Small-Molecule Fms-like Tyrosine Kinase 3 Inhibitors: An Attractive and Efficient Method for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is an important member of the class III receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family, which is involved in the proliferation of hematopoietic cells and lymphocytes. In recent years, increasing evidence have demonstrated that the activation and mutation of FLT3 is closely implicated in the occurrence and development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The exploration of small-molecule inhibitors targeting FLT3 has aroused wide interest of pharmaceutical chemists and is expected to bring new hope for AML therapy. In this review, we specifically highlighted FLT3 mediated JAK/STAT, RAS/MAPK, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. The structural properties and biological activities of representative FLT3 inhibitors reported from 2014 to the present were also summarized. In addition, the major challenges in the current advance of novel FLT3 inhibitors were further analyzed, with the aim to guide future drug discovery.

Recent advances in FLT3 inhibitors for acute myeloid leukemia

Fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) mutations occur in approximately 30% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases, suggesting FLT3 as an attractive target for AML treatment. Early FLT3 inhibitors enhance antileukemia efficacy by inhibiting multiple targets, and thus had stronger off-target activity, increasing their toxicity. Recently, a number of potent and selective FLT3 inhibitors have been developed, many of which are effective against multiple mutations. This review outlines the evolution of AML-targeting FLT3 inhibitors by focusing on their chemotypes, selectivity and activity over FLT3 wild-type and FLT3 mutations as well as new techniques related to FLT3. Compounds that currently enter the late clinical stage or have entered the market are also briefly reported.

Design and Synthesis of New Quinoxaline Derivatives as Anticancer Agents and Apoptotic Inducers

The quinoxaline scaffold is a promising platform for the discovery of active chemotherapeutic agents. Three series of quinoxaline derivatives were synthesized and biologically evaluated against three tumor cell lines (HCT116 human colon carcinoma, HepG2, liver hepatocellular carcinoma and MCF-7, human breast adenocarcinoma cell line), in addition to VEGFR-2 enzyme inhibition activity. Compounds VIId, VIIIa, VIIIc, VIIIe and XVa exhibited promising activity against the tested cell lines and weak activity against VEGFR-2. Compound VIIIc induced a significant disruption in the cell cycle profile and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase boundary. In further assays, the cytotoxic effect of the highly active compounds was determined using a normal Caucasian fibroblast-like fetal lung cell line (WI-38). Compound VIIIc could be considered as a lead compound that merits further optimization and development as an anti-cancer and an apoptotic inducing candidate against the HCT116 cell line.

Copper catalyzed photoredox synthesis of α-keto esters, quinoxaline, and naphthoquinone: controlled oxidation of terminal alkynes to glyoxals

Controlled oxidation of the terminal C Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> C triple bond using O₂ (1 atm) as an oxidant and reagent.

Herein, we report a facile visible light induced copper catalyzed controlled oxidation of terminal C Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> C alkynes to α-keto esters and quinoxalines via formation of phenylglyoxals as stable intermediates, under mild conditions by using molecular O₂ as a sustainable oxidant. The current copper catalysed photoredox method is simple, highly functional group compatible with a broad range of electron rich and electron poor aromatic alkynes as well as aliphatic alcohols (1°, 2° and 3° alcohols), providing an efficient route for the preparation of α-keto esters (43 examples), quinoxaline and naphthoquinone with higher yields than those in the literature reported thermal processes. Furthermore, the synthetic utility of the products has been demonstrated in the synthesis of two biologically active molecules, an E. coli DHPS inhibitor and CFTR activator, using the current photoredox process. In addition, we applied this methodology to the one-pot synthesis of a heterocyclic compound (quinoxaline, an FLT3 inhibitor) by trapping the intermediate phenylglyoxal with O-phenylenediamine. The intermediate phenylglyoxal can also be isolated and further reacted with an internal alkyne to form naphthoquinone. This process can be readily scaled up to the gram scale.

Quinoxaline-Based Scaffolds Targeting Tyrosine Kinases and Their Potential Anticancer Activity

Quinoxaline derivatives, also called benzopyrazines, are an important class of heterocyclic compounds. Quinoxalines have drawn great attention due to their wide spectrum of biological activities. They are considered as an important basis for anticancer drugs due to their potential activity as protein kinase inhibitors. In this review, we focus on the chemistry of the quinoxaline derivatives, the strategies for their synthesis, their potential activities against various tyrosine kinases, and on the structure-activity relationship studies reported to date.