EGFR mutation (T790M) and cancerous stemness have shown drug resistances in human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), thus development of novel drugs in overcoming drug resistances in the NSCLC therapy is highly desired. SP101 is a novel gefitinib derivative, which can bind the ATP-binding pocket of EGFR to inhibit its EGFR kinase activity. SP101 can reduce the drug resistances of EGFR mutation (T790M) and cancerous stemness in NSCLC. SP101 induced cancer cell death and apoptosis in the gefitinib-resistant EGFR mutation (T790M) H1975 cells. SP101 inhibited phosphorylated EGFR and its downstream Survivin proteins but conversely induced Caspase 3 activation for apoptosis induction. Moreover, SP101 could decrease Oct4 protein level and reduce Survivin proteins but conversely elicited active Caspase 3 in the xenograft human H1975 lung tumors in nude mice.
