Background:

NVP-BVU972 is a selective and potent inhibitor of c-Met with IC50 of 14 nM. Besides, NVP-BVU972 displays IC50 values more than 1000 nM in other kinases such as the most closely related kinase recepteur d'origine nantais (RON).

c-Met, also known as hepatocyte growth factor receptor, is a receptor tyrosine kinase that can be activated by hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF). It is a membrane protein which plays an essential role in embryonic development and wound healing.

In the EBC-1, GTL-16, and MKN-45 human cancer cells, NVP-BVU972 potently inhibits the cell proliferation with IC50 values of 82, 66 and 32 nM, respectively. Additionally, NVP-BVU972 treatment leads to the inhibition of the growth of the transformed mouse BaF3 cells containing TPR-MET kinase fusions with IC50 of 104 nM 1.

In human sample, NVP-BVU972 treatment on cells expressing wild-type TPR-MET resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in TPR-MET phosphorylation. Y1230H, D1228A, F1200I and L1195V mutations abrogate the TPR-MET phosphorylation inhibition effect of NVP-BVU972 in BaF3 TPR-MET1.

Reference:
1.   Tiedt R, Degenkolbe E, Furet P, et al. A drug resistance screen using a selective MET inhibitor reveals a spectrum of mutations that partially overlap with activating mutations found in cancer patients. Cancer research. 2011;71(15):5255-5264.