Discovery and Structural Optimization of Novel Quinolone Derivatives as Potent Irreversible Pan-Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors for Treating Solid Tumors

J Med Chem. 2023 Jul 13;66(13):8858-8875. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00455. Epub 2023 Jun 19.

Abstract

Aberrant activation of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) has been identified as an oncogenic driver force for multiple cancer types, making FGFRs a compelling target for anticancer therapy. Because of the renewed interest in irreversible inhibitors, considerable efforts have been made to find irreversible FGFR inhibitors. Herein, we discovered a series of novel quinolone-based covalent pan-FGFR inhibitors by further optimizing the lead compound (lenvatinib) under the guidance of molecular docking. The representative pan-FGFR inhibitor I-5 exhibited significant inhibitory potency against FGFR1-4 with nanomolar activity and effectively suppressed the proliferation of Huh-7 and Hep3B HCC cells. I-5 displayed high selectivity against a panel of 369 kinases at 1 μM. The irreversible binding to target proteins was characterized by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Moreover, I-5 exhibited favorable PK properties in vivo and induced significant TGI in the Huh-7 and NCI-H1581 xenograft mouse models.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Quinolones* / pharmacology
  • Quinolones* / therapeutic use
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
  • Quinolones
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors