Targeting kinases with anilinopyrimidines: discovery of N-phenyl-N'-[4-(pyrimidin-4-ylamino)phenyl]urea derivatives as selective inhibitors of class III receptor tyrosine kinase subfamily

Sci Rep. 2015 Nov 16:5:16750. doi: 10.1038/srep16750.

Abstract

Kinase inhibitors are attractive drugs/drug candidates for the treatment of cancer. The most recent literature has highlighted the importance of multi target kinase inhibitors, although a correct balance between specificity and non-specificity is required. In this view, the discovery of multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors with subfamily selectivity is a challenging goal. Herein we present the synthesis and the preliminary kinase profiling of a set of novel 4-anilinopyrimidines. Among the synthesized compounds, the N-phenyl-N'-[4-(pyrimidin-4-ylamino)phenyl]urea derivatives selectively targeted some members of class III receptor tyrosine kinase family. Starting from the structure of hit compound 19 we synthesized a further compound with an improved affinity toward the class III receptor tyrosine kinase members and endowed with a promising antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo in a murine solid tumor model. Molecular modeling simulations were used in order to rationalize the behavior of the title compounds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Pyrimidines / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Transplantation, Heterologous
  • Urea / analogs & derivatives*
  • Urea / chemical synthesis
  • Urea / pharmacology

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Urea
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases