Pub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118588
Ru Wang , En-Jia Zhou , Chun-Yu Zhang , Liang-Peng Li , Bei-Bei Yang , Ting-Ting Du , Jing Jin , Li Li
To identify potent candidate drugs for colorectal cancer (CRC), a series of N-benzimidazole-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-amine derivatives featuring diverse ester groups were designed and synthesized, based on our preceding research. Systematic pharmacological evaluation demonstrated their inhibitory effects against the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway and CRC cell lines with constitutively activated STAT3. Among these derivatives, compound L20 demonstrated the most potent anti-proliferative activity against HCT116 (IC50 = 0.45 ± 0.05 μM) and other CRC-relevant cell lines. Mechanistic investigations confirmed that L20 directly binds to STAT3 protein (KD = 6.16 μM), specifically interacting with its SH2 domain. This binding resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of STAT3 phosphorylation at Y705 without affecting total STAT3 protein levels. Furthermore, L20 dose-dependently downregulated both the transcription and expression of cyclin-D1 and c-Myc, two critical downstream effectors of STAT3. Additionally, it induced cell cycle arrest and promoted apoptosis in HCT116 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Notably, in a murine MC38 subcutaneous xenograft model, L20 administration (20 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly suppressed tumor growth, achieving a tumor growth inhibition rate of 59.8 %. These results highlight the promise of L20 as a novel candidate for CRC therapy and establish a compelling basis for the continued develop of STAT3-targeted interventions against CRC.
{"title":"Discovery of benzimidazo-2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole carboxylate small-molecule STAT3 inhibitors for colorectal carcinoma therapy","authors":"Ru Wang , En-Jia Zhou , Chun-Yu Zhang , Liang-Peng Li , Bei-Bei Yang , Ting-Ting Du , Jing Jin , Li Li","doi":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118588","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118588","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To identify potent candidate drugs for colorectal cancer (CRC), a series of <em>N</em>-benzimidazole-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-amine derivatives featuring diverse ester groups were designed and synthesized, based on our preceding research. Systematic pharmacological evaluation demonstrated their inhibitory effects against the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway and CRC cell lines with constitutively activated STAT3. Among these derivatives, compound <strong>L20</strong> demonstrated the most potent anti-proliferative activity against HCT116 (IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.45 ± 0.05 μM) and other CRC-relevant cell lines. Mechanistic investigations confirmed that <strong>L20</strong> directly binds to STAT3 protein (K<sub>D</sub> = 6.16 μM), specifically interacting with its SH2 domain. This binding resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of STAT3 phosphorylation at Y705 without affecting total STAT3 protein levels. Furthermore, <strong>L20</strong> dose-dependently downregulated both the transcription and expression of cyclin-D1 and c-Myc, two critical downstream effectors of STAT3. Additionally, it induced cell cycle arrest and promoted apoptosis in HCT116 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Notably, in a murine MC38 subcutaneous xenograft model, <strong>L20</strong> administration (20 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly suppressed tumor growth, achieving a tumor growth inhibition rate of 59.8 %. These results highlight the promise of <strong>L20</strong> as a novel candidate for CRC therapy and establish a compelling basis for the continued develop of STAT3-targeted interventions against CRC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":314,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 118588"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145995781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118579
Christopher Zi Qian Choo, Joey Yun Xuan Ching, Myra Mazhar Ud Deen, Zhi Yuan Kok
Aminergic G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are heavily involved in the physiological functions of the human body and represent prominent drug targets for numerous diseases. Despite extensive work over the years, knowledge gaps persist as not all aminergic GPCRs are currently drugged. This gap could be addressed by using small-molecule fluorescent probes across a range of assay formats and experiments to obtain deeper insights into the molecular pharmacology of these receptors. This review highlights key developments from 2014 to 2024 in the design and application of fluorescent probes targeting aminergic GPCRs, featuring a total of 36 fluorescent probes spanning all prominent aminergic GPCR subfamilies: adrenergic, dopaminergic, histaminergic, muscarinic, and serotonergic receptors. This review provides a detailed overview of the approaches to probe design, their pharmacological profiles and their reported utilities in ligand binding assays and imaging studies. In recent years, these applications have expanded to include ex vivo and in vivo studies in both mice and human tissue models. With the integration of cutting-edge image processing and artificial intelligence-driven image recognition technologies, fluorescent probes will remain indispensable tools for investigating the molecular pharmacology of aminergic GPCRs, playing a crucial role in driving forward drug discovery in this field.
