Exploration of novel pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine derivatives with improved anticancer efficacy as dual inhibitors of c-Met/VEGFR-2.

c-Met and VEGFR-2 have attracted interest as novel targets for treatment of various cancers. Aiming to develop potent dual c-Met and VEGFR-2 inhibitors, a series of pyrrolo[1,2-f][1,2,4]triazine derivatives were designed and synthesized. The majority of target compounds exhibited potent antiproliferative effect against c-Met addictive cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranged from 1.2 to 24.6 nM, especially 27a. In-depth studies demonstrated 27a has great selectivity to c-Met and VEGFR-2, and potent inhibitory activity against them (IC50 of 2.3 ± 0.1 nM and 5.0 ± 0.5 nM). Furthermore, it also showed the highest anticancer activity with IC50 of 0.71 ± 0.16 nM (better than the positive compound) against BaF3-TPR-Met and 37.4 ± 0.311 nM (comparable to the positive compound) against HUVEC-VEGFR2, consistent with that in c-Met sensitive tumor cell lines. Subsequently, physicochemical and pharmacokinetic characterization indicated 27a has favorable druggability and pharmacokinetic properties. Further docking studies suggested a common mode of interaction at the ATP-binding site of c-Met and VEGFR-2, also indicating that 27a was a potential candidate for cancer therapy deserving further study.