Albendazole repurposing on VEGFR-2 for possible anticancer application: In-silico analysis

PLoS One. 2023 Aug 16;18(8):e0287198. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287198. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Drug repurposing is the finding new activity of the existing drug. Recently, Albendazole's well-known antihelmintic has got the attention of an anticancer drug. Plausible evidence of the interaction of Albendazole with one of the types of tyrosine kinase protein receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) is still not well understood. Inhibition of the VEGFR-2 receptor can prevent tumor growth. The current study investigated the interaction of Albendazole with VEGFR-2.It was found that the said interaction exhibited potent binding energy ΔG = -7.12 kcal/mol, inhibitory concentration (Ki) = 6.04 μM, and as positive control comparison with standard drug (42Q1170A) showed ΔG = -12.35 kcal/mol and Ki = 881 μM. The key residue Asp1046 was formed involved hydrogen bonding with Albendazole. The molecular dynamics simulation study revealed the stable trajectory of the VEGFR-2 receptor with Albendazole bound complex having significant high free energy of binding as calculated from Molecular Mechanics Generalized Born and Surface Area study ΔG = -42.07±2.4 kcal/mol. The binding energy is significantly high for greater stability of the complex. Principal component analysis of molecular docking trajectories exhibited ordered motion at higher modes, implying a high degree of VEGFR-2 and Albendazole complex stability as seen with the standard drug 42Q. Therefore, the current work suggests the role of Albendazole as a potent angiogenesis inhibitor as ascertained by its potential interaction with VEGFR-2. The findings of research will aid in the future development of Albendazole in anticancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Albendazole* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Drug Repositioning
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Albendazole
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2023R30), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The funders have an indispensable role in revising, reviewing, and finalizing the manuscript throughout.