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Thakur A, Rana M, Mishra A, Kaur C, Pan CH, Nepali K. Recent advances and future directions on small molecule VEGFR inhibitors in oncological conditions. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 272:116472. [PMID: 38728867 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
"A journey of mixed emotions" is a quote that best describes the progress chart of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors as cancer therapeutics in the last decade. Exhilarated with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals of numerous VEGFR inhibitors coupled with the annoyance of encountering the complications associated with their use, drug discovery enthusiasts are on their toes with an unswerving determination to enhance the rate of translation of VEGFR inhibitors from preclinical to clinical stage. The recently crafted armory of VEGFR inhibitors is a testament to their growing dominance over other antiangiogenic therapies for cancer treatment. This review perspicuously underscores the earnest attempts of the researchers to extract the antiproliferative potential of VEGFR inhibitors through the design of mechanistically diverse structural assemblages. Moreover, this review encompasses sections on structural/molecular properties and physiological functions of VEGFR, FDA-approved VEGFR inhibitors, and hurdles restricting the activity range/clinical applicability of VEGFR targeting antitumor agents. In addition, tactics to overcome the limitations of VEGFR inhibitors are discussed. A clear-cut viewpoint transmitted through this compilation can provide practical directions to push the cart of VEGFR inhibitors to advanced-stage clinical investigations in diverse malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandeep Thakur
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110031, Taiwan
| | - Mandeep Rana
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110031, Taiwan
| | - Anshul Mishra
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110031, Taiwan
| | - Charanjit Kaur
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India
| | - Chun-Hsu Pan
- Ph.D. Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
| | - Kunal Nepali
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110031, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
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Pla-López A, Carda M, Falomir E. Tetrazole derivatives as potent immunomodulatory agents in tumor microenvironment. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 169:115668. [PMID: 37976894 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Twenty-seven compounds bearing a tetrazole ring as a central unit have been designed, synthetized and biologically evaluated. Studies have been performed in order to compare the effect of tetrazole derivatives bearing amine electron-donor or nitro electron-acceptor groups. The antiproliferative activity has been determined in monoculture studies on tumor cell lines HT-29, A-549, MCF-7 and on non-tumor cell line HEK-293 as well as in co-culture studies (HT-29/THP-1). All the compounds have been studied as PD-L1 (Programmed Death Ligand 1), VEGFR-2 (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 2), CD-47 (Cluster of Differentiation 47) and c-Myc inhibitors. The effect on TNF-α secretion has also been determined. Bromoderivatives 23, 24 and chloroderivatives 26, 27 have demonstrated an apoptotic effect on HT-29 cancer cells. Compounds bearing an amine group have shown very promising effects as TME immunomodulatory agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Pla-López
- Inorganic and Organic Chemistry Department, University Jaume I, E-12071 Castellón, Spain
| | - Miguel Carda
- Inorganic and Organic Chemistry Department, University Jaume I, E-12071 Castellón, Spain
| | - Eva Falomir
- Inorganic and Organic Chemistry Department, University Jaume I, E-12071 Castellón, Spain.
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Pla-López A, Martínez-Colomina P, Cañada-García L, Fuertes-Monge L, Orellana-Palacios JC, Valderrama-Martínez A, Pérez-Sosa M, Carda M, Falomir E. Aryl azoles based scaffolds for disrupting tumor microenvironment. Bioorg Med Chem 2023; 95:117490. [PMID: 37862936 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Thirty-nine aryl azoles, thirteen triazoles and twenty-seven tetrazoles, have been synthetized and biologically evaluated to determine their activity as tumor microenvironment disruptors. Antiproliferative studies have been performed on tumor cell lines HT-29, A-549 and MCF-7 and on non-tumor cell line HEK-293. It has been studied in HT-29 the expression levels of biological targets which are involved in tumor microenvironment processes, such as PD-L1, CD-47, c-Myc and VEGFR-2. In addition, antiproliferative activity was evaluated when HT-29 were co-cultured with THP-1 monocytes and the secretion levels of IL-6 were also determined in these co-cultures. The angiogenesis effect of some selected compounds on HMEC-1 was also evaluated as well as their action against vasculogenic mimicry on HEK-293. Compounds bearing an amino group in the phenyl ring and a halogen atom in the benzyl ring showed promising results as tumor microenvironment disrupting agents. The most outstanding compound decrease dramatically the population of HT-29 cells when co-cultured with THP-1 monocytes and the levels of IL-6 secreted, as well as it showed moderate effects over PD-L1, CD-47 and c-Myc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Pla-López
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, E-12071 Castellón, Spain.
| | | | | | | | - Jose C Orellana-Palacios
- Departament of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Castilla-La-Mancha, E-13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | | | - Marikena Pérez-Sosa
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, E-12071 Castellón, Spain.
| | - Miguel Carda
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, E-12071 Castellón, Spain.
| | - Eva Falomir
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, E-12071 Castellón, Spain.
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Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Small Molecules as Potential Anticancer Multitarget Agents. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137049. [PMID: 35806053 PMCID: PMC9266368 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty-six triazole-based derivatives were designed for targeting both PD-L1 (programmed death receptor ligand 1) and VEGFR-2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2). These compounds were synthetized and biologically evaluated as multitarget inhibitors of VEGFR-2, PD-L1 and c-Myc proteins. The antiproliferative activity of these molecules on several tumor cell lines (HT-29, A-549, and MCF-7) and on the non-tumor cell line HEK-293 was determined. The effects on the abovementioned biological targets were evaluated for some selected compounds. Compound 23, bearing a p-chlorophenyl group, showed better results than sorafenib in regard to the downregulation of VEGFR-2 and a similar effect to BMS-8 on both PD-L1 and c-Myc proteins. The antiangiogenic and antivascular activities of chloro derivatives were also established by endothelial microtube formation assay on Matrigel®.
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Martín-Beltrán C, Gil-Edo R, Hernández-Ribelles G, Agut R, Marí-Mezquita P, Carda M, Falomir E. Aryl Urea Based Scaffolds for Multitarget Drug Discovery in Anticancer Immunotherapies. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14040337. [PMID: 33917617 PMCID: PMC8067507 DOI: 10.3390/ph14040337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Twenty-one styryl and phenethyl aryl ureas have been synthetized and biologically evaluated as multitarget inhibitors of Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 VEGFR-2 and programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) proteins in order to overcome resistance phenomena offered by cancer. The antiproliferative activity of these molecules on several tumor cell lines (HT-29, MCF-7, HeLa and A549), on the endothelial cell line human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC)-1 and on the non-tumor cell line human embryonic kidney cells (HEK)-293 has been determined. Some derivatives were evaluated for their antiangiogenic properties such as their ability to inhibit microvessel formation using HMEC-1 or their effect on VEGFR-2 in both cancer and endothelial cell lines. In addition, the immunomodulator action of a number of selected compounds was also studied on PD-L1 and c-Myc proteins. Compounds 16 and 23 (Z) and (E)-styryl p-bromophenyl urea, respectively, showed better results than sorafenib in down-regulation of VEGFR-2 and also improved the effect of the anti-PD-L1 compound BMS-8 on both targets, PD-L1 and c-Myc proteins.
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Shi R, Tang Y, Miao H. Metabolism in tumor microenvironment: Implications for cancer immunotherapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2020; 1:47-68. [PMID: 34766109 PMCID: PMC8489668 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment is a special environment for tumor survival, which is characterized by hypoxia, acidity, nutrient deficiency, and immunosuppression. The environment consists of the vasculature, immune cells, extracellular matrix, and proteins or metabolic molecules. A large number of recent studies have shown that not only tumor cells but also the immune cells in the tumor microenvironment have undergone metabolic reprogramming, which is closely related to tumor drug resistance and malignant progression. Tumor immunotherapy based on T cells gives patients new hope, but faces the dilemma of low response rate. New strategies sensitizing cancer immunotherapy are urgently needed. Metabolic reprogramming can directly affect the biological activity of tumor cells and also regulate the differentiation and activation of immune cells. The authors aim to review the characteristics of tumor microenvironment, the metabolic changes of tumor‐associated immune cells, and the regulatory role of metabolic reprogramming in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongchen Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThird Military Medical University (Army Medical University) Chongqing People's Republic of China
| | - Yi‐Quan Tang
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular BiologyCambridge Biomedical Campus Cambridge UK
| | - Hongming Miao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThird Military Medical University (Army Medical University) Chongqing People's Republic of China
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Spagnuolo A, Palazzolo G, Sementa C, Gridelli C. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2020; 21:491-506. [DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2020.1713092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A Spagnuolo
- Division of Medical Oncology, ‘S. G. Moscati’ Hospital, Avellino, Italy
| | - G Palazzolo
- Division of Medical Oncology, “ULSS 15 Cittadella”, Cittadella, Padova, Italy
| | - C Sementa
- Division of Legal Medicine, ‘S. G. Moscati’ Hospital, Avellino, Italy
| | - C Gridelli
- Division of Medical Oncology, ‘S. G. Moscati’ Hospital, Avellino, Italy
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Mozaffari M, Nowrouzi N. Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical Ureas Using Chromium Hexacarbonyl as a Convenient and Safe Alternative Carbonyl Source. European J Org Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201901273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mozhdeh Mozaffari
- Department of Chemistry; Faculty of Sciences; Persian Gulf University; 75169 Bushehr Iran
| | - Najmeh Nowrouzi
- Department of Chemistry; Faculty of Sciences; Persian Gulf University; 75169 Bushehr Iran
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