Selective Human Estrogen Receptor Partial Agonists (ShERPAs) for Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer
作者:Rui Xiong、Hitisha K. Patel、Lauren M. Gutgesell、Jiong Zhao、Loruhama Delgado-Rivera、Thao N. D. Pham、Huiping Zhao、Kathryn Carlson、Teresa Martin、John A. Katzenellenbogen、Terry W. Moore、Debra A. Tonetti、Gregory R. J. Thatcher
DOI:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01276
日期:2016.1.14
Almost 70% of breast cancers are estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) positive. Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), represents the standard of care for many patients; however, 30-50% develop resistance, underlining the need for alternative therapeutics. Paradoxically, agonists at ER alpha such as estradiol (E-2) have demonstrated clinical efficacy in patients with heavily treated breast cancer, although side effects in gynecological tissues are unacceptable. A drug that selectively mimics the actions of E-2 in breast cancer therapy but minimizes estrogenic effects in other tissues is a novel, therapeutic alternative. We hypothesized that a selective human estrogen receptor partial agonist (ShERPA) at ER alpha would provide such an agent. Novel benzothiophene derivatives with nanomolar potency in breast cancer cell cultures were designed. Several showed partial agonist activity, with potency of 0.8-76 nM, mimicking E-2 in inhibiting growth of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell lines. Three ShERPAs were tested and validated in xenograft models of endocrine-independent and tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer, and in contrast to E-2, ShERPAs did not cause significant uterine growth.