Potent and selective inhibitors of the Met [hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) receptor] tyrosine kinase block HGF/SF-induced tumor cell growth and invasion.

The hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) receptor, Met, mediates various cellular responses on activation with its ligand, including proliferation, survival, motility, invasion, and tubular morphogenesis. Met expression is frequently up-regulated in sarcomas and carcinomas. Experimental evidence suggests that Met activation correlates with poor clinical outcome and the likelihood of metastasis. Therefore, inhibitors of Met tyrosine kinase may be useful for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers that have spread from the primary site. We have discovered potent and selective pyrrole-indolinone Met kinase inhibitors and characterized them for their ability to inhibit HGF/SF-induced cellular responses in vitro. These compounds inhibit HGF/SF-induced receptor phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. They also inhibit the HGF/SF-induced motility and invasion of epithelial and carcinoma cells. Therefore, these compounds represent a class of prototype small molecules that selectively inhibit the Met kinase and could lead to identification of compounds with potential therapeutic utility in treatment of cancers.