Discovery and evaluation of novel pyrrole/thiophene chalcone urea EGFR inhibitors via biological and docking studies


ZENGİN KURT B., ÖZTÜRK CİVELEK D., ŞAHİN BEKTAY H., Özbilge Ulueren A., KOLCUOĞLU Y., Akdemir A., ...Daha Fazla

Future Medicinal Chemistry, cilt.17, sa.12, ss.1423-1438, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 17 Sayı: 12
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/17568919.2025.2521249
  • Dergi Adı: Future Medicinal Chemistry
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1423-1438
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: apoptosis, chalcone, EGFR inhibition, molecular modeling, Pyrrole, thiophene, urea
  • Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Aims: This study aimed to synthesize novel chalcone-urea derivatives and evaluate their anticancer potential through antiproliferative, apoptotic, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitory activities, supported by molecular modeling. Materials & methods: Thirty-three chalcone-urea derivatives were synthesized in two series: pyrrole-chalcone ureas (4a–4r) and thiophene-chalcone ureas (5a–5p). Compounds were characterized using1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, and mass spectrometry. Their antiproliferative effects were assessed against renal adenocarcinoma (769P), lung carcinoma (A549), colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29), and healthy kidney (HEK-293) cell lines. Selected compounds were further evaluated for EGFR inhibition, apoptotic activity, and cell cycle arrest. Molecular docking was performed to predict binding interactions with wild-type human EGFR. Results: Compounds 4e, 4f, and 4g (pyrrole series) showed strong cytotoxicity against A549 and HT-29, while 5b, 5c, and 5d (thiophene series) were effective on 769P. Compound 5c exhibited the highest EGFR inhibition (IC₅₀ = 1 nM), potent apoptotic induction, and cell cycle arrest at the S phase in A549 cells. Docking studies confirmed favorable binding of 4r, 5c, and 5d within the EGFR active site. Conclusions: Several chalcone-urea derivatives demonstrated potent anticancer properties, with compound 5c emerging as a promising EGFR inhibitor with strong cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects.