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Human malignant glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly invasive and lethal brain tumor. Targeting of integrin downstream signaling mediators in GBM such as focal adhesion kinase (FAK) seems reasonable and recently demonstrated promising results in early clinical studies. Herein, we report the structure-guided development of a series of covalent inhibitors of FAK. These new compounds displayed highly potent inhibitory potency against FAK enzymatic activity with IC 50 values in the nanomolar range. Several inhibitors retarded tumor cell growth as assessed by a cell viability assay in multiple human glioblastoma cell lines. They also significantly reduced the rate of U-87 cell migration and delayed the cell cycle progression by stopping cells in the G2/M phase. Furthermore, these inhibitors showed a potent decrease of autophosphorylation of FAK in glioblastoma cells and its downstream effectors Akt and Erk as well as nuclear factor-κB. These data demonstrated that these inhibitors may have the potential to offer a promising new targeted therapy for human glioblastomas.

Focal Adhesion Kinase signaling pathway and its functions have been involved in the development and aggressiveness of tumor malignancy, it then presents a promising cancer therapeutic target. Several reversible FAK inhibitors have been developed and are being conducted in clinical trials. On the other hand, irreversible covalent inhibitors would bring many desirable pharmacological features including high potency and increased duration of action. Herein we report the structure-guided development of the first highly potent and irreversible inhibitor of the FAK kinase. This inhibitor showed a very potent decrease of autophosphorylation of FAK in squamous cell carcinoma. A cocrystal structure of the FAK kinase domain in complex with this compound revealed the inhibitor binding mode within the ATP binding site and confirmed the covalent linkage between the targeted Cys427 of the protein and the inhibitor.