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Hit Identification of a Novel Quinazoline Sulfonamide as a Promising EphB3 Inhibitor: Design, Virtual Combinatorial Library, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Docking Simulation Studies. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14121247. [PMID: 34959648 PMCID: PMC8708751 DOI: 10.3390/ph14121247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
EphB3 is a major key player in a variety of cellular activities, including cell migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. However, the exact role of EphB3 in cancer remains ambiguous. Accordingly, new EphB3 inhibitors can increase the understanding of the exact roles of the receptor and may act as promising therapeutic candidates. Herein, a hybrid approach of structure-based design and virtual combinatorial library generated 34 quinazoline sulfonamides as potential selective EphB3 inhibitors. A molecular docking study over EphB3 predicted the binding affinities of the generated library, and the top seven hit compounds (3a and 4a–f), with GlideScore ≥ −6.20 Kcal/mol, were chosen for further MM-GBSA calculations. Out of the seven top hits, compound 4c showed the highest MM-GBSA binding free energy (−74.13 Kcal/mol). To validate these predicted results, compounds 3a and 4a–f were synthesized and characterized using NMR, HRMS, and HPLC. The biological evaluation revealed compound 4c as a potent EphB3 inhibitory lead (IC50 = 1.04 µM). The screening of 4c over a mini-panel of kinases consisting of EGFR, Aurora A, Aurora B, CDK2/cyclin A, EphB1, EphB2, EphB4, ERBB2/HER2, and KDR/VEGFR2, showed a promising selective profile against EphB3 isoform. A dose-dependent assay of compound 4c and a molecular docking study over the different forms of EphB provided insights into the elicited biological activities and highlighted reasonable explanations of the selectivity.
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Kim A, Seong KM, Choi YY, Shim S, Park S, Lee SS. Inhibition of EphA2 by Dasatinib Suppresses Radiation-Induced Intestinal Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239096. [PMID: 33265912 PMCID: PMC7730170 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation-induced multiorgan dysfunction is thought to result primarily from damage to the endothelial system, leading to a systemic inflammatory response that is mediated by the recruitment of leukocytes. The Eph–ephrin signaling pathway in the vascular system participates in various disease developmental processes, including cancer and inflammation. In this study, we demonstrate that radiation exposure increased intestinal inflammation via endothelial dysfunction, caused by the radiation-induced activation of EphA2, an Eph receptor tyrosine kinase, and its ligand ephrinA1. Barrier dysfunction in endothelial and epithelial cells was aggravated by vascular endothelial–cadherin disruption and leukocyte adhesion in radiation-induced inflammation both in vitro and in vivo. Among all Eph receptors and their ligands, EphA2 and ephrinA1 were required for barrier destabilization and leukocyte adhesion. Knockdown of EphA2 in endothelial cells reduced radiation-induced endothelial dysfunction. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of EphA2–ephrinA1 by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib attenuated the loss of vascular integrity and leukocyte adhesion in vitro. Mice administered dasatinib exhibited resistance to radiation injury characterized by reduced barrier leakage and decreased leukocyte infiltration into the intestine. Taken together, these data suggest that dasatinib therapy represents a potential approach for the protection of radiation-mediated intestinal damage by targeting the EphA2–ephrinA1 complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Areumnuri Kim
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure and Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, KIRAMS, Seoul 01812, Korea; (S.S.); (S.P.); (S.S.L.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Ki Moon Seong
- Laboratory of Biodosimetry, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, KIRAMS, Seoul 01812, Korea; (K.M.S.); (Y.Y.C.)
| | - You Yeon Choi
- Laboratory of Biodosimetry, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, KIRAMS, Seoul 01812, Korea; (K.M.S.); (Y.Y.C.)
| | - Sehwan Shim
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure and Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, KIRAMS, Seoul 01812, Korea; (S.S.); (S.P.); (S.S.L.)
| | - Sunhoo Park
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure and Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, KIRAMS, Seoul 01812, Korea; (S.S.); (S.P.); (S.S.L.)
