Inhibitors of Rho C

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The claimed invention relates generally to the fields of medicine and enzyme biochemistry. More particularly, the invention relates to compounds and methods for inhibiting the activity of Rho C.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The small GTPase family of proteins are central regulators of cell physiology. Five homologous subfamilies are found in the genomes of all eukaryotes; the S. cerevisiae genome includes 29 proteins in all five families, and the human genome encodes approximately 100 proteins. These five subfamilies have five overlapping but partially distinct functional roles. Ras family members regulate cell growth and division (A. Hall, Curr Opin Cell Biol (1993) 5(2):265-68; A. B. Vojtek et al., J Biol Chem (1998) 273(32):19925-28). Rho family members regulate cell motility, and shape through the actin skeleton (A. Hall, Science (1998) 279:509-14; D. J. Mackay et al., J Biol Chem (1998) 273:20685-88). ARF family members regulate cell adhesion and vesicle trafficking to and from the plasma membrane (A. L. Boman et al., Trends Biochem Sci (1995) 20(4):147-50; P. Chavrier et al., Curr Opin Cell Biol (1999) 11(4):4:466-75). Rab family members regulate intra-vesicular organelle trafficking (O. Martinez et al., Biochim Biophys Acta (1998) 1404(1-2):101-12; P. Chavrier et al., supra; F. Schimmoller et al., J Biol Chem (1998) 273(35):22161-14) and Ran family members regulate nuclear translocation and chromosomal segregation through regulation of microtubule assembly at the spindle pole (M. S. Moore, J Biol Chem (1998)273(36): 22857-60; M. G. Rush et al., Bioessays (1996)18(2):103-12). These proteins stimulate other proteins in their GTP-bound state via physical interactions, and lose these associations and activities in the post-hydrolytic GDP-bound state. The hydrolysis reaction thus serves as molecular timer for the events triggered by the GTP-bound small G-protein. In addition, these GTPases also serve as signal integrators since the GTPases are regulated by other signaling pathway proteins; these signaling proteins are themselves regulated and promote or inhibit exchange of GDP for GTP or accelerate the GTP hydrolysis reaction. Ras was the first human small-GTPase to be appreciated in detail due to its identification as a human oncogene mutated in greater than 20% of human cancers (J. L. Bos, Cancer Res (1989) 49(17):4682-89). The ras mutants found in human cancers create a GTPase deficient form of ras which thus exists predominantly in the GTP bound-activated state.

[0004] The Rho family of small GTPase comprises more than 10 members in humans and 6 members in yeast. In both organisms, control of the actin skeleton organization and localization is a major Rho function. The human Rho family is composed of three sub-families: Rho, Rac and CDC42 (K. Kaibuchi et al., Ann. Rev. Biochem. (1999) 68:459-86). These sub-families are all involved in control of the actin skeleton and cell adhesion. RhoA is the best-studied of RhoA-G group (collectively Rho) and has been closely associated with actin stress fiber formation in fibroblasts, and through its interaction with ROCK (Rho activated kinase) actin-myosin contraction leading to smooth muscle contraction. Yeast Rho1 is most homologous to human RhoA, and is found at the main site of organized actin in yeast (the bud), where it appears to regulate actin organization associated with budding. In addition, Rho1p controls cell wall biosynthetic enzyme activity of 1,3-beta-D-glucan synthase (FKS1) during its physical association with the GTP-bound Rho1p. CDC42 and Rac-1 have also been well studied. CDC42 is closely associated with filopodia or microspike formation in fibroblasts and integrin activation. Rac-1 is a downstream component of the Ras signaling pathway from growth factor receptors and is closely associated with actin rearrangements leading to lamelli-podia formation in fibroblasts (A. Hall, Science (1998) 279:509-14).

[0005] Rho proteins interact with several upstream and downstream components in signaling pathways that originate at the cell membrane with either G-protein coupled receptors, CDC42 and RhoA, or growth factor receptors, such as Rac-1.

