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Ceralasertib formate (AZD6738) is a novel, potent and orally bioavailable morpholino-pyrimidine-based, and selective inhibitor of the ATR (ataxia telangiectasia and rad3 related) kinase with IC50 of 2.5 nM. ATR is a serine/threonine protein kinase that is upregulated in various cancer cells, it plays a key role in DNA repair, cell cycle progression, and survival; it is activated by DNA damage caused during DNA replication-associated stress. AZD6738 has potential anticancer activity against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). AZD6738 selectively inhibits ATR activity by blocking the downstream phosphorylation of the serine/threonine protein kinase CHK1, which prevents ATR-mediated signaling, and results in the inhibition of DNA damage checkpoint activation, disruption of DNA damage repair, and the induction of tumor cell apoptosis. AZD6738 also sensitizes tumor cells to chemo-(e,g, cisplatin) and radiotherapy.
Physicochemical Properties
| Exact Mass | 458.1736245 |
| Elemental Analysis | C, 55.01; H, 5.72; N, 18.33; O, 13.96; S, 6.99 |
| CAS # | 1352280-98-8 |
| Related CAS # | 1352226-88-0;1352280-98-8 (formate);1352226-97-1 (racemic); |
| PubChem CID | 154701782 |
| Appearance | Typically exists as solid at room temperature |
| Hydrogen Bond Donor Count | 3 |
| Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count | 9 |
| Rotatable Bond Count | 4 |
| Heavy Atom Count | 32 |
| Complexity | 734 |
| Defined Atom Stereocenter Count | 2 |
| InChi Key | JOKLXYXIZOXQHY-FQAMYIAXSA-N |
| InChi Code | InChI=1S/C20H24N6O2S.CH2O2/c1-13-12-28-10-9-26(13)17-11-16(20(5-6-20)29(2,21)27)24-19(25-17)15-4-8-23-18-14(15)3-7-22-182-1-3/h3-4,7-8,11,13,21H,5-6,9-10,12H2,1-2H3,(H,22,23)1H,(H,2,3)/t13-,29-/m1./s1 |
| Chemical Name | 4-[4-[1-[[S(R)]-S-Methylsulfonimidoyl]cyclopropyl]-6-[(3R)-3-methyl-4-morpholinyl]-2-pyrimidinyl]-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine, formic acid |
| Synonyms | AZD-6738 formate; AZD6738; 1352280-98-8; Ceralasertib formate; AKOS040748106; AZD 6738 |
| HS Tariff Code | 2934.99.9001 |
| Storage |
Powder-20°C 3 years 4°C 2 years In solvent -80°C 6 months -20°C 1 month |
| Shipping Condition | Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs) |
Biological Activity
| Targets | ATR ( IC50 = 1 nM ); PI3Kδ ( IC50 = 6.8 μM ); DYRK ( IC50 = 10.8 μM ) |
| ln Vitro | Ceralasertib (AZD6738) is a potent inhibitor of ATR kinase activity, with an IC50 of 0.001 μM against the isolated enzyme and 0.074 μM against the phosphorylation of CHK1 in cells that is dependent on ATR kinase. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines, celeralasertib (AZD6738) causes senescence and cell death. Four Kras mutant cell lines are less viable when ceralasertib (AZD6738) is used; H23, H460, A549, and H358 have the lowest GI50 and the largest maximal inhibition (1.05 μM, 88.0% and 2.38 μM, 86.2%, respectively). In NSCLC cell lines with intact ATM kinase signaling, ceralasertib (AZD6738) amplifies the cytotoxicity of CDDP and NSC 613327, and in ATM-deficient NSCLC cells, it potently synergizes with CDDP[1]. With IC50 values less than 1 μM, ceralasertib (AZD6738) inhibits human breast cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. Ceralasertib (AZD6738) causes apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. It suppresses cell proliferative signaling molecules and DNA damage response molecules[2]. |
| ln Vivo | Ceralasertib (AZD6738) and ATR kinase inhibition given daily for 14 days in a row improves CDDP's therapeutic efficacy in xenograft models and is well tolerated by mice. It's amazing how well CDDP and Ceralasertib (AZD6738) work together to treat ATM-deficient lung cancer xenografts[1]. |