{"title":"Small-molecule fluorescent probes for the aminergic GPCRs – What new tool compounds do we have post-2014 and what can they do?","authors":"Christopher Zi Qian Choo, Joey Yun Xuan Ching, Myra Mazhar Ud Deen, Zhi Yuan Kok","doi":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118579","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118579","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aminergic G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are heavily involved in the physiological functions of the human body and represent prominent drug targets for numerous diseases. Despite extensive work over the years, knowledge gaps persist as not all aminergic GPCRs are currently drugged. This gap could be addressed by using small-molecule fluorescent probes across a range of assay formats and experiments to obtain deeper insights into the molecular pharmacology of these receptors. This review highlights key developments from 2014 to 2024 in the design and application of fluorescent probes targeting aminergic GPCRs, featuring a total of 36 fluorescent probes spanning all prominent aminergic GPCR subfamilies: adrenergic, dopaminergic, histaminergic, muscarinic, and serotonergic receptors. This review provides a detailed overview of the approaches to probe design, their pharmacological profiles and their reported utilities in ligand binding assays and imaging studies. In recent years, these applications have expanded to include <em>ex vivo</em> and <em>in vivo</em> studies in both mice and human tissue models. With the integration of cutting-edge image processing and artificial intelligence-driven image recognition technologies, fluorescent probes will remain indispensable tools for investigating the molecular pharmacology of aminergic GPCRs, playing a crucial role in driving forward drug discovery in this field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":314,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"305 ","pages":"Article 118579"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145995779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118565
Jingting Zeng , Fucheng Yin , Yongwei Fan , Keying Zheng , Zifeng Zhang , Liu Liu , Renxin Jiang , Na Li , Fanglan Liu , Chunhua Xia , Cheng Wang
CDK4/6 inhibitors are effective in treating HR+/HER2− breast cancer, but they have limitations in treating TNBC and drug-resistant breast cancer. To overcome this challenge, we designed and synthesized a series of novel covalent inhibitors for CDK6 that contain the Palbociclib core pharmacophore. The most promising compound, C32, showed good inhibitory activity against CDK6 (IC50 = 0.013 μM) and good inhibitory effects on MDA-MB-231 (IC50 = 0.061 μM), MDA-MB-468 (IC50 = 0.080 μM) and BT-549 (IC50 = 0.044 μM) cells. Compared with that of Palbociclib, the growth inhibitory activities against these two cell types increased by approximately 200-fold. Compound C32 can effectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of TNBC cells and induce apoptosis and S-phase cell cycle arrest. C32 can also induce excessive mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation by remodeling cellular metabolic patterns, leading to the generation of ROS and mitochondrial damage. In vivo experiments further demonstrated that C32 has a favorable safety profile and pharmacokinetic properties, while exhibiting significant anti-TNBC effects. As a novel CDK6 covalent inhibitor, C32 is expected to be a candidate compound for the treatment of TNBC.
