1
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Zhang F, Yu Q, Wu C, Sun S, Wang Y, Wang R, Chen Z, Zhang H, Xiong X, Awadasseid A, Rao G, Zhao X, Zhang W. Design, synthesis, anti-tumor activity and mechanism of novel PROTACs as degraders of PD-L1 and inhibitors of PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 111:117867. [PMID: 39121678 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Currently, antibody drugs targeting programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) have achieved promising results in cancer treatment, while the development of small-molecule drugs lags behind. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of PD-L1-degrading agents based on the PROTAC design principle, utilizing the PD-L1 inhibitor A56. Through systematic screening of ligands and linkers and investigating the structure-activity relationship of the degraders, we identified two highly active compounds, 9i and 9j. These compounds enhance levels of CD4+, CD8+, granzyme B, and perforin, demonstrating significant in vivo antitumor effects with a tumor growth inhibition (TGI) of up to 57.35 %. Both compounds facilitate the internalization of PD-L1 from the cell surface and promote its degradation through proteasomal and lysosomal pathways, while also maintaining inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. In summary, our findings provide a novel strategy and mechanism for developing biphenyl-based PROTAC antitumor drugs targeting and degrading PD-L1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China
| | - Qimeng Yu
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China
| | - Caiyun Wu
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China
| | - Shishi Sun
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China
| | - Yu Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China
| | - Rui Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China
| | - Zejie Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China
| | - Xuqiong Xiong
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China
| | - Annoor Awadasseid
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Moganshan Institute, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313200, China
| | - Guowu Rao
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China.
| | - Xiaoyin Zhao
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China.
| | - Wen Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Deqing 313299, China; Zhejiang Jieyuan Med-Tech Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 311113, China.
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2
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Yang J, Wu Y, Zhu Q, Qu X, Ou H, Liu H, Wei Y, Ge D, Lu C, Jiang B, Song X. Discovery of a first-in-class protein degrader for the c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1). Bioorg Chem 2024; 150:107590. [PMID: 38955003 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1), an oncogenic driver, is known to induce non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) when overactivated, particularly through the formation of fusion proteins. Traditional targeted therapies focus on inhibiting ROS1 activity with ROS 1 inhibitors to manage cancer progression. However, a new strategy involving the design of protein degraders offers a more potent approach by completely degrading ROS1 fusion oncoproteins, thereby effectively blocking their kinase activity and enhancing anti-tumour potential. Utilizing PROteolysis-TArgeting Chimera (PROTAC) technology and informed by molecular docking and rational design, we report the first ROS1-specific PROTAC, SIAIS039. This degrader effectively targets multiple ROS1 fusion oncoproteins (CD74-ROS1, SDC4-ROS1 and SLC34A2-ROS1) in engineered Ba/F3 cells and HCC78 cells, demonstrating anti-tumour effects against ROS1 fusion-driven cancer cells. It suppresses cell proliferation, induces cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis, and inhibits clonogenicity. The anti-tumour efficacy of SIAIS039 surpasses two approved drugs, crizotinib and entrectinib, and matches that of the top inhibitors, including lorlatinib and taletrectinib. Mechanistic studies confirm that the degradation induced by 039 requires the participation of ROS1 ligands and E3 ubiquitin ligases, and involves the proteasome and ubiquitination. In addition, 039 exhibited excellent oral bioavailability in a mouse xenograft model, highlighting its potential for clinical application. In conclusion, our study presents a promising and novel therapeutic strategy for ROS1 fusion-positive NSCLC by targeting ROS1 fusion oncoproteins for degradation, laying the foundation for the development of further PROTAC and offering hope for patients with ROS1 fusion-positive NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawen Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yifan Wu
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Qiaoliang Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiaojuan Qu
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Hongyue Ou
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Haixia Liu
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yongqi Wei
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Di Ge
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chunlai Lu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Biao Jiang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry of Natural Substances, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Xiaoling Song
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
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Wang S, Feng Z, Qu C, Yu S, Zhang H, Deng R, Luo D, Pu C, Zhang Y, Li R. Novel Amphiphilic PROTAC with Enhanced Pharmacokinetic Properties for ALK Protein Degradation. J Med Chem 2024; 67:9842-9856. [PMID: 38839424 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Advancements in anticancer strategies spotlight proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology, yet it is hindered by poor water solubility and bioavailability. This study introduces a novel amphiphilic PROTAC, B1-PEG, synthesized through PEGylation of an optimized PROTAC molecule, B1, to enhance its properties. B1-PEG is engineered to self-organize into micelles in water and releases its active form in response to the tumor-specific high GSH environment. Comparative pharmacokinetic analysis revealed B1-PEG's superior bioavailability at 84.8%, outperforming the unmodified PROTAC molecule B1. When tested in a H3122 xenograft mouse model, B1-PEG significantly regressed tumors, underscoring its potential as a formidable candidate in targeted cancer therapy. Our findings offer a promising direction for overcoming bioavailability limitations in PROTAC drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirui Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhanzhan Feng
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Can Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Su Yu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Hongjia Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Rui Deng
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Chunlan Pu
- Medical Research Center, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Second Chengdu Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Lung Cancer Center/Lung Cancer Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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Gemelli M, Albini A, Catalano G, Incarbone M, Cannone M, Balladore E, Ricotta R, Pelosi G. Navigating resistance to ALK inhibitors in the lorlatinib era: a comprehensive perspective on NSCLC. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2024; 24:347-361. [PMID: 38630549 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2024.2344648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The emergence of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has revolutionized targeted therapy. This dynamic landscape, featuring novel ALK inhibitors and combination therapies, necessitates a profound understanding of resistance mechanisms for effective treatment strategies. Recognizing two primary categories - on-target and off-target resistance - underscores the need for comprehensive assessment. AREAS COVERED This review delves into the intricacies of resistance to ALK inhibitors, exploring complexities in identification and management. Molecular testing, pivotal for early detection and accurate diagnosis, forms the foundation for patient stratification and resistance management. The literature search methodology involved comprehensive exploration of Pubmed and Embase. The multifaceted perspective encompasses new therapeutic horizons, ongoing clinical trials, and their clinical implications post the recent approval of lorlatinib. EXPERT OPINION Our expert opinion encapsulates the critical importance of understanding resistance mechanisms in the context of ALK inhibitors for shaping successful treatment approaches. With a focus on molecular testing and comprehensive assessment, this review contributes valuable insights to the evolving landscape of NSCLC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gemelli
- Medical Oncology Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Adriana Albini
- Departement of Scientific Directorate, European Institute of Oncology (IEO) Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Gianpiero Catalano
- Radiation Oncology Center, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Incarbone
- Department of Surgery, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Cannone
- Inter-Hospital Division of Pathology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Balladore
- Inter-Hospital Division of Pathology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Ricotta
- Medical Oncology Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pelosi
- Inter-Hospital Division of Pathology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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5
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Poei D, Ali S, Ye S, Hsu R. ALK inhibitors in cancer: mechanisms of resistance and therapeutic management strategies. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2024; 7:20. [PMID: 38835344 PMCID: PMC11149099 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2024.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements have been identified as potent oncogenic drivers in several malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The discovery of ALK inhibition using a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) has dramatically improved the outcomes of patients with ALK-mutated NSCLC. However, the emergence of intrinsic and acquired resistance inevitably occurs with ALK TKI use. This review describes the molecular mechanisms of ALK TKI resistance and discusses management strategies to overcome therapeutic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darin Poei
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Sana Ali
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Shirley Ye
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Robert Hsu
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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6
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Shen J, Chen L, Liu J, Li A, Zheng L, Chen S, Li Y. EGFR degraders in non-small-cell lung cancer: Breakthrough and unresolved issue. Chem Biol Drug Des 2024; 103:e14517. [PMID: 38610074 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been well validated as a therapeutic target for anticancer drug discovery. Osimertinib has become the first globally accessible third-generation EGFR inhibitor, representing one of the most advanced developments in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy. However, a tertiary Cys797 to Ser797 (C797S) point mutation has hampered osimertinib treatment in patients with advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC. Several classes of fourth-generation EGFR inhibitors were consequently discovered with the aim of overcoming the EGFRC797S mutation-mediated resistance. However, no clinical efficacy data of the fourth-generation EGFR inhibitors were reported to date, and EGFRC797S mutation-mediated resistance remains an "unmet clinical need." Proteolysis-targeting chimeric molecules (PROTACs) obtained from EGFR-TKIs have been developed to target drug resistance EGFR in NSCLC. Some PROTACs are from nature products. These degraders compared with EGFR inhibitors showed better efficiency in their cellular potency, inhibition, and toxicity profiles. In this review, we first introduce the structural properties of EGFR, the resistance, and mutations of EGFR, and then mainly focus on the recent advances of EGFR-targeting degraders along with its advantages and outstanding challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Shen
- Key Laboratory of Organo-Pharmaceutical Chemistry of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Liping Chen
- Key Laboratory of Organo-Pharmaceutical Chemistry of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jihu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Organo-Pharmaceutical Chemistry of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Anzhi Li
- Key Laboratory of Organo-Pharmaceutical Chemistry of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Lüyin Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Organo-Pharmaceutical Chemistry of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Sheng Chen
- Jiangxi Chiralsyn Biological Medicine Co., Ltd, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yongdong Li
- Key Laboratory of Organo-Pharmaceutical Chemistry of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
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Yokoo H, Tsuji G, Inoue T, Naito M, Demizu Y, Ohoka N. Expansion of targeted degradation by Gilteritinib-Warheaded PROTACs to ALK fusion proteins. Bioorg Chem 2024; 145:107204. [PMID: 38377822 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) induce the ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of targeted proteins. Numerous PROTACs have emerged as promising drug candidates for various disease-related proteins. This study investigates PROTACs targeted to degrade anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion proteins, which are implicated in diseases such as anaplastic large cell lymphoma and non-small cell lung cancer. We recently reported the development of a gilteritinib-warheaded PROTAC to target and degrade the Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) protein. Gilteritinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets FLT3, and recent studies have revealed that it also functions as an ALK inhibitor. We conducted a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study and expanded the range of target proteins for gilteritinib-warheaded PROTACs to include echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 (EML4)-ALK and nucleophosmin (NPM)-ALK, in addition to FLT3. Our SAR study utilized three types of ligands for E3 ligase- inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP), cereblon (CRBN), and von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)- in the PROTAC designs and we observed varied efficacy in the degradation of target proteins. The CRBN-based PROTAC effectively reduced the protein expression of FLT3, EML4-ALK, and NPM-ALK. The IAP-based PROTAC reduced expression of both FLT3 and EML4-ALK proteins but not that of NPM-ALK, while the VHL-based PROTAC was ineffective against all target proteins. Several ALK-targeted PROTACs have already been developed using CRBN or VHL as E3 ligase, but this is the first report of an IAP-based ALK degrader. The length of the linker structure utilized in PROTAC also had a significant effect on their efficacy and activity. PROTACs formed with shorter linkers demonstrated an enhanced degradation activity to target proteins compared with those formed with longer linkers. These findings provide valuable insight for the development of effective PROTACs to target and degrade ALK fusion proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidetomo Yokoo
- National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-9501, Japan
| | - Genichiro Tsuji
- National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-9501, Japan
| | - Takao Inoue
- National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-9501, Japan
| | - Mikihiko Naito
- Laboratory of Targeted Protein Degradation, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 110-0033, Japan
| | - Yosuke Demizu
- National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-9501, Japan; Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan; Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Science of Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushimanaka, Kita 700-8530, Japan
| | - Nobumichi Ohoka
- National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-9501, Japan.
