Small Molecular Inhibitors That Target ATM for Drug Discovery: Current Research and Potential Prospective

The protein kinase ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is a constituent of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinase (PIKK) family, exerting a pivotal influence on diverse cellular processes, notably the signaling of double-strand DNA breaks (DSB) and stress response. The dysregulation of ATM is implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer and other diseases such as neurodegeneration. Hence, ATM is deemed a promising candidate for potential therapeutic interventions across a spectrum of diseases. Presently, while ATM small molecule inhibitors are not commercially available, various selective inhibitors have progressed to the clinical research phase. Specifically, AZD1390, WSD0628, SYH2051, and ZN-B-2262 are under investigation in clinical studies pertaining to glioblastoma multiforme and advanced solid tumors, respectively. In this Perspective, we encapsulate the structure, biological functions, and disease relevance of ATM. Subsequently, we concentrate on the design concepts and structure–activity relationships (SAR) of ATM inhibitors, delineating potential avenues for the development of more efficacious ATM-targeted inhibitors.