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Phillips DC, Buchanan FG, Cheng D, Solomon LR, Xiao Y, Xue J, Tahir SK, Smith ML, Zhang H, Widomski D, Abraham VC, Xu N, Liu Z, Zhou L, DiGiammarino E, Lu X, Rudra-Ganguly N, Trela B, Morgan-Lappe SE. Hexavalent TRAIL Fusion Protein Eftozanermin Alfa Optimally Clusters Apoptosis-Inducing TRAIL Receptors to Induce On-Target Antitumor Activity in Solid Tumors. Cancer Res 2021; 81:3402-3414. [PMID: 33687950 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-2178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
TRAIL can activate cell surface death receptors, resulting in potent tumor cell death via induction of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway. Eftozanermin alfa (ABBV-621) is a second generation TRAIL receptor agonist engineered as an IgG1-Fc mutant backbone linked to two sets of trimeric native single-chain TRAIL receptor binding domain monomers. This hexavalent agonistic fusion protein binds to the death-inducing DR4 and DR5 receptors with nanomolar affinity to drive on-target biological activity with enhanced caspase-8 aggregation and death-inducing signaling complex formation independent of FcγR-mediated cross-linking, and without clinical signs or pathologic evidence of toxicity in nonrodent species. ABBV-621 induced cell death in approximately 36% (45/126) of solid cancer cell lines in vitro at subnanomolar concentrations. An in vivo patient-derived xenograft (PDX) screen of ABBV-621 activity across 15 different tumor indications resulted in an overall response (OR) of 29% (47/162). Although DR4 (TNFSFR10A) and/or DR5 (TNFSFR10B) expression levels did not predict the level of response to ABBV-621 activity in vivo, KRAS mutations were associated with elevated TNFSFR10A and TNFSFR10B and were enriched in ABBV-621-responsive colorectal carcinoma PDX models. To build upon the OR of ABBV-621 monotherapy in colorectal cancer (45%; 10/22) and pancreatic cancer (35%; 7/20), we subsequently demonstrated that inherent resistance to ABBV-621 treatment could be overcome in combination with chemotherapeutics or with selective inhibitors of BCL-XL. In summary, these data provide a preclinical rationale for the ongoing phase 1 clinical trial (NCT03082209) evaluating the activity of ABBV-621 in patients with cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: This study describes the activity of a hexavalent TRAIL-receptor agonistic fusion protein in preclinical models of solid tumors that mechanistically distinguishes this molecular entity from other TRAIL-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dong Cheng
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Yu Xiao
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
| | - John Xue
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Morey L Smith
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
| | - Haichao Zhang
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
| | | | | | - Nan Xu
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
| | - Zhihong Liu
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
| | - Li Zhou
- Protein Biochemistry, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Xin Lu
- Genomic Research Center, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Bruce Trela
- Pre-clinical Safety, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
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2
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Quantification of BCL-2 Family Members by Flow Cytometry. Methods Mol Biol 2018. [PMID: 30536005 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8861-7_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Flow cytometry is a powerful technique for the detection and quantification of cell surface and intracellular proteins. It enables the ability to measure the expression levels of specific proteins in a cell population of interest without the need to physically separate out the cells from within a heterogeneous population by using the appropriate cell-specific markers. It also requires fewer cells than other traditional techniques such as Western blotting. Here we describe a robust and reproducible method to measure the expression levels of the BCL-2 family members, BCL-2, BCL-XL, and MCL-1 by quantitative flow cytometry (QFCM) using validated antibodies.