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Li X, Wang Z, Chen C, Yang F, Liu P, Fang S, Wang B, Chen S, Li X. A small-molecule degrader selectively inhibits the growth of ALK-rearranged lung cancer with ceritinib resistance. iScience 2024; 27:109015. [PMID: 38327793 PMCID: PMC10847737 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a highly responsive therapeutic target for ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, patients with this cancer invariably relapse because of the development of ALK inhibitor resistance resulting from mutations within the ALK tyrosine kinase domain. Herein, we report the discovery of dEALK1, a small-molecule degrader of EML4-ALK fusion proteins, with capability of overcoming resistance to ALK inhibitor ceritinib. dEALK1 induces rapid and selective degradation of wild-type (WT) EML4-ALK and mutated EML4-ALKs acquiring resistance to ceritinib, leading to inhibition of cell proliferation and increase of apoptosis in NSCLC cells expressing WT EML4-ALK or ceritinib-resistant EML4-ALK mutants in vitro. Furthermore, dEALK1 also exerts a potent antitumor activity against EML4-ALK-positive xenograft tumors without or with harboring ceritinib-resistant EML4-ALK mutations in vivo. Our study suggests that dEALK1-induced degradation of EML4-ALK fusion proteins is a promising therapeutic strategy for treatment of ALK-rearranged lung cancer with ceritinib resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zixiong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Shu Fang
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shi Chen
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Department of General Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Xinjian Li
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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9
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Mushtaq A, Wu P, Naseer MM. Recent drug design strategies and identification of key heterocyclic scaffolds for promising anticancer targets. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 254:108579. [PMID: 38160914 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Cancer, a noncommunicable disease, is the leading cause of mortality worldwide and is anticipated to rise by 75% in the next two decades, reaching approximately 25 million cases. Traditional cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy and surgery, have shown limited success in reducing cancer incidence. As a result, the focus of cancer chemotherapy has switched to the development of novel small molecule antitumor agents as an alternate strategy for combating and managing cancer rates. Heterocyclic compounds are such agents that bind to specific residues in target proteins, inhibiting their function and potentially providing cancer treatment. This review focuses on privileged heterocyclic pharmacophores with potent activity against carbonic anhydrases and kinases, which are important anticancer targets. Evaluation of ongoing pre-clinical and clinical research of heterocyclic compounds with potential therapeutic value against a variety of malignancies as well as the provision of a concise summary of the role of heterocyclic scaffolds in various chemotherapy protocols have also been discussed. The main objective of the article is to highlight key heterocyclic scaffolds involved in recent anticancer drug design that demands further attention from the drug development community to find more effective and safer targeted small-molecule anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alia Mushtaq
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Peng Wu
- Chemical Genomics Centre, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn Str. 11, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Muhammad Moazzam Naseer
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan; Chemical Genomics Centre, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn Str. 11, Dortmund 44227, Germany.
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Chen S, Cui J, Chen H, Yu B, Long S. Recent progress in degradation of membrane proteins by PROTACs and alternative targeted protein degradation techniques. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 262:115911. [PMID: 37924709 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) is one of the key strategies of current targeted cancer therapy, and it can eliminate some of the root causes of cancer, and effectively avoid drug resistance caused by traditional drugs. Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) is a hot branch of the TPD strategy, and it has been shown to induce the degradation of target proteins by activating the inherent ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in tumor cells. PROTACs have been developed for more than two decades, and some of them have been clinically evaluated. Although most of the proteins degraded by PROTACs are intracellular, degradation of some typical membrane proteins has also been reported, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), and G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). In addition, some other effective membrane protein-degrading strategies have also emerged, such as antibody-based PROTAC (AbTAC), lysosome targeting chimera (LYTAC), molecular glue, and nanoparticle-based PROTAC (Nano-PROTAC). Herein, we discussed the advantages, disadvantages and potential applications of several important membrane protein degradation techniques. These techniques that we have summarized are insightful in paving the way for future development of more general strategies for membrane protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Chen
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Advanced Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, 206 1st Rd Optics Valley, East Lake New Technology Development District, Wuhan, Hubei, 430205, China
| | - Jingliang Cui
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Advanced Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, 206 1st Rd Optics Valley, East Lake New Technology Development District, Wuhan, Hubei, 430205, China
| | - Haiyan Chen
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Advanced Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, 206 1st Rd Optics Valley, East Lake New Technology Development District, Wuhan, Hubei, 430205, China
| | - Bo Yu
- Tongji Hospital, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Sihui Long
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Advanced Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, 206 1st Rd Optics Valley, East Lake New Technology Development District, Wuhan, Hubei, 430205, China.
