Molecular docking of ferulic acid analogue compounds against epidermal growth factor receptor as a potential therapy for breast cancer

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounted for 18.1% of the breast cancer cases that occurred in Indonesia until 2020. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression is found in at least 50% of TNBC cases. So far, it is necessary to find an anti-cancer compound that has the potential against TNBC-type breast cancer to achieve good health and well-being. Objective: Ferulic acid derivatives were designed to be active on EGFR in silico study. Methods: Molecular docking was performed using Auto Dock 1.5.7 and PyRx 0.8 software, and visualisation was observed using Discovery Studio. FA ligand and its four derivatives were docked into the receptor EGFR (PDB ID: 3W33). Results: It was found that ferulic acid derivatives have high potential as an anticancer through EGFR inhibition in TNBC-type breast cancer. 4-(4-methyl) benzoyloxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid had the best potential among other derivatives, which showed the lowest binding free energy of -8.81 kcal/mol and the smallest Ki of 352.65nM. Methyl substitution at the benzoyloxy increased ligand interaction with amino acids in EGFR by increasing hydrophobic π-alkyl, π-π and alkyl binding with amino acids. Conclusion: The 4-(4-methyl) benzoyloxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid was the most prospective compound as an EGFR inhibitor and predicted as the most potential compound against breast cancer.