Tropomyosin receptor kinases (TrkA,
TrkB, and TrkC) are attractive
therapeutic targets for multiple cancers. Two first-generation small-molecule
Trks inhibitors, larotrectinib and entrectinib, have just been approved
to use clinically. However, the drug-resistance mutations of Trks
have already emerged, which calls for new-generation Trks inhibitors.
Herein, we report the structural optimization and structure–activity
relationship studies of 6,6-dimethyl-4-(phenylamino)-6H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]oxazin-7(8H)-one derivatives as a new class of pan-Trk inhibitors. The prioritized
compound 11g exhibited low nanomolar IC50 values
against TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC and various drug-resistant mutants. It
also showed good kinase selectivity. 11g displayed excellent in vitro antitumor activity and strongly suppressed Trk-mediated
signaling pathways in intact cells. In in vivo studies,
compound 11g exhibited good antitumor activity in BaF3-TEL-TrkA
and BaF3-TEL-TrkCG623R allograft mouse models without exhibiting
apparent toxicity. Collectively, 11g could be a promising
lead compound for drug discovery targeting Trks and deserves further
investigation.