EGFR and cancer: Compound 3b, which exhibited reduced anti-tubulin polymerization effect induced apoptosis against the MCF-7 cells more so than the most cytotoxic derivative 3i and the reference standard, actinomycin D. This may suggest induction of apoptosis to be one of the main modes of inducing cancer cell death by compound 3b in addition to inhibiting EGFR-TK phosphorylation.