Designing novel cabozantinib analogues as p-glycoprotein inhibitors to target cancer cell resistance using molecular docking study, ADMET screening, bioisosteric approach, and molecular dynamics simulations

IntroductionOne of the foremost contributors to mortality worldwide is cancer. Chemotherapy remains the principal strategy for cancer treatment. A significant factor leading to the failure of cancer chemotherapy is the phenomenon of multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells. The primary instigator...

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Main Authors: Gajendra Singh Thakur, Ajay Kumar Gupta, Dipti Pal, Yogesh Vaishnav, Neeraj Kumar, Sivakumar Annadurai, Sanmati Kumar Jain
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Chemistry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2025.1543075/full
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author Gajendra Singh Thakur
Ajay Kumar Gupta
Dipti Pal
Yogesh Vaishnav
Neeraj Kumar
Sivakumar Annadurai
Sanmati Kumar Jain
author_facet Gajendra Singh Thakur
Ajay Kumar Gupta
Dipti Pal
Yogesh Vaishnav
Neeraj Kumar
Sivakumar Annadurai
Sanmati Kumar Jain
author_sort Gajendra Singh Thakur
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionOne of the foremost contributors to mortality worldwide is cancer. Chemotherapy remains the principal strategy for cancer treatment. A significant factor leading to the failure of cancer chemotherapy is the phenomenon of multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells. The primary instigator of MDR is the over expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a protein that imparts resistance and facilitates the ATP-dependent efflux of various anticancer agents. Numerous efforts have been made to inhibit P-gp function with the aim of restoring the effectiveness of chemotherapy due to its broad specificity. The main objective has been to create compounds that either serve as direct P-gp inhibitors or interact with cancer therapies to modulate transport. Despite substantial in vitro achievements, there are currently no approved drugs available that can effectively “block” P-gp mediated resistance. Cabozantinib (CBZ), a multi-kinase inhibitor, is utilized in the treatment of various carcinomas. CBZ has been shown to inhibit P-gp efflux activity, thereby reversing P-gp mediated MDR. Consequently, P-gp has emerged as a critical target for research in anti-cancer therapies.MethodsThe purpose of this study was to computationally identify new andsafer analogues of CBZ using bioisosteric approach, focusing on improved pharmacokinetic properties andreduced toxicity. The physicochemical, medicinal, and ADMET profiles of generated analogues were computed using the ADMETLab 3.0 server. We also predicted the drug likeness (DL) and drug score (DS) of analogues. The molecular docking studies of screened analogues against the protein (PDB ID: 3G5U) were conducted using AutoDock Vina flowing by BIOVIA Discovery Studio for visualizing interactions.Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of docked ligands was done using Schrödinger suite.Results and DiscussionThe docking scores for the ligands CBZ01, CBZ06, CBZ11, CBZ13, CBZ25, CBZ34, and CBZ38 ranged from −8.0 to −6.4 kcal/mol against the protein (PDB ID: 3G5U). A molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of CBZ01, CBZ13, and CBZ38 was conducted using the Schrödinger suite, revealing that these complexesmaintained stability throughout the 100 ns simulation.ConclusionAn integrated computational approach combining bioisosteric approach, molecular docking, drug likeness calculations, and MD simulations highlights the promise of ligands CBZ01 and CBZ13 as candidates for the development of potential anticancer agents for the treatment of various cancers.