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3
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Leverson JD, Phillips DC, Mitten MJ, Boghaert ER, Diaz D, Tahir SK, Belmont LD, Nimmer P, Xiao Y, Ma XM, Lowes KN, Kovar P, Chen J, Jin S, Smith M, Xue J, Zhang H, Oleksijew A, Magoc TJ, Vaidya KS, Albert DH, Tarrant JM, La N, Wang L, Tao ZF, Wendt MD, Sampath D, Rosenberg SH, Tse C, Huang DCS, Fairbrother WJ, Elmore SW, Souers AJ. Exploiting selective BCL-2 family inhibitors to dissect cell survival dependencies and define improved strategies for cancer therapy. Sci Transl Med 2015; 7:279ra40. [PMID: 25787766 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaa4642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 402] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The BCL-2/BCL-XL/BCL-W inhibitor ABT-263 (navitoclax) has shown promising clinical activity in lymphoid malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia. However, its efficacy in these settings is limited by thrombocytopenia caused by BCL-XL inhibition. This prompted the generation of the BCL-2-selective inhibitor venetoclax (ABT-199/GDC-0199), which demonstrates robust activity in these cancers but spares platelets. Navitoclax has also been shown to enhance the efficacy of docetaxel in preclinical models of solid tumors, but clinical use of this combination has been limited by neutropenia. We used venetoclax and the BCL-XL-selective inhibitors A-1155463 and A-1331852 to assess the relative contributions of inhibiting BCL-2 or BCL-XL to the efficacy and toxicity of the navitoclax-docetaxel combination. Selective BCL-2 inhibition suppressed granulopoiesis in vitro and in vivo, potentially accounting for the exacerbated neutropenia observed when navitoclax was combined with docetaxel clinically. By contrast, selectively inhibiting BCL-XL did not suppress granulopoiesis but was highly efficacious in combination with docetaxel when tested against a range of solid tumors. Therefore, BCL-XL-selective inhibitors have the potential to enhance the efficacy of docetaxel in solid tumors and avoid the exacerbation of neutropenia observed with navitoclax. These studies demonstrate the translational utility of this toolkit of selective BCL-2 family inhibitors and highlight their potential as improved cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Dolores Diaz
- Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | | | | | - Yu Xiao
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | | | - Kym N Lowes
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | | | - Jun Chen
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Sha Jin
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | | | - John Xue
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Nghi La
- Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Le Wang
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Zhi-Fu Tao
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | | | | | | | - Chris Tse
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - David C S Huang
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Phillips DC, Xiao Y, Lam LT, Litvinovich E, Roberts-Rapp L, Souers AJ, Leverson JD. Loss in MCL-1 function sensitizes non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cell lines to the BCL-2-selective inhibitor venetoclax (ABT-199). Blood Cancer J 2015; 5:e368. [PMID: 26565405 PMCID: PMC4670945 DOI: 10.1038/bcj.2015.88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Revised: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As a population, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) cell lines positive for the t(14;18) translocation and/or possessing elevated BCL2 copy number (CN; BCL2(High)) are exquisitely sensitive to navitoclax or the B-cell lymphoma protein-2 (BCL-2)-selective inhibitor venetoclax. Despite this, some BCL2(High) cell lines remain resistant to either agent. Here we show that the MCL-1-specific inhibitor A-1210477 sensitizes these cell lines to navitoclax. Chemical segregation of this synergy with the BCL-2-selective inhibitor venetoclax or BCL-XL-selective inhibitor A-1155463 indicated that MCL-1 and BCL-2 are the two key anti-apoptotic targets for sensitization. Similarly, the CDK inhibitor flavopiridol downregulated MCL-1 expression and synergized with venetoclax in BCL2(High) NHL cell lines to a similar extent as A-1210477. A-1210477 also synergized with navitoclax in the majority of BCL2(Low) NHL cell lines. However, chemical segregation with venetoclax or A-1155463 revealed that synergy was driven by BCL-XL inhibition in this population. Collectively these data emphasize that BCL2 status is predictive of venetoclax potency in NHL not only as a single agent, but also in the adjuvant setting with anti-tumorigenic agents that inhibit MCL-1 function. These studies also potentially identify a patient population (BCL2(Low)) that could benefit from BCL-XL (navitoclax)-driven combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C Phillips
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Y Xiao
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - L T Lam
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | - A J Souers
- Oncology Development, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - J D Leverson
- Oncology Development, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL, USA
