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Dual EGFR/HER2 inhibitors and apoptosis inducers: New benzo[g]quinazoline derivatives bearing benzenesulfonamide as anticancer and radiosensitizers

Dual targeting of EGFR and HER2 is a proven anticancer strategy for the treatment of solid tumors. An array of new N-substituted-2-(4-oxo-3-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)-3,4-dihydrobenzo[g]quinazolin-2-ylthio) acetamides 5–18 were designed and synthesized from the starting compound 4-(2-mercapto-4-oxobenzo[g]quinazolin-3(4H)-yl) benzenesulfonamide 4. The targeted compounds were screened for their cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. The IC50 of all the compounds were in the range of 0.36–40.90 µM. The percentage inhibition towards EGFR was measured and found to be in the range of 63.00–16.90 %. The most potent compounds 5, 9, 15, 17 and 18 were further screened for their activity against both EGFR and HER2 receptors. The compounds showed IC50 in the range of 0.64–1.81 µM for EGFR and 1.13–2.21 µM for HER2, in comparison to erlotinib, the reference drug. Compound 17, the most potent towards EGFR in this series, undergoes cell cycle analysis and was found to arrest the cycle at the G2/M phase. Measurement of the cytotoxicity of compound 17 against normal breast cell line showed mild cytotoxic activity. The most potent compounds were subjected to a single dose of 8 Gy of γ-radiation and the cytotoxicity of the tested compounds was found to increase after irradiation, thus proving the synergistic effect of γ-irradiation. Molecular docking was adopted for all the synthesized compounds to confirm their mechanism of action.

Benzo[g]quinazolin-based scaffold derivatives as dual EGFR/HER2 inhibitors

Targeting EGFR has proven to be beneficial in the treatment of several types of solid tumours. So, a series of novel 2-(4-oxo-3-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)-3,4-dihydrobenzo[g]quinazolin-2-ylthio)-N-substituted acetamide 5–19 were synthesised from the starting material 4-(2-mercapto-4-oxobenzo[g]quinazolin-3(4H)-yl) benzenesulfonamide 4, to be evaluated as dual EGFR/HER2 inhibitors. The target compounds 5–19, were screened for their cytotoxic activity against A549 lung cancer cell line. The percentage inhibition of EGFR enzyme was measured and compared with erlotinib as the reference drug. Compounds 6, 8, 10, and 16 showed excellent EGFR inhibitory activity and were further selected for screening as dual EGFR/HER2 inhibitors. The four selected compounds showed IC50 ranging from 0.009 to 0.026 µM for EGFR and 0.021 to 0.069 µM for the HER2 enzyme. Compound 8 was found to be the most potent in this study with IC50 0.009 and 0.021 µM for EGFR and HER2, respectively.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of pyrazolyl-nitroimidazole derivatives as potential EGFR/HER-2 kinase inhibitors.

A series of novel pyrazole-nitroimidazole derivatives had been arranged and evaluated for their EGFR/HER-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitory activity as well as their antiproliferative properties on four kinds of cancer cell lines (MCF-7, Hela, HepG2, B16-F10). The bioassay results showed most of the designed compounds exhibited potential antiproliferation activity, with the IC50 values ranging from 0.13μM to 128.06μM in four tumor cell lines. Among them, compound 5c exhibited remarkable inhibitory activity against EGFR/HER-2 tyrosine kinase with IC50 value of 0.26μM/0.51μM, respectively, comparable to the positive control erlotinib (IC50=0.41μM for HER-2 and IC50=0.20μM for EGFR) and lapatinib (IC50=0.54μM for HER-2 and IC50=0.28μM for EGFR). Molecular modeling simulation studies were performed in order to predict the biological activity of the proposed compounds and activity relationship (SAR) of these pyrazole-nitroimidazole derivatives.

Synthesis of caffeic acid amides bearing 2,3,4,5-tetra-hydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxocine moieties and their biological evaluation as antitumor agents.

A series of caffeic acid amides D1-D17 bearing 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzo-[b][1,4]dioxocine units has been synthesized and their biological activities evaluated for potential antiproliferative and EGFR inhibitory activity. Of all the compounds studied, compound D9 showed the most potent inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.79 μM for HepG2 and IC50 = 0.36 μM for EGFR). The structures of compounds were confirmed by 1H-NMR, ESI-MS and elemental analysis. Among all, the structure of compound D9 ((E)-N-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-3-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxocin-8-yl)acrylamide) was also determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound D9 was found to be a potential antitumor agent according to biological activity, molecular docking, apoptosis assay and inhibition of HepG2.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of compounds which contain pyrazole, thiazole and naphthalene ring as antitumor agents

A series of compounds which contain pyrazole, thiazole and naphthalene ring (1a–7a, 1b–7b, 1c–7c, 1d–7d) were firstly synthesized and their anti-proliferative activity, EGFR inhibitory activity, cytotoxicity and inhibition to Hela cell migration were evaluated. Compound 2-(3-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-5-(naphthalen-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)thiazol-4(5H)-one (7d) displayed the most potent inhibitory activity (IC50=0.86μM for Hela and IC50=0.12μM for EGFR). Structure–activity relationship (SAR) analysis showed that the anti-proliferative activity was affected by A-ring-substituent (–OCH3>–CH3>–H>–Br>–Cl>–F). Docking simulation of compound 7d into EGFR active site showed that naphthalene ring of 7d with LYS721 formed two p–π bonds, which enhanced antitumor activity. Therefore, compound 7d may be developed as a potential antitumor agent.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of pyrazolyl-thiazolinone derivatives as potential EGFR and HER-2 kinase inhibitors

A series of pyrazolyl-thiazolinone derivatives (E1–E36) have been designed and synthesized and their biological activities were also evaluated as potential EGFR and HER-2 kinase inhibitors. Thirty-four of the 36 compounds were reported for the first time. Among them, compound 2-(5-(4-bromophenyl)-3-p-tolyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)thiazol-4(5H)-one (E28) displayed the most potent inhibitory activity (IC50=0.24μM for EGFR and IC50=1.07μM for HER-2). Antiproliferative assay results indicated that compound E28 owned high antiproliferative activity against MCF-7, B16-F10 and HCT-116 in vitro, with IC50 value of 0.30, 0.54, and 0.70μM, respectively. Docking simulation was further performed to position compound E28 into the EGFR active site to determine the probable binding model. Based on the preliminary results, compound E28 with potent inhibitory activity in tumor growth would be a potential anticancer agent.

Synthesis, molecular modeling and biological evaluation of 2-(benzylthio)-5-aryloxadiazole derivatives as anti-tumor agents

A series of 2-(benzylthio)-5-aryloxadiazole derivatives have been designed and synthesized, and their biological activities are also evaluated for EGFR inhibitory activity. Fourteen compounds among the twenty compounds are reported for the first time. Their chemical structures are characterized by 1H NMR, MS, and elemental analysis. Anti-proliferative and EGFR inhibition assay results have demonstrated that compound 3e shows the most potent biological activity (IC 50 = 1.09 μM for MCF-7 and IC 50 = 1.51 μM for EGFR). Docking simulation has been performed to position compound 3e into the EGFR active site to determine the probable binding model, with an estimated binding free energy value of −10.7 kcal/mol. Compound 3e with potent inhibitory activity in tumor growth inhibition may be a promising anti-tumor leading compound for the further research.

Design and synthesis of 4,6-substituted-(diaphenylamino)quinazolines as potent EGFR inhibitors with antitumor activity

A type of novel 4,6-substituted-(diaphenylamino)quinazolines, which designed based on the 4-(phenylamino)quinazoline moiety, have been discovered as potential EGFR inhibitors. These compounds displayed good antiproliferative activity and EGFR-TK inhibitory activity. Especially, 4-((4-(3-bromophenylamino)quinazolin-6-ylamino)methyl)phenol (5b), showed the most potent inhibitory activity (IC50=0.28μM for Hep G2, IC50=0.59μM for A16-F10 and IC50=0.87μM for EGFR) and effectively induces apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in the Hep G2 cell line. Molecular docking of 5b into EGFR TK active site was also performed. This inhibitor nicely fitting the active site might well explain its excellent inhibitory activity.

Metronidazole acid acyl sulfonamide: A novel class of anticancer agents and potential EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors

A series of novel metronidazole derivatives were recently reported as potent anticancer agents targeting EGFR and HER-2 by our group [Qian, Y.; Zhang, H. J.; Zhang, H.; Xu, C.; Zhao, J.; Zhu, H. L. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2010, 18, 4991]. Based on the previous results, we designed and synthesized a new series of metronidazole acid acyl sulfonamide derivatives and a new series of phenylacetyl benzenesulfonamide derivatives and their anticancer activities were evaluated as potential EGFR and HER-2 kinase inhibitors. Among all the compounds, compound 12 displayed the most potent inhibitory activity EGFR and HER-2 (IC 50 = 0.39 μM for EGFR and IC 50 = 1.53 μM for HER-2) and it also showed the most potent growth inhibitory activity against A549 and B16-F10 cancer cell line in vitro, with an IC 50 value of 1.26 μg/mL for A549 and 0.35 μg/mL for B16-F10. Docking simulation was further performed to position compound 12 into the EGFR active site to determine the probable binding model.

