Exploring the anticancer properties of a new nicotinamide analogue: Investigations into in silico analysis, antiproliferative effects, selectivity, VEGFR-2 inhibition, apoptosis induction, and migration suppression

Background: This study focuses on the development and evaluation of (E)-N-(3-(1-(2-(4-bromobenzoyl)hydrazono)ethyl)phenyl)nicotinamide (BHEPN) as a potential inhibitor of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 (VEGFR-2).

Methods: Computational investigations as density function theory (DFT), docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and ADMET) in addition to in vitro (VEGFR-2 inhibition, cytotoxicity against HepG2 and MCF-7 Cancer cell lines, selectivity index, cells cycle analysis, Apoptosis investigation, and cells migration assay) studies were conducted.

Results: DFT calculations determined the three-dimensional structure and indicated the reactivity of BHEPN. Molecular docking, and MD simulations analysis showed the BHEPN's binding affinity and its potential as a VEGFR-2 inhibitor. ADMET assessments predicted BHEPN's safety and drug-like characteristics. In vitro investigations confirmed the inhibition of VEGFR-2 with an IC₅₀ value of 0.320 ± 0.012 µM. BHEPN also exhibited remarkable cytotoxic effects against HepG2 and MCF-7 Cancer cell lines, with IC₅₀ values of 0.19 ± 0.01 µM and 1.18 ± 0.01 µM, respectively, outperforming Sorafenib's IC₅₀ values (2.24 ± 0.06 µM and 3.17 ± 0.01 µM), respectively. Notably, BHEPN displayed a higher IC₅₀ value of 4.11 ± 0 µM against the non-carcinogenic Vero cell lines, indicating selectivity index values of 21.6 and 3.4 against the tested Cancer cell lines, respectively. In a flow cytometry assay, BHEPN induced HepG2 cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase. Moreover, BHEPN increased the incidence of early and late Apoptosis in HepG2 cell lines (from 1.38% and 0.22%) in control cells to (4.11-26.02%) in the treated cells, respectively. Additionally, the percentage of necrosis raised to 13.39%, in contrast to 0.62% in control cells. Finally, BHEPN was able to reduce the migration and wound healing abilities in HepG2 cells to 38.89% compared to 87.92% in untreated cells after 48 h. These in vitro results aligned with the computational predictions, providing strong evidence of BHEPN's efficacy and safety in Anticancer applications.

Conclusions: BHEPN is a promising candidate for the development of novel Anticancer agents through further in vitro and in vivo investigations.

Anti-proliferative; Apoptosis; Cancer cells’ migration; Cell cycle; Selectivity index; VEGFR-2.