Inhibition of TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling by compound 5aa: A potential treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The incidence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has been steadily increasing each year, posing significant challenges in its treatment. In this study, we conducted the design and synthesis of 23 new inhibitors that specifically target the TGF-ß1/Smad3 pathway. Initially, we employed a cell model of TGF-ß-induced pulmonary fibrosis, using cell survival rate and HYP expression as indicators to identify the potent ingredient 5aa, which demonstrated significant anti-pulmonary fibrosis activity. Subsequently, we induced mice with bleomycin (BLM) to establish an experimental animal model of pulmonary fibrosis, and evaluated the pharmacodynamics of 5aa in vivo against pulmonary fibrosis. The alterations in HYP and collagen levels in BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis mice were analyzed using ELISA and immunohistochemistry techniques. The results indicated that compound 5aa effectively suppressed the fibrotic response induced by TGF-ß1, inhibited the expression of the fibrotic marker α-SMA, and hindered the EMT process in NIH3T3 cells. Additionally, oral administration of 5aa demonstrated significant therapeutic effects in a mouse model of IPF, comparable to the established drug Nintedanib. Moreover, compound 5aa exhibited higher bioavailability in vivo compared to Nintedanib. These collective outcomes suggest that 5aa holds promise as a potential inhibitor of TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling for the treatment of IPF.

The new N2, N4-diphenylpyridine-2,4-diamine deuterated derivatives as EGFR inhibitors to overcome C797S-mediated resistance.

A series of new deuterated and non-deuterated N2, N4-diphenylpyridine - 2,4-diamine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as EGFR C797S-mediated resistance inhibitors. Most of these compounds exhibited potent antiproliferative activity against Baf3-EGFR L858R/T790M/C797S and Baf3-EGFR Del19/T790M/C797S cancel cell lines, with IC50 values in the nanomolar concentration range. Among them, compound 14l represented the most active compound with IC50 values of 8-11 nM. Interestingly, metabolic stability assay with rat liver microsomes indicated that the half-life of the deuterated derivative 14o was significantly increased compared to that of 14l. In xenograft mice models, 14o inhibited tumor growth with excellent inhibitory rate of 75.1 % at the dosage of 40 mg/kg, comparing 73.2 % of the TGI with its non-deuterated compound 14l, at a dosage of 80 mg/kg. Mechanism studies revealed that 14o was a potent EGFR L858R/T790M/C797S and EGFR Del19/T790M/C797S kinase inhibitor, which could downregulate the protein phosphorylation of EGFR and m-TOR signaling pathways, arrest cell cycle at G2/M phase by affecting the expression of CDC25C, and promote cell apoptosis by regulating the expression of cleaved caspase-3. In summary, 14o could serve as a promising deuterated compound for the development of highly efficient anticancer agents.

Discovery of potent and effective inhibitors containing sulfoxide structures targeting EML4-ALK rearrangement and EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer.

For non-small cell lung cancer patients with dual mutations in EGFR and ALK, there are currently no effective therapies. Consequently, novel EGFR/ALK dual-target inhibitors are urgently needed for the treatment of NSCLC. Here, we designed a series of highly effective small molecule dual inhibitors of ALK and EGFR. The biological evaluation highlighted that most of these new compounds could effectively inhibit both ALK and EGFR in enzymatic and cellular assays. Compound (+)-8l was investigated for its antitumor properties, and it was found that (+)-8l blocked the phosphorylation of EGFR and ALK induced by ligands and inhibited phosphorylation-ERK and phosphorylation-AKT induced by ligands. Furthermore, (+)-8l also induces apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in cancer cells and inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion. Notably, (+)-8l significantly suppressed tumor growth in the H1975 cell-inoculated xenograft model (20 mg/kg/d, TGI: 96.11%), PC9 cell-inoculated xenograft model (20 mg/kg/d, TGI: 96.61%) and EML4 ALK-Baf3 cell-inoculated xenograft model (30 mg/kg/d, TGI: 80.86%). These results highlight the differentiated potential of (+)-8l to inhibit ALK rearrangement and EGFR mutation in NSCLC.

Novel Dual-Target Kinase Inhibitors of EGFR and ALK Were Designed, Synthesized, and Induced Cell Apoptosis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

ALK-positive NSCLC coexisting with EGFR mutations is a frequently occurring clinical phenomenon. Targeting ALK and EGFR simultaneously may be an effective way to treat these cancer patients. In this study, we designed and synthesized ten new dual-target EGFR/ALK inhibitors. Among them, the optimal compound 9j exhibited good activity with IC50 values of 0.07829 ± 0.03 µM and 0.08183 ± 0.02 µM against H1975 (EGFR T790M/L858R) and H2228 (EML4-ALK) cells, respectively. Immunofluorescence assays indicated that the compound could simultaneously inhibit the expression of phosphorylated EGFR and ALK proteins. A kinase assay demonstrated that compound 9j could inhibit both EGFR and ALK kinases; thus, exerting an antitumor effect. Additionally, compound 9j induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner and inhibited the invasion and migration of tumor cells. All of these results indicate that 9j is worthy of further study.

Discovery of a potent EGFR and ALK dual mutation inhibitor containing N-(3-((4-((2-(cyclopropylsulfinyl)phenyl)amino)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino) phenyl)acrylamide scaffold.

A series of EGFR and ALK dual inhibitors containing sulfoxide and cyclopropyl groups were designed and synthesized. The lead compound 8a showed a significant activity against EGFR and ALK in both the enzymatic and cellular assays. The study of anti-tumor mechanism indicated that 8a could effectively block the phosphorylation of EGFR and ALK proteins, so as to effectively inhibiting the proliferation and inducing apoptosis of H1975 tumor cells, blocking the cell cycle and reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential inhibited the migration of H1975 cells. In vivo studies, compounds 8a and 8d can significantly subside the tumor tissue of nude mice without obvious toxicity.

Novel third-generation pyrimidines-based EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting EGFR T790M mutation in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

The critical T790M secondary mutation in epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR) mediates resistance to first- and second-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Herein, we identified 12 new 2,4-diaryl pyrimidine derivatives containing thiophene fragments as new selective third-generation EGFR inhibitors. Among them, Compound 6a showed good inhibitory activity against EGFR mutant cells with an IC50 value of 0.0022 ± 0.001 µM and was approximately 1730-fold less potent against EGFR WT cells (IC50: 4.499 ± 0.057 µM). Moreover, it strongly affected EGFR-mediated signaling pathways, attenuated tumor proliferation via the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, arrested the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, and induced apoptosis in H1975 cells. It also displayed appropriate pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters with an oral bioavailability value of 33.57%. Additionally, in vivo studies confirmed that 6a suppressed tumor growth in an H1975 xenograft model (25 mg/kg/d, TGI: 90.24%). Overall, these results suggest that 6a could be a promising lead compound for overcoming the clinical EGFR T790M resistance of patients with non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs).

Synthesis and evaluation of novel 2,4-diaminopyrimidines bearing a sulfoxide moiety as anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibition agents.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) targeted therapies have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in ALK-positive lung adenocarcinomas. Here we synthesized and evaluated sixteen new 2,4-diaminopyrimidines bearing a sulfoxide moiety as anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors. The optimal compound 9e exhibited excellent antiproliferative activity against non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H2228 cells, which is better than that of Brigatinib and similar to Ceritinib. Mechanism study revealed that the optimal compound 9e decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and arrested NCI-H2228 cells in the G0/G1 phase, finally resulting in cellular apoptosis. It is interesting that 9e could effectively inhibit the migration of NCI-H2228 cells and may be a promising leading compound for chemotherapy of metastatic cancer.

Synthesis, Evaluation, and Mechanism Study of New Tepotinib Derivatives as Antiproliferative Agents.

Inspired by the potent inhibition activity of the c-Met (mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor) inhibitor Tepotinib, a series of new Tepotinib derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to act as antiproliferative agents to find the leading compounds with good activity and limited side effects. Among them, compound 31e exhibited potent antiproliferative activity (IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) = 0.026 µΜ) against hepatic carcinoma 97H (human liver cancer cell) cells and, importantly, had very low inhibitory activity against normal cells. A mechanism study demonstrated that 31e induced G1 phase (First growth phase or G indicating gap) arrest, inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Met and its downstream signaling component, Akt (Protein Kinase B), and also inhibited the migration of hepatic carcinoma 97H cells.

Evaluation of 4-phenylamino-substituted naphthalene-1,2-diones as tubulin polymerization inhibitors.

A series of 4-phenylamino-substituted naphthalene-1,2-dione derivatives were prepared and evaluated as effective antiproliferative agents. MTT assays showed that the compounds with a methyl group on the nitrogen linker exhibited potent antiproliferative activities against human cancer cells. The mechanistic study revealed that these compounds could induce mitochondrial depolarization, which resulted in intracellular ROS production, and they also acted as tubulin polymerization inhibitors. Moreover, the typical compound could arrest A549 cells in the G2/M phase, resulting in cellular apoptosis and induced mitotic arrest in A549 cells through disrupting microtubule dynamics.

Synthesis and evaluation of new 2-chloro-4-aminopyrimidine and 2,6-dimethyl-4-aminopyrimidine derivatives as tubulin polymerization inhibitors.

Eighteen new 2-chloro-4-aminopyrimidine and 2,6-dimethyl-4-aminopyrimidine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as tubulin polymerization inhibitor for the treatment of cancer. Among them, compounds 10, 17, 20 and 21 exhibited potent antiproliferative activities against five human cancer cell lines. Microtubule dynamics assay showed that compound 17 could effectively inhibit tubulin polymerization. Molecular docking studies were also carried out to understand the binding pattern. Further mechanism studies revealed that 17 could induce G2/M phase arrest, disrupt the organization of the cellular microtubule network and induce cell apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction.

The design, synthesis and evaluation of selenium-containing 4-anilinoquinazoline hybrids as anticancer agents and a study of their mechanism.

Inhibition of tubulin polymerization is one of the significant strategies in the treatment of cancer. Inspired by the excellent antitumor activity of EP128495 and the beneficial biological activities of selenium compounds, a series of new selenium-containing 4-anilinoquinazoline hybrids were synthesized and evaluated as tubulin polymerization inhibitors. An anti-proliferative activity assay showed that most of the compounds inhibited human sensitive cancer cells at low nanomolar concentrations. A mechanism study revealed that the optimal compound 5a disrupted microtubule dynamics, decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and arrested HeLa cells in the G2/M phase, finally resulting in cellular apoptosis.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of histone deacetylase inhibitors possessing glutathione peroxidase-like and antioxidant activities against Alzheimer's disease.

A series of hybrids containing the pharmacophores of the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, SAHA, and the antioxidant ebselen were designed and synthesized as multi-target-directed ligands against Alzheimer's disease. An in vitro assay indicated that some of these molecules exhibit potent HDAC inhibitory activity and ebselen-related pharmacological effects. Specifically, the optimal compound 7f was found to be a potent HDAC inhibitor (IC50 = 0.037 µM), possessing rapid hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and glutathione peroxidase-like activity (ν0 = 150.0 µM min-1) and good free oxygen radical absorbance capacity (value of ORAC: 2.2). Furthermore, compound 7f showed significant protective effects against damage induced by H2O2 and the ability to prevent ROS accumulation in PC12 cells.

Synthesis, in vitro and in vivo evaluation of new hybrids of millepachine and phenstatin as potent tubulin polymerization inhibitors.

In this paper, a series of millepachine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as tubulin polymerization inhibitors. The optimal compound 5i, (3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)(5-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromen-8-yl)methanone, displayed the highest cytotoxicity toward a series of cancer cells (ranging from 18 to 45 nM of IC50). Further investigation revealed that 5i significantly repressed the multidrug resistant cells (A549/CDDP, A2780/TAX) and had little cytotoxicity towards human normal cells (HLF, BJ). Cellular mechanism studies demonstrated that 5i induced G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis, which was associated with the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Additionally, western blot analysis showed that 5i could change the levels of cell cycle-related proteins (e.g. Cyclin B1, Cdc25c, Cdc2) and some apoptosis-related proteins (e.g. Bax, Bad, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl). Finally, 5i effectively inhibited the growth of xenograft tumours of A549 cells in nude mice.

Synthesis and evaluation of selenium-containing indole chalcone and diarylketone derivatives as tubulin polymerization inhibition agents.

Sixteen new selenium-containing indole chalcone and diarylketone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as tubulin polymerization inhibitors. Among them, compound 25b exhibited the most potent antiproliferative activities against six human cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 0.004-0.022 µM. A microtubule dynamics assay and an immunofluorescence assay confirmed that 25b could effectively inhibit tubulin polymerization (IC50 = 2.1 ± 0.27 µM). Further cellular mechanism studies revealed that 25b induced G2/M phase arrest, which was further evidenced by the decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP).

The synthesis and evaluation of new butadiene derivatives as tubulin polymerization inhibitors.

A series of new butadiene derivatives was synthesized and evaluated as tubulin polymerization inhibitors for the treatment of cancer. The optimal butadiene derivative, 9a, exhibited IC50 values of 0.056-0.089µM for five human cancer cell lines. This paper included a mechanistic study of the antiproliferative activity, including a tubulin polymerization assay, an examination of morphological alterations of cancer cells, an analysis of cell cycle arrest and an apoptosis assay.

Glucagon Enhances Chemotherapy Efficacy By Inhibition of Tumor Vessels in Colorectal Cancer.

Chemotherapy is widely used to treat colorectal cancer (CRC). Despite its substantial benefits, the development of drug resistance and adverse effects remain challenging. This study aimed to elucidate a novel role of glucagon in anti-cancer therapy. In a series of in vitro experiments, glucagon inhibited cell migration and tube formation in both endothelial and tumor cells. In vivo studies demonstrated decreased tumor blood vessels and fewer pseudo-vessels in mice treated with glucagon. The combination of glucagon and chemotherapy exhibited enhanced tumor inhibition. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that glucagon increased the permeability of blood vessels, leading to a pronounced disruption of vessel morphology. Signaling pathway analysis identified a VEGF/VEGFR-dependent mechanism whereby glucagon attenuated angiogenesis through its receptor. Clinical data analysis revealed a positive correlation between elevated glucagon expression and chemotherapy response. This is the first study to reveal a role for glucagon in inhibiting angiogenesis and vascular mimicry. Additionally, the delivery of glucagon-encapsulated PEGylated liposomes to tumor-bearing mice amplified the inhibition of angiogenesis and vascular mimicry, consequently reinforcing chemotherapy efficacy. Collectively, the findings demonstrate the role of glucagon in inhibiting tumor vessel network and suggest the potential utility of glucagon as a promising predictive marker for patients with CRC receiving chemotherapy.

A novel c-Met/TRK inhibitor 1D228 efficiently inhibits tumor growth by targeting angiogenesis and tumor cell proliferation.

