Data-Driven
Construction of Antitumor Agents with
Controlled Polypharmacology

Da, Chenxiao; Zhang, Dehui; Stashko, Michael; Vasileiadi, Eleana; Parker, Rebecca E.; Minson, Katherine A.; Huey, Madeline G.; Huelse, Justus M.; Hunter, Debra; Gilbert, Thomas S. K.; Norris-Drouin, Jacqueline; Miley, Michael; Herring, Laura E.; Graves, Lee M.; DeRyckere, Deborah; Earp, H. Shelton; Graham, Douglas K.; Frye, Stephen V.; Wang, Xiaodong; Kireev, Dmitri

doi:10.1021/jacs.9b08660.s001

Data-Driven Construction of Antitumor Agents with Controlled Polypharmacology

journal contribution

posted on 2019-09-20, 17:04 authored by Chenxiao Da, Dehui Zhang, Michael Stashko, Eleana Vasileiadi, Rebecca E. Parker, Katherine A. Minson, Madeline G. Huey, Justus M. Huelse, Debra Hunter, Thomas S. K. Gilbert, Jacqueline Norris-Drouin, Michael Miley, Laura E. Herring, Lee M. Graves, Deborah DeRyckere, H. Shelton Earp, Douglas K. Graham, Stephen V. Frye, Xiaodong Wang, Dmitri Kireev

Controlling which particular members of a large protein family are targeted by a drug is key to achieving a desired therapeutic response. In this study, we report a rational data-driven strategy for achieving restricted polypharmacology in the design of antitumor agents selectively targeting the TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK (TAM) family tyrosine kinases. Our computational approach, based on the concept of fragments in structural environments (FRASE), distills relevant chemical information from structural and chemogenomic databases to assemble a three-dimensional inhibitor structure directly in the protein pocket. Target engagement by the inhibitors designed led to disruption of oncogenic phenotypes as demonstrated in enzymatic assays and in a panel of cancer cell lines, including acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemia (ALL/AML) and nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Structural rationale underlying the approach was corroborated by X-ray crystallography. The lead compound demonstrated potent target inhibition in a pharmacodynamic study in leukemic mice.