SLC-0111 enaminone analogs, 3/4-(3-aryl-3-oxopropenyl) aminobenzenesulfonamides, as novel selective subnanomolar inhibitors of the tumor-associated carbonic anhydrase isoform IX

SLC-0111, an ureido substituted benzenesulfonamide, is a selective carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) IX inhibitor that is currently in Phase I/II clinical trials for the treatment of advanced hypoxic tumors complicated with metastases. Herein we report the synthesis of two series of 3/4-(3-aryl-3-oxopropenyl) aminobenzenesulfonamides 5a–i and 6a–j as SLC-0111 enaminone congeners. The prepared enaminones were in vitro investigated as inhibitors of the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms hCA I, II, IV and IX, using a stopped-flow CO2 hydrase assay. All these isoforms were inhibited by the enaminones reported here in variable degrees. The target tumor-associated isoform hCA IX was undeniably the most affected one (KIs: 0.21–7.1 nM), with 6- to 21-fold enhanced activity than SLC-0111 (KI = 45 nM). All the prepared enaminones displayed interesting selectivity towards hCA IX over hCA I (SI: 32 – >35714), hCA II (SI: 2 – 1689) and hCA IV (SI: 11 – >45454). Of particular interest, bioisosteric replacement of phenyl tail with the bulkier 2-naphthyl tail, sulfonamide 6h, achieved the higher II/IX selectivity herein reported with SI of 1689.