Identification of a Multitargeted Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor for the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors and Acute Myeloid Leukemia

J Med Chem. 2019 Dec 26;62(24):11135-11150. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01229. Epub 2019 Dec 6.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are prototypes of stem cell factor receptor (c-KIT)-driven cancer. Two receptor tyrosine kinases, c-KIT and fms-tyrosine kinase (FLT3), are frequently mutated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, and these mutations are associated with poor prognosis. In this study, we discovered a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, compound 15a, with potent inhibition against single or double mutations of c-KIT developed in GISTs. Moreover, crystal structure analysis revealed the unique binding mode of 15a with c-KIT and may elucidate its high potency in inhibiting c-KIT kinase activity. Compound 15a inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis by targeting c-KIT in c-KIT-mutant GIST cell lines. The antitumor effects of 15a were also demonstrated in GIST430 and GIST patient-derived xenograft models. Further studies demonstrated that 15a inhibited the proliferation of c-KIT- and FLT3-driven AML cells in vitro and in vivo. The results of this study suggest that 15a may be a potential anticancer drug for the treatment of GISTs and AML.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / drug therapy*
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / enzymology
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / genetics
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / pathology
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / enzymology
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mice, SCID
  • Mutation*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / genetics
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / genetics

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • FLT3 protein, human
  • KIT protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3