Unveiling the therapeutic role of penfluridol and BMS-754,807: NUDT5 inhibition in breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women, with hormone-receptor-positive subtypes frequently developing resistance to standard therapies. Nudix hydrolase 5 (NUDT5), an enzyme integral to ADP-ribose metabolism, DNA repair, and hormone-driven transcription, has emerged as a promising therapeutic target. This study employed computational drug discovery approaches to identify potential NUDT5 inhibitors from FDA-approved compounds in the Drug-Lib database. Virtual screening and molecular docking revealed four promising candidates: Afacifenacin, Penfluridol, Belaperidone, and BMS-754,807. Detailed molecular dynamics simulations validated their stability, with trajectory analyses, including RMSD, RMSF, and PCA-based free energy landscapes, highlighting consistent and favourable interactions. Among these, BMS-754,807 demonstrated the strongest inhibitory potential, with stable binding, superior hydrogen bonding interactions, and the lowest free energy values. These findings emphasize the therapeutic promise of these compounds, particularly BMS-754,807, in targeting hormone-resistant breast cancer. Future in vitro and in vivo studies will be crucial to confirm these results and advance these inhibitors toward clinical applications.