{"title":"Discover of a highly effective covalent inhibitor of CDK6 for triple-negative breast cancer treatment","authors":"Jingting Zeng , Fucheng Yin , Yongwei Fan , Keying Zheng , Zifeng Zhang , Liu Liu , Renxin Jiang , Na Li , Fanglan Liu , Chunhua Xia , Cheng Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118565","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118565","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>CDK4/6 inhibitors are effective in treating HR+/HER2− breast cancer, but they have limitations in treating TNBC and drug-resistant breast cancer. To overcome this challenge, we designed and synthesized a series of novel covalent inhibitors for CDK6 that contain the Palbociclib core pharmacophore. The most promising compound, <strong>C32</strong>, showed good inhibitory activity against CDK6 (IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.013 μM) and good inhibitory effects on MDA-MB-231 (IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.061 μM), MDA-MB-468 (IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.080 μM) and BT-549 (IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.044 μM) cells. Compared with that of Palbociclib, the growth inhibitory activities against these two cell types increased by approximately 200-fold. Compound <strong>C32</strong> can effectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of TNBC cells and induce apoptosis and S-phase cell cycle arrest. <strong>C32</strong> can also induce excessive mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation by remodeling cellular metabolic patterns, leading to the generation of ROS and mitochondrial damage. In vivo experiments further demonstrated that <strong>C32</strong> has a favorable safety profile and pharmacokinetic properties, while exhibiting significant anti-TNBC effects. As a novel CDK6 covalent inhibitor, <strong>C32</strong> is expected to be a candidate compound for the treatment of TNBC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":314,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"305 ","pages":"Article 118565"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145995831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118582
Wenyan Li , Lijuan Lei , Guosheng Zhang , Yunjin Zhang , Yujie Wang , Yexiang Wu , Ren Sheng , Guijun Yang , Yanni Xu , Hongtao Liu
ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), a key regulator of cholesterol efflux and reverse cholesterol transport, represents a promising therapeutic target for atherosclerosis. However, small-molecule ABCA1 upregulators combining high potency and drug-like properties remain scarce. Through rational structure optimization, we designed and synthesized a series of novel benzothiazole-benzenesulfonamide derivatives. These compounds were systematically evaluated by ABCA1 upregulating activity test, followed by mRNA and protein expression analysis of ABCA1, murine macrophages cholesterol efflux experiments, safety assessment, and in vivo efficacy studies in hyperlipidemic golden hamsters and pharmacokinetic (PK) profiling in ICR mice. Several derivatives, particularly compound 85 demonstrated unprecedented ABCA1 upregulating activity (up to 578 %, EC50 = 0.15 μM). Compounds 25, 56, 68, 85 and 87 significantly induced ABCA1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels, promoted cholesterol efflux in RAW264.7 macrophage cells, and exhibited favorable safety profiles in acute toxicity tests. In hyperlipidemic golden hamsters, these compounds markedly improved plasma lipid profiles—notably increasing HDL-C levels by up to 44 % while effectively reducing TC and TG. Importantly, 85 and 87 displayed exceptional PK properties with oral bioavailability >90 % and systemic exposure significantly superior to conventional lipid-lowering drugs.
{"title":"Discovery of potent and orally bioavailable benzothiazole-benzenesulfonamide derivatives as ABCA1 upregulators for the management of dyslipidemia","authors":"Wenyan Li , Lijuan Lei , Guosheng Zhang , Yunjin Zhang , Yujie Wang , Yexiang Wu , Ren Sheng , Guijun Yang , Yanni Xu , Hongtao Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118582","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118582","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), a key regulator of cholesterol efflux and reverse cholesterol transport, represents a promising therapeutic target for atherosclerosis. However, small-molecule ABCA1 upregulators combining high potency and drug-like properties remain scarce. Through rational structure optimization, we designed and synthesized a series of novel benzothiazole-benzenesulfonamide derivatives. These compounds were systematically evaluated by ABCA1 upregulating activity test, followed by mRNA and protein expression analysis of ABCA1, murine macrophages cholesterol efflux experiments, safety assessment, and <em>in vivo</em> efficacy studies in hyperlipidemic golden hamsters and pharmacokinetic (PK) profiling in ICR mice. Several derivatives, particularly compound <strong>85</strong> demonstrated unprecedented ABCA1 upregulating activity (up to 578 %, EC<sub>50</sub> = 0.15 μM). Compounds <strong>25</strong>, <strong>56</strong>, <strong>68</strong>, <strong>85</strong> and <strong>87</strong> significantly induced ABCA1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels, promoted cholesterol efflux in RAW264.7 macrophage cells, and exhibited favorable safety profiles in acute toxicity tests. In hyperlipidemic golden hamsters, these compounds markedly improved plasma lipid profiles—notably increasing HDL-C levels by up to 44 % while effectively reducing TC and TG. Importantly, <strong>85</strong> and <strong>87</strong> displayed exceptional PK properties with oral bioavailability >90 % and systemic exposure significantly superior to conventional lipid-lowering drugs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":314,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 118582"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145995783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Curcumin, a diarylheptane compound, which has multidimensional pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, and neuroprotective effects. However, its poor water solubility, low bioavailability, and metabolic instability seriously hinder its clinical application. This article provides a systematic review of the research progress of CUR: elaborating on the chemical structural characteristics of CUR and its structure-activity relationship with activity. Based on chemical structural characteristics, the molecular mechanism of its anti-inflammatory pharmacological effects is analyzed by targeting multiple signaling pathways, revealing its “multi-target, multi pathway” mode of action. Focusing on the bottleneck of bioavailability, this article summarizes the innovative design of structural modification strategies and novel delivery systems, demonstrating their potential to break through pharmacokinetic limitations by enhancing solubility, avoiding first pass effects, and achieving targeted delivery. Further combining clinical applications, summarize the current status of CUR in the treatment of inflammation related diseases. This review explores possible ways to promote the transformation of CUR from a “dietary supplement” to a “precision medicine” based on future development prospects, providing theoretical support for the in-depth development of natural products.
