Document Report Card

Basic Information

ID: ALA3769394

Journal: J Med Chem

Title: The Importance of Being Me: Magic Methyls, Methyltransferase Inhibitors, and the Discovery of Tazemetostat.

Authors: Kuntz KW, Campbell JE, Keilhack H, Pollock RM, Knutson SK, Porter-Scott M, Richon VM, Sneeringer CJ, Wigle TJ, Allain CJ, Majer CR, Moyer MP, Copeland RA, Chesworth R.

Abstract: Posttranslational methylation of histones plays a critical role in gene regulation. Misregulation of histone methylation can lead to oncogenic transformation. Enhancer of Zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) methylates histone 3 at lysine 27 (H3K27) and abnormal methylation of this site is found in many cancers. Tazemetostat, an EHZ2 inhibitor in clinical development, has shown activity in both preclinical models of cancer as well as in patients with lymphoma or INI1-deficient solid tumors. Herein we report the structure-activity relationships from identification of an initial hit in a high-throughput screen through selection of tazemetostat for clinical development. The importance of several methyl groups to the potency of the inhibitors is highlighted as well as the importance of balancing pharmacokinetic properties with potency.

CiteXplore: 26769278

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01501