Discovery of new cyanopyridine/chalcone hybrids as dual inhibitors of EGFR/BRAF V600E with promising antiproliferative properties

Synthesis of a new series of 4-pyrazolylquinolinones with apoptotic antiproliferative effects as dual EGFR/BRAFV600E inhibitors

The current study focuses on developing a single molecule that acts as an antiproliferative agent with dual or multi-targeted action, reducing drug resistance and adverse effects. A new series of 4-pyrazolylquinolin-2-ones (5a-j) with apoptotic antiproliferative effects as dual EGFR/BRAFV600E inhibitors were designed and synthesized. Compounds 5a-j were investigated for their cell viability effect against a normal cell line (MCF-10A). Results showed that none of the compounds were cytotoxic, and all 5a-j demonstrated more than 90% cell viability at 50 μM concentration. Using erlotinib as a reference, the MTT assay investigated the antiproliferative impact of targets 5a-j against four human cancer cell lines. Compounds 5e, 5f, 5h, 5i, and 5j were the most potent antiproliferative agents with GI50 values of 42, 26, 29, 34, and 37 nM, making compounds 5f and 5h more potent than erlotinib (GI50 = 33 nM). Moreover, compounds 5e, 5f, 5h, 5i, and 5j were further investigated as dual EGFR/BRAFV600E inhibitors, and results revealed that compounds 5f, 5h, and 5i are potent antiproliferative agents that act as dual EGFR/BRAFV600E inhibitors. Cell cycle analysis and apoptosis detection revealed that compound 5h displaying cell cycle arrest at the G1 transition could induce apoptosis with a high necrosis percentage. Docking studies revealed that compound 5f exhibited a strong affinity for EGFR and BRAFV600E, with high docking scores of -8.55 kcal mol-1 and -8.22 kcal mol-1, respectively. Furthermore, the ADME analysis of compounds 5a-j highlighted the diversity in their pharmacokinetic properties, emphasizing the importance of experimental validation.

Current scenario of chalcone hybrids with antibreast cancer therapeutic applications

Breast cancer, an epithelial malignant tumor that occurs in the terminal ducts of the breast, is the most common female malignancy. Currently, approximately 70%-80% of breast cancer with early-stage, nonmetastatic disorder is curable, but the emergency of drug resistance often leads to treatment failure. Moreover, advanced breast cancer with distant organ metastases is incurable with the available therapeutics, creating an urgent demand to explore novel antibreast cancer agents. Chalcones, the precursors for flavonoids and isoflavonoids, exhibit promising activity against various breast cancer hallmarks, inclusive of proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, inflammation, stemness, and regulation of cancer epigenetics, representing useful scaffolds for the discovery of novel antibreast cancer chemotherapeutic candidates. In particular, chalcone hybrids could act on two or more different biological targets simultaneously with more efficacy, lower toxicity, and less susceptibility to resistance. Accordingly, there is a huge scope for application of chalcone hybrids to tackle the present difficulties in breast cancer therapy. This review outlines the chalcone hybrids with antibreast cancer potential developed from 2018. The structure-activity relationships as well as mechanisms of action are also discussed to shed light on the development of more effective and multitargeted chalcone candidates.

Identification of 3-(5-cyano-6-oxo-pyridin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamides as novel anticancer agents endowed with EGFR inhibitory activity

New 5-cyano-6-oxo-pyridine-based sulfonamides (6a-m and 8a-d) were designed and synthesized to potentially inhibit both the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and carbonic anhydrase (CA), with anticancer properties. First, the in vitro anticancer activity of each target substance was tested using Henrietta Lacks cancer cell line and M.D. anderson metastasis breast cancer cell line cells. Then, the possible CA inhibition against the human CA isoforms I, II, and IX was investigated, together with the EGFR inhibitory activity, with the most powerful derivatives. The neighboring methoxy group may have had a steric effect on the target sulfonamides, which prevented them from effectively inhibiting the CA isoforms while effectively inhibiting the EGFR. The effects of the 5-cyanopyridine derivatives 6e and 6l on cell-cycle disruption and the apoptotic potential were then investigated. To investigate the binding mechanism and stability of the target molecules, thorough molecular modeling assessments, including docking and dynamic simulation, were performed.

Quinazolin-4-one/3-cyanopyridin-2-one Hybrids as Dual Inhibitors of EGFR and BRAFV600E: Design, Synthesis, and Antiproliferative Activity

A novel series of hybrid compounds comprising quinazolin-4-one and 3-cyanopyridin-2-one structures has been developed, with dual inhibitory actions on both EGFR and BRAFV600E. These hybrid compounds were tested in vitro against four different cancer cell lines. Compounds 8, 9, 18, and 19 inhibited cell proliferation significantly in the four cancer cells, with GI50 values ranging from 1.20 to 1.80 µM when compared to Doxorubicin (GI50 = 1.10 µM). Within this group of hybrids, compounds 18 and 19 exhibited substantial inhibition of EGFR and BRAFV600E. Molecular docking investigations provided confirmation that compounds 18 and 19 possess the capability to inhibit EGFR and BRAFV600E. Moreover, computational ADMET prediction indicated that most of the newly synthesized hybrids have low toxicity and minimal side effects.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel 3-Cyanopyridone/Pyrazoline Hybrids as Potential Apoptotic Antiproliferative Agents Targeting EGFR/BRAFV600E Inhibitory Pathways

A series of novel 3-cyanopyridone/pyrazoline hybrids (21-30) exhibiting dual inhibition against EGFR and BRAFV600E has been developed. The synthesized target compounds were tested in vitro against four cancer cell lines. Compounds 28 and 30 demonstrated remarkable antiproliferative activity, boasting GI50 values of 27 nM and 25 nM, respectively. These hybrids exhibited dual inhibitory effects on both EGFR and BRAFV600E pathways. Compounds 28 and 30, akin to Erlotinib, displayed promising anticancer potential. Compound 30 emerged as the most potent inhibitor against cancer cell proliferation and BRAFV600E. Notably, both compounds 28 and 30 induced apoptosis by elevating levels of caspase-3 and -8 and Bax, while downregulating the antiapoptotic Bcl2 protein. Molecular docking studies confirmed the potential of compounds 28 and 30 to act as dual EGFR/BRAFV600E inhibitors. Furthermore, in silico ADMET prediction indicated that most synthesized 3-cyanopyridone/pyrazoline hybrids exhibit low toxicity and minimal adverse effects.

Design, Synthesis, and Antiproliferative Activity of New 5-Chloro-indole-2-carboxylate and Pyrrolo[3,4-b]indol-3-one Derivatives as Potent Inhibitors of EGFRT790M/BRAFV600E Pathways

Mutant EGFR/BRAF pathways are thought to be crucial targets for the development of anticancer drugs since they are over-activated in several malignancies. We present here the development of a novel series of 5-chloro-indole-2-carboxylate 3a-e, 4a-c and pyrrolo[3,4-b]indol-3-ones 5a-c derivatives as potent inhibitors of mutant EGFR/BRAF pathways with antiproliferative activity. The cell viability assay results of 3a-e, 4a-c, and 5a-c revealed that none of the compounds tested were cytotoxic, and that the majority of those tested at 50 µM had cell viability levels greater than 87%. Compounds 3a-e, 4a-c, and 5a-c had significant antiproliferative activity with GI₅₀ values ranging from 29 nM to 78 nM, with 3a-e outperforming 4a-c and 5a-c in their inhibitory actions against the tested cancer cell lines. Compounds 3a-e were tested for EGFR inhibition, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 68 nM to 89 nM. The most potent derivative was found to be the m-piperidinyl derivative 3e (R = m-piperidin-1-yl), with an IC₅₀ value of 68 nM, which was 1.2-fold more potent than erlotinib (IC₅₀ = 80 nM). Interestingly, all the tested compounds 3a-e had higher anti-BRAF^V600E activity than the reference erlotinib but were less potent than vemurafenib, with compound 3e having the most potent activity. Moreover, compounds 3b and 3e showed an 8-fold selectivity index toward EGFR^T790M protein over wild-type. Additionally, molecular docking of 3a and 3b against BRAF^V600E and EGFR^T790M enzymes revealed high binding affinity and active site interactions compared to the co-crystalized ligands. The pharmacokinetics properties (ADME) of 3a-e revealed safety and good pharmacokinetic profile.