Selective HDAC3 Inhibitors with Potent In Vivo Antitumor Efficacy against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

J Med Chem. 2023 Sep 14;66(17):12033-12058. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00614. Epub 2023 Sep 3.

Abstract

HDAC3 modulation shows promise for breast cancer, including triple-negative cases. Novel pyrazino-hydrazide-based HDAC3 inhibitors were designed and synthesized. Lead compound 4i exhibited potent HDAC3 inhibition (IC50 = 14 nM) with at least 121-fold selectivity. It demonstrated strong cytotoxicity against triple-negative breast cancer cells (IC50: 0.55 μM for 4T1, 0.74 μM for MDA-MB-231) with least normal cell toxicity. Metabolically stable 4i displayed a superior pharmacokinetic profile. A dose-dependent therapeutic efficacy of 4i was observed in a tumor-bearing mouse model. The biomarker analysis with tumor tissues displayed enhanced acetylation on Ac-H3K9, Ac-H3K27, and Ac-H4K12 compared to Ac-tubulin and Ac-SMC3 indicating HDAC3 selectivity of 4i in vivo. The immunoblotting study with tumor tissue showed upregulation of apoptotic proteins caspase-3, caspase-7, and cytochrome c and the downregulation of proliferation markers Bcl-2, CD44, EGFR, and Ki-67. Compound 4i represents a promising candidate for targeted breast cancer therapy, particularly for cases with triple-negative breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Animals
  • Cytochromes c
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Down-Regulation
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy

Substances

  • Cytochromes c