Targeting Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1B1 Enzyme with Four Series of A‑Ring Substituted Estrane Derivatives: Design, Synthesis, Inhibitory Activity, and Selectivity

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1B1 is involved in the bioactivation of procarcinogens and drug resistance. To obtain selective CYP1B1 inhibitors over CYP1A1, we synthesized four series of estrane derivatives: (1) 12 estrone (E1)- and 17β-estradiol (E2)-derivatives bearing a 3- or a 4-pyridinyl core at C2, C3, or C4, (2) eight estrane derivatives with different sulfur groups at C3, (3) 19 E1- and E2-derivatives bearing distinct aryls at C2, and (4) five D-ring derivatives. E2-derivatives were more active than oxidized E1-analogues, thus highlighting the key role of 17β-OH for interaction with CYP1B1. 2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-E2 was the best CYP1B1 inhibitor (IC50 = 0.24 μM), with a selectivity index (SI) of 20 over CYP1A1. Furthermore, the addition of a C17α-ethynyl group as D-ring modification improved the selectivity index to 25 with only a slight loss of activity (IC50 = 0.37 μM). Our docking results showed that these compounds fit better into the CYP1B1 binding site than that of CYP1A1.