Multiple tumors are synergistically promoted by c-Met and TRK, and blocking their cross-signalling pathway may give better effects. In this study, we developed a tyrosine kinase inhibitor 1D228, which exhibited excellent anti-tumor activity by targeting c-Met and TRK. Models in vitro, 1D228 showed a significant better inhibition on cancer cell proliferation and migration than the positive drug Tepotinib. Models in vivo, 1D228 showed robust anti-tumor effect on gastric and liver tumor growth with 94.8% and 93.4% of the TGI, respectively, comparing 67.61% and 63.9% of Tepotinib. Importantly, compared with the combination of Larotrectinib and Tepotinib, 1D228 monotherapy in MKN45 xenograft tumor models showed stronger antitumor activity and lower toxicity. Mechanistic studies showed that 1D228 can largely inhibit the phosphorylation of TRKB and c-Met. Interestingly, both kinases, TRKs and c-Met, have been found to be co-expressed at high levels in patients with gastric cancer through IHC. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis has revealed that both genes are abnormally co-expressed in multiple types of cancer. Cell cycle analysis found that 1D228 induced G0/G1 arrest by inhibiting cyclin D1. Additionally, vascular endothelial cells also showed a pronounced response to 1D228 due to its expression of TRKB and c-Met. 1D228 suppressed the migration and tube formation of endothelial cells, which are the key functions of tumor angiogenesis. Taken together, compound 1D228 may be a promising candidate for the next generation of c-Met and TRK inhibitors for cancer treatment, and offers a novel potential treatment strategy for cancer patients with abnormal expressions of c-Met or NTRK, or simultaneous of them.

Synthesis and evaluation of new pirfenidone derivatives as anti-fibrosis agents.

Two series of new pirfenidone derivatives, in which phenyl groups or benzyl groups are attached to the nitrogen atom of the pyridin-2(1H)-one moiety were synthesized and evaluated as anti-fibrosis agents. Among them, compound 5d, with a (S)-2-(dimethylamino) propanamido group in the R2 position (series 1) exhibited 10 times the anti-fibrosis activity (IC50: 0.245 mM) of pirfenidone (IC50: 2.75 mM). Compound 9d (series 2) gave an IC50 of 0.035 mM against the human fibroblast cell line HFL1. The mechanism of the optimal compound inhibiting fibrosis was also studied.

A Multifunctional Vanadium-Iron-Oxide Nanoparticle Eradicates Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Targeting Tumor and Endothelial Cells.

Nanoparticles are widely used in biological research and cancer therapy. In hepatocellular carcinoma, several nanoplatforms have been synthesized and studied to improve the drug efficacy; however, these nanoplatforms are still insufficient to eradicate tumors. Herein, we have synthesized a novel vanadium (V)-iron-oxide (ION) nanoparticle (VIO) that combines chemodynamic, photothermal, and diagnostic capacities to enhance the tumor suppression effect in one agent with multiple functions. In the in vitro models, hepatocellular carcinoma cells are significantly inhibited by VIO-based nanoagents. The mechanistic study validates that VIO increases reactive oxygen species (ROS), which led to apoptosis and ferroptosis resulting in cell death. To our surprise, VIO targets not only tumor cells but also endothelial cells. In addition to inducing cell death, VIO also blocks tube formation and cell migration in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) and C166 models, indicating an antiangiogenic potential. In mouse tumor models, VIO retards tumor growth and induces apoptosis in tumor tissues. Furthermore, a significant blood vessel regression is seen in VIO-treated groups accompanied with larger necrotic areas. More interestingly, the activation of photothermal therapy completely eradicates tumor tissues. Taken together, this VIO nanoplatform could be a powerful anticancer candidate for nanodrug development.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 2,4-diaryl pyrimidine derivatives as selective EGFRL858R/T790M inhibitors.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths. It has been demonstrated that epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) are efficacious in patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this work, a new series of 2,4-diaryl pyrimidine derivatives containing cyclopropyl moiety were designed, synthesized and evaluated as novel selective EGFRL858R/T790M inhibitors. The most promising compound, 8l demonstrated excellent kinase inhibitory activity against EGFR double mutation with IC50 value of 0.26 nM. Moreover, 8l provided strong activity against H1975 cells with IC50 value of 0.008 µM and exhibited little toxicity toward four non-tumorigenic cell lines. Furthermore, 8l showed potent anti-tumor efficacy in a murine EGFRL858R/T790M-driven H1975 xenograft model. These results indicated that 8l may be a promising drug candidate for further study.