cogan, D. A., Liu, G., Ellman, J. A. Tetrahedron 1999, 55, 8838 - 8904) provided the key intermediate 5.
  • Alkylation with a suitably substituted organometallic reagent gave compound 6 which upon further manipulation led to 7.
  • Treatment of 7 with a phenol (ROH) in the presence of a base such as cesium carbonate or KF on alumina provided the compounds of the instant invention.
  • ROH phenol
  • Scheme 3 describes a method for preparing compounds containing a pyridyl ring in place of imidazole.
  • the point of attachment of the pyridyl ring to the rest of the molecule in compound 15 is determined by the position of the lithium in the organometallic reagent and may be ortho-, meta-, or para- to the pyridyl nitrogen.
  • One with ordinary skill in the art would know how to synthesize the desired compound using techniques and reagents known in the art.
  • Scheme 4 illustrates methods for modifying the spiro nitrogen- containing heterocycle by acylation, carbamoylation, alkylation, and sulfonylation.
  • Scheme 5 illustrates the synthesis of a lactam intermediate 29 and the coupling of intermediate 29 with intermediate 7 to obtain compound 30.
  • R*Si represents a protecting group
  • R independently represents the following moiety:
  • X is independently represents a halide.
  • the compounds of the invention are selective inhibitors of famesyl-protein transferase.
  • a compound is considered a selective inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase, for example, when its in vitro famesyl-protein transferase inhibitory activity, as assessed by the assay described in Example 2, is at least 100 times greater than the in vitro activity of the same compound against geranylgeranyl-protein transferase-type I in the assay described in Example 3.
  • a selective compound exhibits at least 1000 times greater activity against one of the enzymatic activities when comparing geranylgeranyl-protein transferase-type I inhibition and famesyl-protein transferase inhibition.
  • the selective inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase is further characterized by: a) an IC50 (a measure of in vitro inhibitory activity) for inhibition of the prenylation of newly synthesized K-Ras protein more than about 100-fold higher than the EC50 for the inhibition of the famesylation of hDJ protein.
  • Example 7 When measuring such IC50S and EC50S the assays described in Example 7 may be utilized.
  • the selective inhibitor of fa esyl-protein transferase is further characterized by: b) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) for inhibition of K4B-
  • Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells at least 100-fold greater than the EC50 for inhibition of the famesylation of the protein hDJ in cells.
  • the selective inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase is further characterized by: c) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) against H-Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells at least 1000 fold lower than the inhibitory activity (IC50) against H-r ⁇ s-CVLL (SEQ.JJD.NO.: 1) dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells.
  • IC50 a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity against H-Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells at least 1000 fold lower than the inhibitory activity (IC50) against H-r ⁇ s-CVLL (SEQ.JJD.NO.: 1) dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells.
  • the compounds of the invention are dual inhibitors of famesyl-protein transferase and geranylgeranyl-protein transferase type I.
  • a dual inhibitor may be termed a Class JJ prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor and will exhibit certain characteristics when assessed in in vitro assays, which are dependent on the type of assay employed.
  • the dual inhibitor compound has an in vitro inhibitory activity (IC50) that is less than about 12 ⁇ M against K4B-Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells.
  • the Class II prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor may also be characterized by: a) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) for inhibiting K4B-Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells between 0.1 and 100 times the IC50 for inhibiting the famesylation of the protein hDJ in cells; and b) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) for inhibiting K4B-Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells greater than 5-fold lower than the inhibitory activity (IC50) against expression of the SEAP protein in cells transfected with the pCMV-SEAP plasmid that constitutively expresses the SEAP protein.
  • the Class JJ prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor may also be characterized by: a) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) against H-Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells greater than 2 fold lower but less than 20,000 fold lower than the inhibitory activity (IC50) against ⁇ L-ras-
  • CVLL (SEQ.JJD.NO.: 1) dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells; and b) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) against H-r s-CVLL dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells greater than 5-fold lower than the inhibitory activity (IC50) against expression of the SEAP protein in cells transfected with the pCMV-SEAP plasmid that constitutively expresses the SEAP protein.
  • IC50 a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity against H-r s-CVLL dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells greater than 5-fold lower than the inhibitory activity (IC50) against expression of the SEAP protein in cells transfected with the pCMV-SEAP plasmid that constitutively expresses the SEAP protein.
  • the Class JJ prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor may also be characterized by: a) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) against H-Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells greater than 10-fold lower but less than 2,500 fold lower than the inhibitory activity (IC50) against H-ras- CVLL (SEQ.ID.NO.: 1) dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells; and
  • IC50 a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity
  • H-ras-CVLL dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells greater than 5 fold lower than the inhibitory activity (IC50) against expression of the SEAP protein in cells transfected with the pCMN-SEAP plasmid that constitutively expresses the SEAP protein.
  • a compound of the instant invention may be a more potent inhibitor of geranylgeranyl-protein transferase-type I than it is an inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase.
  • the instant compounds are useful as pharmaceutical agents for mammals, especially for humans. These compounds may be administered to patients for use in the treatment of cancer.
  • Examples of the type of cancer which may be treated with the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, colorectal carcinoma, exocrine pancreatic carcinoma, myeloid leukemias and neurological tumors. Such tumors may arise by mutations in the ras genes themselves, mutations in the proteins that can regulate Ras activity (i.e., neurofibromin (NF-1), neu, src, abl, lck, fyn) or by other mechanisms.
  • NF-1 neurofibromin
  • neu src
  • abl abl
  • lck lck
  • the compounds of the instant invention inhibit famesyl-protein transferase and the famesylation of the oncogene protein Ras.
  • the instant compounds may also inhibit tumor angiogenesis, thereby affecting the growth of tumors (J. Rak et al. Cancer Research, 55:4575-4580 (1995)).
  • Such anti-angiogenesis properties of the instant compounds may also be useful in the treatment of certain forms of vision deficit related to retinal vascularization.
  • the compounds of this invention are also useful for inhibiting other proliferative diseases, both benign and malignant, wherein Ras proteins are aberrantly activated as a result of oncogenic mutation in other genes (i.e., the Ras gene itself is not activated by mutation to an oncogenic form) with said inhibition being accomplished by the administration of an effective amount of the compounds of the invention to a mammal in need of such treatment.
  • a component of NF-1 is a benign proliferative disorder.
  • the instant compounds may also be useful in the treatment of certain viral infections, in particular in the treatment of hepatitis delta and related viruses
  • the compounds of the instant invention are also useful in the prevention of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty by inhibiting neointimal formation (C. Indolfi et al. Nature medicine, 1:541-545(1995).
  • the instant compounds may also be useful in the treatment and prevention of polycystic kidney disease (D.L. Schaff er et al. American Journal of
  • the instant compounds may also be useful for the treatment of fungal infections.
  • the instant compounds may also be useful as inhibitors of proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and therefore useful in the prevention and therapy of arteriosclerosis and diabetic vascular pathologies.
  • the compounds of the instant invention may also be useful in the prevention and treatment of endometriosis, uterine fibroids, dysfunctional uterine bleeding and endometrial hyperplasia.
  • the prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor may also be co-administered with other well known therapeutic agents that are selected for their particular usefulness against the condition that is being treated.
  • the prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor may be useful in further combination with drugs known to supress the activity of the ovaries and slow the growth of the endometrial tissue.
  • drugs include but are not limited to oral contraceptives, progestins, danazol and GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) agonists.
  • prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor may also be combined with surgical treatment of endometriosis (such as surgical removal of misplaced endometrial tissue) where appropriate.
  • endometriosis such as surgical removal of misplaced endometrial tissue
  • the instant compounds may also be useful as inhibitors of comeal inflammation. These compounds may improve the treatment of comeal opacity which results from cauterization-induced comeal inflammation.
  • the instant compounds may also be useful in reducing comeal edema and neovascularization. (K. Sonoda et al., Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., 1998, vol. 39, p 2245-2251).
  • the compounds of this invention may be administered to mammals, preferably humans, either alone or, preferably, in combination with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients or diluents, in a pharmaceutical composition, according to standard pharmaceutical practice.
  • the compounds can be administered orally or parenterally, including the intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, rectal and topical routes of administration.
  • composition may be administered to a mammal in need thereof using a gel extrusion mechanism (GEM) device, such as that described in WO 01/05430, which published on January 25, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
  • GEM gel extrusion mechanism
  • composition is intended to encompass a product comprising the specified ingredients in the specific amounts, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combination of the specific ingredients in the specified amounts.
  • compositions containing the active ingredient may be in a form suitable for oral use, for example, as tablets, troches, lozenges, aqueous or oily suspensions, dispersible powders or granules, emulsions, hard or soft capsules, or syrups or elixirs.
  • Compositions intended for oral use may be prepared according to any method known to the art for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions and such compositions may contain one or more agents selected from the group consisting of sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents and preserving agents in order to provide pharmaceutically elegant and palatable preparations. Tablets contain the active ingredient in admixture with non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable excipients which are suitable for the manufacture of tablets.
  • excipients may be for example, inert diluents, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose, calcium phosphate or sodium phosphate; granulating and disintegrating agents, for example, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium crosscarmellose, com starch, or alginic acid; binding agents, for example starch, gelatin, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone or acacia, and lubricating agents, for example, magnesium stearate, stearic acid or talc.
  • the tablets may be uncoated or they may be coated by known techniques to mask the unpleasant taste of the drug or delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period.
  • a water soluble taste masking material such as hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose or hydroxypropyl- cellulose, or a time delay material such as ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate buryrate may be employed.
  • Formulations for oral use may also be presented as hard gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, for example, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or kaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with water soluble carrier such as polyethyl- eneglycol or an oil medium, for example peanut oil, liquid paraffin, or olive oil.
  • Aqueous suspensions contain the active material in admixture with excipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueous suspensions.
  • excipients are suspending agents, for example sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose, sodium alginate, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, gum tragacanth and gum acacia; dispersing or wetting agents may be a naturally-occurring phosphatide, for example lecithin, or condensation products of an alkylene oxide with fatty acids, for example polyoxyethylene stearate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with long chain aliphatic alcohols, for example heptadecaethylene- oxycetanol, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and a hexitol such as polyoxyethylene sorbitol monooleate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example polyethylene sorbitan monooleate.
  • dispersing or wetting agents may be a naturally-occurring phosphatide, for example lecithin
  • the aqueous suspensions may also contain one or more preservatives, for example ethyl, or n-propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, one or more coloring agents, one or more flavoring agents, and one or more sweetening agents, such as sucrose, saccharin or aspartame.
  • Oily suspensions may be formulated by suspending the active ingredient in a vegetable oil, for example arachis oil, olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil, or in mineral oil such as liquid paraffin.
  • the oily suspensions may contain a thickening agent, for example, beeswax, hard paraffin or cetyl alcohol. Sweetening agents such as those set forth above, and flavoring agents may be added to provide a palatable oral preparation. These compositions may be preserved by the addition of an anti-oxidant such as butylated hydroxyanisol or alpha-tocopherol.
  • Dispersible powders and granules suitable for preparation of an aqueous suspension by the addition of water provide the active ingredient in admixture with a dispersing or wetting agent, suspending agent and one or more preservatives.
  • Suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents are exemplified by those already mentioned above. Additional excipients, for example sweetening, flavoring and coloring agents, may also be present. These compositions may be preserved by the addition of an anti-oxidant such as ascorbic acid.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may also be in the form of an oil-in-water emulsions.
  • the oily phase may be a vegetable oil, for example olive oil or arachis oil, or a mineral oil, for example liquid paraffin or mixtures of these.
  • Suitable emulsifying agents may be naturally-occurring phosphatides, for example soy bean lecithin, and esters or partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example sorbitan monooleate, and condensation products of the said partial esters with ethylene oxide, for example polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate.
  • the emulsions may also contain sweetening, flavouring agents, preservatives and antioxidants.
  • Syrups and elixirs may be formulated with sweetening agents, for example glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol or sucrose. Such formulations may also contain a demulcent, a preservative, flavoring and coloring agents and antioxidant.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous solutions. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution.
  • the sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable oil-in- water microemulsion where the active ingredient is dissolved in the oily phase.
  • the active ingredient may be first dissolved in a mixture of soybean oil and lecithin. The oil solution then introduced into a water and glycerol mixture and processed to form a microemulation.
  • the injectable solutions or microemulsions may be introduced into a patient's blood-stream by local bolus injection.
  • a continuous intravenous delivery device may be utilized.
  • An example of such a device is the Deltec CADD-PLUSTM model 5400 intravenous pump.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous or oleagenous suspension for intramuscular and subcutaneous administration.
  • This suspension may be formulated according to the known art using those suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents which have been mentioned above.
  • the sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluent or solvent, for example as a solution in 1,3-butane diol.
  • sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium.
  • any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides.
  • fatty acids such as oleic acid find use in the preparation of injectables.
  • Compounds of Formula A may also be administered in the form of a suppositories for rectal administration of the drug.
  • These compositions can be prepared by mixing the drug with a suitable non-irritating excipient which is solid at ordinary temperatures but liquid at the rectal temperature and will therefore melt in the rectum to release the drug.
  • suitable non-irritating excipient include cocoa butter, glycerinated gelatin, hydrogenated vegetable oils, mixtures of polyethylene glycols of various molecular weights and fatty acid esters of polyethylene glycol.
  • topical use creams, ointments, jellies, solutions or suspensions, etc., containing the compound of Formula A are employed. (For purposes of this application, topical application shall include mouth washes and gargles.)
  • the compounds for the present invention can be administered in intranasal form via topical use of suitable intranasal vehicles and delivery devices, or via transdermal routes, using those forms of transdermal skin patches well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the dosage administration will, of course, be continuous rather than intermittent throughout the dosage regimen.
  • Compounds of the present invention may also be delivered as a suppository employing bases such as cocoa butter, glycerinated gelatin, hydrogenated vegetable oils, mixtures of polyethylene glycols of various molecular weights and fatty acid esters of polyethylene glycol.
  • a suitable amount of compound is administered to a mammal undergoing treatment for cancer. Administration occurs in an amount between about 0.1 mg/kg of body weight to about 60 mg/kg of body weight per day, preferably of between 0.5 mg/kg of body weight to about 40 mg/kg of body weight per day.
  • the compounds of the instant invention may also be co-administered with other well known therapeutic agents that are selected for their particular usefulness against the condition that is being treated.
  • the compounds of the instant invention may also be co-administered with other well known cancer therapeutic agents that are selected for their particular usefulness against the condition that is being treated. Included in such combinations of therapeutic agents are combin- ations of the instant famesyl-protein transferase inhibitors and an antineoplastic agent. It is also understood that such a combination of antineoplastic agent and inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase may be used in conjunction with other methods of treating cancer and/or tumors, including radiation therapy and surgery.
  • antineoplastic agent examples include, in general, microtubule- stabilizing agents (such as paclitaxel (also known as Taxol®), docetaxel (also known as Taxotere®), epothilone A, epothilone B, desoxyepothilone A, desoxyepothilone B or their derivatives); microtubule-disruptor agents; alkylating agents, anti-metabolites; epidophyllotoxin; an antineoplastic enzyme; a topoisomerase inhibitor; procarbazine; mitoxantrone; platinum coordination complexes; biological response modifiers and growth inhibitors; hormonal/anti-hormonal therapeutic agents and haematopoietic growth factors.
  • microtubule- stabilizing agents such as paclitaxel (also known as Taxol®), docetaxel (also known as Taxotere®), epothilone A, epothilone B, desoxyepothilone A, desoxyepothil
  • Example classes of antineoplastic agents include, for example, the anthracycline family of drugs, the vinca drugs, the mitomycins, the bleomycins, the cytotoxic nucleosides, the taxanes, the epothilones, discodermolide, the pteridine family of drugs, diynenes and the podophyllotoxins.
  • Particularly useful members of those classes include, for example, doxorabicin, carminomycin, daunorabicin, aminopterin, methotrexate, methopterin, dichloro-methotrexate, mitomycin C, porfiromycin, herceptin, 5-fluorouracil, 6-mercaptopurine, gemcitabine, cytosine arabinoside, podophyllotoxin or podo-phyllotoxin derivatives such as etoposide, etoposide phosphate or teniposide, melphalan, vinblastine, vincristine, leurosidine, vindesine, leurosine, paclitaxel and the like.
  • antineoplastic agents include estramustine, cisplatin, carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, bleomycin, tamoxifen, ifosamide, melphalan, hexamethyl melamine, thiotepa, cytarabin, idatrexate, trimetrexate, dacarbazine, L-asparaginase, camptothecin, CPT-11, topotecan, ara-C, bicalutamide, flutamide, leuprolide, pyridobenzoindole derivatives, interferons and interleukins.
  • the preferred class of antineoplastic agents is the taxanes and the preferred antineoplastic agent is paclitaxel.
  • the compounds of the instant invention may also be co-administered with antisense oligonucleotides which are specifically hybridizable with RNA or DNA deriving from human ras gene.
  • antisense oligonucleotides are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,576,208 and PCT Publication No. WO 99/22772.
  • the instant compounds are particularly useful when co-administered with the antisense oligonucleotide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ.IDNO: 2 of U.S. Patent No. 5,576,208.
  • Certain compounds of the instant invention may exhibit very low plasma concentrations and significant inter-individual variation in the plasma levels of the compound. It is believed that very low plasma concentrations and high inter- subject variability achieved following administration of certain prenyl-protein transferase inhibitors to mammals may be due to extensive metabolism by cytochrome P450 enzymes prior to entry of drug into the systemic circulation. Prenyl- protein transferase inhibitors may be metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzyme systems, such as CYP3A4, CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 or other cytochrome P450 isoform.
  • a compound of the instant invention demonstrates an affinity for one or more of the cytochrome P450 enzyme systems
  • another compound with a higher affinity for the P450 enzyme(s) involved in metabolism should be administered concomitantly.
  • compounds that have a comparatively very high affinity for CYP3A4, CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 or other P450 isoform include, but are not limited to, piperonyl butoxide, troleandomycin, erythromycin, proadifen, isoniazid, allylisopropylacetamide, ethinylestradiol, chloramphenicol, 2-ethynyl- naphthalene and the like.
  • Such a high affinity compound when employed in combination with a compound of Formula A, may reduce the inter-individual variation and increase the plasma concentration of a compound of Formula A to a level having substantial therapeutic activity by inhibiting the metabolism of the compound of Formula A. Additionally, inhibiting the metabolism of a compound of the instant invention prolongs the pharmacokinetic half -life, and thus the pharmacodynamic effect, of the compound.
  • a compound of the present invention may be employed in conjunction with antiemetic agents to treat nausea or emesis, including acute, delayed, late-phase, and anticipatory emesis, which may result from the use of a compound of the present invention, alone or with radiation therapy.
  • a compound of the present invention may be used in conjunction with other anti-emetic agents, especially neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists, 5HT3 receptor antagonists, such as ondansetron, granisetron, tropisetron, and zatisetron, GABAB receptor agonists, such as baclofen, or a corticosteroid such as Decadron (dexa- methasone), Kenalog, Aristocort, Nasalide, Preferid, Benecorten or others such as disclosed in U.S.Patent Nos.
  • neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists especially 5HT3 receptor antagonists, such as ondansetron, granisetron, tropisetron, and zatisetron, GABAB receptor agonists, such as baclofen, or a corticosteroid such as Decadron (dexa- methasone), Kenalog, Aristocort, Nasalide, Preferid, Benecorten or others such as disclosed in U.S.Pa
  • Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists of use in conjunction with the compounds of the present invention are fully described, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,162,339, 5,232,929, 5,242,930, 5,373,003, 5,387,595, 5,459,270, 5,494,926, 5,496,833, 5,637,699, 5,719,147; European Patent Publication Nos.
  • a particularly preferred neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist for use in conjunction with the compounds of the present invention is 2-(R)-(l-(R)-(3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethoxy)-3-(S)-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-(3-(5-oxo-lH,4H-l,2,4- triazolo)methyl)morpholine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,719,147.
  • a compound of the present invention for the treatment of cancer, it may be desirable to employ a compound of the present invention in conjunction with another pharmacologically active agent(s).
  • a compound of the present invention and the other pharmacologically active agent(s) may be administered to a patient simultaneously, sequentially or in combination.
  • the present compound may be employed directly in combination with the other active agent(s), or it may be administered prior, con- current or subsequent to the administration of the other active agent(s).
  • the currently available dosage forms of the known therapeutic agents for use in such combinations will be suitable.
  • a compound of the present invention may be presented together with another therapeutic agent in a combined preparation, such as with an antiemetic agent for simultaneous, separate, or sequential use in the relief of emesis associated with employing a compound of the present invention and radiation therapy.
  • a combined preparation may be, for example, in the form of a twin pack.
  • a preferred combination comprises a compound of the present invention with antiemetic agents, as described above.
  • Radiation therapy including x-rays or gamma rays which are delivered from either an externally applied beam or by implantation of tiny radioactive sources, may also be used in combination with the instant inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase alone to treat cancer.
  • compounds of the instant invention may also be useful as radiation sensitizers, as described in WO 97/38697, published on October 23, 1997, and herein incorporated by reference.
  • the instant compounds may also be useful in combination with other inhibitors of parts of the signaling pathway that links cell surface growth factor receptors to nuclear signals initiating cellular proliferation.
  • the instant compounds may be utilized in combination with famesyl pyrophosphate competitive inhibitors of the activity of famesyl-protein transferase or in combination with a compound which has Raf antagonist activity.
  • the instant compounds may also be co-administered with compounds that are selective inhibitors of geranylgeranyl protein transferase.
  • the compound of the instant invention is a selective inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase
  • co-administration with a compound(s) that is a selective inhibitor of geranylgeranyl protein transferase may provide an improved therapeutic effect.
  • the compounds disclosed in the following patents and publications may be useful as famesyl pyrophosphate-competitive inhibitor component of the instant composition: U.S. Serial Nos. 08/254,228 and 08/435,047. Those patents and publications are incorporated herein by reference.
  • such administration can be orally or parenterally, including intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, rectal and topical routes of administration. It is preferred that such administration be orally. It is more preferred that such administra- tion be orally and simultaneously.
  • the protein substrate-competitive inhibitor and famesyl pyrophosphate-competitive inhibitor are administered sequentially, the administration of each can be by the same method or by different methods.
  • an integrin antagonist refers to compounds which selectively antagonize, inhibit or counteract binding of a physiological ligand to an integrin(s) that is involved in the regulation of angiogenisis, or in the growth and invasiveness of tumor cells.
  • the term refers to compounds which selectively antagonize, inhibit or counteract binding of a physiological ligand to the ov ⁇ 3 integrin, which selectively antagonize, inhibit or counteract binding of a physiological ligand to the ⁇ v ⁇ 5 integrin, which antagonize, inhibit or counteract binding of a physiological ligand to both the v ⁇ 3 integrin and the ⁇ v ⁇ 5 integrin, or which antagonize, inhibit or counteract the activity of the particular integrin(s) expressed on capillary endothelial cells.
  • the term also refers to antagonists of the ⁇ l ⁇ l, ⁇ 2 ⁇ l, ⁇ 5 ⁇ l, 6 ⁇ l and ⁇ 6 ⁇ 4 integrins.
  • the term also refers to antagonists of any combination of ccv ⁇ 3 integrin, v ⁇ 5, ⁇ l ⁇ l, ⁇ 2 ⁇ l, ⁇ 5 ⁇ l, ⁇ 6 ⁇ l and ⁇ 6 ⁇ 4 integrins.
  • the instant compounds may also be useful with other agents that inhibit angiogenisis and thereby inhibit the growth and invasiveness of tumor cells, including, but not limited to angiostatin and endostatin.
  • HMG-CoA reductase 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase
  • HMG-CoA reductase 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase
  • Compounds which have inhibitory activity for HMG-CoA reductase can be readily identified by using assays well-known in the art. For example, see the assays described or cited in U.S. Patent 4,231,938 at col. 6, and WO 84/02131 at pp. 30-33.
  • the terms "HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor” and "inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase” have the same meaning when used herein.
  • HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors examples include but are not limited to lovastatin (MENACOR®; see US Patent No. 4,231,938; 4,294,926; 4,319,039), simvastatin (ZOCOR®; see US Patent No. 4,444,784;
  • HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor as used herein includes all pharmaceutically accept- able lactone and open-acid forms (i.e., where the lactone ring is opened to form the free acid) as well as salt and ester forms of compounds which have HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity, and therefore the use of such salts, esters, open-acid and lactone forms is included within the scope of this invention.
  • An illustration of the lactone portion and its corresponding open-acid form is shown below as structures I and ll.
  • HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor In HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor's where an open-acid form can exist, salt and ester forms may preferably be formed from the open-acid, and all such forms are included within the meaning of the term "HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor" as used herein.
  • the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is selected from lovastatin and simvastatin, and most preferably simvastatin.
  • the term "pharmaceutically acceptable salts" with respect to the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor shall mean nontoxic salts of the compounds employed in this invention which are generally prepared by reacting the free acid with a suitable organic or inorganic base, particularly those formed from cations such as sodium, potassium, aluminum, calcium, lithium, magnesium, zinc and tetramethylammonium, as well as those salts formed from amines such as ammonia, ethylenediamine, N-methylglucamine, lysine, arginine, omithine, choline, N,N'-dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, diethanolamine, procaine, N-benzylphenethylamine, l-p-chlorobenzyl-2-pyrrolidine-l '-yl- methylbenzimidazole, diethylamine, piperazine, and tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane.