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Xiao Y, Nimmer P, Sheppard GS, Bruncko M, Hessler P, Lu X, Roberts-Rapp L, Pappano WN, Elmore SW, Souers AJ, Leverson JD, Phillips DC. MCL-1 Is a Key Determinant of Breast Cancer Cell Survival: Validation of MCL-1 Dependency Utilizing a Highly Selective Small Molecule Inhibitor. Mol Cancer Ther 2015; 14:1837-47. [PMID: 26013319 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-14-0928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hyperexpression of antiapoptotic BCL-2 family proteins allows cells to survive despite the receipt of signals that would ordinarily induce their deletion, a facet frequently exploited by tumors. Tumors addicted to the BCL-2 family proteins for survival are now being targeted therapeutically. For example, navitoclax, a BCL-2/BCL-XL/BCL-W inhibitor, is currently in phase I/II clinical trials in numerous malignancies. However, the related family member, MCL-1, limits the efficacy of navitoclax and other chemotherapeutic agents. In the present study, we identify breast cancer cell lines that depend upon MCL-1 for survival and subsequently determine the mechanism of apoptosis mediated by the MCL-1 selective inhibitor A-1210477. We demonstrate that apoptosis resulting from a loss in MCL-1 function requires expression of the proapoptotic protein BAK. However, expression of BCL-XL can limit apoptosis resulting from loss in MCL-1 function through sequestration of free BIM. Finally, we demonstrate substantial synergy between navitoclax and MCL-1 siRNA, the direct MCL-1 inhibitor A-1210477, or the indirect MCL-1 inhibitor flavopiridol, highlighting the therapeutic potential for inhibiting BCL-XL and MCL-1 in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xiao
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
| | - Paul Nimmer
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Milan Bruncko
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
| | - Paul Hessler
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
| | - Xin Lu
- Oncology Discovery, AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, Illinois
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Obakan P, Arisan ED, Coker-Gurkan A, Palavan-Unsal N. Epibrassinolide-induced apoptosis regardless of p53 expression via activating polyamine catabolic machinery, a common target for androgen sensitive and insensitive prostate cancer cells. Prostate 2014; 74:1622-33. [PMID: 25214240 DOI: 10.1002/pros.22879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epibrassinolide (EBR), is a member of the brassinosteroids (BR), has been shown as an apoptotic inducer in different cancer cell lines. We previously showed that EBR induced apoptosis by activating polyamine catabolic pathway, which lead to the accumulation of cytotoxic compounds such as hydrogen peroxide and aldehydes in LNCaP and DU 145 prostate cancer cells. However, we found that LNCaP prostate cancer cells expressing functional androgen receptor (AR) was found more sensitive to EBR than those with non-functional AR (DU 145 cells). RESULTS To better understand the apoptotic effect of EBR, we aimed to investigate the cellular responses in p53 null, PC3 prostate cancer cells. We showed that EBR induced mitochondria-mediated and caspase-dependent apoptosis in wt and p53 stable transfected PC3 cells, which suggesting that EBR-induced apoptosis regardless of p53 expression. In addition, inhibition of p53 by pifithrin-α orthe activation of Mdm2 by Nutlin-3 co-treatment did not alter EBR induced PARP cleavage. Furthermore, EBR treatment was also induced apoptosis in both LNCaP(wt p53) and DU 145 (mt p53)cells, respectively. These all findings verified that EBR-induced apoptosis regardless of p53 expression. The PA catabolic pathway was also altered in PC3 cells causing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular PA pool decrease. However, the silencing of spermidine-spermineacetyltransferase (SSAT), a key enzyme at polyamine catabolic machinery prevented the EBR-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, we concluded that EBR-induced apoptosis was mainly related with PA catabolic pathway and independent from p53 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinar Obakan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Kultur University, Atakoy Campus, Bakirkoy, Istanbul, Turkey
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Souers AJ, Leverson JD, Boghaert ER, Ackler SL, Catron ND, Chen J, Dayton BD, Ding H, Enschede SH, Fairbrother WJ, Huang DCS, Hymowitz SG, Jin S, Khaw SL, Kovar PJ, Lam LT, Lee J, Maecker HL, Marsh KC, Mason KD, Mitten MJ, Nimmer PM, Oleksijew A, Park CH, Park CM, Phillips DC, Roberts AW, Sampath D, Seymour JF, Smith ML, Sullivan GM, Tahir SK, Tse C, Wendt MD, Xiao Y, Xue JC, Zhang H, Humerickhouse RA, Rosenberg SH, Elmore SW. ABT-199, a potent and selective BCL-2 inhibitor, achieves antitumor activity while sparing platelets. Nat Med 2013; 19:202-8. [PMID: 23291630 DOI: 10.1038/nm.3048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2153] [Impact Index Per Article: 195.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2012] [Accepted: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Proteins in the B cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) family are key regulators of the apoptotic process. This family comprises proapoptotic and prosurvival proteins, and shifting the balance toward the latter is an established mechanism whereby cancer cells evade apoptosis. The therapeutic potential of directly inhibiting prosurvival proteins was unveiled with the development of navitoclax, a selective inhibitor of both BCL-2 and BCL-2-like 1 (BCL-X(L)), which has shown clinical efficacy in some BCL-2-dependent hematological cancers. However, concomitant on-target thrombocytopenia caused by BCL-X(L) inhibition limits the efficacy achievable with this agent. Here we report the re-engineering of navitoclax to create a highly potent, orally bioavailable and BCL-2-selective inhibitor, ABT-199. This compound inhibits the growth of BCL-2-dependent tumors in vivo and spares human platelets. A single dose of ABT-199 in three patients with refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia resulted in tumor lysis within 24 h. These data indicate that selective pharmacological inhibition of BCL-2 shows promise for the treatment of BCL-2-dependent hematological cancers.
