A New Anticancer Semisynthetic Theobromine Derivative Targeting EGFR Protein: CADDD Study

oleh: Ibrahim H. Eissa, Reda G. Yousef, Hazem Elkady, Aisha A. Alsfouk, Bshra A. Alsfouk, Dalal Z. Husein, Ibrahim M. Ibrahim, Eslam B. Elkaeed, Ahmed M. Metwaly

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-01-01

Deskripsi

A new lead compound has been designed as an antiangiogenic EGFR inhibitor that has the pharmacophoric characteristics to bind with the catalytic pocket of EGFR protein. The designed lead compound is a (para-chloro)acetamide derivative of the alkaloid, theobromine, (<b>T-1-PCPA</b>). At first, we started with deep density functional theory (DFT) calculations for <b>T-1-PCPA</b> to confirm and optimize its 3D structure. Additionally, the DFT studies identified the electrostatic potential, global reactive indices and total density of states expecting a high level of reactivity for <b>T-1-PCPA</b>. Secondly, the affinity of <b>T-1-PCPA</b> to bind and inhibit the EGFR protein was studied and confirmed through detailed structure-based computational studies including the molecular docking against EGFR<sup>WT</sup> and EGFR<sup>T790M</sup>, Molecular dynamics (MD) over 100 ns, MM-GPSA and PLIP experiments. Before the preparation, the computational ADME and toxicity profiles of <b>T-1-PCPA</b> have been investigated and its safety and the general drug-likeness predicted. Accordingly, <b>T-1-PCPA</b> was semi-synthesized to scrutinize the proposed design and the obtained in silico results. Interestingly, <b>T-1-PCPA</b> inhibited in vitro EGFR<sup>WT</sup> with an IC<sub>50</sub> value of 25.35 nM, comparing that of erlotinib (5.90 nM). Additionally, <b>T-1-PCPA</b> inhibited the growth of A549 and HCT-116 malignant cell lines with IC<sub>50</sub> values of 31.74 and 20.40 µM, respectively, comparing erlotinib that expressed IC<sub>50</sub> values of 6.73 and 16.35 µM, respectively.