Novel Potent EGFR-JAK3 Dual-Target Inhibitor that Overcomes KRAS Mutation Resistance in Colorectal Cancer

Background In-depth and clear mechanistic study is a prerequisite for new drugs to enter clinical research. Methods New chemical entity BY4008 was identified by our lab as a novel and highly potent EGFR and JAK3 dual-target inhibitor. A cell-based test exhibited strong antiproliferative activities against SW620 and HCT116 colon cancer cells harboring KRAS mutation with IC50 of nanomolar potency. Furthermore, acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB), Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) and DAPI staining assays and flow cytometry analyses indicated that BY4008 has the function of pro-apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle. In addition, BY4008 inhibited the autophosphorylation of EGFR and blocked the activation of downstream signaling and the JAK-STAT3 pathway. Results Meanwhile, a decreased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an increased level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in SW620 and HCT116 cells were observed after exposure to BY4008. Conclusion In summary, this study provides an important structural basis and mechanistic study for future effective treatment of colorectal cancer.