Cyclin-dependent kinases are therapeutic
targets frequently deregulated
in various cancers. By convenient alkylation of the 5-sulfanyl group,
we synthesized 3-isopropyl-7-[4-(2-pyridyl)benzyl]amino-1(2)H-pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidines with various
substitutions at position 5 with potent antiproliferative activity
in non-Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines. The most potent derivative 4.35 also displayed activities across more than 60 cancer
cell lines. The kinase profiling confirmed high selectivity of 4.35 toward cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) 2, 5, and 9, and
the cocrystal with CDK2/cyclin A2 revealed its binding in the active
site. Cultured lymphoma cell lines treated with 4.35 showed
dephosphorylation of CDK substrates, cleavage of PARP-1, downregulation
of XIAP and MCL-1, and activation of caspases, which collectively
confirmed ongoing apoptosis. Moreover, 4.35 demonstrated
significant activity in various cell line xenograft and patient-derived
xenograft mouse models in vivo both as a monotherapy and as a combination
therapy with the BCL2-targeting venetoclax. These findings support
further studies of combinatorial treatment based on CDK inhibitors.