[1,2,4]Triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidines as Tools to Investigate A₃ Adenosine Receptors in Cancer Cell Lines

The A₃ adenosine receptor is an interesting target whose role in cancer is controversial. In this work, a structural investigation at the 2-position of the [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine nucleus was performed, finding new potent and selective A₃ adenosine receptor antagonists such as the ethyl 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-(methylamino)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine-8-carboxylate (20, DZ123) that showed a K_i value of 0.47 nM and an exceptional selectivity profile over the other adenosine receptor subtypes. Computational studies were performed to rationalize the affinity and the selectivity profile of the tested compounds at the A₃ adenosine receptor and the A₁ and A_2A adenosine receptors. Compound 20 was tested on both A₃ adenosine receptor positive cell lines (CHO-A₃ AR transfected, THP1 and HCT16) and on A₃ negative cancer cell lines, showing no effect in the latter and a pro-proliferative effect at a low concentration in the former. These interesting results pave the way to further investigation on both the mechanism involved and potential therapeutic applications.