Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Highly Selective PARP1 Inhibitors with Brain Penetrance

J Med Chem. 2025 Jan 23;68(2):1731-1754. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c02463. Epub 2025 Jan 10.

Abstract

Selective poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) inhibitors not only exhibit antitumor efficacy but also offer the potential to mitigate the toxicities typically associated with broader PARP inhibition. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of small molecules targeting highly selective PARP1 inhibitors. Among these, T26 demonstrated excellent selectivity to PARP1 along with the capability to effectively cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). T26 exhibited an IC50 of 0.2 nM against PARP1, with a remarkable 610-fold selectivity over PARP2 and high antiproliferative activity in BRCA mutant MDA-MB-436 cells with an IC50 of 2.6 nM. T26 also displayed excellent oral bioavailability (F = 87.74%) and long half-life (T1/2 = 76.07 h) in mice, supporting once every other day administration. Oral administration of T26 at 0.3 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition in both subcutaneous and intracranial xenograft models of MDA-MB-436, suggesting T26 significant potential for the treatment of breast cancer metastases.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Design*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1* / metabolism
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors* / chemical synthesis
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors* / chemistry
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors* / pharmacokinetics
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors
  • Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1
  • PARP1 protein, human
  • Antineoplastic Agents