  • a suitable organic or inorganic base particularly those formed from c
  • salt forms of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors may include, but are not limited to, acetate, benzenesulfonate, benzoate, bicarbonate, bisulfate, bitartrate, borate, bromide, calcium edetate, camsylate, carbonate, chloride, clavulanate, citrate, dihydrochloride, edetate, edisylate, estolate, esylate, ramarate, gluceptate, gluconate, glutamate, glycollylarsanilate, hexylresorcinate, hydrabamine, hydrobromide, hydrochloride, hydroxynapthoate, iodide, isothionate, lactate, lactobionate, laurate, malate, maleate, mandelate, mesylate, methylsulfate, mucate, napsylate, nitrate, oleate, oxalate, pamao
  • Ester derivatives of the described HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor compounds may act as prodrugs which, when absorbed into the bloodstream of a warm-blooded animal, may cleave in such a manner as to release the drug form and permit the drag to afford improved therapeutic efficacy.
  • the instant compounds may be useful in combination with agents that are effective in the treatment and prevention of NF-1, restenosis, polycystic kidney disease, infections of hepatitis delta and related viruses and fungal infections.
  • combination products employ the combinations of this invention within the dosage range described above and the other pharmaceutically active agent(s) within its approved dosage range.
  • Combinations of the instant invention may alternatively be used sequentially with known pharmaceutically acceptable agent(s) when a multiple combination formulation is inappropriate.
  • the instant compounds may also be useful in combination with prodrugs of antineoplastic agents.
  • the instant compounds may be co-administered either concurrently or sequentially with a conjugate (termed a "PSA conjugate") which comprises an oligopeptide, that is selectively cleaved by enzymatically active prostate specific antigen (PSA), and an antineoplastic agent.
  • Such co-administration will be particularly useful in the treatment of prostate cancer or other cancers which are characterized by the presence of enzymatically active PSA in the immediate surrounding cancer cells, which is secreted by the cancer cells.
  • Compounds which are PSA conjugates and are therefore useful in such a co-administration, and methods of synthesis thereof, can be found in the following patents, pending patent applications and publications which are herein incorporated by references:
  • the compounds of the instant invention are also useful as a component in an assay to rapidly determine the presence and quantity of famesyl- protein transferase (FPTase) in a composition.
  • FPTase famesyl- protein transferase
  • the composition to be tested may be divided and the two portions contacted with mixtures which comprise a known substrate of FPTase (for example a tetrapeptide having a cysteine at the amine terminus) and famesyl pyrophosphate and, in one of the mixtures, a compound of the instant invention.
  • the chemical content of the assay mixtures may be determined by well known immunological, radiochemical or chromatographic techniques. Because the compounds of the instant invention are selective inhibitors of FPTase, absence or quantitative reduction of the amount of substrate in the assay mixture without the compound of the instant invention relative to the presence of the unchanged substrate in the assay containing the instant compound is indicative of the presence of FPTase in the composition to be tested.
  • potent inhibitor compounds of the instant invention may be used in an active site titration assay to determine the quantity of enzyme in the sample.
  • a series of samples composed of aliquots of a tissue extract containing an unknown amount of farnesyl- protein transferase, an excess amount of a known substrate of FPTase (for example a tetrapeptide having a cysteine at the amine terminus) and famesyl pyrophosphate are incubated for an appropriate period of time in the presence of varying concentrations of a compound of the instant invention.
  • concentration of a sufficiently potent inhibitor i.e., one that has a Ki substantially smaller than the concentration of enzyme in the assay vessel
  • concentration of a sufficiently potent inhibitor i.e., one that has a Ki substantially smaller than the concentration of enzyme in the assay vessel
  • Step A Preparation of 4-Bromo-3-fluorobenzoic acid 4-Bromo-3-fluorotoluene (40.0 g, 0.212 mol) was heated at 90°C in
  • the filtrate was concentrated to a small volume, then partitioned between 3N NaOH solution and diethyl ether.
  • the aqueous basic layer was separated, cooled in an ice- H2O bath and acidified slowly with 6N HCI solution to precipitate the white solid product. This was collected by suction filtration and dried at 40°C in a vacuum oven overnight to give the title compound, mp 190 -192°C.
  • Step D Preparation of 2-Fluoro-4-formylbenzonitrile
  • 2-Fluoro-4-hydroxymethylbenzonitrile (10 g, 0,066 mol) and triethylamine (32.3 mL, 0.231 mol) were dissolved in CH2CI2 (100 mL)- DMSO (20 mL) at ⁇ 5°C with stirring and treated dropwise with a solution of ⁇ yridine » S ⁇ 3 complex (31.5 g, 0.198 mol) in DMSO (70 mL) maintaining the reaction mixture temperature at ⁇ 10°C.
  • the reaction mixture was stirred at 5°C for 1 hour after the addition, then at 20°C for 1 hour, then partitioned between CH2CI2 and H2O.
  • Step F Preparation of 2-Fluoro-4-(3-methyl-3H-imidazole-4-carbonyl)- benzonitrile
  • Step G Preparation of N-[(4-cyano-3-fluoro-phenyl)-(3-methyl-3H- imidazol-4-yl)-methylenel-2-methylpropanesulfinamide
  • Step H Preparation of 2-methyl-propane-2-sulfinic acid [4-tert-butyl-dimethyl- silanyloxy)-l-(4-cyano-3-fluoro-phenyl)-l-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4- vD-butyll-amide
  • Step I Preparation of N-[l-(4-cyano-3-fluorophenyl)-4-hydroxy-l ⁇ (l-methyl- lH-imidazol-5-yl)butvn-2-methylpiOpane-2-sulfinamide
  • Step K [l-4-Cyano-3-fluoro-phenyl)-4-hydroxy-l-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4- yll-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester
  • Step N Preparation of 3S and 3R-Ethyl-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-l- methylazepan-2-one
  • reaction mixture was left to come to ambient temperature, then heated at 40°C for 1 hour.
  • the reaction was concentrated to remove the THF, then partitioned between EtOAc and 5N HCI.
  • the aqueous layer was washed with EtOAc, the organics combined, washed with H2O, aqueous saturated NaHCO3 solution, H2O, brine, and dried (Na2SO4).
  • Step P Preparation of 5-[(2S)-2-(4-cyano-3- ⁇ 3-[(3S)-3-ethyl-l-methyl-2- oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy ⁇ phenyl)pyrrolidinium-2-yl]-l-methyl-lH- imidazol-l-ium bis(trifluoroacetate)
  • Isoprenyl-protein transferase activity assays are carried out at 30°C unless noted otherwise.
  • a typical reaction contains (in a final volume of 50 ⁇ L): [3H]farnesyl diphosphate, Ras protein , 50 mM HEPES, pH 7.5, 5 mM MgCl2, 5 mM dithiothreitol, 10 ⁇ M ZnCl2, 0.1% polyethyleneglycol (PEG) (15,000-20,000 mw) and isoprenyl-protein transferase.
  • the FPTase employed in the assay is prepared by recombinant expression as described in Omer, C.A., Krai, A.M., Diehl, R.E., Prendergast, G.C., Powers, S., Allen, CM., Gibbs, J.B. and Kohl, N.E. (1993) Biochemistry 32:5167-5176. After thermally pre-equilibrating the assay mixture in the absence of enzyme, reactions are initiated by the addition of isoprenyl- protein transferase and stopped at timed intervals (typically 15 minutes) by the addition of 1 M HCI in ethanol (1 mL). The quenched reactions are allowed to stand for 15 minutes (to complete the precipitation process).
  • inhibitors are prepared as concentrated solutions in 100% dimethyl sulfoxide and then diluted 20 fold into the enzyme assay mixture.
  • Substrate concentrations for inhibitor IC50 determinations are as follows: FTase, 650 nM Ras-CVLS (SEQ.ID.NO.: 1), 100 nM famesyl diphosphate.
  • the modified geranylgeranyl-protein transferase inhibition assay is carried out at room temperature.
  • a typical reaction contains (in a final volume of 50 ⁇ L): [3H] geranylgeranyl diphosphate, biotinylated Ras peptide, 50 mM HEPES, pH 7.5, a modulating anion (for example 10 mM glycerophosphate or 5mM ATP), 5 mM MgCl2, 10 ⁇ M ZnCl2, 0.1% PEG (15,000-20,000 mw), 2 mM dithiothreitol, and geranylgeranyl-protein transferase type I(GGTase).
  • the GGTase-type I enzyme employed in the assay is prepared as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,470,832, incorporated by reference.
  • the Ras peptide is derived from the K4B-Ras protein and has the following sequence: biotinyl-GKKKKKKSKTKCNLM (single amino acid code) (SEQ. ID O.: 2).
  • Reactions are initiated by the addition of GGTase and stopped at timed intervals (typically 15 minutes) by the addition of 200 ⁇ L of a 3 mg mL suspension of streptavidin SPA beads (Scintillation Proximity Assay beads, Amersham) in 0.2 M sodium phosphate, pH 4, containing 50 mM EDTA, and 0.5% BSA. The quenched reactions are allowed to stand for 2 hours before analysis on a Packard TopCount scintillation counter.
  • IC50 values are determined with Ras peptide near KM concentrations. Enzyme and substrate concentrations for inhibitor IC50 determinations are as follows: 75 pM GGTase-1, 1.6 ⁇ M Ras peptide, 100 ⁇ M geranylgeranyl diphosphate.
  • the cell line used in this assay is a v-ras line derived from either Ratl or NIH3T3 cells, which expressed viral Ha-ras p21.
  • the assay is performed essentially as described in DeClue, J.E. et al., Cancer Research 51:712-717, (1991). Cells in 10 cm dishes at 50-75% confluency are treated with the test compound (final concentration of solvent, methanol or dimethyl sulfoxide, is 0.1%).
  • the cells are labeled in 3 ml methionine-free DMEM supple-mented with 10% regular DMEM, 2% fetal bovine serum and 400 ⁇ Ci[35s]methionine (1000 Ci/mmol).
  • the cells are lysed in 1 ml lysis buffer (1% NP40/20 mM HEPES, pH 7.5/5 mM MgCl2/lmM DTT/10 mg/ml aprotinen/2 mg/ml leupeptin 2 mg/ml antipain/0.5 mM PMSF) and the lysates cleared by centrifugation at 100,000 x g for 45 minutes.
  • the immunoprecipitates are washed four times with JP buffer (20 nM HEPES, pH 7.5/1 mM EDTA/1% Triton X-100.0.5% deoxycholate/0.1%/ SDS/0.1 M NaCl) boiled in SDS-PAGE sample buffer and loaded on 13% acrylamide gels. When the dye front reached the bottom, the gel is fixed, soaked in Enlightening, dried and autoradiographed. The intensities of the bands corresponding to farnesyl- ated and nonfarnesylated ras proteins are compared to determine the percent inhibition of famesyl transfer to protein.
  • JP buffer (20 nM HEPES, pH 7.5/1 mM EDTA/1% Triton X-100.0.5% deoxycholate/0.1%/ SDS/0.1 M NaCl
  • Rat 1 cells transformed with either v-ras, v-raf, or v-mos are seeded at a density of 1 x 104 cells per plate (35 mm in diameter) in a 0.3% top agarose layer in medium A (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine seram) over a bottom agarose layer (0.6%). Both layers contain 0.1% methanol or an appropriate concentration of the compound (dissolved in methanol at 1000 times the final concentration used in the assay).
  • the cells are fed twice weekly with 0.5 ml of medium A containing 0.1% methanol or the concentration of the instant compound. Photomicrographs are taken 16 days after the cultures are seeded and comparisons are made.
  • SEAP reporter plasmid pDSElOO The SEAP reporter plasmid, pDSElOO was constructed by ligating a restriction fragment containing the SEAP coding sequence into the plasmid pCMV- RE-AKI.
  • the SEAP gene is derived from the plasmid pSEAP2-Basic (Clontech, Palo Alto, CA).
  • the plasmid pCMN-RE-AKI contains 5 sequential copies of the 'dyad symmetry response element' cloned upstream of a 'CAT-TATA' sequence derived from the cytomegaloviras immediate early promoter.
  • the plasmid also contains a bovine growth hormone poly-A sequence.
  • the plasmid, pDSElOO was constructed as follows. A restriction fragment encoding the SEAP coding sequence was cut out of the plasmid pSEAP2- Basic using the restriction enzymes EcoRI and Hpal. The ends of the linear D ⁇ A fragments were filled in with the Klenow fragment of E. coli D ⁇ A Polymerase I. The "blunt ended" DNA containing the SEAP gene was isolated by electrophoresing the digest in an agarose gel and cutting out the 1694 base pair fragment. The vector plasmid pCMN-RE-AKI was linearized with the restriction enzyme Bgl-IJ and the ends filled in with Klenow D ⁇ A Polymerase I.
  • the SEAP D ⁇ A fragment was blunt end ligated into the pCMN-RE-AKI vector and the ligation products were transformed into DH5-alpha E. coli cells (Gibco-BRL). Transformants were screened for the proper insert and then mapped for restriction fragment orientation. Properly oriented recombinant constructs were sequenced across the cloning junctions to verify the correct sequence. The resulting plasmid contains the SEAP coding sequence downstream of the DSE and CAT-TATA promoter elements and upstream of the BGH poly-A sequence.
  • the SEAP repotrer plasmid, pDSElOl is also constructed by ligating a restriction fragment containing the SEAP coding sequence into the plasmid pCMV- RE-AKI.
  • the SEAP gene is derived from plasmid pGEM7zf(-)/SEAP.
  • the plasmid pDSElOl was constructed as follows: A restriction fragment containing part of the SEAP gene coding sequence was cut out of the plasmid pGEM7zf(-)/SEAP using the restriction enzymes Apa I and Kpnl. The ends of the linear D ⁇ A fragments were chewed back with the Klenow fragment of E. coli D ⁇ A Polymerase I. The "blunt ended" D ⁇ A containing the truncated SEAP gene was isolated by electrophoresing the digest in an agarose gel and cutting out the 1910 base pair fragment. This 1910 base pair fragment was ligated into the plasmid pCMN-RE-AKI which had been cut with Bgl-LI and filled in with E.
  • the plasmid pCMN-RE-AKI is derived from plasmid pCMVffi-AKI-DHFR (Whang, Y., Silberklang, M., Morgan, A., Munshi, S., Lenny, A.B., Ellis, R.W., and Kieff, E. (1987) J. Virol., 61, 1796- 1807) by removing an EcoRI fragment containing the DHFR and Neomycin markers.
  • the plasmid pGEM7zf(-)/SEAP was constructed as follows. The SEAP gene was PCRed, in two segments from a human placenta cDNA library (Clontech) using the following oligos.
  • Sense strand N-terminal SEAP 5' GAGAGGGAATTCGGGCCCTTCCTGCAT GCTGCTGCTGCTGCTGCTGCTGGGC 3' (SEQ.ID.NO.:3)
  • Antisense strand N-terminal SEAP 5' GAGAGAGCTCGAGGTTAACCCGGGT GCGCGGCGTCGGTGGT 3' (SEQ.IDNO.: 4)
  • Sense strand C-terminal SEAP 5' GAGAGAGTCTAGAGTTAACCCGTGGTCC CCGCGTTGCTTCCT 3' (SEQ.IDNO.: 5)
  • Antisense strand C-terminal SEAP 5' GAAGAGGAAGCTTGGTACCGCCACTG GGCTGTAGGTGGTGGCT 3' (SEQ.ID.NO.: 6)
  • the N-terminal oligos (SEQ.ID.NO.: 4 and SEQ.ID.NO.: 5) were used to generate a 1560 bp N-terminal PCR product that contained EcoRI and Hpal restriction sites at the ends.
  • the Antisense N-terminal oligo (SEQ.ID.NO.: 4) introduces an internal translation STOP codon within the SEAP gene along with the Hpal site.
  • the C-terminal oligos (SEQ.ID.NO.: 5 and SEQ.ID.NO.: 6) were used to amplify a 412 bp C-terminal PCR product containing Hpal and HindLTI restriction sites.
  • the sense strand C-terminal oligo introduces the internal STOP codon as well as the Hpal site.
  • the N-terminal amplicon was digested with EcoRI and Hpal while the C-terminal amplicon was digested with Hpal and Hindi ⁇ .
  • the two fragments comprising each end of the SEAP gene were isolated by electrophoresing the digest in an agarose gel and isolating the 1560 and 412 base pair fragments. These two fragments were then co-ligated into the vector pGEM7zf(-) (Promega) which had been restriction digested with EcoRI and HindJJI and isolated on an agarose gel.
  • the resulting clone, pGEM7zf(-)/SEAP contains the coding sequence for the SEAP gene from amino acids.
  • An expression plasmid constitutively expressing the SEAP protein was created by placing the sequence encoding a truncated SEAP gene downstream of the cytomegaloviras (CMN) IE-1 promoter.
  • the expression plasmid also includes the CMN intron A region 5' to the SEAP gene as well as the 3' untranslated region of the bovine growth hormone gene 3' to the SEAP gene.
  • the plasmid pCMNLE-AKI-DHFR (Whang et al, 1987) containing the CMN immediate early promoter was cut with EcoRI generating two fragments. The vector fragment was isolated by agarose electrophoresis and religated. The resulting plasmid is named pCMN-AKI.
  • the cytomegaloviras intron A nucleotide sequence was inserted downstream of the CMN IEl promter in pCMN- AKI.
  • the intron A sequence was isolated from a genomic clone bank and subcloned into pBR322 to generate plasmid pl6T-286.
  • the intron A sequence was mutated at nucleotide 1856 (nucleotide numbering as in Chapman, B.S., Thayer, R.M., Vincent, K.A. and Haigwood, ⁇ .L., NucAcids Res. 19, 3979-3986) to remove a Sad restriction site using site directed mutagenesis.
  • the mutated intron A sequence was PCRed from the plasmid pl6T-287 using the following oligos.
  • Sense strand 5' GGCAGAGCTCGTTTAGTGAACCGTCAG 3' (SEQ.ID.NO.: 7)
  • Antisense strand 5' GAGAGATCTCAAGGACGGTGACTGCAG 3' (SEQ.ID.NO.: 8)
  • oligos generate a 991 base pair fragment with a Sad site incorporated by the sense oligo and a Bgl-II fragment incorporated by the antisense oligo.
  • the PCR fragment is trimmed with Sad and Bgl-II and isolated on an agarose gel.
  • the vector pCMN-AKI is cut with Sad and Bgl-II and the larger vector fragment isolated by agarose gel electrophoresis.
  • the two gel isolated fragments are ligated at their respective Sad and Bgl-II sites to create plasmid pCMN-AKI-InA.
  • the D ⁇ A sequence encoding the truncated SEAP gene is inserted into the pCMN-AKI-InA plasmid at the Bgl-II site of the vector.
  • the SEAP gene is cut out of plasmid pGEM7zf (-)/SEAP (described above) using EcoRI and HindDI. The fragment is filled in with Klenow D ⁇ A polymerase and the 1970 base pair fragment isolated from the vector fragment by agarose gel electrophoresis.
  • the pCMN-AKI- InA vector is prepared by digesting with Bgl-II and filling in the ends with Klenow D ⁇ A polymerase.
  • the final construct is generated by blunt end ligating the SEAP fragment into the pCMN-AKI-InA vector. Transformants were screened for the proper insert and then mapped for restriction fragment orientation. Properly oriented recombinant constructs were sequenced across the cloning junctions to verify the correct sequence.
  • the resulting plasmid named pCMN-SEAP, contains a modified SEAP sequence downstream of the cytomegaloviras immediately early promoter IE-1 and intron A sequence and upstream of the bovine growth hormone poly-A sequence. The plasmid expresses SEAP in a constitutive manner when transfected into mammalian cells.
  • a D ⁇ A fragment containing viral-H-r s can be PCRed from plasmid "H-l” (Ellis R. et al. J. Virol. 36, 408, 1980) or "HB-11 (deposited in the ATCC under Budapest Treaty on August 27, 1997, and designated ATCC 209,218) using the following oligos.
  • Antisense 5'CACATCTAGATCAGGACAGCACAGACTTGCAGC 3'. (SEQ.ID.NO.: 10)
  • the sense strand oligo also optimizes the 'Kozak' translation initiation sequence immediately 5' to the ATG start site.
  • cysteine 186 would be mutated to a serine by substituting a G residue for a C residue in the C-terminal antisense oligo.
  • the PCR primer oligos introduce an Xhol site at the 5' end and a Xbal site at the 3'end.
  • the Xhol-Xbal fragment can be ligated into the mammalian expression plasmid pCI (Promega) cut with Xhol and Xbal. This results in a plasmid in which the recombinant myr-viral-H-ras gene is constitutively transcribed from the CMN promoter of the pCI vector.
  • a viral-H-r ⁇ s clone with a C-terminal sequence encoding the amino acids CVLL can be cloned from the plasmid "H-l” (Ellis R. et al., J. Virol. 36, 408, 1980) or "HB-11 (deposited in the ATCC under Budapest Treaty on August 27, 1997, and designated ATCC 209,218) by PCR using the following oligos.
  • Antisense strand
  • the sense strand oligo optimizes the 'Kozak' sequence and adds an
  • the antisense strand mutates serine 189 to leucine and adds an Xbal site.
  • the PCR fragment can be trimmed with Xhol and Xbal and ligated into the Xhol- Xbal cut vector pCI (Promega). This results in a plasmid in which the mutated viral- H-7- s-CVLL gene is constitutively transcribed from the CMV promoter of the pCI vector.
  • the human c-H-r s gene can be PCRed from a human cerebral cortex cDNA library (Clontech) using the following oligonucleotide primers.
  • Antisense strand
  • the primers will amplify a c- ⁇ L-ras encoding DNA fragment with the primers contributing an optimized "Kozak" translation start sequence, an EcoRI site at the N-terminus and a Sal I stite at the C-terminal end.
  • the c-H-ras fragment can be ligated into an EcoRI -Sal I cut mutagenesis vector pAlter-1 (Promega). Mutation of glutamine-61 to a leucine can be accomplished using the manufacturer's protocols and the following oligonucleotide:
  • the mutated c-H-r ⁇ s-Leu61 can be excised from the pAlter-1 vector, using EcoRI and Sal I, and be directly ligated into the vector pCI (Promega) which has been digested with EcoRI and Sal I.
  • the new recombinant plasmid will constitutively transcribe c-H-r s-Leu61 from the CMV promoter of the pCI vector.
  • the human c-N-ras gene can be PCRed from a human cerebral cortex cDNA library (Clontech) using the following oligonucleotide primers.
  • Antisense strand
  • the primers will amplify a c-N-ras encoding DNA fragment with the primers contributing an optimized 'Kozak' translation start sequence, an EcoRI site at the N-terminus and a Sal I stite at the C-terminal end.
  • the c-N-ras fragment can be ligated into an EcoRI -Sal I cut mutagenesis vector pAlter-1 (Promega). Mutation of glycine-12 to a valine can be accomplished using the manufacturer's protocols and the following oligonucleotide:
  • the mutated c-N-ras-Nal-12 can be excised from the pAlter-1 vector, using EcoRI and Sal I, and be directly ligated into the vector pCI (Promega) which has been digested with EcoRI and Sal I.
  • the new recombinant plasmid will constitutively transcribe c- ⁇ -ras-Nal-12 from the CMN promoter of the pCI vector.
  • the human c-K-ras gene can be PCRed from a human cerebral cortex cD ⁇ A library (Clontech) using the following oligonucleotide primers.
  • Antisense strand
  • the primers will amplify a c-K-ras encoding DNA fragment with the primers contributing an optimized 'Kozak' translation start sequence, a Kpnl site at the N-terminus and a Sal I site at the C-terminal end.
  • the c-K-r ⁇ s fragment can be ligated into a Kpnl - Sal I cut mutagenesis vector pAlter-1 (Promega). Mutation of cysteine-12 to a valine can be accomplished using the manufacturer's protocols and the following oligonucleotide:
  • the mutated c-K-ras-Nal-12 can be excised from the p Alter- 1 vector, using Kpnl and Sal I, and be directly ligated into the vector pCI (Promega) which has been digested with Kpnl and Sal I.
  • the new recombinant plasmid will constitutively transcribe c-K-ras-Nal-12 from the CMV promoter of the pCI vector.
  • Human C33A cells (human epitheial carcenoma - ATTC collection) are seeded in 10cm tissue culture plates in DMEM + 10% fetal calf serum + IX Pen/Strep + IX glutamine + IX NEAA. Cells are grown at 37°C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere until they reach 50-80% of confluency.
  • the transient transfection is performed by the CaPO4 method
  • expression plasmids for H-ras, N-r ⁇ s, K-ras, Myr-ras or H-ras-CNLL are co-precipitated with the DSE-SEAP reporter construct.
  • 600ml of CaCl2 -D ⁇ A solution is added dropwise while vortexing to 600ml of 2X HBS buffer to give 1.2ml of precipitate solution (see recipes below). This is allowed to sit at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes. While the precipitate is forming, the media on the C33 A cells is replaced with DMEM (minus phenol red; Gibco cat.
  • the cells are washed with PBS and trypsinized with 1ml of 0.05% trypsin.
  • the 1 ml of trypsinized cells is diluted into 10ml of phenol red free DMEM + 0.2% charcoal stripped calf serum + IX (Pen/Strep, Glutamine and NEAA ).
  • Transfected cells are plated in a 96 well microtiter plate (lOOml/well) to which drag, diluted in media, has already been added in a volume of 100ml. The final volume per well is 200ml with each drag concentration repeated in triplicate over a range of half-log steps.
  • Luminescence reflects the level of activation of the fos reporter constract stimulated by the transiently expressed protein. DNA-CaPO4 precipitate for 10cm. plate of cells Ras expression plasmid (lmg/ml) 10ml
  • PSN-1 human pancreatic carcinoma cells are used for analysis of protein processing.
