Radiohalogenated 4-anilinoquinazoline-based EGFR-TK inhibitors as potential cancer imaging agents

IntroductionThe overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in tumors underlines the recent interest in EGFR as attractive target for the development of new cancer imaging agents. EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) based on the anilinoquinazoline scaffold have been explored as potential probes for EGFR imaging. However, up to now, no optimal radiotracer is available. Herein, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of three novel halogenated 6-substituted 4-anilinoquinazoline based EGFR-TKIs. Radiosynthesis (125I and 18F) of the corresponding analogues was also performed.Methods6a, 6b and 8 were obtained by reaction of 6-amino-4-anilinoquinazoline (5) with 3-/4-iodobenzoyl and 4-fluorobenzoyl chlorides. Inhibition of EGFR autophosphorylation and A431 cellular proliferation were assessed by Western blot and MTT assays. 125I-anilinoquinazolines [125I]6a/b were prepared via destannylation of the corresponding tributylstannyl precursors with [125I]NaI. Cellular uptake studies were conducted in A431 cells. Optimization of the radiosynthesis of the 18F-anilinoquinazoline [18F]8 was attempted by nucleophilic substitution of the trimethylammonium- and nitro-6-substituted 4-anilinoquinazoline precursors.Results6a, 6b and 8 were synthesized in high chemical yield. All of them are inhibitors of EGFR autophosphorylation (0.1