Synthesis, molecular modeling and biological evaluation of chalcone thiosemicarbazide derivatives as novel anticancer agents

A series of novel chalcone thiosemicarbazide derivatives ( 4a–4x) have been designed, synthesized, structurally determined, and their biological activities were also evaluated as potential EGFR kinase inhibitors. All the synthesized compounds are first reported. Among the compounds, compound 4r showed the most potent biological activity (IC 50 = 0.78 ± 0.05 μM for HepG2 and IC 50 = 0.35 μM for EGFR), which is comparable to the positive controls. Docking simulation was also performed to position compound 4r into the EGFR active site to determine the probable binding model. Antiproliferative assay results demonstrated that some of these compounds possessed good antiproliferative activity against HepG2. Compound 4r with potent inhibitory activity in tumor growth inhibition may be a potential anticancer agent.

The combination of 4-anilinoquinazoline and cinnamic acid: A novel mode of binding to the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase

A novel type of cinnamic acid quinazoline amide derivatives (20–42), which designed the combination between quinazoline as the backbone and various substituted cinnamic acid as the side chain, have been synthesized and their biological activities were evaluated within cytotoxicity assay firstly and then potent EGFR inhibitory activity. Compound 42 demonstrated the most potent inhibitory activity (IC50=0.94μM for EGFR), which could be optimized as a potential EGFR inhibitor in the further study. Docking simulation was performed to position compound 42 into the EGFR active site to determine the probable binding model. Analysis of the binding conformation of 42 in active site displayed compound 42 was stabilized by hydrogen bonding interactions with Lys822, which was different from other derivatives. In the further study, Compounds 43 and 44 had been synthesized and their biological activities were also evaluated, which were the same as that we expected. Compound 43 has demonstrated significant EGFR (IC50=0.12μM) and tumor growth inhibitory activity as a potential anticancer agent.

Synthesis, molecular modeling, and biological evaluation of cinnamic acid metronidazole ester derivatives as novel anticancer agents

A series of novel cinnamic acid metronidazole ester derivatives have been designed and synthesized, and their biological activities were also evaluated as potential EGFR and HER-2 kinase inhibitors. Compound 3h showed the most potent biological activity (IC50=0.62μM for EGFR and IC50=2.15μM for HER-2). Docking simulation was performed to position compound 3h into the EGFR active site to determine the probable binding model. Antiproliferative assay results demonstrated that some of these compounds possessed good antiproliferative activity against MCF-7. Compound 3h with potent inhibitory activity in tumor growth inhibition may be a potential anticancer agent.

Synthesis and structure–activity relationships of N-benzyl- N-(X-2-hydroxybenzyl)- N′-phenylureas and thioureas as antitumor agents

Two series of novel N-benzyl- N-(X-2-hydroxybenzyl)- N′-phenylureas and thioureas ( 1a– 18a; 1b– 18b) as potential EGFR and HER-2 kinase inhibitors have been discovered. These compounds displayed good EGFR and HER-2 inhibitory activity and the SARs are also been studied. Especially compound 7b demonstrated significant EGFR and HER-2 inhibitory activity (IC 50 = 0.08 μM for EGFR and IC 50 = 0.35 μM for HER-2). Docking simulation was performed to position compound 7b into the EGFR active site to determine the probable binding conformation and antiproliferative assay results indicating that these series of urea and thioureas own high antiproliferative activity against MCF-7. Above all, thiourea 7b would be a potential anticancer agent deserves further research.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of thiazolidinone derivatives as potential EGFR and HER-2 kinase inhibitors

Two series of thiazolidinone derivatives designing for potential EGFR and HER-2 kinase inhibitors have been discovered. Some of them exhibited significant EGFR and HER-2 inhibitory activity. Compound 2-(2-(5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzylidene)hydrazinyl)thiazol-4(5H)-one ( 12) displayed the most potent inhibitory activity (IC 50 = 0.09 μM for EGFR and IC 50 = 0.42 μM for HER-2), comparable to the positive control erlotinib. Docking simulation was performed to position compound 12 into the EGFR active site to determine the probable binding model. Antiproliferative assay results indicating that some of the thiazolidinone derivatives own high antiproliferative activity against MCF-7. Compound 12 with potent inhibitory activity in tumor growth inhibition would be a potential anticancer agent.