PRMT5 inhibitor AZD3470

An orally bioavailable second generation methylthioadenosine (MTA)-selective small molecule inhibitor of the protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon oral administration, PRMT5 inhibitor AZD3470 inhibits PRMT5 in the presence of MTA, thereby specifically inhibiting the function of PRMT5 solely within methylthioadenosine phosphoylase (MTAP)-deleted cancer cells and not in normal, healthy cells. By inhibiting the methyltransferase activity of PRMT5, levels of both monomethylated and dimethylated arginine residues in histones H2A, H3 and H4 are decreased. This modulates the expression of genes involved in several cellular processes, including cellular proliferation. This may increase the expression of antiproliferative genes and/or decrease the expression of genes that promote cell proliferation, which may lead to decreased growth of rapidly proliferating cancer cells. PRMT5, a type II methyltransferase that catalyzes the formation of both omega-N monomethylarginine (MMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (sDMA) on histones and a variety of other protein substrates involved in signal transduction and cellular transcription, is essential for the viability of cancer and normal cells. It is overexpressed in several neoplasms. Elevated levels are associated with decreased patient survival. MTAP is deleted in certain cancer cells leading to an accumulation of the metabolite MTA; MTA binds to and partially inhibits the activity of PRMT5.