GQSAR modeling and combinatorial library generation of 4-phenylquinazoline-2-carboxamide derivatives as antiproliferative agents in human Glioblastoma tumors.

Background: TSPO translocator protein, encoded in humans by the Tspo gene plays a crucial role in mitochondria mediated apoptosis and necrotic cell death through its association with Mitochondrial Permeability Transition pore (MPTP). It has been shown that this function can be exploited as a potential treatment for human Glioblastoma Multiforme. In this study, a novel robust fragment based QSAR model has been developed for a series of 4-phenylquinazoline-2-carboxamides experimentally known to be ligands for TSPO, thus triggering apoptotic mechanism cascade.

Results: Model developed showed satisfactory statistical parameters for the experimentally reported dataset (r=0.8259, q=0.6788, pred_r=0.8237 and F-test=37.9). Low standard error values (r_se=0.253, q_se=0.34, pred_r_se=0.14) confirmed the accuracy of the generated model. The model obtained had 4 descriptors, namely, R1-Volume, R2-SsCH3E-index, R3-SsCH3count and R5-EpsilonR. Two of them had positive contribution while the other two had negative correlation.

Conclusion: The high binding affinity and the presence of essential structural features in these compounds make them an ideal choice for the consideration as potent anti-GBM drugs. Activity predicted by GQSAR model reinforces their potential as worthy candidates for drugs against GBM. The detailed analysis carried out in this study provides a substantial basis for the prospective design and development of novel 4-phenylquinazoline-2-carboxamide compounds as TSPO ligands capable of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells.