Ezh2 inhibitors for treating cancer

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to compositions comprising inhibitors of human histone methyltransferase EZH2 and one or more other therapeutic agents, for example, modulators of CD40 pathway activity, such as CD40 agonists, and methods of combination therapy for administering to subjects in need thereof for the treatment of cancer.

1 . A method for treating a cancer in a subject in need thereof comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an EZH2 inhibitor and a second therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is germinal center-derived lymphoma, e.g., an EZH2 wild type germinal center B-cell lymphoma. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second therapeutic agent is a CD40 agonist. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the CD40 agonist comprises CD40L, or a CD40-binding fragment of CD40L, an agonistic CD40 antibody or an agonistic CD40 antibody fragment, CP870,893 (Pfizer), SGN-40, or a CD40 agonist peptide, or a small molecule. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EZH2 inhibitor is administered orally. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human being. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EZH2 inhibitor is of Formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein
 R 701  is H, F, OR 707 , NHR 707 , —(C≡C)—(CH 2 ) n7 —R 708 , phenyl, 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, C 3-8  cycloalkyl, or 4-7 membered heterocycloalkyl containing 1-3 heteroatoms, wherein the phenyl, 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, C 3-8  cycloalkyl or 4-7 membered heterocycloalkyl each independently is optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from halo, C 1-3  alkyl, OH, O—C 1-6  alkyl, NH—C 1-6  alkyl, and, C 1-3  alkyl substituted with C 3-8  cycloalkyl or 4-7 membered heterocycloalkyl containing 1-3 heteroatoms, wherein each of the O—C 1-6  alkyl and NH—C 1-6  alkyl is optionally substituted with hydroxyl, O—C 1-3  alkyl or NH—C 1-3  alkyl, each of the O—C 1-3  alkyl and NH—C 1-3  alkyl being optionally further substituted with O—C 1-3  alkyl or NH—C 1-3  alkyl; 
 each of R 702  and R 703 , independently is H, halo, C 1-4  alkyl, C 1-6  alkoxyl or C 6 -C 10  aryloxy, each optionally substituted with one or more halo; 
 each of R 704  and R 705 , independently is C 1-4  alkyl; 
 R 706  is cyclohexyl substituted by N(C 1-4  alkyl) 2  wherein one or both of the C 1-4  alkyl is optionally substituted with C 1-6  alkoxy; or R 706  is tetrahydropyranyl; 
 R 707  is C 1-4  alkyl optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from hydroxyl, C 1-4  alkoxy, amino, mono- or di-C 1-4  alkylamino, C 3-8  cycloalkyl, and 4-7 membered heterocycloalkyl containing 1-3 heteroatoms, wherein the C 3-8  cycloalkyl or 4-7 membered heterocycloalkyl each independently is further optionally substituted with C 1-3  alkyl; 
 R 708  is C 1-4  alkyl optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from OH, halo, and C 1-4  alkoxy, 4-7 membered heterocycloalkyl containing 1-3 heteroatoms, or O—C 1-6  alkyl, wherein the 4-7 membered heterocycloalkyl can be optionally further substituted with OH or C 1-6  alkyl; and 
 n 7  is 0, 1 or 2. 
 
       
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EZH2 inhibitor is EPZ-6438 having the following formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (EPZ-6438) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 
       
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EZH2 inhibitor is administered to the subject at a dose of about 100 mg to about 3200 mg daily. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EZH2 inhibitor is administered to the subject at a dose of about 100 mg BID to about 1600 mg BID. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EZH2 inhibitor is administered to the subject at a dose of about 100 mg BID, 200 mg BID, 400 mg BID, 800 mg BID, or about 1600 mg BID. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EZH2 inhibitor is: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 
       
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EZH2 inhibitor is: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 
       
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent listed in TABLE 1. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the CD40 agonist comprises an anti CD40 antibody or an anti CD40-antibody fragment. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EZH2 inhibitor and the second therapeutic agent are administered simultaneously or sequentially. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EZH2 inhibitor is administered prior to administration of the second therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second therapeutic agent is administered prior to administration of the EZH2 inhibitor.