Selective non-zinc binding MMP-2 inhibitors: Novel benzamide Ilomastat analogs with anti-tumor metastasis

Novel Ilomastat analogs with substituted benzamide groups, instead of hydroxamic acid groups, were designed, synthesized and evaluated against MMP-2 and MMP-9. Among these analogs, the most potent compound 10a exhibited potent inhibitory activity against MMP-2 with IC50 value of 0.19 nM, which is 5 times more potent than that of Ilomastat (IC50 = 0.94 nM). Importantly, 10a exhibited more than 8300 fold selectivity for MMP-2 versus MMP-9 (IC50 = 1.58 μM). Molecular docking studies showed that 10a bond to the catalytic active pocket of MMP-2 by a non-zinc-chelating mechanism which was different from that of Ilomastat. Furthermore, the invasion assay showed that 10a was effective in reducing HEY cells invasion at 84.6% in 50 μM concentration. For 10a, the pharmacokinetic properties had been improved and especially the more desirable t1/2z was achieved compared with these of the lead compound Ilomastat.

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