Exploration of novel pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine derivatives with improved anticancer efficacy as dual inhibitors of c-Met/VEGFR-2

Eur J Med Chem. 2018 Oct 5:158:814-831. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.09.050. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Abstract

c-Met and VEGFR-2 have attracted interest as novel targets for treatment of various cancers. Aiming to develop potent dual c-Met and VEGFR-2 inhibitors, a series of pyrrolo[1,2-f][1,2,4]triazine derivatives were designed and synthesized. The majority of target compounds exhibited potent antiproliferative effect against c-Met addictive cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranged from 1.2 to 24.6 nM, especially 27a. In-depth studies demonstrated 27a has great selectivity to c-Met and VEGFR-2, and potent inhibitory activity against them (IC50 of 2.3 ± 0.1 nM and 5.0 ± 0.5 nM). Furthermore, it also showed the highest anticancer activity with IC50 of 0.71 ± 0.16 nM (better than the positive compound) against BaF3-TPR-Met and 37.4 ± 0.311 nM (comparable to the positive compound) against HUVEC-VEGFR2, consistent with that in c-Met sensitive tumor cell lines. Subsequently, physicochemical and pharmacokinetic characterization indicated 27a has favorable druggability and pharmacokinetic properties. Further docking studies suggested a common mode of interaction at the ATP-binding site of c-Met and VEGFR-2, also indicating that 27a was a potential candidate for cancer therapy deserving further study.

Keywords: Antiproliferative effect; Cancer therapy; Tumor angiogenesis; c-Met/VEGFR-2.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / metabolism
  • Pyrroles / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrroles / chemistry
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology
  • Triazines / chemical synthesis
  • Triazines / chemistry*
  • Triazines / pharmacology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrroles
  • Triazines
  • 1,2,4-triazine
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2