Structure‐Guided Design and Mechanistic Elucidation of New Chromene Derivatives as Selective Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor‐2 Inhibitors With Potent Anticancer Activity

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, a novel series of chromene‐based derivatives was rationally designed as potential VEGFR‐2 inhibitors based on key structural and pharmacophoric features required for antiangiogenic activity. Accordingly, twelve chromene derivatives ( 13a–e, 15a–e , and 17a–b ) were successfully synthesized and structurally characterized. The synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines (MCF‐7, HepG‐2, and HCT‐116), in addition to normal WI‐38 and WISH cells. Among the tested compounds, compound 13a demonstrated the most potent and selective antiproliferative activity, exhibiting low micromolar IC 50 values and favorable selectivity indices. Enzymatic assays confirmed its VEGFR‐2 inhibitory activity (IC 50 = 1.666 ± 0.025 µM), comparable to the reference drug sorafenib. Mechanistic investigations revealed that compound 13a effectively inhibited cancer cell migration in a wound healing assay, highlighting its potential antiangiogenic properties. Furthermore, compound 13a induced significant G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in MCF‐7 cells and triggered apoptosis, as evidenced by Annexin V/PI staining. To support the experimental findings, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations confirmed favorable structural stability and electronic properties. Molecular docking studies demonstrated strong binding interactions within the VEGFR‐2 ATP‐binding site. These results were further validated by 200 ns molecular dynamics simulations, MM‐GBSA binding free energy calculations, Protein–Ligand Interaction Fingerprints (Pro‐LIF), Principal Component Analysis of Trajectories (PCA‐T), and Free Energy Landscape (FEL) analyses, confirming the dynamic stability and favorable energetics of the VEGFR‐2– 13a complex. Overall, this integrated experimental and computational study identifies compound 13a as a promising VEGFR‐2–targeted anticancer lead warranting further preclinical investigation.