Protein　kinase　CK2　is　involved　in　a　broad　range　of　physiological　events.　3,8-dibromo-7-hydroxy-4-methylchromen-2-one　(DBC)　analogues　show　favorable　inhibitory　activity　targeting　CK2　alpha.　Two　methods　were　used　to　build　3D-QSAR　models　for　DBC　derivatives.　The　ligand-based　(LB)　studies　were　performed　based　on　the　lower　energy　conformations　employing　atom　fit　alignment　rule.　The　receptor-based　(RB)　models　were　also　derived　using　bioactive　conformations.　Contour　maps　of　RB　CoMSIA　model　(q(2)　=　0.694,　r(2)　=　0.916,　N　(no.　of　components)　=　7,　r(pred)(2)　=　0.87)　including　the　steric,　electronic,　hydrophobic　and　hydrogen　bond　acceptor　fields　were　employed　to　explain　factors　affecting　activities　of　inhibitors.　The　good　consistency　between　the　contour　maps　and　the　properties　of　CK2　alpha　amino　acids　provide　useful　hints　for　new　inhibitors　design.　Crown　Copyright　(C)　2009　Published　by　Elsevier　Masson　SAS.　All　rights　reserved.