- Laboratory of Biodosimetry, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, KIRAMS, Seoul 01812, Korea; (K.M.S.); (Y.Y.C.)
| | - Seung Sook Lee
- Laboratory of Radiation Exposure and Therapeutics, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, KIRAMS, Seoul 01812, Korea; (S.S.); (S.P.); (S.S.L.)
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Fischl AS, Wang X, Falcon BL, Almonte-Baldonado R, Bodenmiller D, Evans G, Stewart J, Wilson T, Hipskind P, Manro J, Uhlik MT, Chintharlapalli S, Gerald D, Alsop DC, Benjamin LE, Bhatt RS. Inhibition of Sphingosine Phosphate Receptor 1 Signaling Enhances the Efficacy of VEGF Receptor Inhibition. Mol Cancer Ther 2019; 18:856-867. [PMID: 30787172 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-18-0548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Inhibition of VEGFR signaling is an effective treatment for renal cell carcinoma, but resistance continues to be a major problem. Recently, the sphingosine phosphate (S1P) signaling pathway has been implicated in tumor growth, angiogenesis, and resistance to antiangiogenic therapy. S1P is a bioactive lipid that serves an essential role in developmental and pathologic angiogenesis via activation of the S1P receptor 1 (S1P1). S1P1 signaling counteracts VEGF signaling and is required for vascular stabilization. We used in vivo and in vitro angiogenesis models including a postnatal retinal angiogenesis model and a renal cell carcinoma murine tumor model to test whether simultaneous inhibition of S1P1 and VEGF leads to improved angiogenic inhibition. Here, we show that inhibition of S1P signaling reduces the endothelial cell barrier and leads to excessive angiogenic sprouting. Simultaneous inhibition of S1P and VEGF signaling further disrupts the tumor vascular beds, decreases tumor volume, and increases tumor cell death compared with monotherapies. These studies suggest that inhibition of angiogenesis at two stages of the multistep process may maximize the effects of antiangiogenic therapy. Together, these data suggest that combination of S1P1 and VEGFR-targeted therapy may be a useful therapeutic strategy for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and other tumor types.
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MESH Headings
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/blood supply
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Endothelial Cells/drug effects
- Endothelial Cells/metabolism
- Female
- Humans
- Kidney Neoplasms/blood supply
- Kidney Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Kidney Neoplasms/metabolism
- Kidney Neoplasms/pathology
- Lysophospholipids/antagonists & inhibitors
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Nude
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/drug therapy
- Sphingosine/analogs & derivatives
- Sphingosine/antagonists & inhibitors
- Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptors/antagonists & inhibitors
- Sunitinib/pharmacology
- Treatment Outcome
- Tumor Burden/drug effects
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/pharmacology
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/antagonists & inhibitors
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiaoen Wang
- Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David C Alsop
- Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Rupal S Bhatt
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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Shan Y, Wang B, Zhang J. New strategies in achieving antiangiogenic effect: Multiplex inhibitors suppressing compensatory activations of RTKs. Med Res Rev 2018; 38:1674-1705. [DOI: 10.1002/med.21517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Shan
- Department of Pharmacy; The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University; Xi'an China
| | - Binghe Wang
- Department of Chemistry; Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics; Georgia State University; Atlanta GA USA
| | - Jie Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Health Science Center; Xi'an Jiaotong University; Xi'an China
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An Endothelial Cell/Mesenchymal Stem Cell Coculture Cord Formation Assay to Model Vascular Biology In Vitro. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1683:371-382. [PMID: 29082503 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7357-6_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Blood vessels are crucial components for normal tissue development and homeostasis, so it is not surprising that endothelial dysfunction and dysregulation results in a variety of different pathophysiological conditions. The large number of vascular-related disorders and the emergence of angiogenesis as a major hallmark of cancer has led to significant interest in the development of drugs that target the vasculature. While several in vivo models exist to study developmental and pathological states of blood vessels, few in vitro assays have been developed that capture the significant complexity of the vascular microenvironment. Here, we describe a high content endothelial colony forming cells (ECFC)/adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) coculture assay that captures many elements of in vivo vascular biology and is ideal for in vitro screening of compounds for pro- or anti-angiogenic activities.
