Selective Human Estrogen Receptor Partial Agonists (ShERPAs) for Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer.

Abstract

Almost 70% of breast cancers are estrogen receptor α (ERα) positive. Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), represents the standard of care for many patients; however, 30-50% develop resistance, underlining the need for alternative therapeutics. Paradoxically, agonists at ERα such as estradiol (E2) have demonstrated clinical efficacy in patients with heavily treated breast cancer, although side effects in gynecological tissues are unacceptable. A drug that selectively mimics the actions of E2 in breast cancer therapy but minimizes estrogenic effects in other tissues is a novel, therapeutic alternative. We hypothesized that a selective human estrogen receptor partial agonist (ShERPA) at ERα would provide such an agent. Novel benzothiophene derivatives with nanomolar potency in breast cancer cell cultures were designed. Several showed partial agonist activity, with potency of 0.8-76 nM, mimicking E2 in inhibiting growth of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell lines. Three ShERPAs were tested and validated in xenograft models of endocrine-independent and tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer, and in contrast to E2, ShERPAs did not cause significant uterine growth.

• Authors: Rui Xiong, Hitisha K Patel, Lauren M Gutgesell, Jiong Zhao, Loruhama Delgado-Rivera, Thao N D Pham, Huiping Zhao, Kathryn Carlson, Teresa Martin, John A Katzenellenbogen, Terry W Moore, Debra A Tonetti, Gregory R J Thatcher
• Journal: Journal of medicinal chemistry (J Med Chem) Vol. 59 Issue 1 Pg. 219-237 (Jan 14 2016) ISSN: 1520-4804 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26681208 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
• Estrogen Receptor alpha
• Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators
• Tamoxifen

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal (therapeutic use)
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Drug Design
• Drug Resistance, Neoplasm (drug effects)
• Estrogen Receptor alpha (drug effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Mice
• Models, Molecular
• Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (therapeutic use)
• Structure-Activity Relationship
• Tamoxifen (therapeutic use)
• Uterus (drug effects, growth & development)
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays