Synthesis and evaluation of novel dual BRD4/HDAC inhibitors

Abstract

Epigenetic regulation of gene expression via histone acetylation modulates many cellular processes, including apoptosis, the cell cycle, cell growth and differentiation, and inhibitors are promising drug candidates. We have previously developed inhibitors of BRD4, which recognizes acetylated lysine residue on histones and recruits transcription elongation factor to the transcription start site, while inhibitors of histone deacetylase (HDAC), which catalyzes the removal of acetyl groups on histones, are already in clinical use for cancer treatment. Based on the idea that polypharmacological agents with multiple targets would have a more robust action, we set out to develop dual BRD4/HDAC inhibitors. Here, we describe the design and synthesis of N6-[2-(7-hydroxyamino-7-oxoheptyloxy)benzoyl]adenine (5d) as a BRD4/HDAC dual inhibitor. This compound showed HL-60 cell growth-inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing activity, as well as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-induced HL-60 cell differentiation-enhancing activity, and c-MYC production-inhibitory activity. Interestingly, it also showed growth-inhibitory activity towards BRD4 inhibitor-resistant cells.