Pyrazolyl-s-triazine with indole motif as a novel of epidermal growth factor receptor/cyclin-dependent kinase 2 dual inhibitors

Abstract

A series of pyrazolyl-<i>s</i>-triazine compounds with an indole motif was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for anticancer activity targeting dual EGFR and CDK-2 inhibitors. The compounds were tested for cytotoxicity using the MTT assay. Compounds <b>3h</b>, <b>3i</b>, and <b>3j</b> showed promising cytotoxic activity against two cancer cell lines, namely A549, MCF-7, and HDFs (non-cancerous human dermal fibroblasts). Compound <b>3j</b> was the most active candidate against A549, with an IC₅₀ of 2.32 ± 0.21 μM. Compounds <b>3h</b> and <b>3i</b> were found to be the most active hybrids against MCF-7 and HDFs, with an IC₅₀ of 2.66 ± 0.26 μM and 3.78 ± 0.55 μM, respectively. Interestingly, <b>3i</b> showed potent EGFR inhibition, with an IC₅₀ of 34.1 nM compared to Erlotinib (IC₅₀ = 67.3 nM). At 10 μM, this candidate caused 93.6% and 91.4% of EGFR and CDK-2 inhibition, respectively. Furthermore, <b>3i</b> enhanced total lung cancer cell apoptosis 71.6-fold (43.7% compared to 0.61% for the control). Given the potent cytotoxicity exerted by <b>3i</b> through apoptosis-mediated activity, this compound emerges as a promising target-oriented anticancer agent.