| Enzyme Assay | AZD6738 is a potent inhibitor of ATR kinase activity, with an IC50 of 0.001 μM against the isolated enzyme and 0.074 μM against the phosphorylation of CHK1 in cells that is dependent on ATR kinase. ATR and ATM are DNA damage signaling kinases that phosphorylate several thousand substrates. ATR kinase activity is increased at damaged replication forks and resected DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). ATM kinase activity is increased at DSBs. ATM has been widely studied since ataxia telangiectasia individuals who express no ATM protein are the most radiosensitive patients identified. Since ATM is not an essential protein, it is widely believed that ATM kinase inhibitors will be well-tolerated in the clinic. ATR has been widely studied, but advances have been complicated by the finding that ATR is an essential protein and it is widely believed that ATR kinase inhibitors will be toxic in the clinic. |
| Cell Assay | Ceralasertib (AZD6738) is diluted in DMSO to the appropriate working concentrations after being dissolved at a 30 mM concentration. For Ceralasertib (AZD6738) dose response experiments, the final DMSO concentration in media for all conditions and controls is 0.1%; for Ceralasertib (AZD6738) + chemotherapy viability experiments, it is 0.05%; and for all experiments involving 0.3 μM and 1.0 μM doses of Ceralasertib (AZD6738), it is 0.025%[1]. |
| Animal Protocol |
Mice: Ceralasertib (AZD6738) is diluted 1:5 in propylene glycol after being dissolved in DMSO at a concentration of 25 mg/mL or 50 mg/mL. Ceralasertib (AZD6738) is given orally as a gavage for 14 days at a dose of 25 mg/kg (H23) or 50 mg/kg (H460). 10 mL/kg is the dosage volume.[1]. Female athymic nude (Foxn1nu) mice, 6–7 weeks old, were purchased from Harlan Laboratories. H23 (3 × 106 cells) or H460 (7 × 105 cells) were injected subcutaneously into the right hind flank in a volume of 100 μL (equal parts 1x PBS and Matrigel). Cells were tested for mycoplasma prior to inoculation in mice. Mice began receiving treatment once tumors reached approximately 220 mm3 (± 15%) for H23 or 180 mm3 (± 15%) for H460. Tumor volume was calculated as (L × W2)/2. AZD6738 was administered by oral gavage (qd × 14) at 25 mg/kg (H23) or 50 mg/kg (H460). Cisplatin was administered intraperitoneally (q7d × 2) at 3 mg/kg. The dosing volume was 10 mL/kg. Growth curves depict mean (± SEM) tumor volume over time. Mean tumor growth inhibition was calculated as TGI = (1–(Tf–T0)/(Cf–C0))*100, where Tf and T0 represent final and initial mean tumor volumes in the treatment arm, respectively, and Cf and C0 represent final and initial mean tumor volumes in the vehicle control arm, respectively. Mean tumor regression was calculated as % Regression = ((T0–Tf)/T0)*100. For H460 xenografts, the experimental endpoint was defined as the day on which any single tumor within the treatment arm reached 2000 mm3. Tumor growth delay is defined as the difference in the number of days to reach the endpoint for a given treatment arm compared to vehicle control.[1] |
| ADME/Pharmacokinetics |
Absorption: Ceralasertib is rapidly absorbed following oral administration, with a median time to maximum plasma concentration (tmax) of approximately 1 hour in patients. Bioavailability: Preclinical studies in mice demonstrate that Ceralasertib exhibits dose-dependent oral bioavailability. As the dose increases, the exposure increases in a greater-than-proportional manner, resulting in an approximate two-fold increase in bioavailability between the lowest and highest doses investigated. This non-linear behavior is attributed to saturable pre-systemic (first-pass) metabolism. Distribution: In mice, Ceralasertib shows rapid and extensive distribution to most tissues, with the notable exception of the brain and spinal cord. Metabolism: Ceralasertib undergoes significant first-pass metabolism. Metabolic analysis reveals decreasing metabolic ratios with increasing dose, which further supports the hypothesis of saturable first-pass metabolism involving intestinal and gut metabolism . An ongoing clinical study aims to identify and quantify its major metabolites in plasma and excreta. Elimination: The terminal plasma half-life (t1/2) in patients ranges from approximately 8 to 11 hours . The primary routes of excretion are being investigated in a clinical ADME study, which will measure the recovery of a radiolabelled dose in urine and feces. Linearity: As noted with bioavailability, Ceralasertib displays non-linear pharmacokinetics, with a less than dose-proportional increase in exposure observed across a dose range of 20 to 320 mg in population PK models . A relative bioavailability parameter that decreases linearly with increasing dose is used to describe this behavior. |
| Toxicity/Toxicokinetics |
Hematological Toxicity (Clinical): The primary dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of Ceralasertib is thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) . In a Phase I study combining Ceralasertib with carboplatin, the most common Grade ≥3 adverse events were anemia (39%), thrombocytopenia (36%), and neutropenia (25%) . Population pharmacokinetic-safety modeling indicates that a two-week off-treatment period is necessary for platelet and neutrophil recovery. A shorter break could lead to incomplete recovery and an increased probability of severe (Grade ≥3) adverse events in subsequent cycles . For monotherapy, doses of 160 mg or 240 mg twice daily for 14 days are predicted to result in a low probability (<20%) of severe hematological toxicities . The PATRIOT Phase I study established that an intermittent dosing schedule (e.g., 14 days of a 28-day cycle) is better tolerated than continuous dosing due to reduced hematological toxicity. Cardiotoxicity (Preclinical): A comparative in vivo toxicology study in mice identified a unique toxicity profile for Ceralasertib. While no ATR inhibitor (ATRi) exacerbated toxicities from total body irradiation (TBI), cardiotoxicity was observed following a single dose of Ceralasertib, but not with other ATRi tested (elimusertib or berzosertib). This effect is possibly related to high unbound plasma drug concentrations of Ceralasertib. Other Toxicities (Preclinical): The same study observed that all three tested ATRi, including Ceralasertib, caused neutrophilia (an increase in neutrophils) in mice 48 hours after administration . |
| References |
[1]. The orally active and bioavailable ATR kinase inhibitor AZD6738 potentiates the anti-tumor effects of CDDP to resolve ATM-deficient non-small cell lung cancer in vivo.Oncotarget. 2015 Dec 29;6(42):44289-305. [2]. Anti-tumor activity of the ATR inhibitor AZD6738 in HER2 positive breast cancer cells. Int J Cancer. 2017 Jan 1;140(1):109-119. [3]. Synthetic lethality in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with DNA damage response defects by targeting the ATR pathway. Lancet.2015 Feb 26;385 Suppl 1:S58.[4]. Bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo: Dose and schedule predictions for the ATR inhibitor AZD6738. Sci Rep.2015 Aug 27;5:13545. |
| Additional Infomation |
ATR and ATM are DNA damage signaling kinases that phosphorylate several thousand substrates. ATR kinase activity is increased at damaged replication forks and resected DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). ATM kinase activity is increased at DSBs. ATM has been widely studied since ataxia telangiectasia individuals who express no ATM protein are the most radiosensitive patients identified. Since ATM is not an essential protein, it is widely believed that ATM kinase inhibitors will be well-tolerated in the clinic. ATR has been widely studied, but advances have been complicated by the finding that ATR is an essential protein and it is widely believed that ATR kinase inhibitors will be toxic in the clinic. We describe AZD6738, an orally active and bioavailable ATR kinase inhibitor. AZD6738 induces cell death and senescence in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. AZD6738 potentiates the cytotoxicity of cisplatin and gemcitabine in NSCLC cell lines with intact ATM kinase signaling, and potently synergizes with cisplatin in ATM-deficient NSCLC cells. In contrast to expectations, daily administration of AZD6738 and ATR kinase inhibition for 14 consecutive days is tolerated in mice and enhances the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin in xenograft models. Remarkably, the combination of cisplatin and AZD6738 resolves ATM-deficient lung cancer xenografts.