Chemical strategies for development of ATR inhibitors

ATR protein kinase is one of the key players in maintaining genome integrity and coordinating of the DNA damage response and repair signalling pathways. Inhibition of ATR prevents signalling from stalled replication forks and enhances the formation of DNA damage, particularly under conditions of replication stress present in cancers. For this reason ATR/CHK1 checkpoint inhibitors can potentiate the effect of DNA cross-linking agents, as evidenced by ATR inhibitors recently entering human clinical trials. This review aims to compile the existing literature on small molecule inhibitors of ATR, both from academia and the pharmaceutical industry, and will provide the reader with a comprehensive summary of this promising oncology target.