Publications (5)22.77 Total impact
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Article: Synthesis and biological evaluation of ((4-keto)-phenoxy)methyl biphenyl-4-sulfonamides: a class of potent aggrecanase-1 inhibitors.
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ABSTRACT: The prevention of aggrecan (a key component of cartilage) cleavage via the inhibition of aggrecanase-1 may provide a unique opportunity to stop the progression of cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis. The evaluation of a series of biphenylsulfonamides resulted in the identification of the ((4-keto)-phenoxy)methyl biphenyl-4-sulfonamides analogs (19-21 and 24) with improved Agg-1 inhibition and MMP-2, MMP-13 activity.Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters 04/2009; 19(9):2487-91. · 2.65 Impact Factor -
Article: Binding of rapamycin analogs to calcium channels and FKBP52 contributes to their neuroprotective activities.
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ABSTRACT: Rapamycin is an immunosuppressive immunophilin ligand reported as having neurotrophic activity. We show that modification of rapamycin at the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) binding region yields immunophilin ligands, WYE-592 and ILS-920, with potent neurotrophic activities in cortical neuronal cultures, efficacy in a rodent model for ischemic stroke, and significantly reduced immunosuppressive activity. Surprisingly, both compounds showed higher binding selectivity for FKBP52 versus FKBP12, in contrast to previously reported immunophilin ligands. Affinity purification revealed two key binding proteins, the immunophilin FKBP52 and the beta1-subunit of L-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels (CACNB1). Electrophysiological analysis indicated that both compounds can inhibit L-type Ca(2+) channels in rat hippocampal neurons and F-11 dorsal root ganglia (DRG)/neuroblastoma cells. We propose that these immunophilin ligands can protect neurons from Ca(2+)-induced cell death by modulating Ca(2+) channels and promote neurite outgrowth via FKBP52 binding.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 02/2008; 105(1):33-8. · 9.68 Impact Factor -
Article: Pegylated wortmannin and 17-hydroxywortmannin conjugates as phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors active in human tumor xenograft models.
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ABSTRACT: Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is an important target for cancer chemotherapy due to the deregulation of its signaling pathway in a wide spectrum of human tumors. Wortmannin and its analogues are potent PI3K inhibitors whose therapeutic use has been impeded by inherent defects such as instability and toxicity. Pegylation of wortmannin and 17-hydroxywortmannin gives rise to conjugates with improved properties, including a higher therapeutic index. Pegylated 17-hydroxywortmannin (8, PWT-458) has been selected for further development.Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 03/2006; 49(4):1373-8. · 5.25 Impact Factor -
Article: PWT-458, a novel pegylated-17-hydroxywortmannin, inhibits phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling and suppresses growth of solid tumors.
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ABSTRACT: Deregulated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway is widely implicated in tumor growth and resistance to chemotherapy. While a strong rationale exists for pharmacological targeting of PI3K, only a few proof-of-principle in vivo efficacy studies are currently available. PWT-458, pegylated-17-hydroxywortmannin, is a novel and highly potent inhibitor of PI3K in animal models. Upon in vivo cleavage of its poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG), PWT-458 releases its active moiety 17-hydroxywortmannin (17-HWT), the most potent inhibitor in its class. Here we show that a single intravenous injection of PWT-458 rapidly inhibited PI3K signaling, as measured by a complete loss of AKT (Ser-473) phosphorylation in xenograft tumors grown in nude mice. Following a daily X5 dosing regimen, PWT-458 demonstrated single-agent antitumor activity in nude mouse xenograft models of U87MG glioma, nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549, and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) A498. Efficacious doses ranged from 0.5 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg, achieving a superior therapeutic index over 17-HWT. PWT-458 augmented anticancer efficacy of a suboptimal dose of paclitaxel against A549 and U87MG tumors. Combination treatment of PWT-458 and an mTOR inhibitor, Pegylated-Rapamycin (Peg-Rapa), resulted in an enhanced antitumor efficacy in U87MG. Finally, PWT-458 in combination with interferon-alpha (Intron-A) caused a dramatic regression of RCC A498, which was not achieved by either agent alone. These studies identify PWT-458 as an effective anticancer agent and provide strong proof-of-principle for targeting the PI3K pathway as novel anticancer therapy.Cancer biology & therapy 06/2005; 4(5):538-45. · 2.64 Impact Factor -
Article: Synthesis and SAR of diazepine and thiazepine TACE and MMP inhibitors.
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ABSTRACT: Potent and selective TACE and MMP inhibitors utilizing the diazepine and thiazepine ring systems were synthesized and evaluated for biological activity in in vitro and in vivo models of TNF-alpha release. Oral activity in the mouse LPS model of TNF-alpha release was seen. Efficacy in the mouse collagen induced arthritis model was achieved with diazepine 20.Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 04/2005; 15(6):1641-5. · 2.55 Impact Factor