Quinazoline Based HSP90 Inhibitors: Synthesis, Modeling Study and ADME Calculations Towards Breast Cancer Targeting

A new 2-thioquinazolinones series was designed and synthesized as HSP90 inhibitors based on the structure of hit compound VII obtained by virtual screening approach. Their in vitro anti-proliferative activity was evaluated against three human cancer cell lines rich in HSP90 namely; colorectal carcinoma (HCT-116), and cervical carcinoma (Hela), breast carcinoma (MCF-7). Compounds 5a, 5d, 5e and 9h showed a significant broad spectrum anti-proliferative activity against all tested cell lines. They were characterized by potent effect against breast cancer in particular with IC50 of 11.73, 8.56, 7.35 and 9.48 μM, respectively against Doxorubicin (IC50 4.17 μM). HSP90 ATPase activity inhibition assay were conducted where compound 5d exhibited the best IC50 with 1.58 μM compared to Tanespimycin (IC50 = 2.17 μM). Compounds 5a and 9h showed higher IC50 values of 3.21 and 3.41 μM, respectively. The effects of 5a, 5d and 9h on Her2 (a client proteins of HSP90) and HSP70 were evaluated in MCF-7 cells. All tested compounds were found to reduce Her2 protein expression levels and induce Hsp70 protein expression levels significantly, emphasizing that antibreast cancer effect is a consequence of HSP90 chaperone inhibition. Cell cycle analysis of MCF-7 cells treated with 5d showed cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase 38.89% and pro-apoptotic activity as indicated by annexin V-FITC staining by 22.42%. Molecular docking studies suggested mode of interaction to HSP90 via hydrogen bonding. ADME properties prediction of the active compounds suggested that they could be used as orally absorbed anticancer drug candidates.