Patent ID: 10562890

Abstract:
This invention relates to compounds that bind to wild-type CBFβ and inhibit CBFβ binding to RUNX proteins. The potent compounds of the invention inhibit this protein-protein interaction at low micromolar concentrations, using allosteric mechanism to achieve inhibition, displace wild-type CBFβ from RUNX1 in cells, change occupancy of RUNX1 on target genes, and alter gene expression of RUNX1 target genes. These inhibitors show clear biological effects consistent with on-target RUNX protein activity. Pharmaceutical compositions containing a compound of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier represent a separate embodiment of the invention. Another embodiment of the invention are methods of treating a RUNX-signaling-dependent cancer that expresses wild-type CBFβ in a subject in need thereof by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention. In one embodiment, the cancer is selected from the group consisting of a RUNX-signaling-dependent leukemia that expresses wild-type CBFβ, lung cancer, bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, cervical cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, salivary gland cancer, bone cancer, brain cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, skin cancer, melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, pleomorphic adenoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, and/or adenocarcinoma. In another embodiment, the compounds of the invention can be used to treat a leukemia, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and/or breast cancer.