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Chen Y, Zhang H, Zhang Y. Targeting receptor tyrosine kinase EphB4 in cancer therapy. Semin Cancer Biol 2017; 56:37-46. [PMID: 28993206 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Eph receptors and their Eph receptor-interacting (ephrin) ligands together form an important cell communication system with diverse roles. Experimental evidence demonstrated Eph receptor bidirectional signaling with both tumor-suppressing and tumor-promoting activities in cancer cells. The tyrosine kinase EphB4, a member of the Eph receptor family, has been associated with tumor angiogenesis, growth and metastasis, thus making it a valuable and attractive target for drug design for therapeutic applications. In the past decade, many studies have focused on elucidating the structure and function of EphB4 in complex with its ligand ephrinB2 for their role in carcinogenesis. Meanwhile, an array of compounds targeting EphB4 have been studied and several selective inhibitors have been tested in clinical studies. This review discusses the structure and function of the EphB4 receptor, analyzes its potential as a target for anticancer therapy, and summarizes the information about inhibitors of EphB4 kinase activity. Conclusively, EphB4 is a challenging but promising therapeutic target in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinnan Chen
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Hongmei Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Yanmin Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 76, Yanta West Street, #54, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710061, PR China.
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Unzue A, Lafleur K, Zhao H, Zhou T, Dong J, Kolb P, Liebl J, Zahler S, Caflisch A, Nevado C. Three stories on Eph kinase inhibitors: From in silico discovery to in vivo validation. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 112:347-366. [PMID: 26907157 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.01.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Several selective and potent EphB4 inhibitors have been discovered, optimized and biophysically characterized by our groups over the past years. On the outset of these discoveries high throughput docking techniques were applied. Herein, we review the optimization campaigns started from three of these hits (Xan-A1, Pyr-A1 and Qui-A1) with emphasis on their in depth in vitro and in vivo characterization, together with previously unpublished angiogenesis and fluorescence based assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Unzue
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Karine Lafleur
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Hongtao Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ting Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jing Dong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Kolb
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Johanna Liebl
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University Münich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Münich, Germany
| | - Stefan Zahler
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University Münich, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Münich, Germany
| | - Amedeo Caflisch
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Cristina Nevado
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
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Hu B, Vikas P, Mohty M, Savani BN. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation and targeted therapy for FLT3/ITD+ acute myeloid leukemia: an update. Expert Rev Hematol 2013; 7:301-15. [PMID: 24308526 DOI: 10.1586/17474086.2014.857596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Survival of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), particularly in younger patients, has improved in recent years due to improved understanding of disease biology, post remission therapies and supportive care. AML, however, remains difficult to treat as many patients will still ultimately relapse and die of their disease. This is particularly true in AML patients with identified FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) molecular mutations, which typically confers a poor prognosis. The FLT3-ITD mutation occurs in about one-quarter of patients diagnosed with AML. Oftentimes, these patients are referred for early allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in hopes of overcoming this poor prognostic factor. Several studies have demonstrated some benefit with HSCT in patients with FLT3-ITD mutation. However, recent data suggested that FLT3-ITD mutation remains a poor prognostic factor even after early HSCT; these patients remain at risk for early relapse after transplantation, emphasizing ongoing efforts to explore maintenance therapy with FLT3-ITD inhibitors in the post-transplant setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Hu
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Pratt SE, Durland–Busbice S, Shepard RL, Donoho GP, Starling JJ, Wickremsinhe ER, Perkins EJ, Dantzig AH. Efficacy of Low-Dose Oral Metronomic Dosing of the Prodrug of Gemcitabine, LY2334737, in Human Tumor Xenografts. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:481-90. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-12-0654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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10
