Selective COX-1 inhibition as a target of theranostic novel diarylisoxazoles

Cyclooxygenase(COX)-1 role in some diseases is increasingly studied. 3-(5-Chlorofuran-2-yl)-5-methyl-4-phenylisoxazole (P6), a highly selective cyclooxygenase-1 inhibitor, was used as a “lead” to design new isoxazoles (2a–m), differently selective towards COX-1. Those isoxazoles might be useful as novel theranostic agents and also to better clarify COX-1 role in the human physiology and diseases. 2a–m were prepared in fair to good yields developing suitable synthetic strategies. They were evaluated in vitro for their COX-inhibitory activity and selectivity. Structure–activity relationship studies of the novel set of diarylisoxazoles allowed to identify new key determinants for COX-1 selectivity, and to uncover compounds appropriate for a deep pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic investigation. 3-(5-Chlorofuran-2yl)-4-phenylisoxazol-5-amine (2f) was the most active compound of the series, its inhibitory activity was assessed in purified enzyme (COX-1 IC50 = 1.1 μM; COX-2 IC50 > 50 μM) and in the ovarian cancer cell line (OVCAR-3) expressing only COX-1 (IC50 = 0.58 μM). Furthermore, the high inhibitory potency of 2f was rationalized through docking simulations in terms of interactions with a crystallographic model of the COX-1 binding site. We found critical interactions between the inhibitor and constriction residues R120 and Y355 at the base of the active site, as well as with S530 at the top of the side pocket.