Discovery and Optimization of 2-Arylquinazolin-4-ones into a Potent and Selective Tankyrase Inhibitor Modulating Wnt Pathway Activity

Abstract

Tankyrases 1 and 2 (TNKS1/2) are promising pharmacological targets that recently gained interest for anticancer therapy in Wnt pathway dependent tumors. 2-Aryl-quinazolinones were identified and optimized into potent tankyrase inhibitors through SAR exploration around the quinazolinone core and the 4'-position of the phenyl residue. These efforts were supported by analysis of TNKS X-ray and WaterMap structures and resulted in compound <b>5k</b>, a potent, selective tankyrase inhibitor with favorable pharmacokinetic properties. The X-ray structure of <b>5k</b> in complex with TNKS1 was solved and confirmed the design hypothesis. Modulation of Wnt pathway activity was demonstrated with this compound in a colorectal xenograft model <i>in vivo</i>.