Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of 6-Substituted Thieno[3,2- d]pyrimidine Analogues as Dual Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Kinase and Microtubule Inhibitors

J Med Chem. 2019 Feb 14;62(3):1274-1290. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01391. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Abstract

The clinical evidence for the success of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in combination with microtubule-targeting agents prompted us to design and develop single agents that possess both epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase and tubulin polymerization inhibitory properties. A series of 6-aryl/heteroaryl-4-(3',4',5'-trimethoxyanilino)thieno[3,2- d]pyrimidine derivatives were discovered as novel dual tubulin polymerization and EGFR kinase inhibitors. The 4-(3',4',5'-trimethoxyanilino)-6-( p-tolyl)thieno[3,2- d]pyrimidine derivative 6g was the most potent compound of the series as an antiproliferative agent, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values in the single- or double-digit nanomolar range. Compound 6g bound to tubulin in the colchicine site and inhibited tubulin assembly with an IC50 value of 0.71 μM, and 6g inhibited EGFR activity with an IC50 value of 30 nM. Our data suggested that the excellent in vitro and in vivo profile of 6g may be derived from its dual inhibition of tubulin polymerization and EGFR kinase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Colchicine / metabolism
  • Drug Design*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Enzyme Activation
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Microtubules / drug effects*
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / metabolism
  • Polymerization
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Tubulin / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Pyrimidines
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Tubulin
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
  • Colchicine