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Șandor A, Fizeșan I, Ionuț I, Marc G, Moldovan C, Oniga I, Pîrnău A, Vlase L, Petru AE, Macasoi I, Oniga O. Discovery of A Novel Series of Quinazoline-Thiazole Hybrids as Potential Antiproliferative and Anti-Angiogenic Agents. Biomolecules 2024; 14:218. [PMID: 38397456 PMCID: PMC10886515 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Considering the pivotal role of angiogenesis in solid tumor progression, we developed a novel series of quinazoline-thiazole hybrids (SA01-SA07) as antiproliferative and anti-angiogenic agents. Four out of the seven compounds displayed superior antiproliferative activity (IC50 =1.83-4.24 µM) on HepG2 cells compared to sorafenib (IC50 = 6.28 µM). The affinity towards the VEGFR2 kinase domain was assessed through in silico prediction by molecular docking, molecular dynamics studies, and MM-PBSA. The series displayed a high degree of similarity to sorafenib regarding the binding pose within the active site of VEGFR2, with a different orientation of the 4-substituted-thiazole moieties in the allosteric pocket. Molecular dynamics and MM-PBSA evaluations identified SA05 as the hybrid forming the most stable complex with VEGFR2 compared to sorafenib. The impact of the compounds on vascular cell proliferation was assessed on EA.hy926 cells. Six compounds (SA01-SA05, SA07) displayed superior anti-proliferative activity (IC50 = 0.79-5.85 µM) compared to sorafenib (IC50 = 6.62 µM). The toxicity was evaluated on BJ cells. Further studies of the anti-angiogenic effect of the most promising compounds, SA04 and SA05, through the assessment of impact on EA.hy296 motility using a wound healing assay and in ovo potential in a CAM assay compared to sorafenib, led to the confirmation of the anti-angiogenic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Șandor
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 Victor Babes, Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.Ș.); (I.I.); (G.M.); (C.M.); (O.O.)
| | - Ionel Fizeșan
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babeș Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Ioana Ionuț
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 Victor Babes, Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.Ș.); (I.I.); (G.M.); (C.M.); (O.O.)
| | - Gabriel Marc
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 Victor Babes, Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.Ș.); (I.I.); (G.M.); (C.M.); (O.O.)
| | - Cristina Moldovan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 Victor Babes, Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.Ș.); (I.I.); (G.M.); (C.M.); (O.O.)
| | - Ilioara Oniga
- Department of Pharmacognosy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 12 Ion Creangă Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Adrian Pîrnău
- National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donath Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Laurian Vlase
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 Victor Babeș, Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Andreea-Elena Petru
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babeș Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Ioana Macasoi
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timișoara, Romania;
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Ovidiu Oniga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 Victor Babes, Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (A.Ș.); (I.I.); (G.M.); (C.M.); (O.O.)
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Elgammal WE, Elkady H, Mahdy HA, Husein DZ, Alsfouk AA, Alsfouk BA, Ibrahim IM, Elkaeed EB, Metwaly AM, Eissa IH. Rationale design and synthesis of new apoptotic thiadiazole derivatives targeting VEGFR-2: computational and in vitro studies. RSC Adv 2023; 13:35853-35876. [PMID: 38116168 PMCID: PMC10728955 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra07562a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
This work presents the synthesis and in vitro, and in silico analyses of new thiadiazole derivatives that are designed to mimic the pharmacophoric characteristics of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) inhibitors. A comprehensive evaluation of the inhibitory properties of the synthesized thiadiazole derivatives against the cancer cell lines MCF-7 and HepG2 identified several auspicious candidates. Among them, compound 14 showed remarkably low IC50 values of 0.04 μM and 0.18 μM against MCF-7 and HepG2, respectively. VEGFR-2 inhibitory evaluation of compound 14 revealed a promising IC50 value in the nanomolar range (103 nM). Further examination of the cell cycle revealed that compound 14 has the ability to stop the progression of the cell cycle in MCF-7 cells via G0-G1 phase arrest. Interestingly, compound 14 also demonstrated a noteworthy pro-apoptotic effect in MCF-7 cells, with notable increases in early apoptosis (16.53%) and late apoptosis (29.57%), along with a slight increase in the population of necrotic cells (5.95%). Furthermore, compound 14 showed a significant drop in MCF-7 cells' ability to migrate and heal wounds. Additionally, compound 14 promoted apoptosis by boosting BAX (6-fold) while lowering Bcl-2 (6.2-fold). The binding affinities of the synthesized candidates to their target (VEGFR-2) were confirmed by computational investigations, including molecular docking, principal component analysis of trajectories (PCAT), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Additionally, compound 14's stability and reactivity were investigated using density functional theory (DFT). These thorough results highlight compound 14's potential as a lead contender for additional research in the creation of anticancer drugs that target VEGFR-2. This work establishes a foundation for promising thiadiazole derivatives for future therapeutic developments in anticancer- and angiogenesis-related scientific fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walid E Elgammal
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University Nasr City Cairo Egypt
| | - Hazem Elkady
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
| | - Hazem A Mahdy
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
| | - Dalal Z Husein
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, New Valley University El-Kharja 72511 Egypt
| | - Aisha A Alsfouk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University P.O. Box 84428 Riyadh 11671 Saudi Arabia
| | - Bshra A Alsfouk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University P.O. Box 84428 Riyadh 11671 Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim M Ibrahim
- Biophysics Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University Giza 12613 Egypt
| | - Eslam B Elkaeed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, AlMaarefa University Riyadh 13713 Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed M Metwaly
- Pharmacognosy and Medicinal Plants Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
- Biopharmaceutical Products Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City) Alexandria Egypt
| | - Ibrahim H Eissa
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
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El-Metwally SA, Elkady H, Hagras M, Elkaeed EB, Alsfouk BA, Doghish AS, Ibrahim IM, Taghour MS, Husein DZ, Metwaly AM, Eissa IH. Discovery of new VEGFR-2 inhibitors and apoptosis inducer-based thieno[2,3- d]pyrimidine. Future Med Chem 2023; 15:2065-2086. [PMID: 37955128 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: VEGFR-2 is a key regulator of cancer cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis. Aim: Development of thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives as potential anti-cancer agents targeting VEGFR-2. Methods: Seven in vitro and nine in silico studies were conducted. Results: Compound 10d demonstrated strong anticancer potential, boosting apoptosis based on VEGFR-2 inhibition. It arrested the S phase of the cell cycle and upregulated the apoptotic factors. Docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies confirm the stability of the VEGFR-2-10d complex and suggest that these compounds have good binding affinities to VEGFR-2. In addition, the drug-likeness was confirmed. Conclusion: Thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines, particularly compound 10d, has good anticancer effects and may contribute to the development of new anticancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souad A El-Metwally
- Department of Basic Science, Higher Technological institute, 10th of Ramadan City, Egypt
| | - Hazem Elkady
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, 11884, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Hagras
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, 11884, Egypt
| | - Eslam B Elkaeed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, AlMaarefa University, Riyadh 13713, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bshra A Alsfouk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, PO Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed S Doghish
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo 11231, Egypt
| | - Ibrahim M Ibrahim
- Biophysics Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, 12613, Egypt
| | - Mohammed S Taghour
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, 11884, Egypt
| | - Dalal Z Husein
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, New Valley University, El-Kharja, 72511, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M Metwaly
- Pharmacognosy & Medicinal Plants Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, 11884, Egypt
- Biopharmaceutical Products Research Department, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research & Technological Applications (SRTA-City), Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Ibrahim H Eissa
- Department of Basic Science, Higher Technological institute, 10th of Ramadan City, Egypt
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