Gefitinib-Tamoxifen Hybrid Ligands as Potent Agents against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

J Med Chem. 2022 Mar 24;65(6):4616-4632. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01646. Epub 2022 Mar 14.

Abstract

Anticancer drug conjugates may benefit from simultaneous action at two targets potentially overcoming the drawbacks of current cancer treatment, such as insufficient efficacy, high toxicity, and development of resistance. Compared to a combination of two single-target drugs, they may offer an advantage of pharmacokinetic simplicity and fewer drug-drug interactions. Here, we report a series of compounds connecting tamoxifen or endoxifen with the EGFR-inhibitor gefitinib via a covalent linkage. These hybrid ligands retain both ER antagonist activity and EGFR inhibition. The most potent analogues exhibited single-digit nanomolar activities at both targets. The amide-linked endoxifen-gefitinib drug conjugates 17b and 17c demonstrated the most favorable anti-cancer profile in cellular viability assays on MCF7, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and BT-549 breast cancer cells. Most importantly, in TNBC cells 17b and 17c displayed nanomolar IC50-values (380 nM - 970 nM) and were superior in their anti-cancer activity compared to their control compounds and combinations thereof.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Female
  • Gefitinib / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Tamoxifen / pharmacology
  • Tamoxifen / therapeutic use
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Ligands
  • Tamoxifen
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Gefitinib