Computational identification of new TKI as potential noncovalent reversible EGFRL858R/T790M inhibitors: VHTS,

Dorra Abdelmalek1, Fahmi Smaoui2, Fakher Frikha1

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Screening Processes, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.

Insights

This study screened over 50,000 Erlotinib-derived compounds to find new non-small cell lung cancer treatments. The best candidates show promise as potent antitumor drugs, potentially overcoming drug resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • Computational Drug Discovery
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment often involves targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase.
  • Drug resistance, particularly mutations like EGFRL858R/T790M, presents a significant challenge in NSCLC therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel noncovalent reversible EGFRL858R/T790M inhibitors using a high-throughput virtual screening (HTVS) framework.
  • To evaluate the potential of Erlotinib-derived compounds as improved antitumor drug candidates for NSCLC.

Main Methods:

  • Employed a scalable HTVS framework with a library of over 50,000 Erlotinib-derived compounds.
  • Utilized Standard Precision (SP) and Extra Precision (XP) docking, binding free energy calculations, cluster analysis, and ADMET property prediction.
  • Performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to analyze protein-ligand interactions and conformational stability.

Main Results:

  • Identified top-scoring molecules with enhanced moieties compared to Erlotinib.
  • Selected the highest-scoring molecule for MD simulations, revealing conformational stability and strong intermolecular interactions.
  • Demonstrated that screened compounds possess favorable pharmacokinetic properties.

Conclusions:

  • Virtually screened compounds exhibit potential as potent antitumor drug candidates for NSCLC.
  • These novel inhibitors may offer a strategy to overcome existing drug resistance mechanisms.
  • The findings provide a foundation for further therapeutic development and experimental validation.

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