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

•A series of novel aminopyrimidines were identified as selective EGFR inhibitors.•The compounds potently inhibited EGFR expressing T790M mutation.•The compounds effectively suppressed proliferation of H1975 cells.•Compounds 14a, 15g and 15i were promising candidates for further development.

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.

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