In the current medical era, human health is confronted with various challenges, with cancer being a prominent concern. Therefore, enhancing the therapeutic arsenal for cancer with a constant influx of novel molecules that selectively target tumor cells while displaying minimal toxicity toward normal cells is imperative. This study delves into the antiproliferative and EGFR kinase inhibitory activities of newly reported spirooxindole-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine derivatives 8a-h and 10a-h. The inhibitory effects on the growth of human cancer cell lines A-549 (lung carcinoma), Panc-1 (pancreatic carcinoma), and A-431 (skin epidermoid carcinoma) were evaluated, and the SAR has been clarified through analysis. With IC50 values in the single-digit micromolar range, compounds 8b, 8d, 10a-b, and 10d were shown to be the most effective antiproliferative candidates against the studied cancer cell lines. They also exerted negligible cytotoxicity (with selectivity scores between 8.63 and 30.02) against the human lung MRC5 cell line. Additionally, we investigated the potential inhibitory action of compounds 8b, 8d, 10a-b, and 10d on EGFR and VEGFR-2. 10a was this investigation\'s most effective EGFR inhibitor, with an IC50 value of 0.54 μM. Ultimately, the molecular docking analysis of congener 10a highlighted its effective suppression of EGFR by examining its binding mode and docking score compared to Erlotinib. These findings underscore the potential of spirooxindole-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine derivatives as promising anticancer agents targeting EGFR kinase.

In today\'s medical field, there is a growing trend of exploiting a single small molecule to target two different molecular targets concurrently. This approach is proving to be highly effective in fighting against cancer. The 4-anilinoquinazoline scaffold, known for its potential in cancer therapy and its effectiveness as a leading class of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, was employed to develop a novel series of anilinoquinazoline-sulfonamides (AQSs) (8a-d, 9a-f, and 10a-d) as dual inhibitors of the tumor-associated carbonic anhydrases (CA) IX/XII and EGFR. 2-(3-Methoxyphenyl)quinazoline bearing p-sulfanilamide 10b elicited superior hCA IX and XII inhibition in the low nanomolar range (KIs = 38.4 and 8.9 nM, respectively). Also, 10b shined as a potent and selective EGFR inhibitor, boasting an impressive IC50 value of 51.2 ± 0.97 nM, surpassing the reference EGFR inhibitor Erlotinib (IC50 = 80 ± 2.0 nM). Compound 10b exhibited broadest-spectrum antiproliferative activity against the NCI-tumor panel with a mean GI% value of 68 %. Of special interest, 10b demonstrated potent growth inhibition (GI% ≥ 80-97 %) toward cell lines reported to express high levels of EGFR belonging to renal, colon, breast, and lung cancers. Compound 10b\'s molecular docking in the CA IX/XII and EGFR active sites revealed binding modes that justify its potent enzyme inhibitory effects. Additionally, molecular dynamic simulations demonstrated strong and stable interactions of 10b with the binding sites of these targets.

Aberrant activation or mutation of the EGFR-PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway has been implicated in a wide range of human cancers, especially non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thus, dual inhibition of EGFR and PI3K has been investigated as a promising strategy to address acquired drug resistance resulting from the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. A series of dual EGFR/PI3Kα inhibitors was synthesized using pharmacophore hybridization of the third-generation EGFR inhibitor olmutinib and the PI3Kα selective inhibitor TAK-117. The optimal compound 30k showed potent kinase inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 3.6 and 30.0 nM against EGFRL858R/T790M and PI3Kα, respectively. Compound 30k exhibited a significant antiproliferative effect in NCI-H1975 cells with a higher selectivity profile than olmutinib. The potential antitumor mechanism, molecular binding modes, and in vitro metabolic stability of compound 30k were also clarified.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive tumor associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and kinase inhibitors has emerged as a promising strategy for liver cancer treatment in recent years. However, the clinical factors predicting the outcomes of combination therapy in patients with advanced liver cancer remain uncertain. Therefore, this study investigated the relationships between clinical predictors and the efficacy of ICI plus kinase inhibitor therapy to personalize treatment plans.
METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 98 patients who received combination treatment with ICIs and kinase inhibitors for advanced HCC. Based on blood lipid levels and other clinical factors prior to treatment, we investigated potential biomarkers that could predict treatment responses in this patient population.
RESULTS: Mean progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in this cohort were 10.1 and 17.2 months, respectively. Via multivariate analysis, the absence of extrahepatic metastasis, the absence of portal vein thrombosis (PVT), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) < 3.225, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) < 140.75, and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) ≥ 37.25 were identified as independent predictors of improved PFS. Factors associated with better OS included PLR < 140.75 and total cholesterol (TC) < 3.46 mmol/L. Univariate analysis identified significant associations of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS), hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels, Child-Pugh classification, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), TC, and the receipt of regorafenib with PFS. Additionally, ECOG PS, Child-Pugh classification, AFP, PVT, NLR, PNI, and the receipt of regorafenib were significantly associated with OS.
CONCLUSIONS: PLR and TC were potential clinical predictive factors for survival outcomes in patients with advanced HCC who received ICI/kinase inhibitor combination therapy. It is important to know the clinical characteristics of patients prior to treatment initiation to optimize outcomes.

UNASSIGNED: Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a rare, difficult-to-treat liver cancer primarily affecting pediatric and adolescent patients, and for which precision medicine approaches have historically not been possible. The DNAJB1-PRKACA gene fusion was identified as a driver of FLC pathogenesis. We aimed to assess whether FLC tumors maintain dependency on this gene fusion and determine if PRKACA is a viable therapeutic target.
UNASSIGNED: FLC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) shRNA cell lines were implanted subcutaneously into female NOD-SCID mice and tumors were allowed to develop prior to randomization to doxycycline (to induce knockdown) or control groups. Tumor development was assessed every 2 days. To assess the effect of treatment with novel selective PRKACA small molecule kinase inhibitors, BLU0588 and BLU2864, FLC PDX tumor cells were implanted subcutaneously into NOD-SCID mice and tumors allowed to develop. Mice were randomized to treatment (BLU0588 and BLU2864, orally, once daily) or control groups and tumor size determined as previously.
UNASSIGNED: Knockdown of DNAJB1-PRKACA reversed a FLC-specific gene signature and reduced PDX tumor growth in mice compared to the control group. Furthermore, FLC PDX tumor growth was significantly reduced with BLU0588 and BLU2864 treatment vs control (P = .003 and P = .0005, respectively).
UNASSIGNED: We demonstrated, using an inducible knockdown and small molecule approaches, that FLC PDX tumors were dependent upon DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion activity. In addition, this study serves as a proof-of-concept that PRKACA is a viable therapeutic target for FLC and warrants further investigation.

Novel therapeutic agents in clinical trials offer a paradigm shift in the approach to battling this prevalent and destructive disease, and the area of cancer therapy is on the precipice of a trans formative revolution. Despite the importance of tried-and-true cancer treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the disease continues to evolve and adapt, making new, more potent methods necessary. The field of cancer therapy is currently witnessing the emergence of a wide range of innovative approaches. Immunotherapy, including checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell treatment, and cancer vaccines, utilizes the host\'s immune system to selectively target and eradicate malignant cells while minimizing harm to normal tissue. The development of targeted medicines like kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies has allowed for more targeted and less harmful approaches to treating cancer. With the help of genomics and molecular profiling, \"precision medicine\" customizes therapies to each patient\'s unique genetic makeup to maximize therapeutic efficacy while minimizing unwanted side effects. Epigenetic therapies, metabolic interventions, radio-pharmaceuticals, and an increasing emphasis on combination therapy with synergistic effects further broaden the therapeutic landscape. Multiple-stage clinical trials are essential for determining the safety and efficacy of these novel drugs, allowing patients to gain access to novel treatments while also furthering scientific understanding. The future of cancer therapy is rife with promise, as the integration of artificial intelligence and big data has the potential to revolutionize early detection and prevention. Collaboration among researchers, and healthcare providers, and the active involvement of patients remain the bedrock of the ongoing battle against cancer. In conclusion, the dynamic and evolving landscape of cancer therapy provides hope for improved treatment outcomes, emphasizing a patient-centered, data-driven, and ethically grounded approach as we collectively strive towards a cancer-free world.

BACKGROUND: Platinum-resistant or refractory ovarian cancer is a highly lethal gynecologic disease with limited treatment options. Chiauranib is a novel small-molecule selective inhibitor, which could effectively target multiple pathways including Aurora B and CSF-1R to inhibit cell cycle process and improve anti-tumor immune function, as long as VEGF pathway for tumor extinction.
METHODS: A phase II study was sequentially conducted after a phase Ib monotherapy study to evaluate the efficacy of chiauranib combined with chemotherapy. Chinese patients with recurrent ovarian cancer were enrolled. Eligible patients received chiauranib combined with a maximum of six cycles of chemotherapy: etoposide (CE group) or weekly-paclitaxel (CP group). Patients, who exhibited a complete or partial response, or stable disease following combo treatment, progressed to maintenance phase to receive chiauranib monotherapy. Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) according to RECIST v1.1.
RESULTS: From November 2017 to March 2019, 25 patients were enrolled in a phase 1b study and a median PFS of 3.7 months (95% CI 1.8-NE) was achieved by chiauranib monotherapy. From July 2019 to December 2020, a total of 47 patients were enrolled in the phase II study. One CP patient did not receive the study drugs, and three patients withdrew before the first tumor assessment. Thus, 43 patients (CE group: 22 patients; CP group: 21 patients) were included in the evaluation. The median PFS was 5·4 months (95% CI 2·8-5·6) and 5·6 months (95% CI 3·4-7·0), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study to evaluate chiauranib, a novel multi-targeted kinase inhibitor in patients with ovarian cancer. The administration of chiauranib along with etoposide or weekly-paclitaxel significantly enhanced the efficacy with manageable adverse events. This warrants further clinical studies on this novel treatment. A phase III study is promising and ongoing.
BACKGROUND: ClinicaTrials.gov identifier: NCT03901118 (phase II) and NCT03166891 (phase Ib).

Tumor progression depends on angiogenesis, which is stimulated by growth factors like VEGF, targeting VEGFR kinase with small molecules is an effective anti-angiogenic therapeutic approach. Sunitinib was rationally modified to spirocyclopropyloxindoline carboxamides and their in vitro cytotoxic profiling were evaluated. The molecular modelling studies enabled the screening of designed analogues and identified possible interactions within the type III allosteric inhibitor binding site of VEGFR-2. The biological screening of compounds 15a-y, revealed the ability of compound 15w to inhibit the cell growth in MCF-7 cells with IC50 value of 3.87 ± 0.19 μM and alongside inhibition of VEGFR-2 kinase at a IC50 concentration of 4.34 ± 0.13 μM was observed. VEGFR-2 inhibition was validated through HUVEC tube formation inhibition assay. 15w also inhibited cell migration in wound healing assay. The qualitative assessment of apoptosis induction by 15w in MCF-7 cells was evaluated through AO/EB and DAPI staining studies, whereas apoptotic quantification and cell cycle analysis were performed through FACS analysis. The current study strives to sequentially optimize the structural attributes of 3-alkenyl oxindole core to surpass the existing challenges of well-known VEGFR-2 inhibitors and compound 15w was identified to be a prominent lead towards the development of clinical drug candidates.

The current study investigates the anticancer and VEGFR-2 inhibitory activities of 16 novel indolinone-grafted imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole and imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives (6a-h and 10a-h). The structures of these target compounds were confirmed using elemental and spectral analyses. All compounds were evaluated for their VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity in vitro, with eight compounds demonstrating promising results, exhibiting IC50 values in the sub-micromolar range (0.22 μM - 0.95 μM). Additionally, the anticancer potential of these compounds was assessed using an MTT assay against two breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. Compounds 6a, 6f, 6 h, and 10f showed superior performance (IC50 = 9.79, 8.78, 8.35, and 10.88 µM, respectively) compared to the reference drug cisplatin (IC50 = 11.50 µM) against MDA-MB-231 cells. Based on their consistent VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity, compounds 6a, 6 h, and 10f were selected for further analysis. Molecular docking studies with VEGFR-2 (PDB ID: 4AGD) revealed binding behaviors similar to the co-crystallized ligand sunitinib. Among the reported target molecules, compound 10f exhibited the most desirable characteristics in terms of efficacy and safety and was further analyzed using density-functional theory (DFT) simulations to better understand its physical properties.

BACKGROUND: Protein kinases are a type of transferase enzyme that catalyze the phosphorylation of protein substrates, including receptor proteins. Testis-specific serine/threonine kinases (TSSKs) are a highly conserved group of protein kinases found in various organisms. They play an essential role in male reproduction by influencing sperm development and function.
RESULTS: In this study, we report on the characterization of BmTSSK3, a TSSK from the silkworm, Bombyx mori. We found that BmTSSK3 is specifically expressed in the testis and localized to the sperm flagella, particularly in the sperm tail cyst. Furthermore, we developed BmTSSK3 inhibitors through molecular docking and binding assays. Small molecules 5-(4-Fluorophenyl)-2-ureidothiophene-3-carboxamide (TPCA-1) and Imidurea were identified to bind to BmTSSK3. Using site-specific mutation technology, we identified amino acid residues R134 and S184 as crucial binding sites for small molecules. RNA interference assay and Western blot analysis showed that knockdown of BmTSSK3 significantly decreased histone 3 phosphorylation. To confirm the inhibitory effect of these small molecules, we treated silkworm testes with TPCA-1 and observed a strong inhibitory effect.
CONCLUSIONS: TPCA-1 is an inhibitor of BmTSSK3, which raises its potential as a future candidate for male sterility of the silkworm. Thus, this study may offer a novel strategy for sterile silkworms as well as insects. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.