Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR3) are tyrosine kinases, which function as key modulators of survival and metastasis signals in cancer cells. Previously, we reported that small molecule chlorpyramine hydrochloride (C4) specifically targets the interaction between FAK and VEGFR3 and exhibits anti-tumor efficacy. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of 1 (C4) analogs on the basis of structure activity relationship and molecular modeling. The resulting new compounds were evaluated for their binding to the FAT domain of FAK and anti-cancer activity. Amongst all tested analogs, compound 29 augmented anti-proliferative activity in multiple cancer cell lines with stronger binding to the FAT domain of FAK and disrupted the FAK–VEGFR3 interaction. In conclusion, we hope that this work will contribute to further studies of more potent and selective FAK–VEGFR3 protein–protein interaction inhibitors.
Preliminary studies in our laboratory have demonstrated the importance of both the NH2 and COOH terminus scaffolding functions of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Here, we describe a new small molecule inhibitor, C10 that targets the FAK C-terminus scaffold. C10 showed marked selectivity for cells overexpressing VEGFR3 when tested in isogenic cell lines, MCF7 and MCF7-VEGFR3. C10 preferentially inhibited pancreatic tumor growth in vivo in cells with high FAK-Y925 and VEGFR3 expression. Treatment with C10 led to a significant inhibition in endothelial cell proliferation and tumor endothelial and lymphatic vessel density and decrease in interstitial fluid pressure. These results highlight the underlying importance of targeting the FAK scaffold to treat human cancers.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.