  • Subconfluent cells in 100 mm dishes are fed with 3.5 ml of media (methionine-free RPMI supplemented with 2% fetal bovine seram or cysteine- free/methionine-free DMEM supplemented with 0.035 ml of 200 mM glutamine (Gibco), 2% fetal bovine seram, respectively) containing the desired concentration of test compound, lovastatin or solvent alone.
  • Media methionine-free RPMI supplemented with 2% fetal bovine seram or cysteine- free/methionine-free DMEM supplemented with 0.035 ml of 200 mM glutamine (Gibco), 2% fetal bovine seram, respectively
  • lovastatin 5-10 ⁇ M
  • a compound that blocks Ras processing in cells by inhibiting a rate-limiting step in the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway serve as
  • Test compounds are prepared as lOOOx concentrated solutions in DMSO to yield a final solvent concentration of 0.1%. Following incubation at 37°C for two hours 204 ⁇ Ci/ml [35s]Pro-Mix (Amersham, cell labeling grade) is added. After introducing the label amino acid mixture, the cells are incubated at 37°C for an additional period of time (typically 6 to 24 hours). The media is then removed and the cells are washed once with cold PBS.
  • the cells are scraped into 1 ml of cold PBS, collected by centrifugation (10,000 x g for 10 sec at room temperature), and lysed by vortexing in 1 ml of lysis buffer (1% Nonidet P-40, 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5% deoxycholate, 0.1% SDS, 1 mM DTT, 10 ⁇ g/ml AEBSF, 10 ⁇ g/ml aprotinin, 2 ⁇ g/ml leupeptin and 2 ⁇ g ml antipain). The lysate is then centrifuged at 15,000 x g for 10 minutes at 4°C and the supernatant saved.
  • lysis buffer 1% Nonidet P-40, 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5% deoxycholate, 0.1% SDS, 1 mM DTT, 10 ⁇ g/m
  • Ki4B-Ras For immunoprecipitation of Ki4B-Ras, samples of lysate supernatant containing equal amounts of protein are utilized. Protein concentration is determined by the Bradford method utilizing bovine seram albumin as a standard. The appropriate volume of lysate is brought to 1 ml with lysis buffer lacking DTT and 8 ⁇ g of the pan Ras monoclonal antibody, Yl 3-259, added. The protein/antibody mixture is incubated on ice at 4°C for 24 hours. The immune complex is collected on pansorbin (Calbiochem) coated with rabbit antiserum to rat IgG (Cappel) by tumbling at 4°C for 45 minutes.
  • pansorbin Calbiochem
  • the pellet is washed 3 times with 1 ml of lysis buffer lacking DTT and protease inhibitors and resuspended in 100 ml elution buffer (10 mM Tris pH 7.4, 1% SDS).
  • the Ras is eluted from the beads by heating at 95°C for 5 minutes, after which the beads are pelleted by brief centrifugation (15,000 x g for 30 seconds at room temperature).
  • the supernatant is added to 1 ml of Dilution Buffer 0.1% Triton X-100, 5 mM EDTA, 50 mM NaCl, 10 mM Tris pH 7.4) with 2 mg Kirsten-ras specific monoclonal antibody, c-K-ras Ab-1 (Calbiochem).
  • the second protein/ antibody mixture is incubated on ice at 4°C for 1-2 hours.
  • the immune complex is collected on pansorbin (Calbiochem) coated with rabbit antiserum to rat IgG (Cappel) by tumbling at 4°C for 45 minutes.
  • the pellet is washed 3 times with 1 ml of lysis buffer lacking DTT and protease inhibitors and resuspended in Laemmli sample buffer.
  • the Ras is eluted from the beads by heating at 95°C for 5 minutes, after which the beads are pelleted by brief centrifugation. The supernatant is subjected to SDS-PAGE on a 12% acrylamide gel (bis-acrylamide:acrylamide, 1:100), and the Ras visualized by fluorography.
  • hDJ processing inhibition assay PSN-1 cells are seeded in 24-well assay plates. For each compound to be tested, the cells are treated with a minimum of seven concentrations in half-log steps. The final solvent (DMSO) concentration is 0.1%. A vehicle-only control is included on each assay plate. The cells are treated for 24 hours at 37°C / 5% CO2-
  • the growth media is then aspirated and the samples are washed with PBS.
  • the cells are lysed with SDS-PAGE sample buffer containing 5% 2-mercaptoethanol and heated to 95°C for 5 minutes. After cooling on ice for 10 minutes, a mixture of nucleases is added to reduce viscosity of the samples.
  • the plates are incubated on ice for another 10 minutes.
  • the samples are loaded onto pre-cast 8% acrylamide gels and electrophoresed at 15 mA/gel for 3-4 hours.
  • the samples are then transferred from the gels to PVDF membranes by Western blotting.
  • the membranes are blocked for at least 1 hour in buffer containing 2% nonfat dry milk.
  • the membranes are then treated with a monoclonal antibody to HDJ-2 (Neomarkers Cat. # MS-225), washed, and treated with an alkaline phosphatase-conjugated secondary antibody.
  • the membranes are then treated with a fluorescent detection reagent and scanned on a phosphorimager.
  • PSN-1 human pancreatic carcinoma cells are used for analysis of protein processing.
  • Subconfluent cells in 150 mm dishes are fed with 20 ml of media (RPMI supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum) containing the desired concentration of prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor or solvent alone.
  • Test compounds are prepared as lOOOx concentrated solutions in DMSO to yield a final solvent concentration of 0.1%.
  • the cells are incubated at 37°C for 24 hours, the media is then removed and the cells are washed twice with cold PBS. The cells are scraped into 2 ml of cold PBS, collected by centrifugation (10,000 x g for 5 minutes at 4°C) and frozen at -70°C. Cells are lysed by thawing and addition of lysis buffer (50 mM
  • HEPES pH 7.2, 50 mM NaCl, 1% CHAPS, 0.7 ⁇ g/ml aprotinin, 0.7 ⁇ g/ml leupeptin 300 ⁇ g/ml pefabloc, and 0.3 mM EDTA).
  • the lysate is then centrifuged at 100,000 x g for 60 minutes at 4°C and the supernatant saved. The supernatant may be subjected to SDS-PAGE, HPLC analysis, and/or chemical cleavage techniques.
  • the lysate is applied to a HiTrap-SP (Pharmacia Biotech) column in buffer A (50 mM HEPES pH 7.2) and resolved by gradient in buffer A plus 1 M NaCl.
  • Peak fractions containing Ki4B-Ras are pooled, diluted with an equal volume of water and immunoprecipitated with the pan Ras monoclonal antibody, Y13-259 linked to agarose.
  • the protein/antibody mixture is incubated at 4°C for 12 hours.
  • the immune complex is washed 3 times with PBS, followed by 3 times with water.
  • the Ras is eluted from the beads by either high pH conditions (pH>10) or by heating at 95°C for 5 minutes, after which the beads are pelleted by brief centrifugation.
  • the supernatant may be subjected to SDS-PAGE, HPLC analysis, and/or chemical cleavage techniques.
  • the pellet is washed 3 times with 1 ml of lysis buffer lacking DTT and protease inhibitors and resuspended in 100 ml elution buffer (10 mM Tris pH 7.4, 1% SDS).
  • the Rapl is eluted from the beads by heating at 95 °C for 5 minutes, after which the beads are pelleted by brief centrifugation (15,000 x g for 30 seconds at room temperature).
  • the supernatant is added to 1 ml of Dilution Buffer (0.1% Triton X-100, 5 mM EDTA, 50 mM NaCl, 10 mM Tris pH 7.4) with 2 mg Rapl antibody, Rapl/Krevl (121) (Santa Cruz Biotech).
  • the second protein/antibody mixture is incubated on ice at 4°C for 1-2 hours.
  • the immune complex is collected on pansorbin (Calbiochem) by tumbling at 4°C for 45 minutes.
  • the pellet is washed 3 times with 1 ml of lysis buffer lacking DTT and protease inhibitors and resuspended in Laemmli sample buffer.
  • the Rapl is eluted from the beads by heating at 95 °C for 5 minutes, after which the beads are pelleted by brief centrifugation.
  • the supernatant is subjected to SDS-PAGE on a 12% acrylamide gel (bis-acrylamide: acrylamide, 1:100), and the Rapl visualized by fluorography.
  • PSN-1 cells are passaged every 3-4 days in 10cm plates, splitting near-confluent plates 1:20 and 1:40. The day before the assay is set up, 5x 106 cells are plated on 15cm plates to ensure the same stage of confluency in each assay. The media for these cells is RPMI 1640 (Gibco), with 15% fetal bovine serum and lx Pen/Strep antibiotic mix.
  • the day of the assay cells are collected from the 15cm plates by trypsinization and diluted to 400,000 cells/ml in media. 0.5ml of these diluted cells are added to each well of 24-well plates, for a final cell number of 200,000 per well. The cells are then grown at 37°C overnight.
  • the compounds to be assayed are diluted in DMSO in 1/2-log dilutions. The range of final concentrations to be assayed is generally 0.1-100 ⁇ M. Four concentrations per compound is typical. The compounds are diluted so that each concentration is lOOOx of the final concentration (i.e., for a lO ⁇ M data point, a lOmM stock of the compound is needed).
  • each lOOOx compound stock is diluted into 1ml media to produce a 2X stock of compound.
  • a vehicle control solution (2 ⁇ L DMSO to 1ml media), is utilized.
  • 0.5 ml of the 2X stocks of compound are added to the cells.
  • RNAse/DNase mix is added per well. This mix is lmg/ml DNasel (Worthington Enzymes), 0.25 mg/ml RNAse A (Worthington Enzymes), 0.5M Tris-HCI pH8.0 and 50mM MgCl2-
  • the plate is left on ice for 10 minutes. Samples are then either loaded on the gel, or stored at -70° C until use.
  • Each assay plate (usually 3 compounds, each in 4-point titrations, plus controls) requires one 15-well 14% Novex gel. 25 ⁇ l of each sample is loaded onto the gel. The gel is run at 15mA for about 3.5 hours. It is important to run the gel far enough so that there will be adequate separation between 21kd (Rapl) and 29kd
  • the gels are then transferred to Novex pre-cut PVDF membranes for
  • the blocking solution is discarded and 20ml fresh blocking solution containing the anti Rapla antibody (Santa Cruz Biochemical SC1482) at 1:1000 (diluted in Western blocking buffer) and the anti Rab6 antibody (Santa Cruz
  • Biochemical SC310 at 1:5000 (diluted in Western blocking buffer) are added.
  • the membranes are incubated at room temperature for 1 hour with mild rocking.
  • ECF detection reagent About 2ml per gel of the Amersham ECF detection reagent is placed on an overhead transparency (ECF) and the PNDF membranes are placed face down onto the detection reagent. This is incubated for one minute, then the membrane is placed onto a fresh transparency sheet.
  • ECF overhead transparency
  • the developed transparency sheet is scanned on a phosphorimager and the Rapla Minimum Inhibitory Concentration is determined from the lowest concentration of compound that produces a detectable Rapla Western signal.
  • the Rapla antibody used recognizes only unprenylated/unprocessed Rapla, so that the precence of a detectable Rapla Western signal is indicative of inhibition of Rapla prenylation.
  • This protocol allows the determination of an EC50 for inhibition of processing of Rapla.
  • the assay is ran as described in Protocol B with the following modifications. 20 ⁇ ,l of sample is run on pre-cast 10-20% gradient acrylamide mini gels ( ⁇ ovex Inc.) at 15 mA gel for 2.5-3 hours. Prenylated and unprenylated forms of Rapla are detected by blotting with a polyclonal antibody (Rapl/Krev-1 Ab#121; Santa Cruz Research Products #sc-65), followed by an alkaline phosphatase- conjugated anti-rabbit IgG antibody. The percentage of unprenylated Rapla relative to the total amount of Rapla is determined by peak integration using Imagequant® software (Molecular Dynamics).
  • Unprenylated Rapla is distinguished from prenyl- ated protein by virtue of the greater apparent molecular weight of the prenylated protein. Dose-response curves and EC50 values are generated using 4-parameter curve fits in SigmaPlot software.
  • mice in each oncogene group are randomly assigned to a vehicle or compound treatment group. Animals are dosed subcutaneously starting on day 1 and daily for the duration of the experiment. Alternatively, the prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor may be administered by a continuous infusion pump. Compound or vehicle is delivered in a total volume of 0.1 ml. Tumors are excised and weighed when all of the vehicle- treated animals exhibited lesions of 0.5 - 1.0 cm in diameter, typically 11-15 days after the cells were injected. The average weight of the tumors in each treatment group for each cell line is calculated.

Abstract

The present invention is directed to compounds which inhibit prenyl-protein transferase (FTase) and the prenylation of the oncogene protein Ras. The invention is further directed to chemotherapeutic compositions containing the compounds of this invention and methods for inhibiting prenyl-protein transferase and the prenylation of the oncogene protein Ras.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION
INHIBITORS OF PRENYL-PROTEIN TRANSFERASE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The Ras proteins (Ha-Ras, Ki4a-Ras, Ki4b-Ras and N-Ras) are part of a signalling pathway that links cell surface growth factor receptors to nuclear signals initiating cellular proliferation. Biological and biochemical studies of Ras action indicate that Ras functions like a G-regulatory protein. In the inactive state, Ras is bound to GDP. Upon growth factor receptor activation Ras is induced to exchange GDP for GTP and undergoes a conformational change. The GTP-bound form of Ras propagates the growth stimulatory signal until the signal is terminated by the intrinsic GTPase activity of Ras, which returns the protein to its inactive GDP bound form (D.R. Lowy and D.M. Willumsen, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 52:851-891 (1993)). Mutated ras genes (Ha-ras, Ki4a-ras, Ki4b-rαs and N-ras) are found in many human cancers, including colorectal carcinoma, exocrine pancreatic carcinoma, and myeloid leukemias. The protein products of these genes are defective in their GTPase activity and constitutively transmit a growth stimulatory signal.
Ras must be localized to the plasma membrane for both normal and oncogenic functions. At least 3 post-translational modifications are involved with Ras membrane localization, and all 3 modifications occur at the C-terminus of Ras. The Ras C-terminus contains a sequence motif termed a "CAAX" or "Cys-Aaal- Aaa2-Xaa" box (Cys is cysteine, Aaa is an aliphatic amino acid, the Xaa is any amino acid) (Willumsen et αl, Nature 310:583-586 (1984)). Depending on the specific sequence, this motif serves as a signal sequence for the enzymes farnesyl-protein transferase or geranylgeranyl-protein transferase, which catalyze the alkylation of the cysteine residue of the CAAX motif with a C15 or C20 isoprenoid, respectively.
Such enzymes may be generally termed prenyl-protein transferases. (S. Clarke, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 67:355-386 (1992); W.R. Schafer and J. Rine, Ann. Rev. Genetics 30:209-237 (1992)). The Ras protein is one of several proteins that are known to undergo post-translational famesylation. Other famesylated proteins include the Ras-related GTP-binding proteins such as Rho, fungal mating factors, the nuclear lamins, and the gamma subunit of transducin. James, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269, 14182 (1994) have identified a peroxisome associated protein Pxf which is also famesylated. James, et al., have also suggested that there are famesylated proteins of unknown structure and function in addition to those listed above. Inhibition of famesyl-protein transferase has been shown to block the growth of Ras-transformed cells in soft agar and to modify other aspects of their transformed phenotype. It has also been demonstrated that certain inhibitors of famesyl-protein transferase selectively block the processing of the Ras oncoprotein intracellularly (N.E. Kohl et al., Science, 260:1934-1937 (1993) and G.L. James et al., Science, 260:1937-1942 (1993). Recently, it has been shown that an inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase blocks the growth of rαs-dependent tumors in nude mice (N.E. Kohl et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci U.S.A., 97:9141-9145 (1994) and induces regression of mammary and salivary carcinomas in ras transgenic mice (N.E. Kohl et al. , Nature Medicine, 1 :792-797 (1995).
Indirect inhibition of famesyl-protein transferase in vivo has been demonstrated with lovastatin (Merck & Co., Rahway, NJ) and compactin (Hancock et al, ibid; Casey et al., ibid; Schafer et al., Science 245:379 (1989)). These drugs inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, the rate limiting enzyme for the production of poly- isoprenoids including famesyl pyrophosphate. Famesyl-protein transferase utilizes famesyl pyrophosphate to covalently modify the Cys thiol group of the Ras CAAX box with a famesyl group (Reiss et al., Cell, 62:81-88 (1990); Schaber et al., J. Biol. Chem., 265:14701-14704 (1990); Schafer et al., Science, 249:1133-1139 (1990); Manne et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA, 57:7541-7545 (1990)). Inhibition of famesyl pyrophosphate biosynthesis by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase blocks Ras membrane localization in cultured cells. However, direct inhibition of famesyl- protein transferase would be more specific and attended by fewer side effects than would occur with the required dose of a general inhibitor of isoprene biosynthesis.
Inhibitors of famesyl-protein transferase (FPTase) have been described in two general classes. The first are analogs of famesyl diphosphate (FPP), while the second class of inhibitors is related to the protein substrates (e.g., Ras) for the enzyme. The peptide derived inhibitors that have been described are generally cysteine containing molecules that are related to the CAAX motif that is the signal for protein prenylation. (Schaber et al, ibid; Reiss et. al., ibid; Reiss et al., PNAS, 88:732-736 (1991)). Such inhibitors may inhibit protein prenylation while serving as alternate substrates for the famesyl-protein transferase enzyme, or may be purely competitive inhibitors (U.S. Patent 5,141,851, University of Texas; N.E. Kohl et al., Science, 260:1934-1937 (1993); Graham, et al, J. Med. Chem., 37, 725 (1994)). In general, deletion of the thiol from a CAAX derivative has been shown to dramatically reduce the inhibitory potency of the compound. However, the thiol group potentially places limitations on the therapeutic application of FPTase inhibitors with respect to pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicity. Therefore, a functional replacement for the thiol is desirable.
It has recently been reported that famesyl-protein transferase inhibitors are inhibitors of proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and are therefore useful in the prevention and therapy of arteriosclerosis and diabetic disturbance of blood vessels (JP H7-112930).
It has recently been disclosed that certain tricyclic compounds which optionally incorporate a piperidine moiety are inhibitors of FPTase (WO 95/10514, WO 95/10515 and WO 95/10516). Imidazole-containing inhibitors of famesyl protein transferase have also been disclosed (WO 95/09001 and EP 0 675 112 Al).
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to develop compounds that will inhibit prenyl-protein transferase and thus, the post-translational isoprenylation of proteins. It is a further object of this invention to develop chemotherapeutic compositions containing the compounds of this invention and methods for producing the compounds of this invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises non-prodrug compounds which inhibit prenyl-protein transferase. Further contained in this invention are chemotherapeutic compositions containing these prenyl-protein transferase inhibitors and methods for their production.
The compounds of this invention are illustrated by the formula A:
Figure imgf000004_0001
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The compounds of this invention are useful in the inhibition of prenyl- protein transferase. In a first embodiment of this invention, the inhibitors of prenyl- protein transferase are illustrated by the formula A:
Figure imgf000005_0001
wherein:
Rla and Rib are independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, c) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, d) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl, e) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl, f) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl, g) R8O-, h) R9S(O)q-, i) CN, j) NO2, k) R8C(O)-,
1) R8OC(O)-,
Figure imgf000005_0002
n) (R8)2NC(O)-, o) C(O)N(R8)-, and p) C1-C6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by 1) unsubstituted or substituted aryl,
2) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle,
3) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl,
4) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl,
5) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl,
6) R8O-,
7) R9S(O)q-,
8) CN,
9) R8C(O)-,
10) R8OC(O)-,
Figure imgf000006_0001
12) N3, or
13) R8C(O)O-;
Rl is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, ) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, e) -(Ci-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2, f) -R8C(O)R8, g) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8,
Figure imgf000006_0002
i) -OR8,
Figure imgf000006_0003
1) CF3, m) halo, n) -C(O)OR8, o) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl,
P) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl, q) perfluoroalkyl, r) NO2, s) CN, and t) R9S(O)q-
R2 is selected from: a) hydrogen, b) CN, c) halogen, d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, e) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, ) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl g) OR8, h) R9S(O)q, i) (R8)2C=CR8-, j) R8C≡C-, and k) NO2;
R3 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, ) OR8, g) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, h) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and i) CF3;
R4 is selected from: a) H, b) =O, and c) =S;
R5 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, f) R9S(O)q, g) -R8C=C(R8)2, h) -C≡CR8,
0 unsubstituted or substituted aryl, j) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, k) CF3O-,
1) CF3CH2O-, m) C3-C10 cycloalkyl, n) -CF3, o) -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2,
P) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8, q) -OR8,
Figure imgf000008_0001
s) -C(O)(Cι-C6 alkyl), and t) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8;
R6 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) OR8, and d) -C(O)(Cι-C6 alkyl);
R7 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl,
Φ -C(O)R8, e) -C(O)OR8, f) -C(O)NR8, and g) -S(O)qR9; R8 is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted Cχ-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, d) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and e) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
R9 is independently selected from: a) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cg alkyl, b) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
and A2 are independently selected from: a) a bond, b) -R8=CR8-, c) -C≡C-, d) O, e) S(O)q, ) OC(O), g) C(O), h) C(O)O, i) NR8, j) -S(O)qNR8-, k) -NR8S(O)q-, and
1) -NR8C(0)NR8-;
M is selected from CH2, NH, O and S;
W is selected from: a) heterocycle, and b) aryl;
Y is selected from: a) aryl, and b) heterocycle;
Z is selected from: a) aryl, b) heterocycle, and c) C3-C10 cycloalkyl;
mis 0, 1,2, 3 or 4; nis 0, 1,2, 3 or 4; pis 1 or 2; qis 0, 1 or 2; ris 0, 1,2, 3, or 4; s is 0, 1,2, 3 or 4; tis 0, 1,2 or 3;
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an optical isomer or stereoisomer thereof.
Another embodiment of the compounds of this invention is illustrated by formula B:
Figure imgf000010_0001
wherein:
Rla is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, c) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, d) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl, e) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C alkenyl, f) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl, g) R8O-, h) R9S(O)q-, i) CN, j) NO2, k) R8C(O)-,
1) R OC(O)-,
Figure imgf000011_0001
n) (R8)2NC(O)-, o) C(O)N(R8)-, and p) C1-C6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by
I) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, 2) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle,
3) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl,
4) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl,
5) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl,
6) R8O-, 7) R9S(O)q-,
8) CN,
9) R8C(O)-,
10) R8OC(O)-,
Figure imgf000011_0002
12) N3, or
13) R8C(O)O-;
Rl is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-C alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, d) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, e) -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2, f) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8, g) -(Cι-C6 alkyl)OR8,
Figure imgf000012_0001
i) -OR8, j) -(C1-C6 alkyl)NHC(O)R8, k) -(Ci-C6 alkyl)C(O)N(R8)2,
1) CF3, and m) halo;
R2 is selected from: a) hydrogen, b) CN, c) halogen, d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, e) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, ) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, g) OR8, h) R9S(O)q, i) (R8)2C=CR8-,
J) R8C≡C-, and k) NO2;
R3 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO , d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted Cχ-C6 alkyl, f) OR8, g) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, h) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and i) CF3;
R4 is selected from: a) H, b) =O, and c) =S;
R5 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl
Figure imgf000013_0001
) -C≡CR8, i) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, j) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, k) CF3O-,
1) CF3CH2O-, m) C3-C10 cycloalkyl, n) -CF3, o) -(Ci-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2,
P) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8, q) -OR8,
Figure imgf000013_0002
s) -C(O)(Cι-C6 alkyl), and t) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8;
R6 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C alkyl, c) OR8, and d) -C(O)(Cι-C6 alkyl);
R7 is selected from: a) H, and b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl; R8 is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
R9 is independently selected from: a) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, b) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
Al is selected from: a) a bond, b) -RSC=CR8-, c) -C≡C-, d) O, e) S(O)q, ) OC(O), g) C(O), h) C(O)O, and i) NR8;
W is selected from: a) heterocycle, and b) aryl;
Y is selected from: a) aryl, and b) heterocycle;
Z is selected from: a) aryl, and b) heterocycle; m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; p is 1 or 2; q is 0, 1 or 2; s is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; and t is 0, 1, 2 or 3;
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an optical isomer or stereoisomer thereof.
Another embodiment of the compounds of this invention is illustrated by the formula C:
Figure imgf000015_0001
wherein: Rla is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, c) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, d) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl, e) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl, f) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl, g) R8O-, h) R9S(O)q-, i) CN, j) NO2, k) R8C(O)-,
1) R8OC(O)-,
Figure imgf000016_0001
n) (R8)2NC(O)-,
0) C(O)N(R8)-, and
P) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl,
1) unsubstituted or substituted aryl,
2) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle,
3) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl
4) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl,
5) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl,
6) R 0-,
7) R9S(O)q-,
8) CN,
9) R8C(O)-,
10) R8OC(O)-,
Figure imgf000016_0002
12) N3, or
13) R8C(O)O-;
lected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, d) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, e) -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2, ) -(Ci-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8, g) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8,
Figure imgf000016_0003
i) -OR8, j) -(C1-C6 alkyl)NHC(O)R8, k) -(Cl-C6 alkyl)C(O)N(R8)2,
1) CF3, and m) halo; R^ is selected from: a) hydrogen, b) CN, c) halogen, d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, e) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, ) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, g) OR8, h) R9S(O)q, i) (R8)2C=CR8-, j) R8C≡C-, and k) NO2;
R3 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, ) OR8, g) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, h) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and i) CF3;
R4 is selected from: a) H, b) =O, and c) =S;
R5 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl
Figure imgf000018_0001
h) -OCR8-, i) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, j) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, k) CF3O-,
1) CF3CH2O-, m) C3-C10 cycloalkyl, n) -CF3, o) -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2,
P) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8,
Figure imgf000018_0002
s) -C(O)(Cι-C6 alkyl), and t) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8;
R6 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl c) OR8, and d) -C(O)(Cι-C6 alkyl);
R7 is selected from: a) H, and b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl;
R8 is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl; R9 is independently selected from: a) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, b) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
Al i ; selected from: a) a bond, b) -R8C=CR8-, c) -C≡C-, d) O, e) S(O)q, f) OC(O), g) C(O), h) C(O)O, and i) NR8;
W is selected from: a) heterocycle, and b) aryl;
m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; p is l or 2; q is 0, 1 or 2; s is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; and t is 0, 1, 2 or 3;
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an optical isomer or stereoisomer thereof.
Another embodiment of the compounds of this invention is illustrated by formula D:
Figure imgf000020_0001
a is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, c) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, d) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl, e) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C alkenyl, f) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl, g) R80-, h) R9S(O)q-, i) CN, j) R8C(O)-, k) R8OC(O)-5
Figure imgf000020_0002
m) (R8)2NC(O)-, n) C(O)N(R8)-, and o) C1-C6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by
1) unsubstituted or substituted aryl,
2) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle,
3) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl,
4) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl,
5) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl,
6) R80-,
7) R9S(O)q-,
8) CN, 9) R8C(O)-,
10) R8θC(O)-,
11) N(R8)2,
12) N3, or
13) R8C(O)O-;
Rl is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, d) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, e) -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2, f) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8, g) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8,
Figure imgf000021_0001
i) -OR8, j) -(C1-C6 alkyl)NHC(O)R8, k) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)N(R8)2,
1) CF3, and m) halo;
R2 is selected from: a) hydrogen, b) CN, c) halogen, d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, e) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, ) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, g) OR8, h) R9S(O)q, i) (R8)2C=CR8-, and j) R8C≡CR-;
R3 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO , d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, ) OR8, g) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, h) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and i) CF3;
R4 is selected from: a) H, and b) =O;
R5 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, ) R9S(O)q, g) -R8C=C(R8)2, h) -C≡CR8, i) unsubstituted or substituted aryl,
J) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, k) CF3O-,
1) CF3CH2O-, m) C3-C10 cycloalkyl, n) -CF3, o) -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2,
P) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8, q) -OR8,
Figure imgf000022_0001
s) -C(O)(Cι-C6 alkyl), and t) -(Ci-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8;
R6 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, and c) -C(O)(Cι-C6 alkyl);
R7 is selected from: a) H, and b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl;
R8 is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
R9 is independently selected from: a) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, b) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
Al is selected from: a) O, b) S(O)q, and c) NR8;
W is a heterocycle, selected from imidazolyl or pyridyl;
m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; q is 0, 1 or 2; s is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; and t is 0, 1, 2 or 3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an optical isomer or stereoisomer thereof.
Examples of the compounds of the invention are:
2-(3-[3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol-5- yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile
2-(3-[(3S)-3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[(2SR)-2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyriOlidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[(3S)-3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[(2R)-2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[(3R)-3-ethyl-l-methyI-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[(2R)-2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[(3R)-3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[(2S)-2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[3-trifluoropropyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[3-cyclopropylmethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[3-π-butyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol-5- yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile ;
2-(3-[3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxo-piperidin-3-yl]ρhenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol-5- yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxo-pyrrolidin-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol- 5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an optical isomer or stereoisomer thereof.
A specific example of the compounds of the instant invention are:
Figure imgf000025_0001
2-(3-[3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol-5- yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an optical isomer or stereoisomer thereof.
The compounds of the present invention may have asymmetric centers and occur as racemates, racemic mixtures, and as individual diastereomers, with all possible isomers, including optical isomers, being included in the present invention. When any variable, term or substituent (e.g. aryl, heterocycle, n, R*a, etc.) occurs more than one time in any formula or generic structure, its definition on each occurrence is independent from the definition at every other occurrence. Also, combinations of substituents/or variables are permissible only if such combinations result in stable compounds.
As used herein, "alkyl" is intended to include both branched and straight-chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, unless otherwise specified; "alkoxy" represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, unless otherwise indicated, attached through an oxygen bridge. "Halogen" or "halo" as used herein means fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo.
"Cycloalkyl" as used herein is intended to include non-aromatic cyclic hydrocarbon groups, having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, unless indicated otherwise, which may or may not be bridged or stracturally constrained. Examples of such cycloalkyls include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, adamantyl, cyclooctyl, cycloheptyl, tetrahydro-naphthalene, methylenecylohexyl, and the like. As used herein, "aryl" is intended to mean any stable monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic carbon ring of up to 7 members in each ring, wherein at least one ring is aromatic. Examples of such aryl elements include phenyl, naphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, indanyl, indanonyl, biphenyl, tetralinyl, tetralonyl, fluorenonyl, phenanthryl, anthryl or acenaphthyl.
As used herein, "aralkyl" is intended to mean an aryl moiety, as defined above, attached through a Cj-Cβ alkyl linker, where alkyl is defined above.
Examples of aralkyls include, but are not limited to, benzyl, naphthylmethyl and phenylpropyl. As used herein, "heterocyclylalkyl" is intended to mean a heterocyclic moiety, as defined below, attached through a C1-C alkyl linker, where alkyl is defined above. Examples of heterocyclylalkyls include, but are not limited to, 2-pyridylmethyl, 2-morpholinylefhyl, 2-imidazolylethyl, 2-quinolinylmethyl, 2-imidazolylmethyl, and the like. The term heterocycle or heterocyclic, as used herein, represents a stable 5- to 7-membered monocyclic or stable 8- to 11-membered bicyclic heterocyclic ring which is either saturated or unsaturated, and which consists of carbon atoms and from one to four heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O, and S, and including any bicyclic group in which any of the above-defined heterocyclic rings is fused to a benzene ring. The heterocyclic ring may be attached at any heteroatom or carbon atom which results in the creation of a stable structure. Examples of such heterocyclic elements include, but are not limited to, azepinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzofurazanyl, benzopyranyl, benzothiopyranyl, benzofuryl, benzothiazolyl, benzothienyl, benzoxazolyl, benzopyrazolyl, chromanyl, cinnolinyl, dibenzofuranyl, dihydrobenzofuryl, dihydrobenzothienyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl sulfone, furyl, imidazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolyl, indolinyl, indolyl, isochromanyl, isoindolinyl, isoquinolinyl, isothiazolidinyl, isothiazolyl, isothiazolidinyl, morpholinyl, naphthyridinyl, oxadiazolyl, 2-oxoazepinyl, 2-oxopiperazinyl, 2-oxopiperdinyl, 2-oxopyrrolidinyl, 2-oxopyridyl, 2-oxoquinolinyl, piperidyl, piperazinyl, pyridyl, pyridinyl-N-oxide, pyrazinyl, pyrazolidinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolyl, quinazolinyl, quinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, tetrahydrofuryl, tetrahydroimidazopyridinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, thiamorpholinyl, thiamorpholinyl sulfoxide, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, thienofuryl, thienothienyl, thienyl and triazolyl. Examples of a "saturated heterocycle"may include, but are not limited to, morpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, thiamorpholinyl, and the like.
As used herein, "heteroaryl" is intended to mean any stable monocyclic or bicyclic carbon ring of up to 7 members in each ring, wherein at least one ring is aromatic and wherein from one to four carbon atoms are replaced by heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O, and S. Examples of such heteroaryl elements include, but are not limited to, benzimidazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzo- furazanyl, benzopyranyl, benzothiopyranyl, benzofuryl, benzothiazolyl, benzothienyl, benzoxazolyl, chromanyl, cinnolinyl, dihydrobenzofuryl, dihydrobenzothienyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl sulfone, furyl, imidazolyl, indolinyl, indolyl, isochromanyl, isoindolinyl, isoquinolinyl, isothiazolyl, naphthyridinyl, oxadiazolyl, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, quinazolinyl, quinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, tetrahydroimidazopyridinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, thiazolyl, thienofuryl, thienothienyl, and thienyl.
As used herein, the terms "substituted Cl- Cg alkyl", "substituted C2-
Cg alkenyl" , "substituted C2- Cg alkynyl" and "substituted Cl- Cg alkoxy" are intended to include the branch or straight-chain alkyl group of the specified number of carbon atoms, wherein the carbon atoms may be substituted with F, Cl, Br, CF3, N3, NO2, NH2, oxo, -OH, -O(Cχ- C6 alkyl), S(O)θ-2, (Cl- C6 alkyl)S(O)θ-2-, (Cl- C6 alkyI)S(O)0-2(Cl- Cβ alkyl)-, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, -C(O)NH, (Cl- C6 alkyl)C(O)NH-, H2NC(O)NH-, H2NC(NH)-, (Cl- C6 alkyl)C(O)-, -O(Cι-C6 alkyl)CF3, (Cl- C6 alkyl)OC(O)-, (Cl- C6 alkyl)O(Ci- C6 alkyl)-, (Cl- C6 alkyl)C(O)2(Cι- Cβ alkyl)-, (Cl- Cβ alkyl)OC(O)NH-, aryl, benzyl, heterocycle, aralkyl, heterocyclylalkyl, halo-aryl, halo-benzyl, halo-heterocycle, cyano-aryl, cyano- benzyl and cyano-heterocycle.
As used herein, the terms "substituted aryl", "substituted heteroaryl", "substituted C3- Cχo cycloalkyl", "substituted aralkyl", substituted heterocyclylalkyl",
"substituted benzyl" and "substituted hetrocycle" are intended to include the cyclic group containing from 1 to 3 substitutents in addition to the point of attachment to the rest of the compound. Such substitutents are preferably selected from the group which includes but is not limited to F, Cl, Br, CF3, NEΪ2, N(Cι-C6 alkyl)2, NO2, CN, N3, C1-C20 alkyl, - C6 alkoxy, -OH, -O(Ci-C6 alkyl), S(O)0-2, (Cl- C6 alkyl)S(O)0-2-, (Cl- C6 alkyl)S(O)0-2(Cι- C6 alkyl)-, (Cι-C6 alkyl)C(O)NH-, H2NC(O)NH-, H2N-C(NH)-, (C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)-, (C1-C6 alkyl)OC(O)-, (C1-C6 alkyl)O(Cι-C6 alkyl)-, (C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)2(Cι-C6 alkyl)-, (C1-C6 alkyl)OC(O)NH-, aryl, aralkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclylalkyl, halo-aryl, halo-aralkyl, halo-heterocycle, halo-heterocyclylalkyl, cyano-aryl, cyano-aralkyl, cyano-heterocycle and cyano- heterocyclylalkyl.
Examples of the moiety
Figure imgf000028_0001
include, but are not limited to,
Figure imgf000028_0002
Lines drawn into the ring systems from substituents (such as from R2, R3, R4 e c) indicate that the indicated bond may be attached to any of the substitutable ring carbon atoms or heteroatoms.
Preferably, Rl is independently selected from H, unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, -(C1-C6 alkyl)NR8c(O)N(R8)2. Most preferably, Rl is independently selected from H, unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, and unsubstituted or substituted aryl.
Preferably, R2 is independently selected from H, OR8, CN, NO2, unsubstituted or substituted aryl or halogen. Most preferably, R is CN.
Preferably, R3 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO2, and unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl.
Preferably, R4 is selected from H or =O. Most preferably R4 is =O. Preferably, R^ is independently selected from hydrogen or unsubstituted or substituted C1-C alkyl.
Preferably R6 is H or unsubstituted or substituded Ci-Cβ alkyl. Preferably, Al and A are independently selected from: a bond , O, -NR8, C(O) and S(O)q. More preferably, Al is O, -NR8, C(O) or S(O)q and A2 is a bond. Most preferably, Al is O. Preferably, M is selected from CH2 or NH.
Preferably, W is a heterocycle. More preferably, W is pyrrolidinyl, imidazolyl, pyridyl, 2-oxopiperidinyl, and triazolyl. Most preferably, W is imidazolyl, or pyridyl.
Preferably, Y is selected from phenyl or pyridyl. Most preferably, Y is phenyl.
Preferably, Z is selected from aryl or heterocycle. Most preferably, Z is phenyl or pyridyl.
Preferably, m, n, q, r and s are independently 0, 1, or 2.
Preferably, t is 0, 1, or 2. Most preferably, t is 2. It is intended that the definition of any substituent or variable
(e.g., Rla, R2; m, p, etc.) at a particular location in a molecule is independent of its definitions elsewhere in that molecule. Thus, -C(Ria)2 represents -CH2, -CHCH3, -CHC2H5, etc. It is understood that substituents and substitution patterns on the compounds of the instant invention can be selected by one of ordinary skill in the art to provide compounds that are chemically stable and that can be readily synthesized by techniques known in the art, as well as those methods set forth below, from readily available starting materials.
The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention include the conventional non-toxic salts of the compounds of this invention as formed, e.g., from non-toxic inorganic or organic acids. For example, such conventional non-toxic salts include those derived from inorganic acids such as hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, sulfamic, phosphoric, nitric and the like: and the salts prepared from organic acids such as acetic, propionic, succinic, glycolic, stearic, lactic, malic, tartaric, citric, ascorbic, pamoic, maleic, hydroxymaleic, phenylacetic, glutamic, benzoic, salicylic, sulfanilic, 2-acetoxy-benzoic, fumaric, toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic, ethane disulfonic, oxalic, isethionic, trifluoroacetic and the like.
The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention can be synthesized from the compounds of this invention which contain a basic moiety by conventional chemical methods. Generally, the salts are prepared either by ion exchange chromatography or by reacting the free base with stoichio- metric amounts or with an excess of the desired salt-forming inorganic or organic acid in a suitable solvent or various combinations of solvents.
Abbreviations which may be used in the description of the chemistry and in the Examples that follow include: Ac2θ Acetic anhydride;
AIBN 2,2 -azobisisobutyronitrile
Boc t-Butoxycarbonyl;
CBz Carbobenzyloxy; DBU l,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene;
DMAP 4-Dimethylaminopyridine;
DME 1 ,2-Dimethoxyethane ;
DMF Dimethylformamide;
DMSO Methyl sulfoxide; DTT Dithiothreitol;
EDC l-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethyl-carbodiimide-hydrochloride;
EDTA Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid;
E13N Triethylamine;
EtOAc Ethyl acetate; EtOH Ethanol; FAB Fast atom bombardment;
HEPES 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-l-piperazineethanesulfonic acid;
HOBT 1-Hydroxybenzotriazole hydrate;
HOOBT 3-Hydroxy-l,2,2-benzotriazin-4(3H)-one;
ΗPLC High-performance liquid chromatography;
LiTMP Lithium Tetramethyl Piperidine;
MCPBA m-Chloroperoxybenzoic acid;
MeOH methanol;
MsCl Methanesulfonyl chloride;
NaHMDS Sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide;
NBS N-bromosuccinimide;
Pd[(PPh3)]4 Palladium tetrakistriphenylphosphine;
PMSF a toluenesulfonyl chloride;
Py or pyr Pyridine;
RPLC Reverse Phase Liquid Chromatography;
TFA Trifluoroacetic acid; and
THF Tetrahydrofuran.
These reactions may be employed in a linear sequence to provide the compounds of the invention or they may be used to synthesize fragments which are subsequently joined by the alkylation reactions described in the Schemes.
Synopsis of Schemes
Schemes 1-4 describe the synthesis of compounds of formula A. The starting materials can be obtained from commercial sources or they can be obtained using standard transformations from commercially available materials.
Scheme 1 represents the synthesis of the 1-methylimidazole-containing compounds of the instant invention. Double lithiation of 1 followed by reaction with 2 gave alcohol 3 which was oxidized to ketone 4. Imine formation of 4 with t-butyl sulfenamine using methods described by J. Ellman et al. (Cogan, D. A., Liu, G., Ellman, J. A. Tetrahedron 1999, 55, 8838 - 8904) provided the key intermediate 5. Alkylation with a suitably substituted organometallic reagent gave compound 6 which upon further manipulation led to 7. Treatment of 7 with a phenol (ROH) in the presence of a base such as cesium carbonate or KF on alumina provided the compounds of the instant invention. These phenols are available using methods described by G. Bradley et al. (Bradley, G., Cavalla, J. F., Edington, T., Shepherd, R. G., White, A. C, Bushell, B., Eur. J. Med. Chem. 1980, 15, 375 - 385). Scheme 2 outlines another method for preparing compounds of the instant invention where Rl is not methyl.
Scheme 3 describes a method for preparing compounds containing a pyridyl ring in place of imidazole. The point of attachment of the pyridyl ring to the rest of the molecule in compound 15 is determined by the position of the lithium in the organometallic reagent and may be ortho-, meta-, or para- to the pyridyl nitrogen. One with ordinary skill in the art would know how to synthesize the desired compound using techniques and reagents known in the art.
Scheme 4 illustrates methods for modifying the spiro nitrogen- containing heterocycle by acylation, carbamoylation, alkylation, and sulfonylation. Scheme 5 illustrates the synthesis of a lactam intermediate 29 and the coupling of intermediate 29 with intermediate 7 to obtain compound 30.
SCHEME 1
Figure imgf000033_0001
SCHEME 2
Figure imgf000034_0001
Figure imgf000034_0002
Figure imgf000034_0003
SCHEME 3
Figure imgf000035_0001
SCHEME 4
Figure imgf000036_0001
SCHEME 5
Figure imgf000037_0001
In the above Schemes, it is understood that:
R*Si represents a protecting group,
R independently represents the following moiety:
Figure imgf000038_0001
X is independently represents a halide.
In order to simplify the structures described in the above schemes, mutiple designations of a substituent (e.g. Rl, R2, R5, etc.) have not been included. However, it is understood that there may be several, independently selected substitutients around each of the rings described hereinabove, as seen in formulae A-D hereinabove.
In a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the compounds of the invention are selective inhibitors of famesyl-protein transferase. A compound is considered a selective inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase, for example, when its in vitro famesyl-protein transferase inhibitory activity, as assessed by the assay described in Example 2, is at least 100 times greater than the in vitro activity of the same compound against geranylgeranyl-protein transferase-type I in the assay described in Example 3. Preferably, a selective compound exhibits at least 1000 times greater activity against one of the enzymatic activities when comparing geranylgeranyl-protein transferase-type I inhibition and famesyl-protein transferase inhibition. It is also preferred that the selective inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase is further characterized by: a) an IC50 (a measure of in vitro inhibitory activity) for inhibition of the prenylation of newly synthesized K-Ras protein more than about 100-fold higher than the EC50 for the inhibition of the famesylation of hDJ protein.
When measuring such IC50S and EC50S the assays described in Example 7 may be utilized.
It is also preferred that the selective inhibitor of fa esyl-protein transferase is further characterized by: b) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) for inhibition of K4B-
Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells at least 100-fold greater than the EC50 for inhibition of the famesylation of the protein hDJ in cells.
It is also preferred that the selective inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase is further characterized by: c) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) against H-Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells at least 1000 fold lower than the inhibitory activity (IC50) against H-rαs-CVLL (SEQ.JJD.NO.: 1) dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells. When measuring Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells the assays described in Example 6 may be utilized.
In another preferred embodiment of the instant invention the compounds of the invention are dual inhibitors of famesyl-protein transferase and geranylgeranyl-protein transferase type I. Such a dual inhibitor may be termed a Class JJ prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor and will exhibit certain characteristics when assessed in in vitro assays, which are dependent on the type of assay employed.
In a SEAP assay, such as described in Example 6, it is preferred that the dual inhibitor compound has an in vitro inhibitory activity (IC50) that is less than about 12μM against K4B-Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells. The Class II prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor may also be characterized by: a) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) for inhibiting K4B-Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells between 0.1 and 100 times the IC50 for inhibiting the famesylation of the protein hDJ in cells; and b) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) for inhibiting K4B-Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells greater than 5-fold lower than the inhibitory activity (IC50) against expression of the SEAP protein in cells transfected with the pCMV-SEAP plasmid that constitutively expresses the SEAP protein.
The Class JJ prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor may also be characterized by: a) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) against H-Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells greater than 2 fold lower but less than 20,000 fold lower than the inhibitory activity (IC50) against ΕL-ras-
CVLL (SEQ.JJD.NO.: 1) dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells; and b) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) against H-r s-CVLL dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells greater than 5-fold lower than the inhibitory activity (IC50) against expression of the SEAP protein in cells transfected with the pCMV-SEAP plasmid that constitutively expresses the SEAP protein. The Class JJ prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor may also be characterized by: a) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) against H-Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells greater than 10-fold lower but less than 2,500 fold lower than the inhibitory activity (IC50) against H-ras- CVLL (SEQ.ID.NO.: 1) dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells; and
- b) an IC50 (a measurement of in vitro inhibitory activity) against H-ras-CVLL dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells greater than 5 fold lower than the inhibitory activity (IC50) against expression of the SEAP protein in cells transfected with the pCMN-SEAP plasmid that constitutively expresses the SEAP protein.
A method for measuring the activity of the inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase, as well as the instant combination compositions, utilized in the instant methods against Ras dependent activation of MAP kinases in cells is described in Example 6. In yet another embodiment, a compound of the instant invention may be a more potent inhibitor of geranylgeranyl-protein transferase-type I than it is an inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase.
The instant compounds are useful as pharmaceutical agents for mammals, especially for humans. These compounds may be administered to patients for use in the treatment of cancer. Examples of the type of cancer which may be treated with the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, colorectal carcinoma, exocrine pancreatic carcinoma, myeloid leukemias and neurological tumors. Such tumors may arise by mutations in the ras genes themselves, mutations in the proteins that can regulate Ras activity (i.e., neurofibromin (NF-1), neu, src, abl, lck, fyn) or by other mechanisms.
The compounds of the instant invention inhibit famesyl-protein transferase and the famesylation of the oncogene protein Ras. The instant compounds may also inhibit tumor angiogenesis, thereby affecting the growth of tumors (J. Rak et al. Cancer Research, 55:4575-4580 (1995)). Such anti-angiogenesis properties of the instant compounds may also be useful in the treatment of certain forms of vision deficit related to retinal vascularization.
The compounds of this invention are also useful for inhibiting other proliferative diseases, both benign and malignant, wherein Ras proteins are aberrantly activated as a result of oncogenic mutation in other genes (i.e., the Ras gene itself is not activated by mutation to an oncogenic form) with said inhibition being accomplished by the administration of an effective amount of the compounds of the invention to a mammal in need of such treatment. For example, a component of NF-1 is a benign proliferative disorder. The instant compounds may also be useful in the treatment of certain viral infections, in particular in the treatment of hepatitis delta and related viruses
(J.S. Glenn et al. Science, 256:1331-1333 (1992).
The compounds of the instant invention are also useful in the prevention of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty by inhibiting neointimal formation (C. Indolfi et al. Nature medicine, 1:541-545(1995). The instant compounds may also be useful in the treatment and prevention of polycystic kidney disease (D.L. Schaff er et al. American Journal of
Pathology, 142:1051-1060 (1993) and B. Cowley, Jr. et al.FASEB Journal, 2:A3160
(1988)). The instant compounds may also be useful for the treatment of fungal infections.
The instant compounds may also be useful as inhibitors of proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and therefore useful in the prevention and therapy of arteriosclerosis and diabetic vascular pathologies. The compounds of the instant invention may also be useful in the prevention and treatment of endometriosis, uterine fibroids, dysfunctional uterine bleeding and endometrial hyperplasia.
In such methods of prevention and treatment, the prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor may also be co-administered with other well known therapeutic agents that are selected for their particular usefulness against the condition that is being treated. For example, the prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor may be useful in further combination with drugs known to supress the activity of the ovaries and slow the growth of the endometrial tissue. Such drugs include but are not limited to oral contraceptives, progestins, danazol and GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) agonists.
Administration of the prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor may also be combined with surgical treatment of endometriosis (such as surgical removal of misplaced endometrial tissue) where appropriate. The instant compounds may also be useful as inhibitors of comeal inflammation. These compounds may improve the treatment of comeal opacity which results from cauterization-induced comeal inflammation. The instant compounds may also be useful in reducing comeal edema and neovascularization. (K. Sonoda et al., Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., 1998, vol. 39, p 2245-2251). The compounds of this invention may be administered to mammals, preferably humans, either alone or, preferably, in combination with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients or diluents, in a pharmaceutical composition, according to standard pharmaceutical practice. The compounds can be administered orally or parenterally, including the intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, rectal and topical routes of administration.
Additionally, the compounds of the instant invention may be administered to a mammal in need thereof using a gel extrusion mechanism (GEM) device, such as that described in WO 01/05430, which published on January 25, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference. As used herein, the term "composition" is intended to encompass a product comprising the specified ingredients in the specific amounts, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combination of the specific ingredients in the specified amounts.
The pharmaceutical compositions containing the active ingredient may be in a form suitable for oral use, for example, as tablets, troches, lozenges, aqueous or oily suspensions, dispersible powders or granules, emulsions, hard or soft capsules, or syrups or elixirs. Compositions intended for oral use may be prepared according to any method known to the art for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions and such compositions may contain one or more agents selected from the group consisting of sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents and preserving agents in order to provide pharmaceutically elegant and palatable preparations. Tablets contain the active ingredient in admixture with non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable excipients which are suitable for the manufacture of tablets. These excipients may be for example, inert diluents, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose, calcium phosphate or sodium phosphate; granulating and disintegrating agents, for example, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium crosscarmellose, com starch, or alginic acid; binding agents, for example starch, gelatin, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone or acacia, and lubricating agents, for example, magnesium stearate, stearic acid or talc. The tablets may be uncoated or they may be coated by known techniques to mask the unpleasant taste of the drug or delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period. For example, a water soluble taste masking material such as hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose or hydroxypropyl- cellulose, or a time delay material such as ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate buryrate may be employed. Formulations for oral use may also be presented as hard gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, for example, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or kaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with water soluble carrier such as polyethyl- eneglycol or an oil medium, for example peanut oil, liquid paraffin, or olive oil. Aqueous suspensions contain the active material in admixture with excipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueous suspensions. Such excipients are suspending agents, for example sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose, sodium alginate, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, gum tragacanth and gum acacia; dispersing or wetting agents may be a naturally-occurring phosphatide, for example lecithin, or condensation products of an alkylene oxide with fatty acids, for example polyoxyethylene stearate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with long chain aliphatic alcohols, for example heptadecaethylene- oxycetanol, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and a hexitol such as polyoxyethylene sorbitol monooleate, or condensation products of ethylene oxide with partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example polyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The aqueous suspensions may also contain one or more preservatives, for example ethyl, or n-propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, one or more coloring agents, one or more flavoring agents, and one or more sweetening agents, such as sucrose, saccharin or aspartame. Oily suspensions may be formulated by suspending the active ingredient in a vegetable oil, for example arachis oil, olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil, or in mineral oil such as liquid paraffin. The oily suspensions may contain a thickening agent, for example, beeswax, hard paraffin or cetyl alcohol. Sweetening agents such as those set forth above, and flavoring agents may be added to provide a palatable oral preparation. These compositions may be preserved by the addition of an anti-oxidant such as butylated hydroxyanisol or alpha-tocopherol.
Dispersible powders and granules suitable for preparation of an aqueous suspension by the addition of water provide the active ingredient in admixture with a dispersing or wetting agent, suspending agent and one or more preservatives. Suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents are exemplified by those already mentioned above. Additional excipients, for example sweetening, flavoring and coloring agents, may also be present. These compositions may be preserved by the addition of an anti-oxidant such as ascorbic acid.
The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may also be in the form of an oil-in-water emulsions. The oily phase may be a vegetable oil, for example olive oil or arachis oil, or a mineral oil, for example liquid paraffin or mixtures of these. Suitable emulsifying agents may be naturally-occurring phosphatides, for example soy bean lecithin, and esters or partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example sorbitan monooleate, and condensation products of the said partial esters with ethylene oxide, for example polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate. The emulsions may also contain sweetening, flavouring agents, preservatives and antioxidants.
Syrups and elixirs may be formulated with sweetening agents, for example glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol or sucrose. Such formulations may also contain a demulcent, a preservative, flavoring and coloring agents and antioxidant. The pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous solutions. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution.
The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable oil-in- water microemulsion where the active ingredient is dissolved in the oily phase. For example, the active ingredient may be first dissolved in a mixture of soybean oil and lecithin. The oil solution then introduced into a water and glycerol mixture and processed to form a microemulation.
The injectable solutions or microemulsions may be introduced into a patient's blood-stream by local bolus injection. Alternatively, it may be advantageous to administer the solution or microemulsion in such a way as to maintain a constant circulating concentration of the instant compound. In order to maintain such a constant concentration, a continuous intravenous delivery device may be utilized. An example of such a device is the Deltec CADD-PLUS™ model 5400 intravenous pump.
The pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous or oleagenous suspension for intramuscular and subcutaneous administration. This suspension may be formulated according to the known art using those suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents which have been mentioned above. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluent or solvent, for example as a solution in 1,3-butane diol. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid find use in the preparation of injectables. Compounds of Formula A may also be administered in the form of a suppositories for rectal administration of the drug. These compositions can be prepared by mixing the drug with a suitable non-irritating excipient which is solid at ordinary temperatures but liquid at the rectal temperature and will therefore melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such materials include cocoa butter, glycerinated gelatin, hydrogenated vegetable oils, mixtures of polyethylene glycols of various molecular weights and fatty acid esters of polyethylene glycol.
For topical use, creams, ointments, jellies, solutions or suspensions, etc., containing the compound of Formula A are employed. (For purposes of this application, topical application shall include mouth washes and gargles.)
The compounds for the present invention can be administered in intranasal form via topical use of suitable intranasal vehicles and delivery devices, or via transdermal routes, using those forms of transdermal skin patches well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. To be administered in the form of a transdermal delivery system, the dosage administration will, of course, be continuous rather than intermittent throughout the dosage regimen. Compounds of the present invention may also be delivered as a suppository employing bases such as cocoa butter, glycerinated gelatin, hydrogenated vegetable oils, mixtures of polyethylene glycols of various molecular weights and fatty acid esters of polyethylene glycol. When a compound according to this invention is administered into a human subject, the daily dosage will normally be determined by the prescribing physician with the dosage generally varying according to the age, weight, sex and response of the individual patient, as well as the severity of the patient's symptoms. In one exemplary application, a suitable amount of compound is administered to a mammal undergoing treatment for cancer. Administration occurs in an amount between about 0.1 mg/kg of body weight to about 60 mg/kg of body weight per day, preferably of between 0.5 mg/kg of body weight to about 40 mg/kg of body weight per day.
The compounds of the instant invention may also be co-administered with other well known therapeutic agents that are selected for their particular usefulness against the condition that is being treated. For example, the compounds of the instant invention may also be co-administered with other well known cancer therapeutic agents that are selected for their particular usefulness against the condition that is being treated. Included in such combinations of therapeutic agents are combin- ations of the instant famesyl-protein transferase inhibitors and an antineoplastic agent. It is also understood that such a combination of antineoplastic agent and inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase may be used in conjunction with other methods of treating cancer and/or tumors, including radiation therapy and surgery.
Examples of an antineoplastic agent include, in general, microtubule- stabilizing agents ( such as paclitaxel (also known as Taxol®), docetaxel (also known as Taxotere®), epothilone A, epothilone B, desoxyepothilone A, desoxyepothilone B or their derivatives); microtubule-disruptor agents; alkylating agents, anti-metabolites; epidophyllotoxin; an antineoplastic enzyme; a topoisomerase inhibitor; procarbazine; mitoxantrone; platinum coordination complexes; biological response modifiers and growth inhibitors; hormonal/anti-hormonal therapeutic agents and haematopoietic growth factors.
Example classes of antineoplastic agents include, for example, the anthracycline family of drugs, the vinca drugs, the mitomycins, the bleomycins, the cytotoxic nucleosides, the taxanes, the epothilones, discodermolide, the pteridine family of drugs, diynenes and the podophyllotoxins. Particularly useful members of those classes include, for example, doxorabicin, carminomycin, daunorabicin, aminopterin, methotrexate, methopterin, dichloro-methotrexate, mitomycin C, porfiromycin, herceptin, 5-fluorouracil, 6-mercaptopurine, gemcitabine, cytosine arabinoside, podophyllotoxin or podo-phyllotoxin derivatives such as etoposide, etoposide phosphate or teniposide, melphalan, vinblastine, vincristine, leurosidine, vindesine, leurosine, paclitaxel and the like. Other useful antineoplastic agents include estramustine, cisplatin, carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, bleomycin, tamoxifen, ifosamide, melphalan, hexamethyl melamine, thiotepa, cytarabin, idatrexate, trimetrexate, dacarbazine, L-asparaginase, camptothecin, CPT-11, topotecan, ara-C, bicalutamide, flutamide, leuprolide, pyridobenzoindole derivatives, interferons and interleukins.
The preferred class of antineoplastic agents is the taxanes and the preferred antineoplastic agent is paclitaxel.
The compounds of the instant invention may also be co-administered with antisense oligonucleotides which are specifically hybridizable with RNA or DNA deriving from human ras gene. Such antisense oligonucleotides are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,576,208 and PCT Publication No. WO 99/22772. The instant compounds are particularly useful when co-administered with the antisense oligonucleotide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ.IDNO: 2 of U.S. Patent No. 5,576,208.
Certain compounds of the instant invention may exhibit very low plasma concentrations and significant inter-individual variation in the plasma levels of the compound. It is believed that very low plasma concentrations and high inter- subject variability achieved following administration of certain prenyl-protein transferase inhibitors to mammals may be due to extensive metabolism by cytochrome P450 enzymes prior to entry of drug into the systemic circulation. Prenyl- protein transferase inhibitors may be metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzyme systems, such as CYP3A4, CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 or other cytochrome P450 isoform. If a compound of the instant invention demonstrates an affinity for one or more of the cytochrome P450 enzyme systems, another compound with a higher affinity for the P450 enzyme(s) involved in metabolism should be administered concomitantly. Examples of compounds that have a comparatively very high affinity for CYP3A4, CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 or other P450 isoform include, but are not limited to, piperonyl butoxide, troleandomycin, erythromycin, proadifen, isoniazid, allylisopropylacetamide, ethinylestradiol, chloramphenicol, 2-ethynyl- naphthalene and the like. Such a high affinity compound, when employed in combination with a compound of Formula A, may reduce the inter-individual variation and increase the plasma concentration of a compound of Formula A to a level having substantial therapeutic activity by inhibiting the metabolism of the compound of Formula A. Additionally, inhibiting the metabolism of a compound of the instant invention prolongs the pharmacokinetic half -life, and thus the pharmacodynamic effect, of the compound.
A compound of the present invention may be employed in conjunction with antiemetic agents to treat nausea or emesis, including acute, delayed, late-phase, and anticipatory emesis, which may result from the use of a compound of the present invention, alone or with radiation therapy. For the prevention or treatment of emesis a compound of the present invention may be used in conjunction with other anti-emetic agents, especially neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists, 5HT3 receptor antagonists, such as ondansetron, granisetron, tropisetron, and zatisetron, GABAB receptor agonists, such as baclofen, or a corticosteroid such as Decadron (dexa- methasone), Kenalog, Aristocort, Nasalide, Preferid, Benecorten or others such as disclosed in U.S.Patent Nos. 2,789,118, 2,990,401, 3,048,581, 3,126,375, 3,929,768, 3,996,359, 3,928,326 and 3,749,712. For the treatment or prevention of emesis, conjunctive therapy with a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, a 5HT3 receptor antagonist and a corticosteroid is preferred.
Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists of use in conjunction with the compounds of the present invention are fully described, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,162,339, 5,232,929, 5,242,930, 5,373,003, 5,387,595, 5,459,270, 5,494,926, 5,496,833, 5,637,699, 5,719,147; European Patent Publication Nos. EP 0 360 390, 0 394 989, 0 428 434, 0429 366, 0430 771, 0 436 334, 0 443 132, 0 482 539, 0 498 069, 0 499 313, 0 512 901, 0 512 902, 0 514 273, 0 514 274, 0 514 275, 0 514 276, 0 515 681, 0 517 589, 0 520 555, 0 522 808, 0 528 495, 0 532456, 0 533 280, 0 536 817, 0 545 478, 0 558 156, 0 577 394, 0 585 913,0 590 152, 0 599 538, 0 610 793, 0 634402, 0 686 629, 0 693 489, 0 694 535, 0 699 655, 0 699 674, 0 707 006, 0 708 101, 0 709 375, 0 709 376, 0 714 891, 0723 959,
0 733 632 and 0 776 893; PCT International Patent Publication Nos. WO 90/05525, 90/05729, 91/09844, 91/18899, 92/01688, 92/06079, 92/12151, 92/15585, 92/17449, 92/20661, 92/20676, 92/21677, 92/22569, 93/00330, 93/00331, 93/01159, 93/01165, 93/01169, 93/01170, 93/06099, 93/09116, 93/10073, 93/14084, 93/14113, 93/18023, 93/19064, 93/21155, 93/21181, 93/23380, 93/24465, 94/00440, 94/01402, 94/02461, 94/02595, 94/03429, 94/03445, 94/04494, 94/04496, 94/05625, 94/07843, 94/08997, 94/10165, 94/10167, 94/10168, 94/10170, 94/11368, 94/13639, 94/13663, 94/14767, 94/15903, 94/19320, 94/19323, 94/20500, 94/26735, 94/26740, 94/29309, 95/02595, 95/04040, 95/04042, 95/06645, 95/07886, 95/07908, 95/08549, 95/11880, 95/14017, 95/15311, 95/16679, 95/17382, 95/18124, 95/18129, 95/19344, 95/20575, 95/21819, 95/22525, 95/23798, 95/26338, 95/28418, 95/30674, 95/30687, 95/33744, 96/05181, 96/05193, 96/05203, 96/06094, 96/07649, 96/10562, 96/16939, 96/18643, 96/20197, 96/21661, 96/29304, 96/29317, 96/29326, 96/29328, 96/31214, 96/32385, 96/37489, 97/01553, 97/01554, 97/03066, 97/08144, 97/14671, 97/17362, 97/18206, 97/19084, 97/19942 and 97/21702; and in British Patent Publication Nos. 2 266 529, 2 268 931, 2 269 170, 2 269 590, 2 271 774, 2 292 144, 2 293 168, 2 293 169, and 2 302 689. The preparation of such compounds is fully described in the aforementioned patents and publications.
A particularly preferred neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist for use in conjunction with the compounds of the present invention is 2-(R)-(l-(R)-(3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethoxy)-3-(S)-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-(3-(5-oxo-lH,4H-l,2,4- triazolo)methyl)morpholine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,719,147.
For the treatment of cancer, it may be desirable to employ a compound of the present invention in conjunction with another pharmacologically active agent(s). A compound of the present invention and the other pharmacologically active agent(s) may be administered to a patient simultaneously, sequentially or in combination. For example, the present compound may be employed directly in combination with the other active agent(s), or it may be administered prior, con- current or subsequent to the administration of the other active agent(s). In general, the currently available dosage forms of the known therapeutic agents for use in such combinations will be suitable.
For example, a compound of the present invention may be presented together with another therapeutic agent in a combined preparation, such as with an antiemetic agent for simultaneous, separate, or sequential use in the relief of emesis associated with employing a compound of the present invention and radiation therapy. Such combined preparations may be, for example, in the form of a twin pack. A preferred combination comprises a compound of the present invention with antiemetic agents, as described above. Radiation therapy, including x-rays or gamma rays which are delivered from either an externally applied beam or by implantation of tiny radioactive sources, may also be used in combination with the instant inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase alone to treat cancer. Additionally, compounds of the instant invention may also be useful as radiation sensitizers, as described in WO 97/38697, published on October 23, 1997, and herein incorporated by reference.
The instant compounds may also be useful in combination with other inhibitors of parts of the signaling pathway that links cell surface growth factor receptors to nuclear signals initiating cellular proliferation. Thus, the instant compounds may be utilized in combination with famesyl pyrophosphate competitive inhibitors of the activity of famesyl-protein transferase or in combination with a compound which has Raf antagonist activity. The instant compounds may also be co-administered with compounds that are selective inhibitors of geranylgeranyl protein transferase.
In particular, if the compound of the instant invention is a selective inhibitor of famesyl-protein transferase, co-administration with a compound(s) that is a selective inhibitor of geranylgeranyl protein transferase may provide an improved therapeutic effect. In particular, the compounds disclosed in the following patents and publications may be useful as famesyl pyrophosphate-competitive inhibitor component of the instant composition: U.S. Serial Nos. 08/254,228 and 08/435,047. Those patents and publications are incorporated herein by reference.
In practicing methods of this invention, which comprise administering, simultaneously or sequentially or in any order, two or more of a protein substrate- competitive inhibitor and a famesyl pyrophosphate-competitive inhibitor, such administration can be orally or parenterally, including intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, rectal and topical routes of administration. It is preferred that such administration be orally. It is more preferred that such administra- tion be orally and simultaneously. When the protein substrate-competitive inhibitor and famesyl pyrophosphate-competitive inhibitor are administered sequentially, the administration of each can be by the same method or by different methods.
The instant compounds may also be useful in combination with an integrin antagonist for the treatment of cancer, as described in U.S. Serial No. 09/055,487, filed April 6, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference. As used herein the term an integrin antagonist refers to compounds which selectively antagonize, inhibit or counteract binding of a physiological ligand to an integrin(s) that is involved in the regulation of angiogenisis, or in the growth and invasiveness of tumor cells. In particular, the term refers to compounds which selectively antagonize, inhibit or counteract binding of a physiological ligand to the ovβ3 integrin, which selectively antagonize, inhibit or counteract binding of a physiological ligand to the αvβ5 integrin, which antagonize, inhibit or counteract binding of a physiological ligand to both the vβ3 integrin and the αvβ5 integrin, or which antagonize, inhibit or counteract the activity of the particular integrin(s) expressed on capillary endothelial cells. The term also refers to antagonists of the αlβl, α2βl, α5βl, 6βl and α6β4 integrins. The term also refers to antagonists of any combination of ccvβ3 integrin, vβ5, αlβl, α2βl, α5βl, α6βl and α6β4 integrins. The instant compounds may also be useful with other agents that inhibit angiogenisis and thereby inhibit the growth and invasiveness of tumor cells, including, but not limited to angiostatin and endostatin.
The instant compounds may also be useful in combination with an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) for the treatment of cancer. Compounds which have inhibitory activity for HMG-CoA reductase can be readily identified by using assays well-known in the art. For example, see the assays described or cited in U.S. Patent 4,231,938 at col. 6, and WO 84/02131 at pp. 30-33. The terms "HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor" and "inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase" have the same meaning when used herein.
Examples of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors that may be used include but are not limited to lovastatin (MENACOR®; see US Patent No. 4,231,938; 4,294,926; 4,319,039), simvastatin (ZOCOR®; see US Patent No. 4,444,784;
4,820,850; 4,916,239), pravastatin (PRAVACHOL®; see US Patent Nos. 4,346,227; 4,537,859; 4,410,629; 5,030,447 and 5,180,589), fluvastatin (LESCOL®; see US Patent Nos. 5,354,772; 4,911,165; 4,929,437; 5,189,164; 5,118,853; 5,290,946; 5,356,896), atorvastatin (LIPITOR®; see US Patent Nos. 5,273,995; 4,681,893; 5,489,691; 5,342,952) and cerivastatin (also known as rivastatin and BAYCHOL®; see US Patent No. 5,177,080). The structural formulas of these and additional HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors that may be used in the instant methods are described at page 87 of M. Yalpani, "Cholesterol Lowering Drugs", Chemistry & Industry, pp. 85-89 (5 February 1996) and US Patent Nos. 4,782,084 and 4,885,314. The term HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor as used herein includes all pharmaceutically accept- able lactone and open-acid forms (i.e., where the lactone ring is opened to form the free acid) as well as salt and ester forms of compounds which have HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity, and therefore the use of such salts, esters, open-acid and lactone forms is included within the scope of this invention. An illustration of the lactone portion and its corresponding open-acid form is shown below as structures I and ll.
Figure imgf000052_0001
L Xactone Open-Acid I II
In HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor's where an open-acid form can exist, salt and ester forms may preferably be formed from the open-acid, and all such forms are included within the meaning of the term "HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor" as used herein. Preferably, the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is selected from lovastatin and simvastatin, and most preferably simvastatin. Herein, the term "pharmaceutically acceptable salts" with respect to the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor shall mean nontoxic salts of the compounds employed in this invention which are generally prepared by reacting the free acid with a suitable organic or inorganic base, particularly those formed from cations such as sodium, potassium, aluminum, calcium, lithium, magnesium, zinc and tetramethylammonium, as well as those salts formed from amines such as ammonia, ethylenediamine, N-methylglucamine, lysine, arginine, omithine, choline, N,N'-dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, diethanolamine, procaine, N-benzylphenethylamine, l-p-chlorobenzyl-2-pyrrolidine-l '-yl- methylbenzimidazole, diethylamine, piperazine, and tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane. Further examples of salt forms of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors may include, but are not limited to, acetate, benzenesulfonate, benzoate, bicarbonate, bisulfate, bitartrate, borate, bromide, calcium edetate, camsylate, carbonate, chloride, clavulanate, citrate, dihydrochloride, edetate, edisylate, estolate, esylate, ramarate, gluceptate, gluconate, glutamate, glycollylarsanilate, hexylresorcinate, hydrabamine, hydrobromide, hydrochloride, hydroxynapthoate, iodide, isothionate, lactate, lactobionate, laurate, malate, maleate, mandelate, mesylate, methylsulfate, mucate, napsylate, nitrate, oleate, oxalate, pamaote, palmitate, panthothenate, phosphate/ diphosphate, polygalacturonate, salicylate, stearate, subacetate, succinate, tannate, tartrate, teoclate, tosylate, triethiodide, and valerate.
Ester derivatives of the described HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor compounds may act as prodrugs which, when absorbed into the bloodstream of a warm-blooded animal, may cleave in such a manner as to release the drug form and permit the drag to afford improved therapeutic efficacy. Similarly, the instant compounds may be useful in combination with agents that are effective in the treatment and prevention of NF-1, restenosis, polycystic kidney disease, infections of hepatitis delta and related viruses and fungal infections.
If formulated as a fixed dose, such combination products employ the combinations of this invention within the dosage range described above and the other pharmaceutically active agent(s) within its approved dosage range. Combinations of the instant invention may alternatively be used sequentially with known pharmaceutically acceptable agent(s) when a multiple combination formulation is inappropriate. The instant compounds may also be useful in combination with prodrugs of antineoplastic agents. In particular, the instant compounds may be co-administered either concurrently or sequentially with a conjugate (termed a "PSA conjugate") which comprises an oligopeptide, that is selectively cleaved by enzymatically active prostate specific antigen (PSA), and an antineoplastic agent. Such co-administration will be particularly useful in the treatment of prostate cancer or other cancers which are characterized by the presence of enzymatically active PSA in the immediate surrounding cancer cells, which is secreted by the cancer cells. Compounds which are PSA conjugates and are therefore useful in such a co-administration, and methods of synthesis thereof, can be found in the following patents, pending patent applications and publications which are herein incorporated by references:
U.S. Patent No. 5,599,686, granted on February 4, 1997; WO 96/00503 (January 11, 1996); US Serial No. 08/404,833, filed on March 15, 1995; US Serial No. 08/468,161, filed on June 6, 1995;
U.S. Patent No. 5,866,679, granted on February 2, 1999;
U.S. Patent No. 5,998,362, granted on December 7, 1999;
U.S. Patent No. 5,948,750, granted on September 7, 1999;
WO 99/02175 (January 21, 1999); US Serial No. 09/112,656, filed on July 9, 1998; and
WO 99/28345 (June 10, 1999); US Serial No. 09/193,365, filed on November 17, 1998.
Compounds which are described as prodrugs wherein the active therapeutic agent is released by the action of enzymatically active PSA and therefore may be useful in such a co-administration, and methods of synthesis thereof, can be found in the following patents, pending patent applications and publications, which are herein incorporated by reference: WO 98/52966 (November 26, 1998).
All patents, publications and pending patent applications identified are herein incorporated by reference.
The compounds of the instant invention are also useful as a component in an assay to rapidly determine the presence and quantity of famesyl- protein transferase (FPTase) in a composition. Thus the composition to be tested may be divided and the two portions contacted with mixtures which comprise a known substrate of FPTase (for example a tetrapeptide having a cysteine at the amine terminus) and famesyl pyrophosphate and, in one of the mixtures, a compound of the instant invention. After the assay mixtures are incubated for an sufficient period of time, well known in the art, to allow the FPTase to famesyl ate the substrate, the chemical content of the assay mixtures may be determined by well known immunological, radiochemical or chromatographic techniques. Because the compounds of the instant invention are selective inhibitors of FPTase, absence or quantitative reduction of the amount of substrate in the assay mixture without the compound of the instant invention relative to the presence of the unchanged substrate in the assay containing the instant compound is indicative of the presence of FPTase in the composition to be tested.
It would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that such an assay as described above would be useful in identifying tissue samples which contain famesyl-protein transferase and quantitating the enzyme. Thus, potent inhibitor compounds of the instant invention may be used in an active site titration assay to determine the quantity of enzyme in the sample. A series of samples composed of aliquots of a tissue extract containing an unknown amount of farnesyl- protein transferase, an excess amount of a known substrate of FPTase (for example a tetrapeptide having a cysteine at the amine terminus) and famesyl pyrophosphate are incubated for an appropriate period of time in the presence of varying concentrations of a compound of the instant invention. The concentration of a sufficiently potent inhibitor (i.e., one that has a Ki substantially smaller than the concentration of enzyme in the assay vessel) required to inhibit the enzymatic activity of the sample by 50% is approximately equal to half of the concentration of the enzyme in that particular sample.
EXAMPLES
J Examples provided are intended to assist in a further understanding of the invention. Particular materials employed, species and conditions are intended to be further illustrative of the invention and not limitative of the reasonable scope thereof.
EXAMPLE 1
Preparation of 5-[(2S)-2-(4-cyano-3-{3-[(3S)-3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan- 3-yl]phenoxy}phenyl)pyrrolidinium-2-yl]-l-methyl-lH-imidazol-l-ium bis(trifluoroacetate)
Step A: Preparation of 4-Bromo-3-fluorobenzoic acid 4-Bromo-3-fluorotoluene (40.0 g, 0.212 mol) was heated at 90°C in
Η2O (200 mL)-pyridine (200 mL) with mechanical stirring under Ar. Potassium permanganate (KMnO/i) (67 g, 0.424 mol) was added portionwise over 3 hours.
After 4 hours, an HPLC of a filtered sample indicated 50% conversion to the acid. An additional 30 g of KMnO4 was added and heating continued overnight. HPLC indicated 81% conversion. Further KMnθ4 was added portionwise with reaction monitoring by HPLC until > 95% conversion was obtained. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite, the filter pad washed with H2O, aq NaOH and EtOH.
The filtrate was concentrated to a small volume, then partitioned between 3N NaOH solution and diethyl ether. The aqueous basic layer was separated, cooled in an ice- H2O bath and acidified slowly with 6N HCI solution to precipitate the white solid product. This was collected by suction filtration and dried at 40°C in a vacuum oven overnight to give the title compound, mp 190 -192°C.
!H NMR (CDCI3) 6 7.83 (dd, IH, J = 2, 9 Hz), 7.78 (dd, IH, J = 2, 8 Hz), 7.67 - 7.71
(m, IH).
Step B: Preparation of 4-bromo-3-fluorobenzyl alcohol
4-Bromo-3-fluorobenzoic acid (40.8 g, 0.187 mol) was dissolved in THF (250 ml) with magnetic stirring under Ar in an ice-H2θ bath. The cloudy solution was treated dropwise with borane-THF complex (1 M) (374 mL, 0.374 mol) over a 1 hour period maintaining the internal temperature at < 10°C. The reaction mixture was left to warm to ambient temperature overnight, then cooled in an ice- H2O bath and treated dropwise with H2O (150 mL). The THF was removed on a rotary evaporator, and the residue partitioned between EtOAc and H2O. The aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc (3 x 100 mL), the organic layers combined, washed with brine, and dried (Na2SO4), filtered, and concentrated to give the title compound as an oil, which solidified on standing.
XH NMR (CDCI3) δ 7.52 (t, IH, J = 8 Hz), 7.16 (d, IH, J = 9 Hz), 7.02 (d, IH, J = 8
Hz), 4.67 (s, 2H), 1.47 (br s, IH).
Step C: Preparation of 2-fluoro-4-hydroxymethylbenzonitrile
4-Bromo-3-fluorobenzyl alcohol (20 g, 0.097 mol) was dissolved in
DMF (100 mL) then placed under high vacuum for 15 min. The solution was then purged with Ar for 15 minutes. While purging continued, zinc cyanide (8 g, 0.068 mol) and the catalyst, Pd[(PPh3)]4, (5.63 g, 0.0049 mol) were added. The reaction mixture was heated at 95°C under Ar for 18 hours, then cooled to ambient temperature and added to H2O. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc, then washed with 1M HCI, H2O, brine, and dried (Na2SO4). Filtration and concentration to dryness gave the title compound as a white solid after chromatography (silica gel, hexane: EtOAc, 6.5:3.5). iH NMR (CDCI3) δ 7.61 (t, IH, J = 8 Hz), 7.23 - 7.29 (m, 2H), 4.80 (d, 2H,
J = 6 Hz), 1.93 (t, IH, J = 6Hz).
Step D: Preparation of 2-Fluoro-4-formylbenzonitrile 2-Fluoro-4-hydroxymethylbenzonitrile (10 g, 0,066 mol) and triethylamine (32.3 mL, 0.231 mol) were dissolved in CH2CI2 (100 mL)- DMSO (20 mL) at < 5°C with stirring and treated dropwise with a solution of ρyridine»Sθ3 complex (31.5 g, 0.198 mol) in DMSO (70 mL) maintaining the reaction mixture temperature at <10°C. The reaction mixture was stirred at 5°C for 1 hour after the addition, then at 20°C for 1 hour, then partitioned between CH2CI2 and H2O. The organic layer was separated, washed well with H2O, brine, and dried (Na2SO4). Filtration and concentration gave the title compound after purification by chromatography (silica gel, hexane: EtOAc, 3:1). 1H NMR (CDCI3) δ 10.06 (d, IH, J = 2 Hz), 7.86 (dd, IH, J = 5,8 Hz), 7.798 (dd, IH, J = 1, 8 Hz), 7.728 (dd, IH, J = 1, 8 Hz).
Step E: Preparation of 2-Fluoro-4-[hydroxy-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4-yl)- methyl! -benzonitrile
1-Methylimidazole (15.88 mL, 0.199 mol), dissolved in anhydrous TΗF (500 mL) in flame-dried glassware under Ar, was cooled to -78°C and treated with n-butyl lithium (1.6M in hexane)(124 mL, 0.199 mol) via syringe. After stirring for 1 hour chlorotriethylsilane (33.4 mL, 0.199 mol) was added and the reaction mixture was left to warm to ambient temperature overnight. The TΗF was removed in vacuo with gentle warming, and the residue was redissolved in dry TΗF (500 mL), cooled to -78°C, and treated with sec-butyl lithium (1.3M in cyclohexane) (153 mL, 0.199 mol) dropwise. After 1 hour this solution was cannulated into a solution of 2- fluoro-4-formylbenzonitrile (27 g, 0.181 mol) in TΗF (200 mL). After 15 minutes the cooling bath was removed, the mixture was stirred for 2 hours at ambient temperature, then was quenched with saturated NΗ4CI solution. After 15 minutes 10% HCI was added to pH = 3. After 0.5 hour the THE was removed in vacuo, the mixture was made basic with solid Na2CO3 and extracted with EtOAc (3 x 200 mL). The organics were combined, washed with 10% HCI (3x), the aqueous acidic layers combined, made basic with solid Na2CO3, extracted with EtOAc (3x), the organics combined, washed with brine, and dried (MgSO4). Filtration and concentration to dryness gave the title compound.
Step F: Preparation of 2-Fluoro-4-(3-methyl-3H-imidazole-4-carbonyl)- benzonitrile
2-Fluoro-4- [hydroxy-(3 -methyl-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-methyl] - benzonitrile (0.655 g, 2.83 mmol) and Mnθ2 (1.23 g, 14.2 mmol) were stirred in CΗ2CI2 (50 mL) and CH3CN (5 mL) for 3 hours. The solution was filtered and concentrated to yield the title compound.
Step G: Preparation of N-[(4-cyano-3-fluoro-phenyl)-(3-methyl-3H- imidazol-4-yl)-methylenel-2-methylpropanesulfinamide
2-Fluoro-4-(3-methyl-3H-imidazole-4-carbonyl)-benzonitrile (2.56 g,
11.2 mmol), titanium(IN) ethoxide (7.02 mL, 33.5 mmol) and commercially available (R)-(+)-2-methyl-2-propanesulfinamide (1.35 g, 11.17 mmol) were dissolved in anhydrous THF (100 mL) and heated at 75°C for 7 days. The solution was cooled, diluted with brine (100 mL), filtered through a celite pad and washed generously with EtOAc and H2O. The filtrate was separated, the organic layer dried (MgSO4), filtered, concentrated, and purified using Siθ2 chromatography (0-3% MeOH CH2Cl2) to give the title compound.
Step H: Preparation of 2-methyl-propane-2-sulfinic acid [4-tert-butyl-dimethyl- silanyloxy)-l-(4-cyano-3-fluoro-phenyl)-l-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4- vD-butyll-amide
Magnesium (0.317 g, 12.03 mmol) was flame dried in a 50 mL RB flask equipped with addition funnel and magnetic stirrer under N2- When the flask had cooled, anhydrous TΗF (3 mL), a pinch of iodine, and a TΗF solution of Rieke magnesium (1 mL) were added, followed by a small portion of (3-bromopropoxy)- tert-butyldimethylsilane (3.048 g, 12.03 mmol) in TΗF (5 mL) with slight warming to initiate the reaction. The remainder of the bromide solution was added dropwise over 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, this Grignard solution was added to a solution of N-[(4-cyano-3-fluoro-phenyl)-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-methylene]-2-methyl- propanesulfinamide (Example 1, Step G) (1.00 g, 3.01 mmol) in TΗF (5 mL) with cooling in an ice-Η2θ bath. After 5 mL of Grignard solution was consumed, the reaction was complete by HPLC. The reaction mixture was quenched with H2O, diluted with saturated ΝaHCθ3 solution and extracted with CH2CI2 (2 x 20 mL). The organic layers were combined, washed with brine, dried (MgSO4), filtered and concentrated to give the crude product. Purification on an ISCO Combiflash eluting with 1-3% MeOH/CH2Cl2 w/ NH4OH gave the title compound.
Step I: Preparation of N-[l-(4-cyano-3-fluorophenyl)-4-hydroxy-l~(l-methyl- lH-imidazol-5-yl)butvn-2-methylpiOpane-2-sulfinamide
TFA (1 mL) was added to a solution of N-[4-{[tert-butyl(dimethyl) silyl]oxy}-l-(4-cyano-3-fluorophenyl)-l-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol-5-yl)butyl]-2- methylpropane-2-sulfinamide (0.111 g, 0.219 mmol) in CΗ3CN (20 mL): H2O (20 mL) with stirring at ambient temperature. After 0.5 hour aqueous saturated NaHCO3 solution was added, the CH3CN was removed in vacuo, and the residue was chromatographed on a Chiralcel AD column eluting with 90/10, hexane/EtOH to give the two diastereomers of the title compound. MS(M+1) 393. Step J: Preparation of 4-[l-Amino-4-hydroxy-l-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4-yl)- butyll-2-fluoro-benzonitrile bis hydrochloride
N- [ 1 -(4-cyano-3-fluorophenyl)-4-hydroxy- 1 -( 1 -methyl- lH-imidazol- 5-yl)butyl]-2-methylpropane-2-sulfinamide (0.15 g, 0.3822 mmol) was dissolved in
CΗ3OΗ (5 mL) and treated with 4M HCI in dioxane (2.5 mL) at ambient temperature with stirring. After 1 hour the reaction mixture was concentrated to dryness to give the title compound.
Step K: [l-4-Cyano-3-fluoro-phenyl)-4-hydroxy-l-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4- yll-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester
To a solution of 4-[l-amino-4-hydroxy-l-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4- yl)-butyl]-2-fluoro-benzonitrile bis hydrochloride (0.3822 mmol) in CΗ2CI2 (10 mL) was added E13N (0.216 mL, 1.5528 mmol) and di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (0.107 g, 0.4658 mmol) with stirring at ambient temperature. After 2 days the reaction mixture was partitioned between saturated NaHCO3 solution and CH2CI2. The layers were separated, the aqueous layer washed with CH2CI2, the organics combined, dried (Na2SO4), filtered and concentrated to give the title compound after purification on an ISCO Combiflash eluting with 1 - 5% CH3OH/ CH2CI2 with NH4OH.
Step L: Preparation of 2-Fluoro-4-[2-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-pyrrolidin-
2-yll -benzonitrile
To a solution of [l-4-cyano-3-fluoro-phenyl)-4-hydroxy-l-(3-methyl- 3H-imidazol-4-yl]-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester (0.094 g, 0.242 mmol) in CΗ2CI2 (10 mL) was added CBr4 (0.12 g, 0.363 mmol) and PI13P (0.095 g, 0.363 mmol), and the reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 24 hours. An additional 3 eq of reagents were added over a 4 day period. After 6 days the reaction mixture was partitioned between saturated NaHCO3 solution and CH2 2, the layers separated, the aqueous layer back extracted, the organics combined, dried (Na2SO4), filtered, and concentrated to dryness to give the title compound after purification on an ISCO Combiflash eluting with 1 - 5% CH3OH/ CH2CI2.
HRMS: theortical, 271.1354; measured, 271.1347. Step M: Preparation of 3-(3-Methoxyphenyl)-l-methylazepan-2-one
To a solution of n-BuLi in hexane (1.6M)(93.8 mL, 0.15 mol) under N2 in a flame-dried 2L 4-necked flask at 0°C was added 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl- piperidine (25.3 mL, 0.15 mol) in dry THF (300 mL) dropwise with stirring. Thirty minutes after the addition, 1-methylcaprolactam, commercially available, (19.25 mL, 0.15 mol) in THF (60 mL) was added, and the mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. A second equivalent of n-BuLi in hexane (93.8 mL, 0.15 mol) was added, and after 10 minutes 2-chloroanisole (19.04 mL, 0.15 mol) was added in one portion. After 0.5 hour the reaction was quenched with H2O (300 mL). After 0.5 hour, the THF and hexane were removed, and the residue partitioned between EtOAc (300 mL) and 5N HCI (300 mL). The aqueous layer was washed with EtOAc, the organic layers combined, washed with aqueous saturated NaHCO3 solution, brine, and dried (Na2SO4). Filtration and concentration to dryness gave 7.46 g (21%) after chromatography on silica gel eluting with l%CH3OH: 7.4% EtOAc: 91.6% CH2CI2.
Step N: Preparation of 3S and 3R-Ethyl-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-l- methylazepan-2-one
To a solution of n-BuLi in hexane (1.6M)(172 mL, 0.275 mol) under N2 in a flame-dried 3L 3-necked flask at 0°C was added 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (46.4 mL, 0.275 mol) in dry THF (450 mL) with stirring. After 30 minutes 3-(3- methoxyphenyl)-l-methylazepan-2-one (31.32 g, 0.134 mol) in THF (450 mL) was added dropwise over 2.5 hours. This solution was stirred for an additional 1 hour at 0°C, followed by addition of iodoethane (12.9 mL, 0.161 mol). The reaction mixture was left to come to ambient temperature, then heated at 40°C for 1 hour. The reaction was concentrated to remove the THF, then partitioned between EtOAc and 5N HCI. The aqueous layer was washed with EtOAc, the organics combined, washed with H2O, aqueous saturated NaHCO3 solution, H2O, brine, and dried (Na2SO4).
Filtration and concentration to dryness gave 14.5 g of racemic title compound (86% based on recovered starting material). The chiral enantiomers were isolated by chromatography on a ChiralPak AD column eluting with 10%EtOH/hexane to give 5.37 g of 3R-ethyl-3-(3-methoxyρhenyl)-l-methylazepan-2-one [α] +59.8° (CCI4) and 5.39 g of 3S-ethyl-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-l-methylazepan-2-one [α] -60.8° (CCI4). Step O: Preparation of 3S-Ethyl-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-l-methylazepan-2-one
1M BBr3 in CH2CI2 (35 mL, 0.035 mol) was added to a solution of 3S-ethyl-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-l-methylazepan-2-one (5.39 g, 0.023 mol) in CH2CI2 (160 mL) with stirring at 0°C under N2. The reaction was left to warm to rt overnight, then treated with H2O and aqueous saturated NaHCO3 solution to pH=7. The layers were separated, the aqueous layer extracted with CH2CI2 (2x), the organics combined, washed with brine and dried (Na2SO4). Filtration and concentration to dryness gave 4.16 g (82%) of the title compound which was used without further purification.
Step P: Preparation of 5-[(2S)-2-(4-cyano-3-{ 3-[(3S)-3-ethyl-l-methyl-2- oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy}phenyl)pyrrolidinium-2-yl]-l-methyl-lH- imidazol-l-ium bis(trifluoroacetate)
2-Fluoro-4-[2S-(3-methyl-3Η-imidazol-4-yl)-pyrrolidin-2-yl]- benzonitrile (0.020 g, 0.074 mmol), 3S-ethyl-3-(3-hydroxy-phenyl)-l-methyl-azepan-
2-one (0.0275 g, 0.11 mmol) and CS2CO3 (0.0723 g, 0.22 mmol) in DMF (0.3 mL) were heated with stirring at 70°C for 6 hours, then acidified with TFA, diluted with DMSO (0.3 mL) and H2O (0.3 mL) and purified on a Gilson prep eluting with 95:5 to 5:95 H2θ(0.1%TFA): CH3CN (0.1%TFA) to give the title compound. MS (M + 1) 498.
Using the methods described above but substituting the requisite chiral phenol and either enantiomer of 2-fluoro-4-[2-(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4-yl)- pyrrolidin-2-yl] -benzonitrile all possible diastereomers are prepared:
2-(3-[(3S)-3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[(2R)-2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[(3R)-3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[(2R)-2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[(3R)-3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[(2S)-2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile; Using the methods described above but substituting the corresponding halide in Step N for iodoethane, the following compounds are prepared:
2-(3-[3-trifluoropropyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[3-cyclopropylmethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3 - [3 -rc-butyl- 1 -methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4- [2-( 1 -methyl- lH-imidazol-5- yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
Using the methods described above but substituting 1-methyl- piperidinone for 1-methylcaprolactam in Step M, the following compound is prepared:
2-(3 - [3 -ethyl- 1 -methyl-2-oxo-piperidin-3 -yl]phenoxy)-4- [2-( 1 -methyl- lH-imidazol-5 - yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
Using the methods described above but substituting 1-methyl- pyrrolidinone for 1-methylcaprolactam in Step M, the following compound is prepared:
2-(3-[3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxo-pyrrolidin-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol- 5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile.
EXAMPLE 2
In vitro inhibition of ras famesyl transferase
Transferase Assays. Isoprenyl-protein transferase activity assays are carried out at 30°C unless noted otherwise. A typical reaction contains (in a final volume of 50 μL): [3H]farnesyl diphosphate, Ras protein , 50 mM HEPES, pH 7.5, 5 mM MgCl2, 5 mM dithiothreitol, 10 μM ZnCl2, 0.1% polyethyleneglycol (PEG) (15,000-20,000 mw) and isoprenyl-protein transferase. The FPTase employed in the assay is prepared by recombinant expression as described in Omer, C.A., Krai, A.M., Diehl, R.E., Prendergast, G.C., Powers, S., Allen, CM., Gibbs, J.B. and Kohl, N.E. (1993) Biochemistry 32:5167-5176. After thermally pre-equilibrating the assay mixture in the absence of enzyme, reactions are initiated by the addition of isoprenyl- protein transferase and stopped at timed intervals (typically 15 minutes) by the addition of 1 M HCI in ethanol (1 mL). The quenched reactions are allowed to stand for 15 minutes (to complete the precipitation process). After adding 2 mL of 100% ethanol, the reactions are vacuum-filtered through Whatman GF/C filters. Filters are washed four times with 2 mL aliquots of 100% ethanol, mixed with scintillation fluid (10 mL) and then counted in a Beckman LS3801 scintillation counter.
For inhibition studies, assays are run as described above, except inhibitors are prepared as concentrated solutions in 100% dimethyl sulfoxide and then diluted 20 fold into the enzyme assay mixture. Substrate concentrations for inhibitor IC50 determinations are as follows: FTase, 650 nM Ras-CVLS (SEQ.ID.NO.: 1), 100 nM famesyl diphosphate.
The compounds of the instant invention described in the above example are tested for inhibitory activity against human FPTase by the assay described above.
EXAMPLE 3
Modified In vitro GGTase inhibition assay
The modified geranylgeranyl-protein transferase inhibition assay is carried out at room temperature. A typical reaction contains (in a final volume of 50 μL): [3H] geranylgeranyl diphosphate, biotinylated Ras peptide, 50 mM HEPES, pH 7.5, a modulating anion (for example 10 mM glycerophosphate or 5mM ATP), 5 mM MgCl2, 10 μM ZnCl2, 0.1% PEG (15,000-20,000 mw), 2 mM dithiothreitol, and geranylgeranyl-protein transferase type I(GGTase). The GGTase-type I enzyme employed in the assay is prepared as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,470,832, incorporated by reference. The Ras peptide is derived from the K4B-Ras protein and has the following sequence: biotinyl-GKKKKKKSKTKCNLM (single amino acid code) (SEQ. ID O.: 2). Reactions are initiated by the addition of GGTase and stopped at timed intervals (typically 15 minutes) by the addition of 200 μL of a 3 mg mL suspension of streptavidin SPA beads (Scintillation Proximity Assay beads, Amersham) in 0.2 M sodium phosphate, pH 4, containing 50 mM EDTA, and 0.5% BSA. The quenched reactions are allowed to stand for 2 hours before analysis on a Packard TopCount scintillation counter.
For inhibition studies, assays are run as described above, except inhibitors are prepared as concentrated solutions in 100% dimethyl sulfoxide and then diluted 25 fold into the enzyme assay mixture. IC50 values are determined with Ras peptide near KM concentrations. Enzyme and substrate concentrations for inhibitor IC50 determinations are as follows: 75 pM GGTase-1, 1.6 μM Ras peptide, 100 μM geranylgeranyl diphosphate.
The compounds of the instant invention described in the above example are tested for inhibitory activity against human GGTase type I by the assay described above.
EXAMPLE 4
Cell-based in vitro ras famesylation assay
The cell line used in this assay is a v-ras line derived from either Ratl or NIH3T3 cells, which expressed viral Ha-ras p21. The assay is performed essentially as described in DeClue, J.E. et al., Cancer Research 51:712-717, (1991). Cells in 10 cm dishes at 50-75% confluency are treated with the test compound (final concentration of solvent, methanol or dimethyl sulfoxide, is 0.1%). After 4 hours at 37°C, the cells are labeled in 3 ml methionine-free DMEM supple-mented with 10% regular DMEM, 2% fetal bovine serum and 400 μCi[35s]methionine (1000 Ci/mmol). After an additional 20 hours, the cells are lysed in 1 ml lysis buffer (1% NP40/20 mM HEPES, pH 7.5/5 mM MgCl2/lmM DTT/10 mg/ml aprotinen/2 mg/ml leupeptin 2 mg/ml antipain/0.5 mM PMSF) and the lysates cleared by centrifugation at 100,000 x g for 45 minutes. Aliquots of lysates containing equal numbers of acid- precipitable counts are bought to 1 ml with JP buffer (lysis buffer lacking DTT) and immunoprecipitated with the ras-specific monoclonal antibody Y13-259 (Furth, M.E. et al., /. Virol. 43:294-304, (1982)). Following a 2 hour antibody incubation at 4°C, 200 μL of a 25% suspension of protein A-Sepharose coated with rabbit anti rat IgG is added for 45 minutes. The immunoprecipitates are washed four times with JP buffer (20 nM HEPES, pH 7.5/1 mM EDTA/1% Triton X-100.0.5% deoxycholate/0.1%/ SDS/0.1 M NaCl) boiled in SDS-PAGE sample buffer and loaded on 13% acrylamide gels. When the dye front reached the bottom, the gel is fixed, soaked in Enlightening, dried and autoradiographed. The intensities of the bands corresponding to farnesyl- ated and nonfarnesylated ras proteins are compared to determine the percent inhibition of famesyl transfer to protein.
EXAMPLE 5
Cell-based in vitro growth inhibition assay
To determine the biological consequences of FPTase inhibition, the effect of the compounds of the instant invention on the anchorage-independent growth of Ratl cells transformed with either a v-ras, v-rø , or w-mos oncogene is tested. Cells transformed by v-Raf and v-Mos maybe included in the analysis to evaluate the specificity of compounds for Ras-induced cell transformation.
Rat 1 cells transformed with either v-ras, v-raf, or v-mos are seeded at a density of 1 x 104 cells per plate (35 mm in diameter) in a 0.3% top agarose layer in medium A (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine seram) over a bottom agarose layer (0.6%). Both layers contain 0.1% methanol or an appropriate concentration of the compound (dissolved in methanol at 1000 times the final concentration used in the assay). The cells are fed twice weekly with 0.5 ml of medium A containing 0.1% methanol or the concentration of the instant compound. Photomicrographs are taken 16 days after the cultures are seeded and comparisons are made.
EXAMPLE 6
Construction of SEAP reporter plasmid pDSElOO The SEAP reporter plasmid, pDSElOO was constructed by ligating a restriction fragment containing the SEAP coding sequence into the plasmid pCMV- RE-AKI. The SEAP gene is derived from the plasmid pSEAP2-Basic (Clontech, Palo Alto, CA). The plasmid pCMN-RE-AKI contains 5 sequential copies of the 'dyad symmetry response element' cloned upstream of a 'CAT-TATA' sequence derived from the cytomegaloviras immediate early promoter. The plasmid also contains a bovine growth hormone poly-A sequence.
The plasmid, pDSElOO was constructed as follows. A restriction fragment encoding the SEAP coding sequence was cut out of the plasmid pSEAP2- Basic using the restriction enzymes EcoRI and Hpal. The ends of the linear DΝA fragments were filled in with the Klenow fragment of E. coli DΝA Polymerase I. The "blunt ended" DNA containing the SEAP gene was isolated by electrophoresing the digest in an agarose gel and cutting out the 1694 base pair fragment. The vector plasmid pCMN-RE-AKI was linearized with the restriction enzyme Bgl-IJ and the ends filled in with Klenow DΝA Polymerase I. The SEAP DΝA fragment was blunt end ligated into the pCMN-RE-AKI vector and the ligation products were transformed into DH5-alpha E. coli cells (Gibco-BRL). Transformants were screened for the proper insert and then mapped for restriction fragment orientation. Properly oriented recombinant constructs were sequenced across the cloning junctions to verify the correct sequence. The resulting plasmid contains the SEAP coding sequence downstream of the DSE and CAT-TATA promoter elements and upstream of the BGH poly-A sequence.
Alternative Construction of SEAP reporter plasmid. pDSElOl
The SEAP repotrer plasmid, pDSElOl is also constructed by ligating a restriction fragment containing the SEAP coding sequence into the plasmid pCMV- RE-AKI. The SEAP gene is derived from plasmid pGEM7zf(-)/SEAP.
The plasmid pDSElOl was constructed as follows: A restriction fragment containing part of the SEAP gene coding sequence was cut out of the plasmid pGEM7zf(-)/SEAP using the restriction enzymes Apa I and Kpnl. The ends of the linear DΝA fragments were chewed back with the Klenow fragment of E. coli DΝA Polymerase I. The "blunt ended" DΝA containing the truncated SEAP gene was isolated by electrophoresing the digest in an agarose gel and cutting out the 1910 base pair fragment. This 1910 base pair fragment was ligated into the plasmid pCMN-RE-AKI which had been cut with Bgl-LI and filled in with E. coli Klenow fragment DΝA polymerase. Recombinant plasmids were screened for insert orientation and sequenced through the ligated junctions. The plasmid pCMN-RE-AKI is derived from plasmid pCMVffi-AKI-DHFR (Whang, Y., Silberklang, M., Morgan, A., Munshi, S., Lenny, A.B., Ellis, R.W., and Kieff, E. (1987) J. Virol., 61, 1796- 1807) by removing an EcoRI fragment containing the DHFR and Neomycin markers. Five copies of the fos promoter serum response element were inserted as described previously (Jones, R.E., Defeo-Jones, D., McAvoy, E.M., Vuocolo, G.A., Wegrzyn, R.J., Haskell, K.M. and Oliff, A. (1991) Oncogene, 6, 745-751) to create plasmid pCMN-RE-AKI. The plasmid pGEM7zf(-)/SEAP was constructed as follows. The SEAP gene was PCRed, in two segments from a human placenta cDNA library (Clontech) using the following oligos.
Sense strand N-terminal SEAP: 5' GAGAGGGAATTCGGGCCCTTCCTGCAT GCTGCTGCTGCTGCTGCTGCTGGGC 3' (SEQ.ID.NO.:3)
Antisense strand N-terminal SEAP: 5' GAGAGAGCTCGAGGTTAACCCGGGT GCGCGGCGTCGGTGGT 3' (SEQ.IDNO.: 4)
Sense strand C-terminal SEAP: 5' GAGAGAGTCTAGAGTTAACCCGTGGTCC CCGCGTTGCTTCCT 3' (SEQ.IDNO.: 5)
Antisense strand C-terminal SEAP: 5' GAAGAGGAAGCTTGGTACCGCCACTG GGCTGTAGGTGGTGGCT 3' (SEQ.ID.NO.: 6)
The N-terminal oligos (SEQ.ID.NO.: 4 and SEQ.ID.NO.: 5) were used to generate a 1560 bp N-terminal PCR product that contained EcoRI and Hpal restriction sites at the ends. The Antisense N-terminal oligo (SEQ.ID.NO.: 4) introduces an internal translation STOP codon within the SEAP gene along with the Hpal site. The C-terminal oligos (SEQ.ID.NO.: 5 and SEQ.ID.NO.: 6) were used to amplify a 412 bp C-terminal PCR product containing Hpal and HindLTI restriction sites. The sense strand C-terminal oligo (SEQ.ID.NO.: 5) introduces the internal STOP codon as well as the Hpal site. Next, the N-terminal amplicon was digested with EcoRI and Hpal while the C-terminal amplicon was digested with Hpal and Hindiπ. The two fragments comprising each end of the SEAP gene were isolated by electrophoresing the digest in an agarose gel and isolating the 1560 and 412 base pair fragments. These two fragments were then co-ligated into the vector pGEM7zf(-) (Promega) which had been restriction digested with EcoRI and HindJJI and isolated on an agarose gel. The resulting clone, pGEM7zf(-)/SEAP contains the coding sequence for the SEAP gene from amino acids.
Construction of a constitutively expressing SEAP plasmid pCMV-SEAP
An expression plasmid constitutively expressing the SEAP protein was created by placing the sequence encoding a truncated SEAP gene downstream of the cytomegaloviras (CMN) IE-1 promoter. The expression plasmid also includes the CMN intron A region 5' to the SEAP gene as well as the 3' untranslated region of the bovine growth hormone gene 3' to the SEAP gene.
The plasmid pCMNLE-AKI-DHFR (Whang et al, 1987) containing the CMN immediate early promoter was cut with EcoRI generating two fragments. The vector fragment was isolated by agarose electrophoresis and religated. The resulting plasmid is named pCMN-AKI. Next, the cytomegaloviras intron A nucleotide sequence was inserted downstream of the CMN IEl promter in pCMN- AKI. The intron A sequence was isolated from a genomic clone bank and subcloned into pBR322 to generate plasmid pl6T-286. The intron A sequence was mutated at nucleotide 1856 (nucleotide numbering as in Chapman, B.S., Thayer, R.M., Vincent, K.A. and Haigwood, Ν.L., NucAcids Res. 19, 3979-3986) to remove a Sad restriction site using site directed mutagenesis. The mutated intron A sequence was PCRed from the plasmid pl6T-287 using the following oligos.
Sense strand: 5' GGCAGAGCTCGTTTAGTGAACCGTCAG 3' (SEQ.ID.NO.: 7)
Antisense strand: 5' GAGAGATCTCAAGGACGGTGACTGCAG 3' (SEQ.ID.NO.: 8)
These two oligos generate a 991 base pair fragment with a Sad site incorporated by the sense oligo and a Bgl-II fragment incorporated by the antisense oligo. The PCR fragment is trimmed with Sad and Bgl-II and isolated on an agarose gel. The vector pCMN-AKI is cut with Sad and Bgl-II and the larger vector fragment isolated by agarose gel electrophoresis. The two gel isolated fragments are ligated at their respective Sad and Bgl-II sites to create plasmid pCMN-AKI-InA.
The DΝA sequence encoding the truncated SEAP gene is inserted into the pCMN-AKI-InA plasmid at the Bgl-II site of the vector. The SEAP gene is cut out of plasmid pGEM7zf (-)/SEAP (described above) using EcoRI and HindDI. The fragment is filled in with Klenow DΝA polymerase and the 1970 base pair fragment isolated from the vector fragment by agarose gel electrophoresis. The pCMN-AKI- InA vector is prepared by digesting with Bgl-II and filling in the ends with Klenow DΝA polymerase. The final construct is generated by blunt end ligating the SEAP fragment into the pCMN-AKI-InA vector. Transformants were screened for the proper insert and then mapped for restriction fragment orientation. Properly oriented recombinant constructs were sequenced across the cloning junctions to verify the correct sequence. The resulting plasmid, named pCMN-SEAP, contains a modified SEAP sequence downstream of the cytomegaloviras immediately early promoter IE-1 and intron A sequence and upstream of the bovine growth hormone poly-A sequence. The plasmid expresses SEAP in a constitutive manner when transfected into mammalian cells.
Cloning of a Myristylated viral-H-rαs Expression Plasmid
A DΝA fragment containing viral-H-r s can be PCRed from plasmid "H-l" (Ellis R. et al. J. Virol. 36, 408, 1980) or "HB-11 (deposited in the ATCC under Budapest Treaty on August 27, 1997, and designated ATCC 209,218) using the following oligos.
Sense strand: 5 'TCTCCTCGAGGCC ACCATGGGGAGTAGCAAGAGCAAGCCTAAGGACCC CAGCCAGCGCCGGATGACAGAATACAAGCTTGTGGTGG 3'. (SEQ.ID.NO.: 9)
Antisense: 5'CACATCTAGATCAGGACAGCACAGACTTGCAGC 3'. (SEQ.ID.NO.: 10)
A sequence encoding the first 15 aminoacids of the v-src gene, containing a myristylation site, is incorporated into the sense strand oligo. The sense strand oligo also optimizes the 'Kozak' translation initiation sequence immediately 5' to the ATG start site.
To prevent prenylation at the viral-ras C-terminus, cysteine 186 would be mutated to a serine by substituting a G residue for a C residue in the C-terminal antisense oligo. The PCR primer oligos introduce an Xhol site at the 5' end and a Xbal site at the 3'end. The Xhol-Xbal fragment can be ligated into the mammalian expression plasmid pCI (Promega) cut with Xhol and Xbal. This results in a plasmid in which the recombinant myr-viral-H-ras gene is constitutively transcribed from the CMN promoter of the pCI vector. Cloning of a viral-H-ras-CNLL expression plasmid
A viral-H-rαs clone with a C-terminal sequence encoding the amino acids CVLL can be cloned from the plasmid "H-l" (Ellis R. et al., J. Virol. 36, 408, 1980) or "HB-11 (deposited in the ATCC under Budapest Treaty on August 27, 1997, and designated ATCC 209,218) by PCR using the following oligos.
Sense strand:
5'TCTCCTCGAGGCCACCATGACAGAATACAAGCTTGTGGTGG-3' (SEQ.ID.ΝO.: 11)
Antisense strand:
5 ' CACTCTAGACTGGTGTCAGAGCAGCACAC ACTTGCAGC-3 ' (SEQ.ID.NO. : 12)
The sense strand oligo optimizes the 'Kozak' sequence and adds an
Xhol site. The antisense strand mutates serine 189 to leucine and adds an Xbal site. The PCR fragment can be trimmed with Xhol and Xbal and ligated into the Xhol- Xbal cut vector pCI (Promega). This results in a plasmid in which the mutated viral- H-7- s-CVLL gene is constitutively transcribed from the CMV promoter of the pCI vector.
Cloning of c-H-ras-Leuόl expression plasmid
The human c-H-r s gene can be PCRed from a human cerebral cortex cDNA library (Clontech) using the following oligonucleotide primers.
Sense strand:
5'-GAGAGAATTCGCCACCATGACGGAATATAAGCTGGTGG-3'
(SEQ.IDNO.: 13)
Antisense strand:
5'-GAGAGTCGACGCGTCAGGAGAGCACACACTTGC-3' (SEQ.ID.NO.: 14)
The primers will amplify a c-ΕL-ras encoding DNA fragment with the primers contributing an optimized "Kozak" translation start sequence, an EcoRI site at the N-terminus and a Sal I stite at the C-terminal end. After trimming the ends of the PCR product with EcoRI and Sal I, the c-H-ras fragment can be ligated into an EcoRI -Sal I cut mutagenesis vector pAlter-1 (Promega). Mutation of glutamine-61 to a leucine can be accomplished using the manufacturer's protocols and the following oligonucleotide:
5'-CCGCCGGCCTGGAGGAGTACAG-3' (SEQ.ID.NO.: 15)
After selection and sequencing for the correct nucleotide substitution, the mutated c-H-rαs-Leu61 can be excised from the pAlter-1 vector, using EcoRI and Sal I, and be directly ligated into the vector pCI (Promega) which has been digested with EcoRI and Sal I. The new recombinant plasmid will constitutively transcribe c-H-r s-Leu61 from the CMV promoter of the pCI vector.
Cloning of a c-N-ras- Val-12 expression plasmid
The human c-N-ras gene can be PCRed from a human cerebral cortex cDNA library (Clontech) using the following oligonucleotide primers.
Sense strand: 5 ' -GAGAGA ATTCGCC ACC ATGACTGAGTAC AA ACTGGTGG-3 ' (SEQJD.NO.: 16)
Antisense strand:
5'-GAGAGTCGACTTGTTACATCACCACACATGGC-3' (SEQ.IDNO.: 17)
The primers will amplify a c-N-ras encoding DNA fragment with the primers contributing an optimized 'Kozak' translation start sequence, an EcoRI site at the N-terminus and a Sal I stite at the C-terminal end. After trimming the ends of the PCR product with EcoRI and Sal I, the c-N-ras fragment can be ligated into an EcoRI -Sal I cut mutagenesis vector pAlter-1 (Promega). Mutation of glycine-12 to a valine can be accomplished using the manufacturer's protocols and the following oligonucleotide:
5'-GTTGGAGCAGTTGGTGTTGGG-3' (SEQ.ID.NO.: 18) After selection and sequencing for the correct nucleotide substitution, the mutated c-N-ras-Nal-12 can be excised from the pAlter-1 vector, using EcoRI and Sal I, and be directly ligated into the vector pCI (Promega) which has been digested with EcoRI and Sal I. The new recombinant plasmid will constitutively transcribe c-Ν-ras-Nal-12 from the CMN promoter of the pCI vector.
Cloning of a c-K-ra -Nal-12 expression plasmid
The human c-K-ras gene can be PCRed from a human cerebral cortex cDΝA library (Clontech) using the following oligonucleotide primers.
Sense strand:
5'-GAGAGGTACCGCCACCATGACTGAATATAAACTTGTGG-3' (SEQ.ID.ΝO.: 19)
Antisense strand:
5'-CTCTGTCGACGTATTTACATAATTACACACTTTGTC-3' (SEQ.ID.NO.: 20)
The primers will amplify a c-K-ras encoding DNA fragment with the primers contributing an optimized 'Kozak' translation start sequence, a Kpnl site at the N-terminus and a Sal I site at the C-terminal end. After trimming the ends of the PCR product with Kpn I and Sal I, the c-K-rαs fragment can be ligated into a Kpnl - Sal I cut mutagenesis vector pAlter-1 (Promega). Mutation of cysteine-12 to a valine can be accomplished using the manufacturer's protocols and the following oligonucleotide:
5'-GTAGTTGGAGCTGTTGGCGTAGGC-3' (SEQ.ID.NO.: 21)
After selection and sequencing for the correct nucleotide substitution, the mutated c-K-ras-Nal-12 can be excised from the p Alter- 1 vector, using Kpnl and Sal I, and be directly ligated into the vector pCI (Promega) which has been digested with Kpnl and Sal I. The new recombinant plasmid will constitutively transcribe c-K-ras-Nal-12 from the CMV promoter of the pCI vector. SEAP assay
Human C33A cells (human epitheial carcenoma - ATTC collection) are seeded in 10cm tissue culture plates in DMEM + 10% fetal calf serum + IX Pen/Strep + IX glutamine + IX NEAA. Cells are grown at 37°C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere until they reach 50-80% of confluency.
The transient transfection is performed by the CaPO4 method
(Sambrook et al., 1989). Thus, expression plasmids for H-ras, N-rαs, K-ras, Myr-ras or H-ras-CNLL are co-precipitated with the DSE-SEAP reporter construct. For 10cm plates 600ml of CaCl2 -DΝA solution is added dropwise while vortexing to 600ml of 2X HBS buffer to give 1.2ml of precipitate solution (see recipes below). This is allowed to sit at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes. While the precipitate is forming, the media on the C33 A cells is replaced with DMEM (minus phenol red; Gibco cat. # 31053-028)+ 0.5% charcoal stripped calf seram + IX (Pen/Strep, Glutamine and nonessential aminoacids). The CaP04-DΝA precipitate is added dropwise to the cells and the plate rocked gently to distribute. DNA uptake is allowed to proceed for 5-6 hours at 37°C under a 5% CO2 atmosphere.
Following the DNA incubation period, the cells are washed with PBS and trypsinized with 1ml of 0.05% trypsin. The 1 ml of trypsinized cells is diluted into 10ml of phenol red free DMEM + 0.2% charcoal stripped calf serum + IX (Pen/Strep, Glutamine and NEAA ). Transfected cells are plated in a 96 well microtiter plate (lOOml/well) to which drag, diluted in media, has already been added in a volume of 100ml. The final volume per well is 200ml with each drag concentration repeated in triplicate over a range of half-log steps.
Incubation of cells and test compound is for 36 hours at 37°C under CO2- At the end of the incubation period, cells are examined microscopically for evidence of cell distress. Next, 100 ml of media containing the secreted alkaline phosphatase is removed from each well and transferred to a microtube array for heat treatment at 65°C for 1 hour to inactivate endogenous alkaline phosphatases (but not the heat stable secreted phosphatase). The heat treated media is assayed for alkaline phosphatase by a luminescence assay using the luminescence reagent CSPD® (Tropix, Bedford, Mass.). A volume of 50 ml media is combined with 200 ml of CSPD cocktail and incubated for 60 minutes at room temperature. Luminesence is monitored using an ML2200 microplate luminometer (Dynatech). Luminescence reflects the level of activation of the fos reporter constract stimulated by the transiently expressed protein. DNA-CaPO4 precipitate for 10cm. plate of cells Ras expression plasmid (lmg/ml) 10ml
DSE-SEAP Plasmid (lmg/ml) 2ml Sheared Calf Thymus DNA (lmg/ml) 8ml
2M CaCl2 74ml dH2θ 506ml
2X HBS Buffer 280mM NaCl lOmM KC1 1.5mM Na2HPθ4 2H2θ
12mM dextrose 50mM HEPES Final pH = 7.05
Luminesence Buffer (26ml)
Assay Buffer 20ml
Emerald Reagent™ (Tropix) 2.5ml lOOmM homoarginine 2.5ml
CSPD Reagent® (Tropix) 1.0ml
Assay Buffer
Add 0.05M Na2CO3 to 0.05M NaHCO3 to obtain pH 9.5. Make lmM in MgCl2
EXAMPLE 7
The processing assays employed in this example and in Example 66 modifications of that described by DeClue et al [Cancer Research 51, 712-717, 1991].
K4B-Ras processing inhibition assay
PSN-1 (human pancreatic carcinoma) cells are used for analysis of protein processing. Subconfluent cells in 100 mm dishes are fed with 3.5 ml of media (methionine-free RPMI supplemented with 2% fetal bovine seram or cysteine- free/methionine-free DMEM supplemented with 0.035 ml of 200 mM glutamine (Gibco), 2% fetal bovine seram, respectively) containing the desired concentration of test compound, lovastatin or solvent alone. Cells treated with lovastatin (5-10 μM), a compound that blocks Ras processing in cells by inhibiting a rate-limiting step in the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway, serve as a positive control. Test compounds are prepared as lOOOx concentrated solutions in DMSO to yield a final solvent concentration of 0.1%. Following incubation at 37°C for two hours 204 μCi/ml [35s]Pro-Mix (Amersham, cell labeling grade) is added. After introducing the label amino acid mixture, the cells are incubated at 37°C for an additional period of time (typically 6 to 24 hours). The media is then removed and the cells are washed once with cold PBS. The cells are scraped into 1 ml of cold PBS, collected by centrifugation (10,000 x g for 10 sec at room temperature), and lysed by vortexing in 1 ml of lysis buffer (1% Nonidet P-40, 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5% deoxycholate, 0.1% SDS, 1 mM DTT, 10 μg/ml AEBSF, 10 μg/ml aprotinin, 2 μg/ml leupeptin and 2 μg ml antipain). The lysate is then centrifuged at 15,000 x g for 10 minutes at 4°C and the supernatant saved.
For immunoprecipitation of Ki4B-Ras, samples of lysate supernatant containing equal amounts of protein are utilized. Protein concentration is determined by the Bradford method utilizing bovine seram albumin as a standard. The appropriate volume of lysate is brought to 1 ml with lysis buffer lacking DTT and 8 μg of the pan Ras monoclonal antibody, Yl 3-259, added. The protein/antibody mixture is incubated on ice at 4°C for 24 hours. The immune complex is collected on pansorbin (Calbiochem) coated with rabbit antiserum to rat IgG (Cappel) by tumbling at 4°C for 45 minutes. The pellet is washed 3 times with 1 ml of lysis buffer lacking DTT and protease inhibitors and resuspended in 100 ml elution buffer (10 mM Tris pH 7.4, 1% SDS). The Ras is eluted from the beads by heating at 95°C for 5 minutes, after which the beads are pelleted by brief centrifugation (15,000 x g for 30 seconds at room temperature).
The supernatant is added to 1 ml of Dilution Buffer 0.1% Triton X-100, 5 mM EDTA, 50 mM NaCl, 10 mM Tris pH 7.4) with 2 mg Kirsten-ras specific monoclonal antibody, c-K-ras Ab-1 (Calbiochem). The second protein/ antibody mixture is incubated on ice at 4°C for 1-2 hours. The immune complex is collected on pansorbin (Calbiochem) coated with rabbit antiserum to rat IgG (Cappel) by tumbling at 4°C for 45 minutes. The pellet is washed 3 times with 1 ml of lysis buffer lacking DTT and protease inhibitors and resuspended in Laemmli sample buffer. The Ras is eluted from the beads by heating at 95°C for 5 minutes, after which the beads are pelleted by brief centrifugation. The supernatant is subjected to SDS-PAGE on a 12% acrylamide gel (bis-acrylamide:acrylamide, 1:100), and the Ras visualized by fluorography.
hDJ processing inhibition assay PSN-1 cells are seeded in 24-well assay plates. For each compound to be tested, the cells are treated with a minimum of seven concentrations in half-log steps. The final solvent (DMSO) concentration is 0.1%. A vehicle-only control is included on each assay plate. The cells are treated for 24 hours at 37°C / 5% CO2-
The growth media is then aspirated and the samples are washed with PBS. The cells are lysed with SDS-PAGE sample buffer containing 5% 2-mercaptoethanol and heated to 95°C for 5 minutes. After cooling on ice for 10 minutes, a mixture of nucleases is added to reduce viscosity of the samples.
The plates are incubated on ice for another 10 minutes. The samples are loaded onto pre-cast 8% acrylamide gels and electrophoresed at 15 mA/gel for 3-4 hours. The samples are then transferred from the gels to PVDF membranes by Western blotting.
The membranes are blocked for at least 1 hour in buffer containing 2% nonfat dry milk. The membranes are then treated with a monoclonal antibody to HDJ-2 (Neomarkers Cat. # MS-225), washed, and treated with an alkaline phosphatase-conjugated secondary antibody. The membranes are then treated with a fluorescent detection reagent and scanned on a phosphorimager.
For each sample, the percent of total signal corresponding to the unprenylated species of HDJ (the slower-migrating species) is calculated by densitometry. Dose-response curves and IC50 values are generated using 4-parameter curve fits in SigmaPlot software. EXAMPLE 8
K4B-Ras processing inhibition assay
PSN-1 (human pancreatic carcinoma) cells are used for analysis of protein processing. Subconfluent cells in 150 mm dishes are fed with 20 ml of media (RPMI supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum) containing the desired concentration of prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor or solvent alone. Cells treated with lovastatin (5-10 μM), a compound that blocks Ras processing in cells by inhibiting a rate-limiting step in the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway, serve as a positive control. Test compounds are prepared as lOOOx concentrated solutions in DMSO to yield a final solvent concentration of 0.1%.
The cells are incubated at 37°C for 24 hours, the media is then removed and the cells are washed twice with cold PBS. The cells are scraped into 2 ml of cold PBS, collected by centrifugation (10,000 x g for 5 minutes at 4°C) and frozen at -70°C. Cells are lysed by thawing and addition of lysis buffer (50 mM
HEPES, pH 7.2, 50 mM NaCl, 1% CHAPS, 0.7 μg/ml aprotinin, 0.7 μg/ml leupeptin 300 μg/ml pefabloc, and 0.3 mM EDTA). The lysate is then centrifuged at 100,000 x g for 60 minutes at 4°C and the supernatant saved. The supernatant may be subjected to SDS-PAGE, HPLC analysis, and/or chemical cleavage techniques. The lysate is applied to a HiTrap-SP (Pharmacia Biotech) column in buffer A (50 mM HEPES pH 7.2) and resolved by gradient in buffer A plus 1 M NaCl. Peak fractions containing Ki4B-Ras are pooled, diluted with an equal volume of water and immunoprecipitated with the pan Ras monoclonal antibody, Y13-259 linked to agarose. The protein/antibody mixture is incubated at 4°C for 12 hours. The immune complex is washed 3 times with PBS, followed by 3 times with water. The Ras is eluted from the beads by either high pH conditions (pH>10) or by heating at 95°C for 5 minutes, after which the beads are pelleted by brief centrifugation. The supernatant may be subjected to SDS-PAGE, HPLC analysis, and/or chemical cleavage techniques.
EXAMPLE 9
Rapl processing inhibition assay Protocol A:
Cells are labeled, incubated and lysed as described in Example 7. For immunoprecipitation of Rapl, samples of lysate supernatant containing equal amounts of protein are utilized. Protein concentration is deter- mined by the bradford method utilizing bovine serum albumin as a standard. The appropriate volume of lysate is brought to 1 ml with lysis buffer lacking DTT and 2 μg of the Rapl antibody, Rapl/Krevl (121) (Santa Cruz Biotech), is added. The protein/antibody mixture is incubated on ice at 4°C for 1 hour. The immune complex is collected on pansorbin (Calbiochem) by tumbling at 4°C for 45 minutes. The pellet is washed 3 times with 1 ml of lysis buffer lacking DTT and protease inhibitors and resuspended in 100 ml elution buffer (10 mM Tris pH 7.4, 1% SDS). The Rapl is eluted from the beads by heating at 95 °C for 5 minutes, after which the beads are pelleted by brief centrifugation (15,000 x g for 30 seconds at room temperature). The supernatant is added to 1 ml of Dilution Buffer (0.1% Triton X-100, 5 mM EDTA, 50 mM NaCl, 10 mM Tris pH 7.4) with 2 mg Rapl antibody, Rapl/Krevl (121) (Santa Cruz Biotech). The second protein/antibody mixture is incubated on ice at 4°C for 1-2 hours. The immune complex is collected on pansorbin (Calbiochem) by tumbling at 4°C for 45 minutes. The pellet is washed 3 times with 1 ml of lysis buffer lacking DTT and protease inhibitors and resuspended in Laemmli sample buffer. The Rapl is eluted from the beads by heating at 95 °C for 5 minutes, after which the beads are pelleted by brief centrifugation. The supernatant is subjected to SDS-PAGE on a 12% acrylamide gel (bis-acrylamide: acrylamide, 1:100), and the Rapl visualized by fluorography.
Protocol B:
PSN-1 cells are passaged every 3-4 days in 10cm plates, splitting near-confluent plates 1:20 and 1:40. The day before the assay is set up, 5x 106 cells are plated on 15cm plates to ensure the same stage of confluency in each assay. The media for these cells is RPMI 1640 (Gibco), with 15% fetal bovine serum and lx Pen/Strep antibiotic mix.
