A Selective MAP3K1 Inhibitor Facilitates Discovery of NPM1 as a Member of the Network.

The quinoxaline core is found in several biologically active compounds, with Erdafitinib being the first FDA-approved quinoxaline derivative that targets a kinase and exhibits anti-cancer properties. We previously reported a quinoxaline analog (84) that displayed anti-cancer effects by inhibiting IKKβ, a key kinase in the NFκB pathway. Here, we present the synthesis of a regioisomer (51-106) and its characterization as a selective MAP3K1 inhibitor with improved metabolic stability and oral bioavailability. We used the small molecule MAP3K1 inhibitor in a proteomics study that identified NPM1 as a member of the MAP3K1 network.