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Dorababu A. Role of heterocycles in inhibition of VEGFR-2 - a recent update (2019-2022). RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:416-432. [PMID: 38389872 PMCID: PMC10880944 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00506b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The literature reveals that oncogenic protein kinase inhibition has been proved to be a successful anticancer approach. The vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) kinase plays an important role in angiogenesis and metastasis. VEGFR-2 has an upper hand in the angiogenesis process. Vascular endothelial growth factor activates VEGFR-2 which initiates tumor angiogenesis. In addition, VEGFRs are associated with numerous other diseases. Hence, inhibition of VEGFRs is an attractive approach for cancer treatment. In view of this, researchers designed and discovered small molecular heterocycle-based VEGFR-2 inhibitors and some of them have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, these VEGFR-2 inhibitors pose adverse side effects such as cardiovascular problems, diarrhea, and renal function impairment. Research indicates that combination of certain pharmacophores exhibits excellent VEGFR inhibitory activity. In particular, combination of heterocycles paved the way to efficient VEGFR inhibitors. In this review, the research focusing on VEGFR inhibitory activity has been discussed along with the structure-activity relationship. In addition to emphasizing the most potent molecule among the set of designed molecules, structural features responsible for such an activity are described. This review may aid in designing potent VEGFR inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atukuri Dorababu
- SRMPP Government First Grade College Huvinahadagali 583219 India
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2
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El-Hazek RMM, Zaher NH, El-Gazzar MGM, Fadel NA, El-Sabbagh WA. Novel VEGFR2 inhibitors with thiazoloquinoxaline scaffold targeting hepatocellular carcinoma with lower cardiotoxic impact. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13907. [PMID: 37626064 PMCID: PMC10457369 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40832-z] [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: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal tumor which is usually diagnosed at advanced stage. Molecular targeted drugs were used recently to treat HCC, however, due to serious side effects, mainly cardiotoxicity and emergence of resistance, there is demanding to explore new chemotherapeutics. 10 novel thiazoloquinoxaline derivatives coupled with different sulfonamide moieties 4(a-j) were designed and synthesized fulfilling pharmacophoric features of VEGFR-2 inhibition. Structures of all new compounds were verified via spectral and microanalytical data. After carrying in-vitro VEGFR-2 assay for compounds 4(a-j); sulfapyridine and sulfamethoxazole derivatives 4d and 4f showed potential inhibitory effect [61.04 and 83.35 nM], respectively, comparable to standard sorafenib [51.41 nM]. Both were then further evaluated for their cytocidal activity against HepG2 cell-line and against myocardium cells using H9C2 cell-line. As a result, only sulfapyridine derivative 4d exhibited a significant inhibition of HepG2 cells viability [IC50 = 4.31 μM]. Furthermore, it showed relatively lower cytotoxic impact against normal H9C2 myocardium cells [IC50, 33.47 μM] compared to that of sorafenib [IC50, 98.07 μM]. In-vivo study was carried out to determine myocardium safety of compound 4d on irradiated mice (8 Gy). In-vivo results of sulfapyridine derivative 4d showed normal cardiac enzyme function (CK) and serum catalase activity with significant reductions in LDH, cardiac TNF-α and caspase-9 levels, alongside with its efficacy in suppressing the expression of hepatic VEGF. In conclusion, sulfapyridine derivative 4d could be considered a promising candidate as VEGFR-2 inhibitor with less myocardium side effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reham M M El-Hazek
- Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, 11787, Egypt
| | - Nashwa H Zaher
- Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, 11787, Egypt.
| | - Mostafa G M El-Gazzar
- Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, 11787, Egypt
| | - Noha A Fadel
- Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, 11787, Egypt
| | - Walaa A El-Sabbagh
- Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, 11787, Egypt
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3
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Alsaif NA, Mahdy HA, Alanazi MM, Obaidullah AJ, Alkahtani HM, Al-Hossaini AM, Al-Mehizi AA, Elwan A, Taghour MS. Targeting VEGFR-2 by new quinoxaline derivatives: Design, synthesis, antiproliferative assay, apoptosis induction, and in silico studies. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2021; 355:e2100359. [PMID: 34862634 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202100359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Twelve new triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline-based compounds are reported as anticancer agents with potential effects against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), using sorafenib as a reference molecule. With sorafenib as the positive control, the antiproliferative effects of the synthesized compounds against MCF-7 and HepG2 cells, as well as their VEGFR-2-inhibitory activities, were assessed. The most powerful VEGFR-2 inhibitor was compound 14a, which had an IC50 value of 3.2 nM, which is very close to that of sorafenib (IC50 = 3.12 nM). Furthermore, compounds 14c and 15d showed potential inhibitory activity against VEGFR-2, with IC50 values of 4.8 and 5.4 nM, respectively. Compound 14a caused apoptosis in HepG2 cells and stopped the cell cycle at the G2/M phase. In HepG2 cells, it also increased the levels of the proteases caspase-3 and caspase-9, as well as the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. In silico ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) and toxicity experiments revealed that the synthesized agents had acceptable drug-likeness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nawaf A Alsaif
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hazem A Mahdy
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr, Egypt
| | - Mohammed M Alanazi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad J Obaidullah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamad M Alkahtani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah M Al-Hossaini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrahman A Al-Mehizi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alaa Elwan
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr, Egypt
| | - Mohammed S Taghour
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr, Egypt
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4
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Alanazi MM, Eissa IH, Alsaif NA, Obaidullah AJ, Alanazi WA, Alasmari AF, Albassam H, Elkady H, Elwan A. Design, synthesis, docking, ADMET studies, and anticancer evaluation of new 3-methylquinoxaline derivatives as VEGFR-2 inhibitors and apoptosis inducers. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 36:1760-1782. [PMID: 34340610 PMCID: PMC8344243 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2021.1956488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) plays a critical role in cancer angiogenesis. Inhibition of VEGFR-2 activity proved effective suppression of tumour propagation. Accordingly, two series of new 3-methylquinoxaline derivatives have been designed and synthesised as VEGFR-2 inhibitors. The synthesised derivatives were evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxic activities against MCF-7and HepG2 cell lines. In addition, the VEGFR-2 inhibitory activities of the target compounds were estimated to indicate the potential mechanism of their cytotoxicity. To a great extent, the results of VEGFR-2 inhibition were highly correlated with that of cytotoxicity. Compound 27a was the most potent VEGFR-2 inhibitor with IC50 of 3.2 nM very close to positive control sorafenib (IC50 = 3.12 nM). Such compound exhibited a strong cytotoxic effect against MCF-7 and HepG2, respectively with IC50 of 7.7 and 4.5 µM in comparison to sorafenib (IC50 = 3.51 and 2.17 µM). In addition, compounds 28, 30f, 30i, and 31b exhibited excellent VEGFR-2 inhibition activities (IC50 range from 4.2 to 6.1 nM) with promising cytotoxic activity. Cell cycle progression and apoptosis induction were investigated for the most active member 27a. Also, the effect of 27a on the level of caspase-3, caspase-9, and BAX/Bcl-2 ratio was determined. Molecular docking studies were implemented to interpret the binding mode of the target compounds with the VEGFR-2 pocket. Furthermore, toxicity and ADMET calculations were performed for the synthesised compounds to study their pharmacokinetic profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed M. Alanazi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim H. Eissa
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nawaf A. Alsaif
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad J. Obaidullah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wael A. Alanazi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah F. Alasmari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hussam Albassam
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hazem Elkady
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Alaa Elwan
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
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Design, synthesis and molecular docking of new [1,2,4] triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline derivatives as anticancer agents targeting VEGFR-2 kinase. Mol Divers 2021; 26:1915-1932. [PMID: 34460053 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-021-10303-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) is critically involved in cancer angiogenesis. Blocking of VEGFR-2 signaling pathway proved effective suppression of tumor growth. Accordingly, two series of new triazoloquinoxaline-based derivatives were designed and synthesized as VEGFR-2 inhibitors. All in vitro cytotoxic activities of the synthesized compounds were evaluated against two human cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and HepG2). To confirm the potential mechanism of cytotoxicity, enzymatic assays against VEGFR-2 were estimated for all the target compounds. The results of VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity were in high correlation. Compound 22a exhibited the highest cytotoxic effect with IC50 values of 6.2 and 4.9 μM against MCF-7 and HepG2, respectively, comparing to sorafenib (IC50 = 3.53 and 2.18 μM). Such derivative showed the best VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 3.9 nM, which is very close to that of sorafenib (IC50 = 3.13 nM). Moreover, compounds 22b, 23b, and 23e exhibited strong cytotoxic activity with IC50 values ranging from 11.7 to 15.3 μM. Also, these compounds showed promising VEGFR-2 inhibition with IC50 values of 4.2, 5.7, and 4.7 nM, respectively. In silico docking, ADMET, and toxicity studies were carried out for the synthesized compounds. The results revealed that some compounds have a good binding mode against VEGFR-2 and a high level of drug-likeness.
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Chen F, Fang Y, Zhao R, Le J, Zhang B, Huang R, Chen Z, Shao J. Evolution in medicinal chemistry of sorafenib derivatives for hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 179:916-935. [PMID: 31306818 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.06.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. Traditional chemotherapy drugs are hard to reach a satisfactory therapeutic effect since advanced HCC is highly chemo-resistant. Sorafenib is an oral multikinase inhibitor that can suppress tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis and induce cancer cell apoptosis. However, the poor solubility, rapid metabolism and low bioavailability of sorafenib greatly restricted its further clinical application. During the past decade, numerous sorafenib derivatives have been designed and synthesized to overcome its disadvantages and improve its clinical performance. This article focuses on the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of various sorafenib derivatives with modifications on the N-methylpicolinamide group, urea group, central aromatic ring or others. More importantly, this review summarizes the current status of the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of reported sorafenib derivatives, which can provide some detailed information of future directions for further structural modifications of sorafenib to discovery new anti-tumor drugs with improved clinical performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangmin Chen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, China
| | - Yifan Fang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, China
| | - Ruirui Zhao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, China
| | - Jingqing Le
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, China
| | - Bingchen Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, China
| | - Rui Huang
- Marine Drug R&D Center, Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Zixuan Chen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, China
| | - Jingwei Shao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, China; Marine Drug R&D Center, Institute of Oceanography, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
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