Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Aminoindazole Derivatives as Highly Selective Covalent Inhibitors of Wild-Type and Gatekeeper Mutant FGFR4

J Med Chem. 2022 Mar 24;65(6):5113-5133. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00096. Epub 2022 Mar 10.

Abstract

Aberrant FGF19/FGFR4 signaling has been shown to be an oncogenic driver of growth and survival in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with several pan-FGFR inhibitors and FGFR4-selective inhibitors currently being evaluated in the clinic. However, FGFR4 gatekeeper mutation induced acquired resistance remains an unmet clinical challenge for HCC treatment. Thus, a series of aminoindazole derivatives were designed and synthesized as new irreversible inhibitors of wild-type and gatekeeper mutant FGFR4. One representative compound (7v) exhibited excellent potency against FGFR4, FGFR4V550L, and FGFR4V550M with nanomolar activity in both the biochemical and cellular assays while sparing FGFR1/2/3. While compound 7v demonstrated modest in vivo antitumor efficacy in nude mice bearing the Huh-7 xenograft model consistent with its unfavorable pharmacokinetic properties, it provides a promising new starting point for future drug discovery combating FGFR4 gatekeeper mediated resistance in HCC patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / drug therapy
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • FGFR4 protein, human
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4