[1] Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) proteins are sensors of DNA damage, which induces homologous recombination (HR)-dependent repair. ATR is a master regulator of DNA damage repair (DDR), signaling to control DNA replication, DNA repair and apoptosis. Therefore, the ATR pathway might be an attractive target for developing new drugs. This study was designed to investigate the antitumor effects of the ATR inhibitor, AZD6738 and its underlying mechanism in human breast cancer cells. Growth inhibitory effects of AZD6738 against human breast cancer cell lines were studied using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium, MTT) assay. Cell cycle analysis, Western blotting, immunofluorescence and comet assays were also performed to elucidate underlying mechanisms of AZD6738 action. Anti-proliferative and DDR inhibitory effects of AZD6738 were demonstrated in human breast cancer cell lines. Among 13 cell lines, the IC50 values of nine cell lines were less than 1 μmol/L using MTT assay. Two cell lines, SK-BR-3 and BT-474, were chosen for further evaluation focused on human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer cells. Sensitive SK-BR-3 but not the less sensitive BT-474 breast cancer cells showed increased level of apoptosis and S phase arrest and reduced expression levels of phosphorylated check-point kinase 1 (CHK1) and other repair markers. Decreased functional CHK1 expression induced DNA damage accumulation due to HR inactivation. AZD6738 showed synergistic activity with cisplatin. Understanding the antitumor activity and mechanisms of AZD6738 in HER2-positive breast cancer cells creates the possibility for future clinical trials targeting DDR in HER2-positive breast cancer treatment.[2] Background: DNA damage response (DDR) defects, particularly TP53 and biallelic ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) aberrations, are associated with genomic instability, clonal evolution, and chemoresistance in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Therapies capable of providing long-term disease control in CLL patients with DDR defects are lacking. Using AZD6738, a novel ATR inhibitor, we investigated ATR pathway inhibition as a synthetically lethal strategy for targeting CLL cells with these defects. Methods: The effect of AZD6738 was assessed by western blotting and immunofluorescence of key DDR proteins. Cytotoxicity was assessed by CellTiter-Gloluminescence assay (Promega, Madison, WI, USA) and by propidium iodide exclusion. Primary CLL cells with biallelic TP53 or ATM inactivation were xenotransplanted into NOD/Shi-scid/IL-2Rγ mice. After treatment with AZD6738 or vehicle, tumour load was measured by flow cytometric analysis of infiltrated spleens, and subclonal composition by fluorescence in-situ hybridisation for 17p(TP53) or 11q(ATM) deletion. Findings: AZD6738 provided potent and specific inhibition of ATR signalling with compensatory activation of ATM/p53 pathway in cycling CLL cells in the presence of genotoxic stress. In p53 or ATM defective cells, AZD6738 treatment resulted in replication fork stalls and accumulation of unrepaired DNA damage, as evidenced by γH2AX and 53BP1 foci formation, which was carried through into mitosis, resulting in cell death by mitotic catastrophe. AZD6738 displayed selective cytotoxicity towards ATM or p53 deficient CLL cells, and was highly synergistic in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy. This finding was confirmed in primary xenograft models of DDR-defective CLL, where treatment with AZD6738 resulted in decreased tumour load and selective reduction of CLL subclones with ATM or TP53 alterations. Interpretation: We have provided mechanistic insight and demonstrated in-vitro and in-vivo efficacy of a novel therapeutic approach that specifically targets p53-null or ATM-null CLL cells. Such an approach can potentially help to avert clonal evolution, a major cause of therapeutic resistance and disease relapse.