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Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California

Requests for reprints: Shailaja Kasibhatla, Maxim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 6650 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, CA 92121. Phone: 858-202-4042; Fax: 858-202-4000. E-mail: skasibhatla{at}maxim.com

A novel series of 3,5-diaryl-oxadiazoles was identified as apoptosis-inducing agents through our cell and chemical genetics–based screening assay for compounds that induce apoptosis using a chemical genetics approach. Several analogues from this series including MX-74420 and MX-126374 were further characterized. MX-126374, a lead compound from this series, was shown to induce apoptosis and inhibit cell growth selectively in tumor cells. To elucidate the mechanism(s) by which this class of compounds alters the signal transduction pathway that ultimately leads to apoptosis, expression profiling using the Affymetrix Gene Chip array technology was done along with other molecular and biochemical analyses. Interestingly, we have identified several key genes (cyclin D1, transforming growth factor-ß1, p21, and insulin-like growth factor-BP3) that are altered in the presence of this compound, leading to characterization of the pathway for activation of apoptosis. MX-126374 also showed significant inhibition of tumor growth as a single agent and in combination with paclitaxel in murine tumor models. Using photoaffinity labeling, tail-interacting protein 47, an insulin-like growth factor-II receptor binding protein, was identified as the molecular target. Further studies indicated that down-regulation of tail-interacting protein 47 in cancer cells by small interfering RNA shows a similar pathway profile as compound treatment. These data suggest that 3,5-diaryl-oxadiazoles may be a new class of anticancer drugs that are tumor-selective and further support the discovery of novel drugs and drug targets using chemical genetic approaches.

Key Words: apoptosis • cyclin D1 • high throughput screening • chemical genetics • Caspases • New targets • Combination chemotherapy

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² Supplementary material for this article is available at Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Online (http://mct.aacrjournals.org).

Received 12/10/04; revised 1/24/05; accepted 3/ 1/05.