Recent Advancements in the Development of Heterocyclic Scaffolds as Potential Anti-cancer Agents Targeting EGFR and VEGFR-2

The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (VEGFR) families are among the key oncogenic receptors targeted for developing safe and effective drug therapies for cancer. Upon activation, these receptors primarily trigger angiogenesis, a process that plays a crucial role in the proliferation and migration of oncogenic cells by supporting vascularization throughout the body and contributing to tumor growth and metastasis. Some current therapeutic approaches, developed after administration of various models, explored novel drug regimens and established a course of treatment by targeting these receptors. Despite significant progress in this area, the search for more effective and selective anti-cancer agents continues, catering to the need for improved and more advanced therapies. This present review highlights the recent advancements in the development of certain heterocyclic scaffolds targeting these key receptors. The various heterocyclic moieties featured in this review, including derivatives of pyridine, pyrimidine, quinazoline, triazole, and several others, can act as potential antagonists for these receptors and therefore exhibit promising anti-cancer activity. These compounds are supported by their extensive in-vitro studies that not only assess their inhibitory potential but also focus on their structureactivity relationships, pharmacokinetic properties, and toxicity profiles. This review article provides information on the specific compounds found to have the most potent activity against various cancer cell lines evaluated. Therefore, further research on these novel compounds offers substantial prospects for developing potential therapeutic candidates, thereby enhancing cancer treatment.