Structure-based design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel series of isoquinolone and pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridine inhibitors of fascin 1 as potential anti-metastatic agents.
Francis, S., Croft, D., Schuttelkopf, A.W., Parry, C., Pugliese, A., Cameron, K., Claydon, S., Drysdale, M., Gardner, C., Gohlke, A., Goodwin, G., Gray, C.H., Konczal, J., McDonald, L., Mezna, M., Pannifer, A., Paul, N.R., Machesky, L., McKinnon, H., Bower, J.(2019) Bioorg Med Chem Lett 29: 1023-1029
- PubMed: 30773430 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2019.01.035
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6I0Z, 6I10, 6I11, 6I12, 6I13, 6I14, 6I15, 6I16, 6I17, 6I18 - PubMed Abstract: 
Fascin is an actin binding and bundling protein that is not expressed in normal epithelial tissues but overexpressed in a variety of invasive epithelial tumors. It has a critical role in cancer cell metastasis by promoting cell migration and invasion. Here we report the crystal structures of fascin in complex with a series of novel and potent inhibitors. Structure-based elaboration of these compounds enabled the development of a series with nanomolar affinities for fascin, good physicochemical properties and the ability to inhibit fascin-mediated bundling of filamentous actin. These compounds provide promising starting points for fascin-targeted anti-metastatic therapies.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Drug Discovery Unit, CRUK Beatson Institute, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK. Electronic address: s.francis@beatson.gla.ac.uk.