Discovery of 7-(4-(3-ethynylphenylamino)-7-methoxyquinazolin-6-yloxy)-N-hydroxyheptanamide (CUDc-101) as a potent multi-acting HDAC, EGFR, and HER2 inhibitor for the treatment of cancer

J Med Chem. 2010 Mar 11;53(5):2000-9. doi: 10.1021/jm901453q.

Abstract

By incorporating histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory functionality into the pharmacophore of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) inhibitors, we synthesized a novel series of compounds with potent, multiacting HDAC, EGFR, and HER2 inhibition and identified 7-(4-(3-ethynylphenylamino)-7-methoxyquinazolin-6-yloxy)-N-hydroxyheptanamide 8 (CUDC-101) as a drug candidate, which is now in clinical development. 8 displays potent in vitro inhibitory activity against HDAC, EGFR, and HER2 with an IC(50) of 4.4, 2.4, and 15.7 nM, respectively. In most tumor cell lines tested, 8 exhibits efficient antiproliferative activity with greater potency than vorinostat (SAHA), erlotinib, lapatinib, and combinations of vorinostat/erlotinib and vorinostat/lapatinib. In vivo, 8 promotes tumor regression or inhibition in various cancer xenograft models including nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), liver, breast, head and neck, colon, and pancreatic cancers. These results suggest that a single compound that simultaneously inhibits HDAC, EGFR, and HER2 may offer greater therapeutic benefits in cancer over single-acting agents through the interference with multiple pathways and potential synergy among HDAC and EGFR/HER2 inhibitors.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Growth Processes / drug effects
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • HeLa Cells
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Histone Deacetylases / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Quinazolines / chemical synthesis
  • Quinazolines / chemistry*
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Quinazolines
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Histone Deacetylases