The hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR or c-Met) is a driver of multiple cancer subtypes. While there are several c-Met inhibitors in development, few have been approved for clinical use, warranting the need for continued research and development of c-Met targeting therapeutic modalities. The research presented here demonstrates a particular class of compounds known as isothiocyanatostilbenes can act as c-Met inhibitors in multiple cancer cell lines. Specifically, we found that 4,4'-Diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) and 4,4'-Diisothiocyanatodihydrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (H2DIDS) had c-Met inhibitory effective doses in the low micromolar range while 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS) and 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2, 2'-disulfonic acid (DNDS) exhibited IC50s 100 to 1000 fold higher. These compounds displayed much greater selectivity for inhibiting c-Met activation compared to similar receptor tyrosine kinases. In addition, DIDS and H2DIDS reduced hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced, but not epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced, cell scattering, wound healing, and 3-dimensional (3D) proliferation of tumor cell spheroids. In-cell and cell-free assays suggested that DIDS and H2DIDS can inhibit and reverse c-Met phosphorylation, similar to SU11274. Additional data demonstrated that DIDS is tolerable in vivo. These data provide preliminary support for future studies examining DIDS, H2DIDS, and derivatives as potential c-Met therapeutics.
Keywords: DIDS; H2DIDS; c-Met; isothiocyanatostilbenes.