Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Globular Orphan Nuclear Receptor Regulator with Biological Activity in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

J Med Chem. 2018 Dec 13;61(23):10739-10752. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01387. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Abstract

Sarcomas are rare and heterogeneous cancer variants of mesenchymal origin. Their genetic heterogeneity coupled with uncertain histogenesis makes them difficult to treat and results in poor prognosis. In this work, we show that structure-based drug discovery involving computational modeling can be used to identify a new retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonist ligand with a bis(indolyl)methane scaffold. This agent co-self-assembles with an amphiphilic diblock copolymer resulting in nanoparticles (Nano-RXR) with excellent kinetic stability, which were evaluated for efficacy and safety in transformed sarcoma cells, 63-3 Cre and 141-10 Cre of pig origin, and in rodent xenograft models. Responses at gene and protein levels established the treatment approach as a highly effective RXR agonist across cell, rodent, and "Oncopig" models. Interestingly, Nano-RXR was not only able to modulate metabolic and transporter genes related to orphan nuclear receptors but also played a major role in modulating programmed cell death in sarcomas developed in Oncopigs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Indoles / chemical synthesis*
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Indoles / pharmacology*
  • Indoles / therapeutic use
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors / genetics
  • Protein Conformation
  • Retinoid X Receptors / agonists*
  • Retinoid X Receptors / chemistry
  • Retinoid X Receptors / metabolism
  • Sarcoma / drug therapy
  • Sarcoma / metabolism*
  • Sarcoma / pathology
  • Swine
  • Transcriptional Activation / drug effects

Substances

  • Indoles
  • Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors
  • Retinoid X Receptors