Discovery of 6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole derivatives as a new type of FLT3 inhibitors

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2015 Oct 15;25(20):4534-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2015.08.068. Epub 2015 Aug 28.

Abstract

In this investigation, a series of 6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole derivatives were synthesized. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis of these compounds based on cellular assays led to the discovery of a number of compounds that showed potent activity against FLT3-dependent human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell line MV4-11, but very weak or no activity against FLT3-independent human cervical cancer cell line Hela. FLT3 kinase inhibition assays were then performed on the three most active compounds. Among these compounds, 6-(4-(3-(5-(tert-butyl)isoxazol- 3-yl)ureido)phenyl)-N-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-3-carboxamide (19) exhibited the highest potency in both cellular (MV4-11, IC50: 0.002 μM) and enzymatic (FLT3, IC50: 0.022 μM) assays. Further in-depth in vitro anti-AML activity and mechanism of action studies were carried out on compound 19.

Keywords: 6-Phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole; Acute myeloid leukemia (AML); Anti-viability; FLT3; FLT3-ITD; MV4-11.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Discovery*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Phenylurea Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Phenylurea Compounds / chemistry
  • Phenylurea Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Thiazoles / chemical synthesis
  • Thiazoles / chemistry
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology*
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / metabolism

Substances

  • 6-(4-(3-(5-(tert-butyl)isoxazol- 3-yl)ureido)phenyl)-N-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)imidazo(2,1-b)thiazole-3-carboxamide
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Thiazoles
  • FLT3 protein, human
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3