Design and synthesis of Lapatinib derivatives containing a branched side chain as HER1/HER2 targeting antitumor drug candidates.

Abstract

A series of Lapatinib derivatives were designed and prepared by changing the straight alkyl side chain of Lapatinib into a branched one. ELISA assay and western blot analysis showed that these derivatives can significantly inhibit HER1/HER2 as well as their downstream signal transduction proteins. In vitro cytotoxicity assay revealed that these compounds had potent cytotoxic effect against the HER1/HER2-overexpressing cancer cells. A representive compound, 2i, showed potent in vivo antitumor activity comparable to Lapatinib, which was found to block the cell-cycle progression of BT474 cells in the G1 phase causing tumor cell apoptosis in the flow cytometry study. Moreover, the pharmacokinetic investigation on 2i also indicated it had a good performance on both absorption and elimination profiles.