The Wnt-pathway has a critical role in development and tissue homeostasis and has attracted increased attention to develop anticancer drugs due to its aberrant activation in many cancers. In this study, we identified a novel small molecule series with a thienopyrimidine scaffold acting as a downstream inhibitor of the β-catenin-dependent Wnt-pathway. This novel chemotype was investigated using Wnt-dependent triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines. Structure activity relationship (SAR) exploration led to identification of low micromolar compounds such as 5a, 5d, 5e and a novel series with quinazoline scaffold such as 9d. Further investigation showed translation of activity to inhibit cancer survival of HCC1395 and MDA-MB-468 TNBC cell lines without affecting a non-cancerous breast epithelial cell line MCF10a. This anti-proliferative effect was synergistic to docetaxel treatment. Collectively, we identified novel chemotypes acting as a downstream inhibitor of β-catenin-dependent Wnt-pathway that could expand therapeutic options to manage TNBC.
Wnt 通路在发育和组织稳态中起着关键作用,由于它在许多癌症中的异常激活,抗癌药物的开发日益受到关注。在这项研究中,我们发现了一种新型小分子系列,其噻吩嘧啶支架可作为依赖β-catenin的Wnt通路的下游抑制剂。我们利用依赖 Wnt 的三阴性乳腺癌(TNBC)细胞系对这种新型化学类型进行了研究。通过结构活性关系(SAR)探索,发现了 5a、5d、5e 等低微摩尔化合物以及 9d 等具有喹唑啉支架的新型系列化合物。进一步的研究表明,这些化合物具有抑制 HCC1395 和 MDA-MB-468 TNBC 细胞系癌症存活的活性,而不会影响非癌症乳腺上皮细胞系 MCF10a。这种抗增殖作用与多西他赛治疗具有协同作用。总之,我们发现了可作为依赖于β-catenin的Wnt通路下游抑制剂的新型化学类型,它们可以扩大治疗TNBC的选择范围。