Structural insights into how irreversible inhibitors can overcome drug resistance in EGFR.
Michalczyk, A., Kluter, S., Rode, H.B., Simard, J.R., Grutter, C., Rabiller, M., Rauh, D.(2008) Bioorg Med Chem 16: 3482-3488
- PubMed: 18316192 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2008.02.053
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
2QI8, 2QLQ, 2QQ7 - PubMed Abstract: 
Resistance to kinase-targeted cancer drugs has recently been linked to a single point mutation in the ATP binding site of the kinase. In EGFR, the crucial Thr790 gatekeeper residue is mutated to a Met and prevents reversible ATP competitive inhibitors from binding. Irreversible 4-(phenylamino)quinazolines have been shown to overcome this drug resistance and are currently in clinical trials. In order to obtain a detailed structural understanding of how irreversible inhibitors overcome drug resistance, we used Src kinase as a model system for drug resistant EGFR-T790M. We report the first crystal structure of a drug resistant kinase in complex with an irreversible inhibitor. This 4-(phenylamino)quinazoline inhibits wild type and drug resistant EGFR in vitro at low nM concentrations. The co-crystal structure of drug resistant cSrc-T338M kinase domain provides the structural basis of this activity.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max-Planck-Society, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 15, 44227 Dortmund, Germany.