[0006] The upstream pathways from membrane receptors to the Rho protein involves PI3-Kinase, PIP3, and a Db1-homology protein that is a PIP3 receptor and catalyzes guanine nucleotide exchange of Rho; it is thus termed a GEF (“guanine nucleotide exchange factor”). The GEFs for RhoA, and its close homologue RhoC, include Db1, Net1, Ost and Vav. These proteins all have Db1 homology domains (also known as RhoGEF domains) and pleckstrin homology domains, and all activate guanine nucleotide exchange by interaction with Rho proteins through their Db1-homology domain (R. A. Cerione et al., Curr Opin Cell Biol (1996) 8(2):216-22; I. P. Whitehead et al., Biochim Biophys Acta (1997) 1332(1):F1-23). The yeast upstream pathways from the cell membrane to Rho and beyond are highly related to those found in mammalian cells and include Tor2 (yeast PI3-kinase), and Rom1/Rom2 yeast Db1 -homology and pleckstrin containing GEFs (K. Tanaka et al., Curr Opin Cell Biol (1998) 10(1):112- 16). In both yeast and humans, Rho proteins are prenylated and associate, in their GDP bound states, with a guanine nucleotide-dissociation inhibitor (“GDI”). The GDI, known as RhoGDI in humans, and Rdi1p in yeast, solublizes the Rho protein and prevents its membrane association until activation by a GEF exchanges its GDP for GTP and allows its association with the membrane (T. K. Nomanbhoy et al., Biochemistry (1999) 38(6):1744-50; P. W. Read et al., Protein Sci (2000) 9(2):376-86).

[0007] The downstream pathways from Rho family members include many functionally and structurally homologous proteins. RhoA interacts with formin family members Dia1/Dia2, and yeast Rho1p interacts with Bni1 (another formin family member), while CDC42 interacts with WASP and WASP-N, a pair of proteins organized and regulated similarly to formin members. The formin family members have binding sites for the GTP-bound forms of Rho and also actin-nucleating domains whose exposure is controlled by binding of the GTP-Rho (N. Watanabe et al., Nat Cell Biol (1999) 1(3):136-43). In addition to formin interactions, Rho proteins interact with serine/threonine kinases. RhoA interacts with ROCK kinase, which then phosphorylates proteins that control actin polymerization; it also phosphorylates myosin regulators which control contraction in smooth muscles. Yeast Rho1p interacts with PKC1 which launches a MAP kinase cascade leading to control of transcription and the actin skeleton (S. B. Helliwell et al., Curr Biol (1998) 8(22):1211-14; K. Tanaka et al., Curr Opin Cell Biol (1998) 10(1):112-16).

[0008] The 3-dimensional structure of RhoA in its GTP, GDP and Mg2+depleted states are known (K. Ihara et al., J Biol Chem (1998) 273(16):9656-66; R. Maesaki et al., Mol Cell (1999) 4(5):793-803; T. Shimizu et al., J Biol Chem (2000) 275(24):18311-17) as is the structure of RhoA-GTP in complex with an interaction domain of the downstream effector PKN (R. Maesaki et al., supra; R. Maesaki et al., J Struct Biol (1999) 126:166-70), and the structure of the complex of RhoA-GDP with Rho-GDI (K. Longenecker et al., Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr (1999) 55(Pt 9):1503-15). The structure of RhoA in complex with rhoGAP is also known (K. Rittinger et al., Nature (1997) 388:693-97). The structure of these molecules combined with similarly detailed data regarding Ras and the Rho family member CDC42 yield consensus molecular mechanism for the GTPase function, GEF's promotion of GDP exchange, GAP's acceleration of GTPase activity and effector stimulation by RhoA-GTP. These studies show the guanine nucleotide bound in a pocket surrounded by three protein loops, known as switch region-I, switch region-II and the P-loop (the phosphate-binding loop). Switch region-I and -II interact extensively with GDI, GEF and effector domains in regions that occlude each other's binding site. Switch region I and II are dramatically rearranged by GTP binding as compared to GDP-bound RhoA and this change exposes large new hydrophobic patches on the switch region surfaces. These newly exposed regions bind effectors.

[0009] The importance of Rho proteins in immune cell physiology is highlighted by the evolution of several different mechanisms to inactivate Rho-family proteins by pathogenic Clostridia species and other bacterial pathogens. These toxins are proteins that catalyze several different types of covalent modifications of the switch region-I of Rho proteins. This covalent modifications prevents the correct function of the Rho proteins (K. Aktories, Trends Microbiol (1997) 5(7):282-88; G. Schmidt et al., Naturwissen-schaften (1998) 85(6):253-61). These toxins prevent leukocyte adhesion and diapeadisis and also reduce the production of some anti-bacterial metabolites; thus these toxins confer virulence to the strains possessing them.

