Inhibition of tumor cell growth and angiogenesis by 7-Aminoalkoxy-4-aryloxy-quinazoline ureas, a novel series of multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Several regulatory and signaling molecules governing angiogenesis are targets of interest for the development of drugs in the cancer, including growth factors such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF). A series of 4-aryloxy-6,7-dimethoxyquinazolines, previously synthesized in our laboratory, has shown a nanomolar inhibition of kinase enzymatic activity of VEGFR, PDGFR and c-Kit. We have therefore studied the impact of the variation in the 7-position substitution of the quinazoline core. Substitution by aminoalkoxy chains led to new highly potent ATP-competitive inhibitors of VEGFR, PDGFR and c-Kit enzyme with IC50 values in the nanomolar range and this substitution has increased greatly antiproliferative activity on cancer cell lines (PC3, MCF7, HT29) and HUVEC (human umbilical vein endothelial cells). One of the most promising compounds (36) was assessed for its ability to limit the induction of web like network of capillary tubes by the human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) and for its ability to inhibit invasion.