LAUSR

Mutant epidermal growth factor receptor (mEGFR) inhibitors constitute the recommended therapy for mEGFR-positive cancers. However, resistance has developed to mEGFR inhibitors due to newer mutations within the enzyme pocket and redundant signaling pathways that bypass mEGFR inhibition. Recent studies have shown that resistance to mEGFR inhibitors could be overcome if given in combination with aurora kinase (AURK) inhibitors. Dual EGFR/AURK kinase inhibitors provide a novel approach to overcome resistance to EGFR inhibitors. In a previous study, Kurup et al. identified 1 as a nanomolar mEGFR inhibitor. Using a structure-based design approach, novel analogs of 1 that incorporated varied sidechains for dual mEGFR and AURK inhibition were designed. The synthesis of the target compounds involved microwave-assisted, copper and palladium catalyzed coupling reactions. This study led to the identification of dual-targeted mEGFR/AURKA and mEGFR/AURKB inhibitors, and compounds with sub-micromolar cellular potencies. The design, synthesis, kinase inhibitory activities and anticancer effects of these novel analogs will be presented. Structure-activity relationships for mEGFR, AURKA and AURKB inhibition will be defined. Citation Format: Dayna Gesinski, Sonali Kurup. Design, synthesis and evaluation of dual-targeted mEGFR and AURK inhibitors as anticancer agents. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 5337.