[0010] Recent reports have shown an important role for Rho in cancer and metastasis. In colon, breast, and lung cancer, RhoA protein expression is elevated compared to the surrounding normal tissue. In breast cancer, RhoA, Rac and CDC42 are elevated. However, RhoA is the most dramatically elevated, and RhoA levels are correlated with disease severity (G. Fritz et al., Int J Cancer (1999) 81(5):682-87). In pancreatic cancers, RhoC mRNA levels are elevated in comparison to non-cancerous tissue, and the degree of RhoC elevation is positively correlated with clinical severity and negatively with patient survival. The RhoC elevated phenotype is closely associated with metastasis (H. Suwa et al., Br J Cancer (1998) 77(1):147-52). Furthermore, in mice, RhoA transformed-human tumor cells are more invasive than untransformed cells (K. Yoshioka et al., Cancer Res (1999) 59(8):2004-10). Using in-vivo selection for mutations that cause increased metastatic potential in human melanoma cells injected into nude mice, it was recently shown that RhoC overexpression correlates with increased metastatic potential. Overexpression of RhoC from a retroviral vector by itself was sufficient to increase this potential (E. A. Clark et al., Nature (2000) 406:532-35). Thus, human cancers express elevated levels of Rho proteins and the degree of elevation correlates with disease severity and poor clinical prognosis.

[0011] The compelling case for the involvement of small G-protein in diseases has prompted a number of drug development attempts. Several different geranyl and farnesyl transferase inhibitors have been developed and several are now advanced in the clinic (N. E. Kohl, Ann NY Acad Sci (1999) 886:91-102). These inhibitors prevent farnesylation and/or geranylation of many proteins, including the small GTPases, and thus prevent their activity. These inhibitors have shown oral activity in animal models of Ras transformed tumorogenesis. Given their low selectivity and pan-prenlyated protein specificity, the low toxicity and apparent high therapeutic ratio these compound have shown is surprising (D. W. End, Invest New Drugs (1999) 17(3):241-58; C. C. Kumar et al., Ann NY Acad Sci (1999) 886:122-31). An interesting approach to finding wild-type Ras inhibitors used elctrospray mass spectrometry to detect compounds that form non-covalent complexes with Ras-GDP. A large library of compounds was screened and several hydroxylamine containing compounds that form complexes with the Mg2+and the exterior lip of switch region-II were found; this binding site was mapped using NMR and a mass-spectrometric footprinting technique. The more avid of these compounds bind with affinities of 0.9 μM (A. K. Ganguly et al., Bioorg Med Chem (1997) 5(5):817-20; A. K. Ganguly et al., Biochemistry (1998) 37(45):15631-37; A. G. Taveras et al., Bioorg Med Chem (1997) 5(1):125-33).

[0012] The GTPases present special problems as drug development targets. The difficulties arise due to the functions and properties of these proteins: they exist in numerous, but sometimes transient, complexes with partners (7-10 known partners for each protein). They exist inside most cells as GDP-bound enzymes in a complex with a GDI; their exchange to a GTP bound form happens instantaneously due to the high intracellular concentration of GTP (˜1 mM) and their very high affinity for GTP. Their enzymatic activity and turnover is quite slow, and in a practical sense may happen only when a GAP associates with the protein. A specific issue related to discovery of mutant Ras inhibitors is that mutant-Ras forms found in tumors are GTPase deficient, and thus are GTP-bound. The Rho proteins are not locked into a single GTP-bound state, and therefore cycle between states. Thus Rho proteins may be easier targets to inhibit than mutant Ras has proven to be. However, these properties make it especially difficult to assay small G-protein completely in in-vitro biochemical assays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] We have now invented compounds, formulations, and methods capable of inhibiting the biological activity of RhoC.

[0014] One aspect of the invention is a compound of Formula 1:

[0015] wherein R1 and R2 are each independently —OH or —OR, R3 is —H or —R, and R4 and R5 are each independently —H, halo, —NO2, —SH, —SR, —OH, —OR, —NH2, —NHR, or —NRR, where R is lower alkyl, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and amides thereof.

[0016] Another aspect of the invention is a method for inhibiting Rho C enzyme activity, by contacting said enzyme with a compound of Formula 1:

[0017] wherein R1 and R2 are each independently —OH or —OR, R3 is —H or —R, and R4 and R5 are each independently —H, halo, —NO2, —SH, —SR, —OH, —OR, —NH2, —NHR, or —NRR, where R is lower alkyl, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and amides thereof.

[0018] Another aspect of the invention is a formulation for treating a disorder mediated by RhoC, comprising an effective amount of a compound of formula 1, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Definitions

[0020] The term “alkyl” as used herein refers to a fully saturated radical consisting only of carbon and hydrogen, having from 1 to about 25 carbon atoms. The term “lower alkyl” refers to an alkyl radical having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, 3-methylpentyl, hexyl, and the like.

[0021] The term “halo” as used herein refers to fluoro, chloro, bromo, and iodo.

[0022] The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” refers to compounds and derivatives that are not unacceptably toxic to an organism or tissue to be treated.

[0023] The term “salt” refers to a derivative of a compound of the invention derived by addition of a simple acid to a basic compound of the invention, or addition of a base to an acidic compound of the invention. For example, compounds of the invention can form acid addition salts, such as hydrochlorides, hydrobromides, acetates, tartarates, citrates, malonates, phosphates, nitrates, sulfates, and the like. The term “esters” refers to derivatives of a compound of the invention derived by condensing a compound of the invention having a free —OH group with a carboxylic acid. Exemplary esters include acetates, propionates, citrates, and the like. The term “amides” refers to derivatives of a compound of the invention derived by condensing a compound of the invention having a free —NH group with a carboxylic acid. Exemplary acids include acetic, propionic, citric, malonic, and the like.

[0024] The term “effective amount” refers to the quantity of a compound of the invention necessary to inhibit RhoC protein activity, in vitro or in vivo. Such inhibition can be accomplished directly (i.e., by binding directly to RhoC in a way that modulates one or more biological activities) or indirectly (for example, by modifying or interfering with a RhoC ligand that in turn modulates RhoC activity). A “therapeutically effective amount” refers to a quantity of a compound of the invention sufficient to treat a disorder mediated by RhoC activity. Treatment includes preventing or alleviating one or more symptoms of the disorder, preventing the worsening of one or more symptoms, and reducing the likelihood or probability of disease occurring or advancing. Thus, for example, administration of a compound of the invention in order to treat cancer (known or suspected), or to inhibit metastasis of known or suspected tumors, constitutes a treatment within the scope of the invention.

[0025] The term “disorder mediated by RhoC” refers to a disease state that is ameliorated by the inhibition of RhoC. Exemplary disorders include, without limitation, cancer and metastasis.

[0026] General Method

[0027] One aspect of the invention is a compound of formula 1:

[0028] wherein R1 and R2 are each independently —OH or —OR;

[0029] R3 is —H or —R, and R4 and R5 are each independently —H, halo, —NO2, —SH, —SR, —OH, —OR, —NH2, —NHR, or —NRR, where R is lower alkyl;

[0030] and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof. A presently-preferred subgenus of the invention is the group of compounds wherein R1 and R2 are 2,4-dimethoxy. A presently-preferred class of the invention is the group of compounds wherein R3 is H. In presently-preferred embodiments of the invention, R4 is H and R5 is halo or nitro, particularly chloro. Presently-preferred compounds of the invention include 2,5-dimethoxy-N-(4-chlorophenyl)benzenesulfonamide, 2,5-dimethoxy-N-(3-chlorophenyl)benzenesulfonamide, and 2,5-dimethoxy-N-(4-nitrophenyl)benzenesulfonamide.

[0031] Compounds of the invention are prepared by any convenient method. For example, an aryl sulfonyl chloride of the formula (R1)(R2)Ar—SO2Cl can be coupled to an aryl amine of the formula NH(R5)—Ar(R3)(R4) in aqueous base to provide a compound of the invention. Reactive side chains, if present, can first be protected with conventional protecting groups.

[0032] Compounds of the invention are assayed for activity using any convenient biochemical or biological assay. For example, one can examine compounds for binding to recombinantly-expressed RhoC, assay compounds for their ability to reverse a RhoC-induced phenotype in a heterologous cell (see e.g., WO99/24563, incorporated herein by reference), or using one or more of the experimental protocols described in the references cited herein. Compounds of the invention demonstrated activity in surrogate genetic assays, in which mammalian RhoA and RhoC proteins were expressed in yeast, producing a screenable phenotype. An effective concentration of test compound specifically reversed the phenotype, demonstrating activity. Compounds were also examined for inhibition of stress fibers, by stimulating NIH 3T3 cells with 10 μM LPA in DMEM+0.2% FBS in the presence of test compounds for 4 hours. Staining with Rhodamine-phalloidin post fixation demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in the percentage of labeled F-actin, demonstrating inhibition of a RhoC biological activity.

[0033] Compounds of the invention can be administered to a subject, or can be applied directly to cells, for example in a cell culture. If administered to a cell culture, the compound is preferably first suspended or dissolved in a suitable carrier. Suitable carriers include, without limitation, water, saline solution, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and solutions thereof, cell culture media, and the like.