{"title":"Research progress of curcumin and its derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents: From molecular mechanism to clinical application","authors":"Nan Wu , Yue Zhang , Chengyu Cui , Chonghao Sun, Zhixian Cui, Hui Li, Junyi Jin, Mingjing Zhao, Xiongjie Yin, Lili Jin, Changhao Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118584","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118584","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Curcumin, a diarylheptane compound, which has multidimensional pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, and neuroprotective effects. However, its poor water solubility, low bioavailability, and metabolic instability seriously hinder its clinical application. This article provides a systematic review of the research progress of CUR: elaborating on the chemical structural characteristics of CUR and its structure-activity relationship with activity. Based on chemical structural characteristics, the molecular mechanism of its anti-inflammatory pharmacological effects is analyzed by targeting multiple signaling pathways, revealing its “multi-target, multi pathway” mode of action. Focusing on the bottleneck of bioavailability, this article summarizes the innovative design of structural modification strategies and novel delivery systems, demonstrating their potential to break through pharmacokinetic limitations by enhancing solubility, avoiding first pass effects, and achieving targeted delivery. Further combining clinical applications, summarize the current status of CUR in the treatment of inflammation related diseases. This review explores possible ways to promote the transformation of CUR from a “dietary supplement” to a “precision medicine” based on future development prospects, providing theoretical support for the in-depth development of natural products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":314,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 118584"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145968472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118586
Liping Fu , Gongruixue Zeng , Yu Cao , Yueli He , Yaping Zhao , Chongmei Tian , Jinbai Chen , Hualin Feng , Jianjun Xi , Jingsong Shao , Jianhua Tao
Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are an innovative therapeutic modality that harnesses the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) to degrade target proteins, offering a promising strategy against conventionally “undruggable” proteins. While substantial progress has been made in cancer therapy, this review focuses on recent advances in PROTAC applications to non-oncological diseases, including immune, metabolic, neurodegenerative, and infectious disorders. We systematically evaluate the therapeutic potential and clinical prospects of PROTACs in these areas, aiming to provide new perspectives for expanding the therapeutic landscape of this technology.
{"title":"Broadening the horizon: The promise of PROTACs in non-malignant disorders","authors":"Liping Fu , Gongruixue Zeng , Yu Cao , Yueli He , Yaping Zhao , Chongmei Tian , Jinbai Chen , Hualin Feng , Jianjun Xi , Jingsong Shao , Jianhua Tao","doi":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118586","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118586","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are an innovative therapeutic modality that harnesses the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) to degrade target proteins, offering a promising strategy against conventionally “undruggable” proteins. While substantial progress has been made in cancer therapy, this review focuses on recent advances in PROTAC applications to non-oncological diseases, including immune, metabolic, neurodegenerative, and infectious disorders. We systematically evaluate the therapeutic potential and clinical prospects of PROTACs in these areas, aiming to provide new perspectives for expanding the therapeutic landscape of this technology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":314,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"305 ","pages":"Article 118586"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118585
Zhi Ying Dorothy Wong , Xinyi Kang , Yaoyao Shi , Rui Fan , Chenchen Zhang , Delin Min , Nannan Sun , Youzhen Ma , Mei-Lin Tang
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) strategies leveraging the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), have gained wide recognition. While the UPS predominantly degrades short-lived soluble proteins, the lysosome-mediated system (LMS) excels at processing larger substrates, including protein aggregates, organelles, and macromolecular complexes. Recently, autophagy-tethering compounds (ATTECs) have emerged as a promising strategy for targeted degradation, harnessing the autophagy-lysosome system (ALS) to enable proximity-induced degradation. These heterobifunctional molecules, composed of LC3-binding warheads and TOI (target of interest) ligands linked together, provide therapeutic potential against disease-causing targets. This review outlines the therapeutic applications of ATTECs in human diseases, highlights recent progress in their development, and explores future opportunities for expanding this emerging class of degradation technologies through ALS from medicinal chemistry perspective.
