Irreversible inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor activity by 3-aminopropanamides

J Med Chem. 2012 Mar 8;55(5):2251-64. doi: 10.1021/jm201507x. Epub 2012 Feb 17.

Abstract

Irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors contain a reactive warhead which covalently interacts with a conserved cysteine residue in the kinase domain. The acrylamide fragment, a commonly employed warhead, effectively alkylates Cys797 of EGFR, but its reactivity can cause rapid metabolic deactivation or nonspecific reactions with off-targets. We describe here a new series of irreversible inhibitors containing a 3-aminopropanamide linked in position 6 to 4-anilinoquinazoline or 4-anilinoquinoline-3-carbonitrile driving portions. Some of these compounds proved to be as efficient as their acrylamide analogues in inhibiting EGFR-TK (TK = tyrosine kinase) autophosphorylation in A549 lung cancer cells. Moreover, several 3-aminopropanamides suppressed proliferation of gefitinib-resistant H1975 cells, harboring the T790M mutation in EGFR, at significantly lower concentrations than did gefitinib. A prototypical compound, N-(4-(3-bromoanilino)quinazolin-6-yl)-3-(dimethylamino)propanamide (5), did not show covalent binding to cell-free EGFR-TK in a fluorescence assay, while it underwent selective activation in the intracellular environment, releasing an acrylamide derivative which can react with thiol groups.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amides / chemical synthesis*
  • Amides / chemistry
  • Amides / pharmacology
  • Aniline Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Aniline Compounds / chemistry
  • Aniline Compounds / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Humans
  • Phosphorylation
  • Propionates / chemical synthesis*
  • Propionates / chemistry
  • Propionates / pharmacology
  • Quinazolines / chemical synthesis
  • Quinazolines / chemistry
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology
  • Quinolines / chemical synthesis
  • Quinolines / chemistry
  • Quinolines / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Amides
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Propionates
  • Quinazolines
  • Quinolines
  • ErbB Receptors