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Pratt SE, Durland-Busbice S, Shepard RL, Heinz-Taheny K, Iversen PW, Dantzig AH. Human carboxylesterase-2 hydrolyzes the prodrug of gemcitabine (LY2334737) and confers prodrug sensitivity to cancer cells. Clin Cancer Res 2013; 19:1159-68. [PMID: 23325581 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-12-1184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The oral prodrug of gemcitabine LY2334737 is cleaved systemically to gemcitabine; the mechanism responsible for hydrolysis is unknown. LY2334737 cytotoxicity was tested in the NCI-60 panel; mining of microarray expression data identified carboxylesterase (CES) as a top hydrolase candidate. Studies examined whether CES is responsible for hydrolysis and whether cellular CES expression confers prodrug sensitivity. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Human recombinant CES isozymes were assayed for LY2334737 hydrolysis. Stable CES-overexpressing HCT-116 transfectants and a SK-OV-3 knockdown were prepared. Cell lines were tested for drug sensitivity and CES expression by quantitative real time-PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining. Bystander cytotoxicity studies were conducted with GFP-tagged PC-3 cells as the reporter cell line. Therapeutic response of the HCT-116 transfectants was evaluated in xenografts. RESULTS Of 3 human CES isozymes tested, only CES2 hydrolyzed LY2334737. Five cell lines that express CES2 responded to LY2334737 treatment. LY2334737 was less cytotoxic to a SK-OV-3 CES2 knockdown than parental cells. The drug response of CES2-transfected HCT-116 cells correlated with CES2 expression level. Bystander studies showed statistically greater PC-3-GFP growth inhibition by LY2334737 when cells were cocultured with CES2 and not mock transfectants. Oral treatment of xenograft models with 3.2 mg/kg LY2334737 once a day for 21 days showed greater tumor growth inhibition of CES2 transfectant than the mock transfectant (P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS CES2 is responsible for the slow hydrolysis of LY2334737. Because intact prodrug circulates at high plasma levels after oral LY2334737 administration, improved response rates may be observed by tailoring LY2334737 treatment to patients with CES2 tumor expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Pratt
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, USA.
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Abstract
Internal tandem duplication (ITD) of the fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene is a gain-of-function mutation common in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). It is associated with inferior prognosis and response to chemotherapy. Single base mutations at the FLT3 tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) also leads to a gain of function, although its prognostic significance is less well defined because of its rarity. The clinical benefits of FLT3 inhibition are generally limited to AML with FLT3-ITD. However, responses are transient and leukaemia progression invariably occurs. There is compelling evidence that leukaemia clones carrying both ITD and TKD mutations appear when resistance to FLT3 inhibitors occurs. Interestingly, the emergence of double ITD and TKD mutants can be recapitulated in vitro when FLT3-ITD+ leukaemia cell lines are treated with mutagens and FLT3 inhibitors. Furthermore, murine xenotransplantation models also suggest that, in some cases, the FTL3-ITD and TKD double mutants actually exist in minute amounts before treatment with FLT3 inhibitors, expand under the selection pressure of FLT3 inhibition and become the predominant resistant clone(s) during the drug-refractory phase. On the basis of this model of clonal evolution, a multipronged strategy using more potent FLT3 inhibitors, and a combinatorial approach targeting both FLT3-dependent and FLT3-independent pathways, will be needed to improve outcome.
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12
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Efficacy of Tie2 receptor antagonism in angiosarcoma. Neoplasia 2012; 14:131-40. [PMID: 22431921 DOI: 10.1593/neo.111770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2011] [Revised: 01/25/2012] [Accepted: 01/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Angiosarcomas are malignant endothelial cell tumors with few effective systemic treatments. Despite a unique endothelial origin, molecular candidates for targeted therapeutic intervention have been elusive. In this study, we explored the tunica internal endothelial cell kinase 2 (Tie2) receptor as a potential therapeutic target in angiosarcoma. Human angiosarcomas from diverse sites were shown to be universally immunoreactive for Tie2. Tie2 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) antagonists inhibited SVR and MS1-VEGF angiosarcoma cell survival in vitro. In the high-grade SVR cell line, Tie2 and VEGF antagonists inhibited cell survival synergistically, whereas effects were largely additive in the low-grade MS1-VEGF cell line. Xenograft modeling using these cell lines closely recapitulated the human disease. In vivo, Tie2 and VEGFR inhibition resulted in significant angiosarcoma growth delay. The combination proved more effective than either agent alone. Tie2 inhibition seemed to elicit tumor growth delay through increased tumor cell apoptosis, whereas VEGFR inhibition reduced tumor growth by lowering tumor cell proliferation. These data identify Tie2 antagonism as a potential novel, targeted therapy for angiosarcomas and provide a foundation for further investigation of Tie2 inhibition, alone and in combinations, in the management of this disease.