{"title":"Autophagy-tethering compounds (ATTECs) as an emerging and potentially transformative drug discovery approach","authors":"Zhi Ying Dorothy Wong , Xinyi Kang , Yaoyao Shi , Rui Fan , Chenchen Zhang , Delin Min , Nannan Sun , Youzhen Ma , Mei-Lin Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118585","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118585","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Targeted protein degradation (TPD) strategies leveraging the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), have gained wide recognition. While the UPS predominantly degrades short-lived soluble proteins, the lysosome-mediated system (LMS) excels at processing larger substrates, including protein aggregates, organelles, and macromolecular complexes. Recently, autophagy-tethering compounds (ATTECs) have emerged as a promising strategy for targeted degradation, harnessing the autophagy-lysosome system (ALS) to enable proximity-induced degradation. These heterobifunctional molecules, composed of LC3-binding warheads and TOI (target of interest) ligands linked together, provide therapeutic potential against disease-causing targets. This review outlines the therapeutic applications of ATTECs in human diseases, highlights recent progress in their development, and explores future opportunities for expanding this emerging class of degradation technologies through ALS from medicinal chemistry perspective.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":314,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"305 ","pages":"Article 118585"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118580
Inderpal Sekhon, Dennis Ashong, Guanglin Chen, Qiao-Hong Chen
Resistance to androgen receptor (AR) therapies in prostate cancer frequently arises from ligand-binding domain (LBD) mutations or the expression of LBD-truncated splice variants such as AR-V7. As these variants retain a functional N-terminal domain (NTD) essential for transcriptional activity, the intrinsically disordered NTD has become an attractive therapeutic target. This review integrates recent advances in targeting the AR NTD, emphasizing both classical antagonists and emerging mechanistic strategies. The pioneering EPI compounds established proof of concept for small-molecule inhibition of the AR NTD, with two analogues progressing to clinical trials. Subsequent discovery efforts have yielded structurally diverse NTD antagonists from natural products and synthetic libraries. Mechanism-focused approaches have garnered increasing interest; small molecules such as UT-143 and ET-516 disrupt AR-driven condensates formed via liquid-liquid phase separation, impairing oncogenic transcription. To complement these approaches, other innovative modalities are also being developed, including bispecific antibodies delivering intracellular anti-NTD fragments, NTD-targeting degraders (e.g., PROTACs), and urea-based antagonists selective for AR splice variants. Disrupting critical protein-protein interactions, such as those between the AR NTD and coactivators, offers an additional strategy to suppress AR activity. Advances in screening platforms and the optimization of structure-activity relationships are beginning to address the challenges of targeting disordered protein domains. With agents like EPI-7386 entering clinical evaluation and others advancing through preclinical development, AR NTD-targeted therapies represent a promising avenue to overcome resistance in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), potentially in combination with existing LBD-directed treatments to achieve more durable disease control.
{"title":"Small-molecule modulators of the androgen receptor N-terminal domain: Advances in medicinal chemistry for prostate cancer","authors":"Inderpal Sekhon, Dennis Ashong, Guanglin Chen, Qiao-Hong Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118580","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118580","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Resistance to androgen receptor (AR) therapies in prostate cancer frequently arises from ligand-binding domain (LBD) mutations or the expression of LBD-truncated splice variants such as AR-V7. As these variants retain a functional N-terminal domain (NTD) essential for transcriptional activity, the intrinsically disordered NTD has become an attractive therapeutic target. This review integrates recent advances in targeting the AR NTD, emphasizing both classical antagonists and emerging mechanistic strategies. The pioneering EPI compounds established proof of concept for small-molecule inhibition of the AR NTD, with two analogues progressing to clinical trials. Subsequent discovery efforts have yielded structurally diverse NTD antagonists from natural products and synthetic libraries. Mechanism-focused approaches have garnered increasing interest; small molecules such as UT-143 and ET-516 disrupt AR-driven condensates formed via liquid-liquid phase separation, impairing oncogenic transcription. To complement these approaches, other innovative modalities are also being developed, including bispecific antibodies delivering intracellular anti-NTD fragments, NTD-targeting degraders (e.g., PROTACs), and urea-based antagonists selective for AR splice variants. Disrupting critical protein-protein interactions, such as those between the AR NTD and coactivators, offers an additional strategy to suppress AR activity. Advances in screening platforms and the optimization of structure-activity relationships are beginning to address the challenges of targeting disordered protein domains. With agents like EPI-7386 entering clinical evaluation and others advancing through preclinical development, AR NTD-targeted therapies represent a promising avenue to overcome resistance in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), potentially in combination with existing LBD-directed treatments to achieve more durable disease control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":314,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"305 ","pages":"Article 118580"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145962230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118583
Zhi Xu, Yang Shi, Bowen Pan, Huabin Wang
Prostate cancer ranks second in incidence and fifth in mortality among all cancer types in males. This striking epidemiological profile highlights its status as a major health concern that poses a severe threat to men's lives and health globally. Although traditional chemotherapeutics and targeted therapies for prostate cancer have made considerable progress, critical challenges remain, including high metastatic potential, acquired drug resistance, and unfavorable prognosis in patients with advanced disease, highlighting the imperative to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Indole hybrids, versatile and promising anticancer scaffolds formed by integrating indole moieties with other pharmacophores, exhibit prominent multi-targeted regulatory capabilities in prostate cancer therapy, enabling simultaneous modulation of key oncogenic pathways to address the complex molecular mechanisms of both hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant subtypes. Compared to single-scaffold derivatives, indole hybrids demonstrate enhanced anticancer potency and reduced off-target toxicity via synergistic effects between conjugated moieties, while also showing potential in overcoming drug resistance by circumventing single-target mutation-induced resistance and inhibiting ABC transporters to reverse multidrug resistance. Moreover, their structural flexibility facilitates structural optimization for improved pharmacokinetic properties and tailored efficacy against specific prostate cancer phenotypes, making indole hybrids valuable candidates for developing novel therapeutic agents to meet unmet clinical needs in prostate cancer treatment. This review summarizes the recent advances in indole hybrids with anti-prostate cancer activity from 2021 to date, striving to open new directions for developing novel prostate cancer therapeutics.
{"title":"Current landscape and therapeutic prospects of indole hybrids for prostate cancer treatment: A mini-review","authors":"Zhi Xu, Yang Shi, Bowen Pan, Huabin Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118583","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118583","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Prostate cancer ranks second in incidence and fifth in mortality among all cancer types in males. This striking epidemiological profile highlights its status as a major health concern that poses a severe threat to men's lives and health globally. Although traditional chemotherapeutics and targeted therapies for prostate cancer have made considerable progress, critical challenges remain, including high metastatic potential, acquired drug resistance, and unfavorable prognosis in patients with advanced disease, highlighting the imperative to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Indole hybrids, versatile and promising anticancer scaffolds formed by integrating indole moieties with other pharmacophores, exhibit prominent multi-targeted regulatory capabilities in prostate cancer therapy, enabling simultaneous modulation of key oncogenic pathways to address the complex molecular mechanisms of both hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant subtypes. Compared to single-scaffold derivatives, indole hybrids demonstrate enhanced anticancer potency and reduced off-target toxicity <em>via</em> synergistic effects between conjugated moieties, while also showing potential in overcoming drug resistance by circumventing single-target mutation-induced resistance and inhibiting ABC transporters to reverse multidrug resistance. Moreover, their structural flexibility facilitates structural optimization for improved pharmacokinetic properties and tailored efficacy against specific prostate cancer phenotypes, making indole hybrids valuable candidates for developing novel therapeutic agents to meet unmet clinical needs in prostate cancer treatment. This review summarizes the recent advances in indole hybrids with anti-prostate cancer activity from 2021 to date, striving to open new directions for developing novel prostate cancer therapeutics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":314,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"305 ","pages":"Article 118583"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145962236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118578
Yichao Kong , Mengjun Su , Caihong Jiang , Haonan Feng , Yingjie Hu , Donglai Li , Zhenyu Mao , Fengling Liu , Fuli Zhu , Yue Guo , Shuhua Ren , Man Chi , Ting Qiu , Yaxia Yuan , Weiwei Huang , Lei Ma , Xiabin Chen
Gout, driven by urate crystal-induced inflammation, remains a therapeutic challenge due to the limited efficacy and toxicity of current treatments. Targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome, a central driver of gout pathogenesis, offers a promising strategy. While MCC950, a potent NLRP3 inhibitor, demonstrated clinical potential, its discontinuation due to hepatotoxicity underscores the urgent need for safer alternatives. Here, we address these challenges through a rational drug design approach to develop next-generation NLRP3 inhibitors. By leveraging cryo-EM structures and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the MCC950-NLRP3 complex, we identified a structurally dynamic region near the furan moiety and an adjacent unoccupied hydrophobic pocket. Systematic structural optimization targeting this pocket enabled the design of M48, a derivative that exhibited superior anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 = 11.9 nM), favorable oral bioavailability (89.7 % in rats), and an improved safety profile compared to MCC950. In an MSU-induced mouse gout model, M48 demonstrates superior anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects compared to indomethacin, with efficacy comparable to colchicine. The design strategy, grounded in computational insights into ligand-protein interactions, demonstrates both scientific rigor and broad applicability for optimizing small-molecule inhibitors. Notably, M48's enhanced efficacy and reduced liver toxicity risk validate the approach's potential for addressing unmet clinical needs in gout and other NLRP3-associated diseases.
{"title":"Rational design of an NLRP3 inhibitor with superior efficacy and safety for gout therapy","authors":"Yichao Kong , Mengjun Su , Caihong Jiang , Haonan Feng , Yingjie Hu , Donglai Li , Zhenyu Mao , Fengling Liu , Fuli Zhu , Yue Guo , Shuhua Ren , Man Chi , Ting Qiu , Yaxia Yuan , Weiwei Huang , Lei Ma , Xiabin Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gout, driven by urate crystal-induced inflammation, remains a therapeutic challenge due to the limited efficacy and toxicity of current treatments. Targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome, a central driver of gout pathogenesis, offers a promising strategy. While MCC950, a potent NLRP3 inhibitor, demonstrated clinical potential, its discontinuation due to hepatotoxicity underscores the urgent need for safer alternatives. Here, we address these challenges through a rational drug design approach to develop next-generation NLRP3 inhibitors. By leveraging cryo-EM structures and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the MCC950-NLRP3 complex, we identified a structurally dynamic region near the furan moiety and an adjacent unoccupied hydrophobic pocket. Systematic structural optimization targeting this pocket enabled the design of <strong>M48</strong>, a derivative that exhibited superior anti-inflammatory activity (IC<sub>50</sub> = 11.9 nM), favorable oral bioavailability (89.7 % in rats), and an improved safety profile compared to MCC950. In an MSU-induced mouse gout model, <strong>M48</strong> demonstrates superior anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects compared to indomethacin, with efficacy comparable to colchicine. The design strategy, grounded in computational insights into ligand-protein interactions, demonstrates both scientific rigor and broad applicability for optimizing small-molecule inhibitors. Notably, <strong>M48</strong>'s enhanced efficacy and reduced liver toxicity risk validate the approach's potential for addressing unmet clinical needs in gout and other NLRP3-associated diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":314,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"305 ","pages":"Article 118578"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145962570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}