Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel conformationally constrained inhibitors targeting epidermal growth factor receptor threonine⁷⁹⁰ → methionine⁷⁹⁰ mutant

J Med Chem. 2012 Mar 22;55(6):2711-23. doi: 10.1021/jm201591k. Epub 2012 Mar 1.

Abstract

The EGFR(T790M) mutant contributes approximately 50% to clinically acquired resistance against gefitinib or erlotinib. However, almost all the single agent clinical trials of the second generation irreversible EGFR inhibitors appear inadequate to overcome the EGFR(T790M)-related resistance. We have designed and synthesized a series of 2-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidinyl derivatives as novel EGFR inhibitors. The most potent compounds, 2q and 2s, inhibited the enzymatic activities of wild-type and mutated EGFRs, with IC(50) values in subnanomolar ranges, including the T790M mutants. The kinase inhibitory efficiencies of the compounds were further validated by Western blot analysis of the activation of EGFR and downstream signaling in cancer cells harboring different mutants of EGFR. The compounds also strongly inhibited the proliferation of H1975 non small cell lung cancer cells bearing EGFR(L858R/T790M), while being significantly less toxic to normal cells. Moreover, 2s displayed promising anticancer efficacy in a human NSCLC (H1975) xenograft nude mouse model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • Gefitinib
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Methionine / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mice, SCID
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Pyrimidines / chemical synthesis*
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Threonine / genetics*
  • Transplantation, Heterologous

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Pyrimidines
  • Quinazolines
  • Threonine
  • Methionine
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Gefitinib