Antitumor activity and pharmacokinetic properties of PF-00299804, a second-generation irreversible pan-erbB receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Signaling through the erbB receptor family of tyrosine kinases contributes to the proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival of a variety of cell types. Abnormalities in members of this receptor family have been shown to play a role in oncogenesis, thus making them attractive targets for anticancer treatments. PF-00299804 is a second-generation irreversible pan-erbB receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor currently in phase I clinical trials. PF-00299804 is believed to irreversibly inhibit erbB tyrosine kinase activity through binding at the ATP site and covalent modification of nucleophilic cysteine residues in the catalytic domains of erbB family members. Oral administration of PF-00299804 causes significant antitumor activity, including marked tumor regressions in a variety of human tumor xenograft models that express and/or overexpress erbB family members or contain the double mutation (L858R/T790M) in erbB1 (EGFR) associated with resistance to gefitinib and erlotinib. Furthermore, PF-00299804 shows exceptional distribution to human tumor xenografts and excellent pharmacokinetic properties across species.

A highly efficient procedure for 3-sulfenylation of indole-2-carboxylates.

A highly efficient one-pot procedure for 3-sulfenylation of 2-carboxyindoles is described. Treatment of thiols with N-chlorosuccinimide at -78 degrees C in CH(2)Cl(2) affords sulfenyl chlorides in situ that readily react with 2-carboxyindoles to give 3-thioindoles in high yields. This new method is milder, produces less waste, and is compatible with a wide range of thiol and indole functionality. [reaction: see text]