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Abstract
Using genetically modified mouse models, we report here that p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (Puma) and Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim), two pro-apoptotic members of the B-cell lymphoma protein-2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins, cooperate in causing bone marrow and gastrointestinal tract toxicity in response to chemo and radiation therapy. Deletion of both Puma and Bim provides long-term survival without evidence of increased tumor susceptibility following a lethal challenge of carboplatin and ionizing radiation. Consistent with these in vivo findings, studies of primary mast cells demonstrated that the loss of Puma and Bim confers complete protection from cytokine starvation and DNA damage, similar to that observed for Bax/Bak double knockout cells. Biochemical analyses demonstrated an essential role for either Puma or Bim to activate Bax, thereby leading to mitochondrial outer membrane permeability, cytochrome c release and apoptosis. Treatment of cytokine-deprived cells with ABT-737, a BH3 mimetic, demonstrated that Puma is sufficient to activate Bax even in the absence of all other known direct activators, including Bim, Bid and p53. Collectively, our results identify Puma and Bim as key mediators of DNA damage-induced bone marrow failure and provide mechanistic insight into how BH3-only proteins trigger cell death.
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Strosova MK, Karlovska J, Zizkova P, Kwolek-Mirek M, Ponist S, Spickett CM, Horakova L. Modulation of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase activity and oxidative modification during the development of adjuvant arthritis. Arch Biochem Biophys 2011; 511:40-7. [PMID: 21531199 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2011.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2010] [Revised: 03/28/2011] [Accepted: 04/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Adjuvant arthritis (AA) was induced by intradermal administration of Mycobacterium butyricum to the tail of Lewis rats. In sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of skeletal muscles, we investigated the development of AA. SR Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) activity decreased on day 21, suggesting possible conformational changes in the transmembrane part of the enzyme, especially at the site of the calcium binding transmembrane part. These events were associated with an increased level of protein carbonyls, a decrease in cysteine SH groups, and alterations in SR membrane fluidity. There was no alteration in the nucleotide binding site at any time point of AA, as detected by a FITC fluorescence marker. Some changes observed on day 21 appeared to be reversible, as indicated by SERCA activity, cysteine SH groups, SR membrane fluidity, protein carbonyl content and fluorescence of an NCD-4 marker specific for the calcium binding site. The reversibility may represent adaptive mechanisms of AA, induced by higher relative expression of SERCA, oxidation of cysteine, nitration of tyrosine and presence of acidic phospholipids such as phosphatidic acid. Nitric oxide may regulate cytoplasmic Ca(2+) level through conformational alterations of SERCA, and decreasing levels of calsequestrin in SR may also play regulatory role in SERCA activity and expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam K Strosova
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
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He ZY, Shi CB, Wen H, Li FL, Wang BL, Wang J. Upregulation of p53 Expression in Patients with Colorectal Cancer by Administration of Curcumin. Cancer Invest 2011; 29:208-13. [DOI: 10.3109/07357907.2010.550592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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