EGFR tyrosine kinase targeted compounds: synthesis, docking study, and in vitro antitumor activity of some new quinazoline and benzo[d]isothiazole derivatives

The preparation of new quinazoline and benzo[d]isothiazole-based antitumor agents is described. The target compounds fall into three groups including the N-substituted derivatives 2a–d, the substituted amino derivatives 4–6a–d, and the dimeric compounds 7–9a,b. Docking study of the designed compounds into the ATP binding site of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase was performed to compare the binding mode of these compounds to the known EGFR inhibitor, lapatinib. All compounds were tested, in vitro, for their activity against human mammary carcinoma cell line (MCF7) in which EGFR is highly expressed. All compounds showed significant growth inhibitory activity. The remarkable activity of the bis quinazoline derivative 8a (IC50 = 0.06 μg/ml; 1.64 nmol/ml) is to be noted.