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spelling doaj-art-71f2f8aebb9b4c4b9628dc1b2b3f059c2025-08-20T02:03:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Chemistry2296-26462025-02-011310.3389/fchem.2025.15430751543075Designing novel cabozantinib analogues as p-glycoprotein inhibitors to target cancer cell resistance using molecular docking study, ADMET screening, bioisosteric approach, and molecular dynamics simulationsGajendra Singh Thakur0Ajay Kumar Gupta1Dipti Pal2Yogesh Vaishnav3Neeraj Kumar4Sivakumar Annadurai5Sanmati Kumar Jain6Drug Discovery and Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, IndiaDrug Discovery and Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, IndiaDrug Discovery and Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, IndiaDrug Discovery and Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, IndiaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Bhupal Nobles’ College of Pharmacy, Udaipur, Rajasthan, IndiaDepartment of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi ArabiaDrug Discovery and Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, IndiaIntroductionOne of the foremost contributors to mortality worldwide is cancer. Chemotherapy remains the principal strategy for cancer treatment. A significant factor leading to the failure of cancer chemotherapy is the phenomenon of multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells. The primary instigator of MDR is the over expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a protein that imparts resistance and facilitates the ATP-dependent efflux of various anticancer agents. Numerous efforts have been made to inhibit P-gp function with the aim of restoring the effectiveness of chemotherapy due to its broad specificity. The main objective has been to create compounds that either serve as direct P-gp inhibitors or interact with cancer therapies to modulate transport. Despite substantial in vitro achievements, there are currently no approved drugs available that can effectively “block” P-gp mediated resistance. Cabozantinib (CBZ), a multi-kinase inhibitor, is utilized in the treatment of various carcinomas. CBZ has been shown to inhibit P-gp efflux activity, thereby reversing P-gp mediated MDR. Consequently, P-gp has emerged as a critical target for research in anti-cancer therapies.MethodsThe purpose of this study was to computationally identify new andsafer analogues of CBZ using bioisosteric approach, focusing on improved pharmacokinetic properties andreduced toxicity. The physicochemical, medicinal, and ADMET profiles of generated analogues were computed using the ADMETLab 3.0 server. We also predicted the drug likeness (DL) and drug score (DS) of analogues. The molecular docking studies of screened analogues against the protein (PDB ID: 3G5U) were conducted using AutoDock Vina flowing by BIOVIA Discovery Studio for visualizing interactions.Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of docked ligands was done using Schrödinger suite.Results and DiscussionThe docking scores for the ligands CBZ01, CBZ06, CBZ11, CBZ13, CBZ25, CBZ34, and CBZ38 ranged from −8.0 to −6.4 kcal/mol against the protein (PDB ID: 3G5U). A molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of CBZ01, CBZ13, and CBZ38 was conducted using the Schrödinger suite, revealing that these complexesmaintained stability throughout the 100 ns simulation.ConclusionAn integrated computational approach combining bioisosteric approach, molecular docking, drug likeness calculations, and MD simulations highlights the promise of ligands CBZ01 and CBZ13 as candidates for the development of potential anticancer agents for the treatment of various cancers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2025.1543075/fullanti-cancer agentnewer analoguesbioisosteric approachcabozantinibmolecular dockingMD simulation
spellingShingle Gajendra Singh Thakur
Ajay Kumar Gupta
Dipti Pal
Yogesh Vaishnav
Neeraj Kumar
Sivakumar Annadurai
Sanmati Kumar Jain
Designing novel cabozantinib analogues as p-glycoprotein inhibitors to target cancer cell resistance using molecular docking study, ADMET screening, bioisosteric approach, and molecular dynamics simulations
Frontiers in Chemistry
anti-cancer agent
newer analogues
bioisosteric approach
cabozantinib
molecular docking
MD simulation
title Designing novel cabozantinib analogues as p-glycoprotein inhibitors to target cancer cell resistance using molecular docking study, ADMET screening, bioisosteric approach, and molecular dynamics simulations
title_full Designing novel cabozantinib analogues as p-glycoprotein inhibitors to target cancer cell resistance using molecular docking study, ADMET screening, bioisosteric approach, and molecular dynamics simulations
title_fullStr Designing novel cabozantinib analogues as p-glycoprotein inhibitors to target cancer cell resistance using molecular docking study, ADMET screening, bioisosteric approach, and molecular dynamics simulations
title_full_unstemmed Designing novel cabozantinib analogues as p-glycoprotein inhibitors to target cancer cell resistance using molecular docking study, ADMET screening, bioisosteric approach, and molecular dynamics simulations
title_short Designing novel cabozantinib analogues as p-glycoprotein inhibitors to target cancer cell resistance using molecular docking study, ADMET screening, bioisosteric approach, and molecular dynamics simulations
title_sort designing novel cabozantinib analogues as p glycoprotein inhibitors to target cancer cell resistance using molecular docking study admet screening bioisosteric approach and molecular dynamics simulations
topic anti-cancer agent
newer analogues
bioisosteric approach
cabozantinib
molecular docking
MD simulation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2025.1543075/full
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