[3] Understanding the therapeutic effect of drug dose and scheduling is critical to inform the design and implementation of clinical trials. The increasing complexity of both mono, and particularly combination therapies presents a substantial challenge in the clinical stages of drug development for oncology. Using a systems pharmacology approach, we have extended an existing PK-PD model of tumor growth with a mechanistic model of the cell cycle, enabling simulation of mono and combination treatment with the ATR inhibitor AZD6738 and ionizing radiation. Using AZD6738, we have developed multi-parametric cell based assays measuring DNA damage and cell cycle transition, providing quantitative data suitable for model calibration. Our in vitro calibrated cell cycle model is predictive of tumor growth observed in in vivo mouse xenograft studies. The model is being used for phase I clinical trial designs for AZD6738, with the aim of improving patient care through quantitative dose and scheduling prediction.[4] |
Solubility Data
| Solubility (In Vitro) | May dissolve in DMSO (in most cases), if not, try other solvents such as H2O, Ethanol, or DMF with a minute amount of products to avoid loss of samples |
| Solubility (In Vivo) |
Note: Listed below are some common formulations that may be used to formulate products with low water solubility (e.g. < 1 mg/mL), you may test these formulations using a minute amount of products to avoid loss of samples. Injection Formulations (e.g. IP/IV/IM/SC) Injection Formulation 1: DMSO : Tween 80： Saline = 10 : 5 : 85 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO stock solution → 50 μL Tween 80 → 850 μL Saline) *Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH ₂ O to obtain a clear solution. Injection Formulation 2: DMSO : PEG300 ：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline) Injection Formulation 3: DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL Corn oil) Example: Take the Injection Formulation 3 (DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90) as an example, if 1 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can take 100 μL 25 mg/mL DMSO stock solution and add to 900 μL corn oil, mix well to obtain a clear or suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals). Injection Formulation 4: DMSO : 20% SBE-β-CD in saline = 10 : 90 [i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL (20% SBE-β-CD in saline)] *Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution. Injection Formulation 5: 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin : Saline = 50 : 50 (i.e. 500 μL 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin → 500 μL Saline) Injection Formulation 6: DMSO : PEG300 : castor oil : Saline = 5 : 10 : 20 : 65 (i.e. 50 μL DMSO → 100 μLPEG300 → 200 μL castor oil → 650 μL Saline) Injection Formulation 7: Ethanol : Cremophor : Saline = 10： 10 : 80 (i.e. 100 μL Ethanol → 100 μL Cremophor → 800 μL Saline) Injection Formulation 8: Dissolve in Cremophor/Ethanol (50 : 50), then diluted by Saline Injection Formulation 9: EtOH : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 900 μL Corn oil) Injection Formulation 10: EtOH : PEG300：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline) Oral Formulations Oral Formulation 1: Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na (carboxymethylcellulose sodium) Oral Formulation 2: Suspend in 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose Example: Take the Oral Formulation 1 (Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na) as an example, if 100 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can first prepare 0.5% CMC Na solution by measuring 0.5 g CMC Na and dissolve it in 100 mL ddH2O to obtain a clear solution; then add 250 mg of the product to 100 mL 0.5% CMC Na solution, to make the suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals). Oral Formulation 3: Dissolved in PEG400 Oral Formulation 4: Suspend in 0.2% Carboxymethyl cellulose Oral Formulation 5: Dissolve in 0.25% Tween 80 and 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose Oral Formulation 6: Mixing with food powders Note: Please be aware that the above formulations are for reference only. InvivoChem strongly recommends customers to read literature methods/protocols carefully before determining which formulation you should use for in vivo studies, as different compounds have different solubility properties and have to be formulated differently. (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.) |