Design and synthesis of novel pyrimidine-pyrazole hybrids with dual anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects targeting BRAFV600E and JNK

Abstract Two new series of pyrimidinyl ethyl pyrazoles derivatives 13a–f and 14a–f were designed and synthesized to possess both anticancer effect by inhibiting BRAFV600E and anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting JNK isoforms. The structure of the new compounds was generated from hybridization of two main moieties. The pyrimidinyl moiety from reported BRAFV600E inhibitors, and the pyrazole moiety from JNK isoforms inhibitors. The new final compounds were tested on BRAFV600E, JNK1, JNK2, and JNK3 to measure their kinases inhibitory effect. Compound 14c showed the highest activity on JNK isoforms and BRAFV600E with IC 50 = 0.51 μM, 0.53 μM, 1.02 μM, 0.009 μM on JNK1, JNK2, JNK3,and BRAFV600E, respectively. All final compounds were tested over four cancer cell lines related to the target enzymes. Compound 14d showed the most potent activity on all tested cell lines with IC 50 = 0.87 μM, 0.91, 0.42 μM and 0.63 μM on MOLT-4, K-562, SK-MEL-28, and A375 cell lines, respectively. The ability of 14d and 14c to inhibit MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation was performed by using western blot. The cell cycle analysis of compound 14d on A375 cell line revealed that compound 14d arrested cell growth at G0-G1 phase. Compound 14d remarkably decreased cell migration compared to control group in traditional migration test. Compounds 13a–f and 14a–f showed significant ability to inhibit nitric oxide release and PGE2 production on raw 264.7 macrophages. Compounds 13d and 1 4d exhibited high inhibitory effect on iNOS and COX-2 compared to COX-1. Finally, the effect of most potent compounds on TNF-alpha and IL-6 was determined. Graphical abstract Two new series of pyrimidinyl ethyl pyrazoles were synthesized. The new derivatives were able to inhibit both JNK isoforms and BRAFV600E. JNK and BRAFV600E play a key role in both cancer and inflammatory disorders. Final compounds were tested for their anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities.