Isothiocyanatostilbenes as novel c-Met inhibitors

Abstract

The hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR or c-Met) is a driver of multiple cancer subtypes. While there are several c-Met inhibitors in development, few have been approved for clinical use, warranting the need for continued research and development of c-Met targeting therapeutic modalities. The research presented here demonstrates a particular class of compounds known as isothiocyanatostilbenes can act as c-Met inhibitors in multiple cancer cell lines. Specifically, we found that 4,4′-Diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (DIDS) and 4,4′-Diisothiocyanatodihydrostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (H2DIDS) had c-Met inhibitory effective doses in the low micromolar range while 4-acetamido-4′-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (SITS) and 4,4′-dinitrostilbene-2, 2′-disulfonic acid (DNDS) exhibited IC50s 100 to 1000 fold higher. These compounds displayed much greater selectivity for inhibiting c-Met activation compared to similar receptor tyrosine kinases. In addition, DIDS and H2DIDS reduced hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced, but not epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced, cell scattering, wound healing, and 3-dimensional (3D) proliferation of tumor cell spheroids. In-cell and cell-free assays suggested that DIDS and H2DIDS can inhibit and reverse c-Met phosphorylation, similar to SU11274. Additional data demonstrated that DIDS is tolerable in vivo. These data provide preliminary support for future studies examining DIDS, H2DIDS, and derivatives as potential c-Met therapeutics.

Non-small cell lung cancer biomarkers and targeted therapy - two faces of the same coin fostered by nanotechnology

“…tivantinib, amuvatinib (MP470), SGX523, PHA665752, JNJ-38877605, AMG337, INCB028060 and PF-04217903, SU11274) [96][97][98][99], or instance tivantinib is currently in phase III clinical trials [100]; …”

“…For a more complete overview of small molecules inhibitors of c-MET, alone or in combination, see refs [98,99,102,103]…”

The potential role of some phytochemicals in recognition of mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns

“…enhanced cell migration and matrix remodeling capacity, epithelial-mesenchymal transition) acting through the translocation to nucleus of NF-κB (Hao et al, 2015). Some phytochemicals, isothiocyanatostilbenes and curcumin, are not only found to be inhibitors of c-MET (Gray et al, 2015 ;Hu et al, 2015) but also lowers cancer cell migration rate. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) slows down migration and invasion of human colon cancer HT29 cells by inhibition metalproteinases activity (Lai et al, 2010).…”