Recent progress in the development of protein-protein interaction inhibitors targeting androgen receptor-coactivator

Eric Biron1, François Bédard1

  • 1Faculty of Pharmacy and Centre de recherche en endocrinologie moléculaire et oncologique et génomique humaine, Université Laval, Canada; Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, CHU de Québec Research Centre, G1 V 4G2, Québec, QC, Canada.

Insights

Targeting androgen receptor (AR) coactivator interactions offers a new strategy for treating castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Small-molecule inhibitors are being developed to block these interactions, overcoming resistance to current therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • The androgen receptor (AR) is crucial for prostate cancer cell growth and survival.
  • Current androgen-deprivation therapies are effective but often lead to treatment resistance, resulting in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
  • AR signaling is reactivated in CRPC through various mechanisms, including mutations and splice variants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the design and development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting AR-coactivator interactions.
  • To explore therapeutic strategies effective against AR signaling in treatment-resistant prostate cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Review of structural analyses of the AR to identify protein-protein interaction surfaces.
  • Discussion of the design principles for small-molecule inhibitors targeting AR-coactivator binding.
  • Analysis of therapeutic potential for AR-coactivator binding inhibitors in prostate cancer treatment.

Main Results:

  • Structural insights have enabled the development of promising inhibitors that block AR-coactivator interactions.
  • Targeting coactivator recruitment presents a viable strategy to overcome resistance to conventional endocrine therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Small-molecule inhibitors targeting AR-coactivator interactions represent a promising therapeutic avenue for advanced prostate cancer.
  • This approach offers a potential solution for patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer who have exhausted current treatment options.

Related Concept Videos

Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
6.2K
Drug-Receptor Interaction: Antagonist01:28

Drug-Receptor Interaction: Antagonist

An antagonist is a drug that binds strongly to a receptor without activating it. An antagonist prevents other molecules, such as neurotransmitters or hormones, from binding to the receptor and triggering a cellular response. Such interaction effectively hinders the normal physiological processes mediated by the receptor, resulting in various pharmacological effects depending on the specific receptor targeted.
Antagonists can be classified as competitive or noncompetitive based on their...
5.5K
Protein-protein Interfaces02:04

Protein-protein Interfaces

Many proteins form complexes to carry out their functions, making protein-protein interactions (PPIs) essential for an organism's survival. Most PPIs are stabilized by numerous weak noncovalent chemical forces. The physical shape of the interfaces determines the way two proteins interact. Many globular proteins have closely-matching shapes on their surfaces, which form a large number of weak bonds. Additionally, many PPIs occur between two helices or between a surface cleft and a...
15.0K
Adrenergic Antagonists: Pharmacological Actions of ɑ-Receptor Blockers01:22

Adrenergic Antagonists: Pharmacological Actions of ɑ-Receptor Blockers

α-Adrenergic antagonists, known as α-blockers, exert their effects by inhibiting α-adrenoceptors, leading to specific physiological actions. α1-blockers and α2-blockers have distinct pharmacological actions and therapeutic applications.
α1-blockers: These drugs inhibit α1-adrenoceptors on smooth muscle cells, resulting in vasodilation. This vasodilation lowers blood pressure, making α1-blockers valuable in treating hypertension. Additionally,...
1.8K
Enzyme Inhibition01:30

Enzyme Inhibition

Inhibitors are molecules that reduce enzyme activity by binding to the enzyme. In a normally functioning cell, enzymes are regulated by a variety of inhibitors. Drugs and other toxins can also inhibit enzymes. Some inhibitors bind to the enzyme’s active site, while others inhibit enzymatic activity by binding to other sites on the protein structure.
95.1K
Protein-Drug Binding: Mechanism and Kinetics01:16

Protein-Drug Binding: Mechanism and Kinetics

Protein-drug binding refers to the interaction between drugs and proteins within the body. This binding process can occur intracellularly, involving drug interactions with enzymes or receptors within cells, or extracellularly, involving plasma proteins in the blood.
Various forces drive these interactions, including hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, ionic bonds, electrostatic interactions, and van der Waals forces. These bonds enable drugs to bind to specific sites on proteins,...
2.1K