[0034] Useful pharmaceutical carriers for the preparation of the pharmaceutical compositions hereof can be solids or liquids. Thus, the compositions can take the form of tablets, pills, capsules, powders, sustained release formulations, solutions, suspensions, elixirs, aerosols, and the like. Carriers can be selected from the various oils, including those of petroleum, animal, vegetable or synthetic origin, for example, peanut oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, sesame oil, and the like. Water, saline, aqueous dextrose, and glycols are preferred liquid carriers, particularly for injectable solutions. Suitable pharmaceutical excipients include starch, cellulose, talc, glucose, lactose, sucrose, gelatin, malt, rice, flour, chalk, silica gel, magnesium stearate, sodium stearate, glycerol monostearate, sodium chloride, dried skim milk, glycerol, propylene glycol, water, ethanol, and the like. Other suitable pharmaceutical carriers and their formulations are described in “Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences” by E. W. Martin.

[0035] A compound of formula 1 or a pharmaceutical composition containing same is administered via any of the usual and acceptable methods known in the art, either singly or in combination with another compound or compounds of the present invention or other pharmaceutical agents. These compounds or compositions can thus be administered orally, systemically (e.g., transdermally, intranasally or by suppository) or parenterally (e.g., intramuscularly, subcutaneously and intravenously), and can be administered either in the form of solid or liquid dosages including tablets, solutions, suspensions, aerosols, and the like, as discussed in more detail above. One can administer compounds of the invention by direct injection into a tumor. The formulation can be administered in a single unit dosage form for continuous treatment or in a single unit dosage form ad libitum when relief of symptoms is specifically required.

[0036] The effective dose of a compound of the invention will depend on the condition to be treated, the potency and absorption rate of the compound as formulated, the mode of administration, the age, weight, and health of the subject, and the like, and thus cannot be specified in advance. However, it is possible to estimate the dosage by methods known in the art. For example, one can obtain tumor cells from a patient by biopsy, and directly determine the concentration of a compound of the invention that is effective to inhibit the growth of cancerous tissue. From this measurement, one can calculate a dosage (depending on the route of administration) suitable for the patient.

EXAMPLES

[0037] The following examples are provided as a guide for the practitioner of ordinary skill in the art. Nothing in the examples is intended to limit the claimed invention. Unless otherwise specified, all reagents are used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, and all reactions are performed at ambient temperature and pressure.

Example 1

Compound Preparation

[0038] (A) Compounds of the invention are prepared by reacting an appropriate aniline derivative with a benzene sulfonyl chloride under basic aqueous conditions. A solution of 2,5-dimethylbenzenesulfonyl chloride is stirred with an approximately equimolar molar amount of p-chloroaniline in 0.5 N aqueous NaOH, and extracted with ether to provide 2,5-dimethyl-N-(4-chlorophenyl)benzenesulfonamide.

[0039] (B) Similarly, proceeding as in part (A) above but substituting the appropriate reactants, the following compounds are prepared:

[0040] 2,5-dimethoxy-N-(3-chlorophenyl)benzenesulfonamide;

[0041] 2,5-dimethoxy-N-(4-nitrophenyl)benzenesulfonamide;

[0042] 2,5-dimethoxy-N-(4-fluorophenyl)benzenesulfonamide;

[0043] 2,5-dimethoxy-N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)benzenesulfonamide;

[0044] 2,5-dimethoxy-N-(3-nitro-4-chlorophenyl)benzenesulfonamide;

[0045] 2,5-dimethoxy-N-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)benzenesulfonamide;

[0046] 2,5-dimethoxy-N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzenesulfonamide;

[0047] 2,5-diethoxy-N-(4-chlorophenyl)benzenesulfonamide;

[0048] 2,5-dimethoxy-N-(4-aminophenyl)benzenesulfonamide;

[0049] 2,5-dimethoxy-N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-benzenesulfonamide; and

[0050] 3,5-dimethoxy-N-(4-chlorophenyl)benzenesulfonamide.

Example 2

Formulations

[0051] The following example illustrates the preparation of representative pharmaceutical formulations containing an active compound of formula 1:

[0052] (A) I.V. Formulation

1Active compound0.01gPropylene glycol20.0gPolyethylene glycol 40020.0gTween 801.0g0.9% Saline solution qs100.0ml

[0053] The active compound is dissolved in propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol 400 and Tween 80. A sufficient quantity of 0.9% saline solution is then added with stirring to provide 100 mL of the I.V. solution which is filtered through a 0.2 μm membrane filter and packaged under sterile conditions.

[0054] (B) Tablet Formulation

2parts by weightActive compound25.0Magnesium stearate0.2Pregelatinized starch74.8

[0055] The above ingredients are dry-blended and loaded into #0 capsules containing about 100 mg active compound per capsule.

Inhibitors of Rho C

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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Provisional Applications (1)