Structure-based pharmacophore modelling for ErbB4-kinase inhibition: a systematic computational approach for small molecule drug discovery for breast cancer

ErbB2 kinase is a key target in approximately 20% of breast cancer cases; however, ErbB2-positive cells may shift their dependence to ErbB4 upon developing resistance to ErbB2 inhibitors. Targeting ErbB4 presents a viable strategy to address this challenge. This study employs a comprehensive approach combining structure-based pharmacophore modelling, molecular docking, and MM-GBSA calculations to identify novel ErbB4 kinase inhibitors. Critical pharmacophoric features were extracted from the crystal structures of ErbB4-lapatinib, followed by virtual screening of the Chembl database to discover potential small molecule candidates. Furthermore, the ADMET profiles of 11 shortlisted candidates were assessed to verify their pharmacokinetic and toxicity properties, identifying Chembl310724, Chembl521284, and Chembl4168686 as promising inhibitors of ErbB4 kinase activity with the binding free energy (ΔGbind) values of −99.84, −89.42 and −86.06 kcal/mol, respectively. This integrated methodology not only enhances our understanding of ErbB4 inhibition but also sets a foundation for the rational design of targeted therapies addressing breast cancer with ErbB4 dependency.