Design and Optimization of Thienopyrimidine Derivatives as Potent and Selective PI3Kδ Inhibitors for the Treatment of B-Cell Malignancies

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ (PI3Kδ) plays a critical role in B lymphocyte (B-cell) development and activation and has been a validated target for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. Herein, we report a series of thienopyrimidine derivatives as novel potent and selective PI3Kδ inhibitors based on a scaffold hopping design strategy. Among them, compound 6 exhibited nanomolar PI3Kδ potency and a favorable selectivity profile compared to other class I PI3K isoforms. In cellular assays, compound 6 showed antiproliferative activity against a panel of B-cell lymphoma cell lines in a low micromolar range, caused cell cycle arrest, and induced apoptosis in Pfeiffer and SU-DHL-6 cells. Further, compound 6 inhibited the activation of mouse B-cells. With support from in vivo pharmacokinetic studies, compound 6 demonstrated significant anticancer efficacy in a Pfeiffer xenograft mouse model. Overall, compound 6 is a promising PI3Kδ inhibitor worthy of further preclinical investigation for the treatment of B-cell malignancies.