In vitro activity: Ki8751 potently and selectively inhibits VEGFR2 with IC50 of 0.9 nM. Ki8751 also inhibits PDGFRα, c-Kit, and FGFR-2, with much higher IC50 values (40 nM–170 nM). Except for these several kinases, Ki8751 doesn't disturb other kinases, including HGFR, EGFR, and InsulinR, even at 10 μM. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), Ki8751 (1 nM–100 nM) effectively decreases VEGF-stimulated cell proliferation and vasculature permeability. In metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) cells MIP, RKO, SW620, and SW480, but not in HCT116, Ki8751 (10 nM) increases cellular senescence.

Kinase Assay: NIH3T3 cells prepared by transfection of human KDR. The cells are cultured in a collagen type I coated 96-well plate in an amount of 1.5 × 104 per well. The medium is then replaced by a DMEM medium containing 0.1% FCS. Ki8751 diluted in DMSO is added to each well and cultured. rhVEGF is added to a final concentration of 100 ng/mL, and the stimulation of cells is carried out at 37 °C. The cells are washed with PBS (pH 7.4), 50 μL of a solubilization buffer (20 mM HEPES (pH 7.4), 150 mM NaCl, 0.2% Triton X-100, 10% glycerol, 5 mM Na3VO4, 5 mM disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate, and 2 mM Na4P2O7) is then added and a cell extract is prepared. Separately, PBS (50 μL, pH 7.4) containing 5 μg/mL of antiphosphotyrosine antibody (PY20) is added to a microplate for ELISA. After washing of the plate, 300 μL of a blocking solution is added. The cell extract is transferred to the plate. An anti-VEGFR2 antibody and a peroxidase-labeled anti-rabbit Ig antibody are added. Next, a chromophoric substrate for peroxidase is added, and the absorbance at 450 nm is measured with microplate reader. The VEGFR2 phosphorylation activity for each well is determined by presuming the absorbance with the addition of VEGF and without the addition of the test sample to be 100% VEGFR2 phosphorylation activity and VEGF to be 0% VEGFR2 phosphorylation activity. The concentration of the inhibition (%) of VEGFR2 Phosphorylation is determined for each case, and IC50 value is calculated.

Cell Assay: To evaluate the inhibition of VEGF-Stimulated HUVEC proliferation by Ki8751, HUVECs are plated at a density of 4000 cells/200 μL/well in a type I collagen pre-coated 96-well plates. After 24 hours, the cells are incubated for 1 hour with Ki8751 and then stimulated with 20 ng/mL rhVEGF. The cultures are incubated at 37 °C for 72 hours, then pulsed with 1 μCi/well [3H]thymidine and re-incubated for 14 hours. Cells are assayed for the incorporation of tritium using a beta counter.

J Med Chem. 2005 Mar 10;48(5):1359-66; Cancer Sci. 2010 Jun;101(6):1403-8; Int J Cancer. 2011 Nov 1;129(9):2115-23.