Novel hydrazone moiety-bearing aminopyrimidines as selective inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor T790M mutant

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutant is found in approximately 50% of clinically acquired resistance to gefitinib among patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, a series of novel aminopyrimidines bearing a hydrazone moiety were identified as potent and selective EGFR inhibitors. Compounds 14a, 15g, and 15i potently inhibited all EGFR mutants including EGFR T790M/L858R, EGFR T790M/delE746_A750, and EGFR T790M while they showed weak effects on the wild type (WT) EGFR. In addition, these compounds effectively suppressed proliferation of gefitinib-resistant H1975 (EGFR T790M/L858R) cells but were less potent against A549 (WT EGFR and k-Ras mutation) and HT-29 (non-special gene type) cells, showing a high safety index. Therefore, 14a, 15g, and 15i might be promising candidates to overcome drug resistance mediated by the EGFR T790M mutant.