Potent CYP19 (Aromatase) 1-[(Benzofuran-2-yl)(phenylmethyl)pyridine, -imidazole, and -triazole Inhibitors: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation
作者:Mohammed Reza Saberi、Tai Ky Vinh、Sook Wah Yee、B. J. Nathan Griffiths、Peter J. Evans、Claire Simons
DOI:10.1021/jm0508282
日期:2006.2.1
The synthesis of a series of novel 1-[(benzofuran-2-yl)phenylmethyl]-pyridine, -imidazole, and -triazole derivatives is described. All the compounds were evaluated in vitro for inhibitory activity against aromatase (P450(AROM), CYP19), using human placental microsomes. The 6-methoxy- and 6-hydroxy-substituted benzofuran derivatives were shown to be potent CYP19 inhibitors (IC50 = 0.01-1.46 mu M) with activity greater than that observed for the unsubstituted parent compounds and inhibitory activity comparable with or greater than the reference compound arimidex (IC50 = 0.6 mu M). Six of the benzofuran derivatives were subjected to in vitro cytotoxicity assays, using rat liver hepatocytes with cytotoxicity determined from alteration in cell morphology and lactate dehydrogenase enzyme retention over a period of 24 h, and selectivity (CYP17, 17 beta-HSD types 1 and 3, CYP24, and CYP26) determination; negligible inhibitory activity was observed, suggesting a good selectivity for CYP19. The pyridine benzofuran 4a containing the 4-fluorophenyl group was the most promising (IC50 = 44 nM; LC50 > 100 mu M) compared with arimidex (IC50 = 600 nM; LC50 > 200 mu M).