The day of the assay, cells are collected from the 15cm plates by trypsinization and diluted to 400,000 cells/ml in media. 0.5ml of these diluted cells are added to each well of 24-well plates, for a final cell number of 200,000 per well. The cells are then grown at 37°C overnight. The compounds to be assayed are diluted in DMSO in 1/2-log dilutions. The range of final concentrations to be assayed is generally 0.1-100μM. Four concentrations per compound is typical. The compounds are diluted so that each concentration is lOOOx of the final concentration (i.e., for a lOμM data point, a lOmM stock of the compound is needed).
2μL of each lOOOx compound stock is diluted into 1ml media to produce a 2X stock of compound. A vehicle control solution (2μL DMSO to 1ml media), is utilized. 0.5 ml of the 2X stocks of compound are added to the cells.
After 24 hours, the media is aspirated from the assay plates. Each well is rinsed with 1ml PBS, and the PBS is aspirated. 180 μL SDS-PAGE sample buffer (Novex) containing 5% 2-mercaptoethanol is added to each well. The plates are heated to 100°C for 5 minutes using a heat block containing an adapter for assay plates. The plates are placed on ice. After 10 minutes, 20μL of an RNAse/DNase mix is added per well. This mix is lmg/ml DNasel (Worthington Enzymes), 0.25 mg/ml RNAse A (Worthington Enzymes), 0.5M Tris-HCI pH8.0 and 50mM MgCl2-
The plate is left on ice for 10 minutes. Samples are then either loaded on the gel, or stored at -70° C until use.
Each assay plate (usually 3 compounds, each in 4-point titrations, plus controls) requires one 15-well 14% Novex gel. 25μl of each sample is loaded onto the gel. The gel is run at 15mA for about 3.5 hours. It is important to run the gel far enough so that there will be adequate separation between 21kd (Rapl) and 29kd
(Rab6).
The gels are then transferred to Novex pre-cut PVDF membranes for
1.5 hours at 30V (constant voltage). Immediately after transferring, the membranes are blocked overnight in 20ml Western blocking buffer (2% nonfat dry milk in
Western wash buffer (PBS + 0.1% Tween-20). If blocked over the weekend, 0.02% sodium azide is added. The membranes are blocked at 4°C with slow rocking.
The blocking solution is discarded and 20ml fresh blocking solution containing the anti Rapla antibody (Santa Cruz Biochemical SC1482) at 1:1000 (diluted in Western blocking buffer) and the anti Rab6 antibody (Santa Cruz
Biochemical SC310) at 1:5000 (diluted in Western blocking buffer) are added.
The membranes are incubated at room temperature for 1 hour with mild rocking.
The blocking solution is then discarded and the membrane is washed 3 times with
Western wash buffer for 15 minutes per wash. 20ml blocking solution containing 1 : 1000 (diluted in Western blocking buffer) each of two alkaline phosphatase conjugated antibodies (Alkaline phosphatase conjugated Anti-goat IgG and Alkaline phosphatase conjugated anti-rabbit IgG [Santa Cruz Biochemical]) is then added. The membrane is incubated for one hour and washed 3x as above.
About 2ml per gel of the Amersham ECF detection reagent is placed on an overhead transparency (ECF) and the PNDF membranes are placed face down onto the detection reagent. This is incubated for one minute, then the membrane is placed onto a fresh transparency sheet.
The developed transparency sheet is scanned on a phosphorimager and the Rapla Minimum Inhibitory Concentration is determined from the lowest concentration of compound that produces a detectable Rapla Western signal. The Rapla antibody used recognizes only unprenylated/unprocessed Rapla, so that the precence of a detectable Rapla Western signal is indicative of inhibition of Rapla prenylation.
Protocol C:
This protocol allows the determination of an EC50 for inhibition of processing of Rapla. The assay is ran as described in Protocol B with the following modifications. 20 μ,l of sample is run on pre-cast 10-20% gradient acrylamide mini gels (Νovex Inc.) at 15 mA gel for 2.5-3 hours. Prenylated and unprenylated forms of Rapla are detected by blotting with a polyclonal antibody (Rapl/Krev-1 Ab#121; Santa Cruz Research Products #sc-65), followed by an alkaline phosphatase- conjugated anti-rabbit IgG antibody. The percentage of unprenylated Rapla relative to the total amount of Rapla is determined by peak integration using Imagequant® software (Molecular Dynamics). Unprenylated Rapla is distinguished from prenyl- ated protein by virtue of the greater apparent molecular weight of the prenylated protein. Dose-response curves and EC50 values are generated using 4-parameter curve fits in SigmaPlot software.
EXAMPLE 10
In vivo tumor growth inhibition assay (nude mouse)
In vivo efficacy as an inhibitor of the growth of cancer cells may be confirmed by several protocols well known in the art. Examples of such in vivo efficacy studies are described by Ν. E. Kohl et al. (Nature Medicine, 1:792-797 (1995)) and Ν. E. Kohl et al. (Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 91:9141-9145 (1994)). Rodent fibroblasts transformed with oncogenically mutated human Haras or Ki-ras (lθ6 cells/animal in 1 ml of DMEM salts) are injected subcutaneously into the left flank of 8-12 week old female nude mice (Harlan) on day 0. The mice in each oncogene group are randomly assigned to a vehicle or compound treatment group. Animals are dosed subcutaneously starting on day 1 and daily for the duration of the experiment. Alternatively, the prenyl-protein transferase inhibitor may be administered by a continuous infusion pump. Compound or vehicle is delivered in a total volume of 0.1 ml. Tumors are excised and weighed when all of the vehicle- treated animals exhibited lesions of 0.5 - 1.0 cm in diameter, typically 11-15 days after the cells were injected. The average weight of the tumors in each treatment group for each cell line is calculated.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
A compound of formula A:
Figure imgf000083_0001
wherein:
Rla and Rib are independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, c) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, ) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl e) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl, ) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl, g) R80-, h) R9s(O)q-, i) CN, j) NO2, k) R8C(O)-,
1) R8OC(O)-,
Figure imgf000083_0002
n) (R8)2NC(O)-, o) C(O)N(R8)-, and
P) C1-C6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by
1) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, 2) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle,
3) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl,
4) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl,
5) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl,
6) R8O-,
7) R9S(O)q-,
8) CN,
9) R8C(O)-,
10) R8OC(O)-,
Figure imgf000084_0001
12) N3, or
13) R8C(O)O-;
Rl is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, d) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, e) -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2, ) -R8C(O)R8, g) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8,
Figure imgf000084_0002
i) -OR8, j) -R8NHC(0)R8,
Figure imgf000084_0003
1) CF3, m) halo, n) -C(O)OR8, o) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C alkynyl,
P) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl, q) perfluoroalkyl, r) NO2, s) CN, and t) R9S(O)q-; R is selected from: a) hydrogen, b) CN, c) halogen, d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, e) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, f) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, g) OR8, h) R9s(O)q, i) (R8)2C=CR8-, j) R8C≡C-, and k) NO2;
R3 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, f) OR8, g) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, h) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and i) CF3;
R4 is selected from: a) H, b) =O, and c) =S;
R5 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, f) R9S(O)q, g) -R8C=C(R8)2, h) -C≡CR8, i) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, j) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, k) CF3O-,
1) CF3CH2O-, m) C3-C10 cycloalkyl, n) -CF3, o) -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2, p) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8, q) -OR8,
Figure imgf000086_0001
s) -C(O)(Cι-C6 alkyl), and t) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8;
R6 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) OR8, and d) -C(O)(Cι-C6 alkyl);
R7 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, d) -C(O)R8, e) -C(O)OR8, f) -C(O)NR8, and g) -S(O)qR9;
R8 is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, d) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and e) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
R9 is independently selected from: a) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, b) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
A and A2 ; are independently selected from: a) a bond, b) -R8=CR8-, c) -C≡C-, d) O, e) S(O)q,
D OC(O), g) C(O), h) C(O)O, i) NR8, j) -S(O)qNR8-, k) -NR8S(O)q-, and
1) -NR8C(0)NR8-;
M is selected from CH2, NH, O and S;
W is selected from: a) heterocycle, and b) aryl;
Y is selected from: a) aryl, and b) heterocycle; Z is selected from: a) aryl, b) heterocycle, and c) C3 -C 10 cycloalkyl ;
m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; p is 1 or 2; q is 0, 1 or 2; r is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; s is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; t is 0, 1, 2 or 3;
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an optical isomer or stereoisomer thereof.
2. The compound according to Claim 2, as illustrated by formula B:
Figure imgf000088_0001
B
wherein:
Rla is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, c) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, d) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl, e) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl, f) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl, g) R8O-, h) R9S(O)q-, i) CN, j) NO2, k) R8C(O)-,
Figure imgf000089_0001
n) (R8)2NC(O)-, o) C(O)N(R8)-, and
P) C1-C6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by
1) unsubstituted or substituted aryl,
2) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle,
3) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl,
4) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl,
5) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl,
6) R8O-,
7) R9S(O)q-,
8) CN,
9) R8C(O)-,
10) R8θC(O)-,
Figure imgf000089_0002
12) N3, or
13) R8C(O)O-;
lected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, d) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, e) -(Ci-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2, ) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8, g) -(Ci-C6 alkyl)OR8,
Figure imgf000089_0003
i) -OR8, j) -(C1-C6 alkyl)NHC(O)R8, k) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)N(R8)2,
1) CF3, and m) halo;
R2 is selected from: a) hydrogen, b) CN, c) halogen, d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, e) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, f) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, g) OR8, h) R9S(O)q, i) (R8)2C=CR8-, j) R8C≡C-, and k) NO2;
R3 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, " f OR8, g) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, h) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and i) CF3;
R4 is selected from: a) H, b) =O, and c) =S; R-5 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl,
Figure imgf000091_0001
h) -C≡CR8, i) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, j) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, k) CF3O-,
1) CF3CH2O-, m) C3-C10 cycloalkyl, n) -CF3, o) -(Ci-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2,
P) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8, q) -OR8,
Figure imgf000091_0002
s) -C(O)(Cι-C6 alkyl), and t) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8;
R6 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) OR8, and d) -C(O)(Cι-C6 alkyl);
R7 is selected from: a) H, and b) unsubstituted or substituted C 1 -Cβ alkyl ;
R8 is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
R9 is independently selected from: a) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C alkyl, b) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
10 Al is selected from: a) a bond, b) -R8C=CR8-, c) -C≡C-, d) O,
15 e) S(O)q, ) OC(O), g) C(O), h) C(O)O, and i) NR8; o Znυ
W is selected from: a) heterocycle, and b) aryl;
25 Y is selected from: a) aryl, and b) heterocycle;
Z is selected from:
30 a) aryl, and b) heterocycle;
m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; p is 1 or 2; q is 0, 1 or 2; s is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; and t is 0, 1, 2 or 3;
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an optical isomer or stereoisomer thereof.
3. The compound according to Claim 2, as illustrated by formula C:
Figure imgf000093_0001
wherein:
Rla is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, c) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, d) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl, e) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl, ) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl, g) R80-, h) R9S(O)q-, i) CN, j) NO2, k) R8C(O)-,
1) R8OC(O)-,
Figure imgf000093_0002
Figure imgf000094_0001
o) C(O)N(R8)-, and
P) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl,
1) unsubstituted or substituted aryl,
2) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle,
3) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl,
4) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl,
5) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl,
6) R8O-,
7) R9S(O)q-,
8) CN,
9) RδC(O)-,
10) R8OC(O)-,
Figure imgf000094_0002
12) N3, or
13) R8C(O)O-;
Rl is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, d) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, e) -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2, ) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8, g) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8,
Figure imgf000094_0003
i) -OR8, j) -(C1-C6 alkyl)NHC(O)R8, k) -(Ci-C6 alkyl)C(O)N(R8)2,
1) CF3, and m) halo;
R is selected from: a) hydrogen, b) CN, c) halogen, d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, e) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, f) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, g) OR8, h) R9s(O)q, i) (R8)2C=CR8-, j) R8C≡C-, and k) NO2;
R3 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, f) OR8, g) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, h) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and i) CF3;
R4 is selected from: a) H, b) =O, and c) =S;
R5 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C -C6 alkyl, f) R9S(O)q, g) -R8C=C(R8)2, h) -C≡CRδ-, i) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, j) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, k) CF3O-,
1) CF3CH2O-, m) C3-C10 cycloalkyl, n) -CF3, o) -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2,
P) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8,
Figure imgf000096_0001
s) -C(O)(Ci-C6 alkyl), and
0 -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8;
R6 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) OR8, and d) -C(O)(Cι-C6 alkyl);
R7 is selected from: a) H, and b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl;
R is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cg alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
R9 is independently selected from: a) unsubstituted or substituted Ci-Cβ alkyl, b) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
is selected from: a) a bond, b) -R8C=CR8-, c) -C≡C-, d) O, e) S(O)q, ) OC(O), g) C(O), h) C(O)O, and i) NR8;
Wis selected from: a) heterocycle, and b) aryl;
mis 0,1, 2, 3 or 4; nis 0,1, 2, 3 or 4; pis 1 or 2; qis 0, 1 or 2; s is 0, 1,2, 3 or 4; and tis 0, 1,2 or 3;
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an optical isomer or stereoisomer thereof.
4. A compound according to Claim 1, as illustrated by formula D:
Figure imgf000098_0001
a is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, c) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, d) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C10 cycloalkyl, e) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C alkenyl, f) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl, g) R80-, h) R9S(O)q-, i) CN, j) R8C(O)-, k) R8OC(O)-,
Figure imgf000098_0002
m) (R8)2NC(O)-, n) C(O)N(R8)-, and o) C1-C6 alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by
1) unsubstituted or substituted aryl,
2) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle,
3) unsubstituted or substituted C3-C 10 cycloalkyl,
4) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkenyl,
5) unsubstituted or substituted C2-C6 alkynyl,
6) R8O-,
7) R9S(O)q-,
8) CN, 9) R8C(0)-,
10) R8OC(O)-,
Figure imgf000099_0001
12) N3, or
13) R8C(O)O-;
Rl is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, d) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, e) -(C1-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2, ) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8, g) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8,
Figure imgf000099_0002
i) -OR8, j) -(C1-C6 alkyl)NHC(O)R8, k) -(C1-C6 alkyl)C(O)N(R8)2,
1) CF3, and m) halo;
R is selected from: a) hydrogen, b) CN, c) halogen,
1) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, m) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, f) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, g) OR8, h) R9S(O)q, i) (R8)2C=CR8-, and j) RSC≡CR-;
R3 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, ) OR8, g) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, h) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, and i) CF3;
R4 is selected from: a) H, and b) =O;
R5 is selected from: a) H, b) CN, c) NO2, d) halogen, e) unsubstituted or substituted C1- 5 alkyl,
Figure imgf000100_0001
h) -C≡CR8, i) unsubstituted or substituted aryl, j) unsubstituted or substituted heterocycle, k) CF3O-,
1) CF3CH2O-, m) C3-C10 cycloalkyl, n) -CF3, o) -(Ci-C6 alkyl)N(R8)2,
P) -(C1-C6 alkyl)OR8, q) -OR8,
Figure imgf000100_0002
s) -C(O)(Ci-C6 alkyl), and t) -(Ci-C6 alkyl)C(O)R8;
R6 is selected from: a) H, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, and c) -C(O)(Cι-C6 alkyl);
R7 is selected from: a) H, and b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl;
R is independently selected from: a) hydrogen, b) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, c) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and d) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
R9 is independently selected from: a) unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, b) unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl, and c) unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
Al is selected from: a) O, b) S(O)q, and c) NR8;
W is a heterocycle, selected from imidazolyl or pyridyl;
m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; q is 0, 1 or 2; s is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; and t is 0, 1, 2 or 3; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an optical isomer or stereoisomer thereof.
5. A compound selected from:
2-(3-[3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol-5- yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile
2-(3-[(3S)-3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]ρhenoxy)-4-[(2SR)-2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[(3S)-3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]ρhenoxy)-4-[(2R)-2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[(3R)-3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]ρhenoxy)-4-[(2R)-2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[(3R)-3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[(2S)-2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[3-trifluoropropyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[3-cyclopropylmethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH- imidazol-5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[3-n-butyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol-5- yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile;
2-(3-[3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxo-piperidin-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol-5- yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile ;
2-(3-[3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxo-pyrrolidin-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol- 5-yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an optical isomer or stereoisomer thereof.
6. The compound according to Claim 5 which is:
Figure imgf000103_0001
2-(3-[3-ethyl-l-methyl-2-oxoazepan-3-yl]phenoxy)-4-[2-(l-methyl-lH-imidazol-5- yl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]benzonitrile
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, an optical isomer or stereoisomer thereof.
7. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical carrier, and a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim 1.
8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical carrier, and a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim 2.
9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical carrier, and a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim 5.
10. A method for inhibiting famesyl-protein transferase which comprises administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a composition of Claim 1.
11. A method for inhibiting famesyl-protein transferase which comprises administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a composition of Claim 2.
12. A method for inhibiting famesyl-protein transferase which comprises administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a composition of Claim 5.
13. A method for treating cancer which comprises administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim 1.
14. A method for treating cancer which comprises administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim
2.
15. A method for treating cancer which comprises administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim 5.
16. A method for treating neurofibromen benign proliferative disorder which comprises administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim 1.
17. A method for treating blindness related to retinal vascularization which comprises administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim 1.
18. A method for treating infections from hepatitis delta and related viruses which comprises administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim 1.
19. A method for preventing restenosis which comprises administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim 1.
20. A method for treating polycystic kidney disease which comprises administering to a mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim 1.
21. A pharmaceutical composition made by combining the compound of Claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
22. A process for making a pharmaceutical composition comprising combining a compound of Claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
23. A method of conferring radiation sensitivity on a tumor cell using a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim 1 in combination with radiation therapy.
24. A method of using a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Claim 1 in combination with an antineoplastic.
25. A method according to Claim 24 wherein the antineoplastic is paclitaxel.
SEQUENCE LISTING
<110> deSolms , S . Jane Shaw, Anthony W .
<120> INHIBITORS OF PRENYL-PROTEIN TRANSFERASE
<130> 20822 PCT
<150> 60/280 , 609 <151> 2001-03 -30
<160> 25
<170> FastSEQ for Windows Version 4.0
<210> 1
<211> 4
<212> PRT
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 1
Cys Val Leu Leu 1
<210> 2
<211> 4
<212> PRT
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 2
Cys Val Leu Ser
1
<210> 3
<211> 15
<212> PRT
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 3
Gly Lys Lys Lys Lys Lys Lys Ser Lys Thr Lys Cys Val lie Met 1 5 10 15
<210> 4
-1 <211> 52
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 4 gagagggaat tcgggccctt cctgcatgct gctgctgctg ctgctgctgg gc 52
<210> 5
<211> 41
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 5 gagagagctc gaggttaacc cgggtgcgcg gcgtcggtgg t 41
<210> 6
<211> 42
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 6 gagagagtct agagttaacc cgtggtcccc gcgttgcttc ct 42
<210> 7
<211> 43
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 7 gaagaggaag cttggtaccg ccactgggct gtaggtggtg get 43
<210> 8
<211> 27
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 8 ggcagagctc gtttagtgaa ccgtcag 27
<210> 9 <211> 27
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 9 gagagatctc aaggacggtg actgcag 27
<210> 10
<211> 86
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 10 tctcctcgag gccaccatgg ggagtagcaa gagcaagcct aaggacccca gccagcgccg 60 gatgacagaa tacaagcttg tggtgg 86
<210> 11
<211> 33
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 11 cacatctaga tcaggacagc acagacttgc age 33
<210> 12
<211> 41
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 12 tctcctcgag gccaccatga cagaatacaa gcttgtggtg g 41
<210> 13
<211> 38
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 13 cactctagac tggtgtcaga gcagcacaca cttgcagc 38
- 3 <210> 14
<211> 38
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 14 gagagaattc gccaccatga cggaatataa gctggtgg 38
<210> 15
<211> 33
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 15 gagagtcgac gcgtcaggag agcacacact tgc 33
<210> 16
<211> 22
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 16 ccgccggcct ggaggagtac ag 22
<210> 17
<211> 38
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 17 gagagaattc gccaccatga ctgagtacaa actggtgg 38
<210> 18
<211> 32
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 18 gagagtcgac ttgttacatc accacacatg gc 32 <210> 19
<211> 21
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 19 gttggagcag ttggtgttgg g 21
<210> 20
<211> 38
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 20 gagaggtacc gccaccatga ctgaatataa acttgtgg 38
<210> 21
<211> 36
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 21 ctctgtcgac gtatttacat aattacacac tttgtc 36
<210> 22
<211> 24
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 22 gtagttggag ctgttggcgt aggc 24
<210> 23
<211> 38
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 23 gagaggtacc gccaccatga ctgaatataa acttgtgg 38
• 5 - <210> 24
<211> 45
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 24 ctctgtcgac agattacatt ataatgcatt ttttaatttt cacac 45
<210> 25
<211> 24
<212> DNA
<213> Artificial Sequence
<220>
<223> Completely Synthetic Sequence
<400> 25 gtagttggag ctgttggcgt aggc 24
- 6 -
PCT/US2002/009213 2001-03-30 2002-03-26 Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase WO2002079147A2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2002254375A AU2002254375A1 (en) 2001-03-30 2002-03-26 Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US28060901P 2001-03-30 2001-03-30
US60/280,609 2001-03-30

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002079147A2 true WO2002079147A2 (en) 2002-10-10
WO2002079147A3 WO2002079147A3 (en) 2003-04-24
WO2002079147B1 WO2002079147B1 (en) 2003-07-03

Family

ID=23073826

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2002/009213 WO2002079147A2 (en) 2001-03-30 2002-03-26 Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2002254375A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2002079147A2 (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005105783A1 (en) * 2004-05-03 2005-11-10 Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. Diastereoselective synthesis process with 6-bromo-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-methoxy-quinoline
JP2007536333A (en) * 2004-05-03 2007-12-13 ジヤンセン・フアーマシユーチカ・ナームローゼ・フエンノートシヤツプ Diastereoselective addition of lithiated N-methylimidazole to sulfimines
US8410144B2 (en) 2009-03-31 2013-04-02 Arqule, Inc. Substituted indolo-pyridinone compounds
US10513515B2 (en) 2017-08-25 2019-12-24 Biotheryx, Inc. Ether compounds and uses thereof
US11236103B2 (en) 2018-07-27 2022-02-01 Biotheryx, Inc. Bifunctional compounds
US11897930B2 (en) 2020-04-28 2024-02-13 Anwita Biosciences, Inc. Interleukin-2 polypeptides and fusion proteins thereof, and their pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic applications

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6284755B1 (en) * 1998-12-08 2001-09-04 Merck & Co., Inc. Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6284755B1 (en) * 1998-12-08 2001-09-04 Merck & Co., Inc. Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005105783A1 (en) * 2004-05-03 2005-11-10 Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. Diastereoselective synthesis process with 6-bromo-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-methoxy-quinoline
JP2007536334A (en) * 2004-05-03 2007-12-13 ジヤンセン・フアーマシユーチカ・ナームローゼ・フエンノートシヤツプ Diastereoselective synthesis method using 6-bromo-4- (3-chlorophenyl) -2-methoxy-quinoline
JP2007536333A (en) * 2004-05-03 2007-12-13 ジヤンセン・フアーマシユーチカ・ナームローゼ・フエンノートシヤツプ Diastereoselective addition of lithiated N-methylimidazole to sulfimines
US7572916B2 (en) 2004-05-03 2009-08-11 Janssen Pharmaceutica Nv Diastereoselective synthesis process with 6-bromo-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-methoxy-quinoline
JP4917022B2 (en) * 2004-05-03 2012-04-18 ジヤンセン・フアーマシユーチカ・ナームローゼ・フエンノートシヤツプ Diastereoselective synthesis method using 6-bromo-4- (3-chlorophenyl) -2-methoxy-quinoline
JP4917021B2 (en) * 2004-05-03 2012-04-18 ジヤンセン・フアーマシユーチカ・ナームローゼ・フエンノートシヤツプ Diastereoselective addition of lithiated N-methylimidazole to sulfimines
US8410144B2 (en) 2009-03-31 2013-04-02 Arqule, Inc. Substituted indolo-pyridinone compounds
US10513515B2 (en) 2017-08-25 2019-12-24 Biotheryx, Inc. Ether compounds and uses thereof
US10927104B2 (en) 2017-08-25 2021-02-23 Biotheryx, Inc. Ether compounds and uses thereof
US11236103B2 (en) 2018-07-27 2022-02-01 Biotheryx, Inc. Bifunctional compounds
US11897930B2 (en) 2020-04-28 2024-02-13 Anwita Biosciences, Inc. Interleukin-2 polypeptides and fusion proteins thereof, and their pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic applications

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2002079147B1 (en) 2003-07-03
AU2002254375A1 (en) 2002-10-15
WO2002079147A3 (en) 2003-04-24

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6358985B1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
WO2002028831A1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US6284755B1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US20020052380A1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US6441017B1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US20020010184A1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US6350755B1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
WO2001017992A1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
WO2001045707A1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US6632818B2 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US6525074B2 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
WO2002079147A2 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
CA2426684A1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US6566385B2 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US6316436B1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US6610722B2 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US6413964B1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
WO2002078702A1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US20040110764A1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
AU762440B2 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US20020022633A1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
WO2002020015A1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
WO2001045704A1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US6380228B1 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase
US6534506B2 (en) Inhibitors of prenyl-protein transferase

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ OM PH PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZM ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
B Later publication of amended claims

Free format text: 20030114

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase in:

Ref country code: JP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Country of ref document: JP