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Noberini R, Lamberto I, Pasquale EB. Targeting Eph receptors with peptides and small molecules: progress and challenges. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2011; 23:51-7. [PMID: 22044885 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2011.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2011] [Accepted: 10/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The Eph receptors are a large family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Their kinase activity and downstream signaling ability are stimulated by the binding of cell surface-associated ligands, the ephrins. The ensuing signals are bidirectional because the ephrins can also transduce signals (known as reverse signals) following their interaction with Eph receptors. The ephrin-binding pocket in the extracellular N-terminal domain of the Eph receptors and the ATP-binding pocket in the intracellular kinase domain represent potential binding sites for peptides and small molecules. Indeed, a number of peptides and chemical compounds that target Eph receptors and inhibit ephrin binding or kinase activity have been identified. These molecules show promise as probes to study Eph receptor/ephrin biology, as lead compounds for drug development, and as targeting agents to deliver drugs or imaging agents to tumors. Current challenges are to find (1) small molecules that inhibit Eph receptor-ephrin interactions with high binding affinity and good lead-like properties and (2) selective kinase inhibitors that preferentially target the Eph receptor family or subsets of Eph receptors. Strategies that could also be explored include targeting additional Eph receptor interfaces and the ephrin ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Noberini
- Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Wacheck V, Lahn M, Dickinson G, Füreder W, Meyer R, Herndlhofer S, Füreder T, Dorfner G, Pillay S, André V, Burkholder TP, Akunda JK, Flye-Blakemore L, Van Bockstaele D, Schlenk RF, Sperr WR, Valent P. Dose study of the multikinase inhibitor, LY2457546, in patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia to assess safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics. Cancer Manag Res 2011; 3:157-75. [PMID: 21625399 PMCID: PMC3101112 DOI: 10.2147/cmr.s19341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2011] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a life-threatening malignancy with limited treatment options in chemotherapy-refractory patients. A first-in-human dose study was designed to investigate a safe and biologically effective dose range for LY2457546, a novel multikinase inhibitor, in patients with relapsed AML. Methods: In this nonrandomized, open-label, dose escalation Phase I study, LY2457546 was administered orally once a day. Safety, pharmacokinetics, changes in phosphorylation of target kinases in AML blasts, and risk of drug–drug interactions (DDI) were assessed. Results: Five patients were treated at the starting and predicted minimal biologically effective dose of 50 mg/day. The most commonly observed adverse events were febrile neutropenia, epistaxis, petechiae, and headache. The majority of adverse events (81%) were Grade 1 or 2. One patient had generalized muscle weakness (Grade 3), which was deemed to be a dose-limiting toxicity. Notably, the pharmacokinetic profile of LY2457546 showed virtually no elimination of LY2457546 within 24 hours, and thus prevented further dose escalation. No significant DDI were observed. Ex vivo flow cytometry studies showed downregulation of the phosphoproteins, pcKIT, pFLT3, and pS6, in AML blasts after LY2457546 administration. No medically relevant responses were observed in the five treated patients. Conclusion: No biologically effective dose could be established for LY2457546 in chemotherapy-resistant AML patients. Lack of drug clearance prevented safe dose escalation, and the study was terminated early. Future efforts should be made to develop derivatives with a more favorable pharmacokinetic profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker Wacheck
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel, Vienna, Austria
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