Specific inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase by 4-anilinoquinazolines

Since the mitogenic action of EGF is mediated by ligand-induced autophosphorylation of the EGF receptor (EGFR), and EGFR is commonly overexpressed in solid human tumours, inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinase activity (RTK) could prove to be effective antitumour agents. Screening of a compound library using an EGF-RTK enzyme prepared from human tumour derived A431 cells identified a series of potent (IC50 < 1 mu M) enzyme inhibitors. These inhibitors are quinazolines bearing a variety of substituted anilines at the 4-position. The most potent 4-anilinoquinazolines (IC50 congruent to 20 nM) have small non-polar meta substituents on the aniline ring, and are competitive with ATP and non-competitive with substrate. The growth inhibitory activity of these agents was assessed in vitro using KB cells (human oral squamous tumour) grown in the absence or presence of EGF. A selected compound, 4-(3-chloroanilino)quinazoline (CAQ), inhibited EGF-stimulated growth in a concentration dependent manner and complete blockade was observed at concentrations (1-10 mu M) which had no effect on basal growth. Selectivity of growth inhibition by CAQ was further exemplified in IGF1-stimulated KB cells where no effect was detected at concentrations which completely blocked EGF-stimulated growth. Similarly, CAQ blocked TGF alpha-stimulated growth in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells without affecting insulin-stimulated growth. These studies define a novel class of EGF-RTK inhibitors which are also potent and selective inhibitors of EGF-stimulated human tumour cell growth in vitro.