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11
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Chen X, Zhou Y, Zhao Y, Tang W. Targeted degradation of extracellular secreted and membrane proteins. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:762-775. [PMID: 37758536 PMCID: PMC10591793 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) involving chimeric molecules has emerged as one of the most promising therapeutic modalities in recent years. Among various reported TPD strategies, proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) stand out as a significant breakthrough in small-molecule drug discovery and have garnered the most attention to date. However, PROTACs are mainly capable of depleting intracellular proteins. Given that many important therapeutic targets such as cytokines, growth factors, and numerous receptors are membrane proteins or secreted extracellularly, there is interest in the development of novel strategies to degrade these protein categories. We review advances in this emerging area and provide insights to enhance the development of novel TPDs targeting extracellular proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuankun Chen
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Yaxian Zhou
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Yuan Zhao
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Weiping Tang
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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12
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Gao H, Zhang JY, Zhao LJ, Guo YY. Synthesis and clinical application of small-molecule inhibitors and PROTACs of anaplastic lymphoma kinase. Bioorg Chem 2023; 140:106807. [PMID: 37651895 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Pharmacological interventions that specifically target protein products of oncogenes in tumors have surfaced as a propitious therapeutic approach. Among infrequent genetic alterations, rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene, typically involving a chromosome 2 inversion that culminates in a fusion with the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein like 4 (EML4), lead to anomalous expression and activation of ALK. The inhibition of autophosphorylation and subsequent blockade of signal transduction by ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has been observed to elicit anti-tumor effects. Currently, four generations of ALK-positive targeted drugs have been investigated, providing a promising outlook for patients. The aim of this review is to furnish a comprehensive survey of the synthesis and clinical application of prototypical small-molecule ALK inhibitors in both preclinical and clinical phases, offering guidance for further development of ALK inhibitors for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Gao
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Jing-Yi Zhang
- The Rogel Cancer Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou Normal University 450044, China.
| | - Li-Jie Zhao
- The Rogel Cancer Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
| | - Yuan-Yuan Guo
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Precision Clinical Pharmacy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
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13
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Malik P, Rani R, Solanki R, Patel VH, Mukherjee TK. Understanding the feasibility of chemotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic targets against non-small cell lung cancers: an update of resistant responses and recent combinatorial therapies. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2023; 4:850-895. [PMID: 37970206 PMCID: PMC10645466 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2023.00171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite consistent progress in prompt diagnosis and curative therapies in the last decade, lung cancer (LC) continues to threaten mankind, accounting for nearly twice the casualties compared to prostate, breast, and other cancers. Statistics associate ~25% of 2021 cancer-related deaths with LC, more than 80% of which are explicitly caused by tobacco smoking. Prevailing as small and non-small cell pathologies, with respective occurring frequency of nearly 15% and 80-85%, non-small cell LCs (NSCLCs) are prominently distinguished into lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), subtypes. Since the first use of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor gefitinib for NSCLC treatment in 2002, immense progress has been made for targeted therapies with the next generation of drugs spanning across the chronological generations of small molecule inhibitors. The last two years have overseen the clinical approval of more than 10 therapeutic agents as first-line NSCLC medications. However, uncertain mutational aberrations as well as systemic resistant responses, and abysmal overall survival curtail the combating efficacies. Of late, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) against various molecules including programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) have been demonstrated as reliable LC treatment targets. Keeping these aspects in mind, this review article discusses the success of NSCLC chemo and immunotherapies with their characteristic effectiveness and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parth Malik
- School of Chemical Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382030, Gujarat, India
| | - Ruma Rani
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar 125001, Haryana, India
| | - Raghu Solanki
- School of Life Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382030, Gujarat, India
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14
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Högnäsbacka AA, Poot AJ, Kooijman E, Schuit RC, Schreurs M, Verlaan M, Beaino W, van Dongen GAMS, Vugts DJ, Windhorst AD. Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of [ Methylpiperazine- 11C]brigatinib as a PET Tracer Targeting Both Mutated Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase. J Med Chem 2023; 66:12130-12140. [PMID: 37647220 PMCID: PMC10510377 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Brigatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with specificity for gene rearranged anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), such as the EML4-ALK, has shown a potential to inhibit mutated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In this study, N-desmethyl brigatinib was successfully synthesized as a precursor in five steps. Radiolabeling with [11C]methyl iodide produced [methylpiperazine-11C]brigatinib in a 10 ± 2% radiochemical yield, 91 ± 17 GBq/μmol molar activity, and ≥95% radiochemical purity in 49 ± 4 min. [Methylpiperazine-11C]brigatinib was evaluated in non-small cell lung cancer xenografted female nu/nu mice. An hour post-injection (p.i.), 87% of the total radioactivity in plasma originated from intact [methylpiperazine-11C]brigatinib. Significant differences in tumor uptake were observed between the endogenously EML4-ALK mutated H2228 and the control xenograft A549. The tumor-to-blood ratio in H2228 xenografts could be reduced by pretreatment with ALK inhibitor crizotinib. Tracer uptake in EGFR Del19 mutated HCC827 and EML4-ALK fusion A549 was not significantly different from uptake in A549 xenografts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia A. Högnäsbacka
- Department
of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Biomarkers
& Imaging, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alex J. Poot
- Department
of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Biomarkers
& Imaging, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Esther Kooijman
- Department
of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Biomarkers
& Imaging, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert C. Schuit
- Department
of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Biomarkers
& Imaging, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maxime Schreurs
- Department
of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Biomarkers
& Imaging, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mariska Verlaan
- Department
of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Biomarkers
& Imaging, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wissam Beaino
- Department
of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Biomarkers
& Imaging, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Guus A. M. S. van Dongen
- Department
of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Biomarkers
& Imaging, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Danielle J. Vugts
- Department
of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Biomarkers
& Imaging, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Albert D. Windhorst
- Department
of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Biomarkers
& Imaging, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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15
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Salokas K, Dashi G, Varjosalo M. Decoding Oncofusions: Unveiling Mechanisms, Clinical Impact, and Prospects for Personalized Cancer Therapies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3678. [PMID: 37509339 PMCID: PMC10377698 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated gene fusions, also known as oncofusions, have emerged as influential drivers of oncogenesis across a diverse range of cancer types. These genetic events occur via chromosomal translocations, deletions, and inversions, leading to the fusion of previously separate genes. Due to the drastic nature of these mutations, they often result in profound alterations of cellular behavior. The identification of oncofusions has revolutionized cancer research, with advancements in sequencing technologies facilitating the discovery of novel fusion events at an accelerated pace. Oncofusions exert their effects through the manipulation of critical cellular signaling pathways that regulate processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Extensive investigations have been conducted to understand the roles of oncofusions in solid tumors, leukemias, and lymphomas. Large-scale initiatives, including the Cancer Genome Atlas, have played a pivotal role in unraveling the landscape of oncofusions by characterizing a vast number of cancer samples across different tumor types. While validating the functional relevance of oncofusions remains a challenge, even non-driver mutations can hold significance in cancer treatment. Oncofusions have demonstrated potential value in the context of immunotherapy through the production of neoantigens. Their clinical importance has been observed in both treatment and diagnostic settings, with specific fusion events serving as therapeutic targets or diagnostic markers. However, despite the progress made, there is still considerable untapped potential within the field of oncofusions. Further research and validation efforts are necessary to understand their effects on a functional basis and to exploit the new targeted treatment avenues offered by oncofusions. Through further functional and clinical studies, oncofusions will enable the advancement of precision medicine and the drive towards more effective and specific treatments for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari Salokas
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Giovanna Dashi
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markku Varjosalo
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
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16
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Zografou-Barredo NA, Hallatt AJ, Goujon-Ricci J, Cano C. A beginner's guide to current synthetic linker strategies towards VHL-recruiting PROTACs. Bioorg Med Chem 2023; 88-89:117334. [PMID: 37224698 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Over the last two decades, proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have been revolutionary in drug development rendering targeted protein degradation (TPD) as an emerging therapeutic modality. These heterobifunctional molecules are comprised of three units: a ligand for the protein of interest (POI), a ligand for an E3 ubiquitin ligase, and a linker that tethers the two motifs together. Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) is one of the most widely employed E3 ligases in PROTACs development due to its prevalent expression across tissue types and well-characterised ligands. Linker composition and length has proven to play an important role in determining the physicochemical properties and spatial orientation of the POI-PROTAC-E3 ternary complex, thus influencing the bioactivity of degraders. Numerous articles and reports have been published showcasing the medicinal chemistry aspects of the linker design, but few have focused on the chemistry around tethering linkers to E3 ligase ligands. In this review, we focus on the current synthetic linker strategies employed in the assembly of VHL-recruiting PROTACs. We aim to cover a range of fundamental chemistries used to incorporate linkers of varying length, composition and functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikol A Zografou-Barredo
- Cancer Research UK Newcastle Drug Discovery Unit, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Alex J Hallatt
- Cancer Research UK Newcastle Drug Discovery Unit, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jennyfer Goujon-Ricci
- Cancer Research UK Newcastle Drug Discovery Unit, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Céline Cano
- Cancer Research UK Newcastle Drug Discovery Unit, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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17
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Gao Y, Jiang B, Kim H, Berberich MJ, Che J, Donovan KA, Hatcher JM, Huerta F, Kwiatkowski NP, Liu Y, Liuni PP, Metivier RJ, Murali VK, Nowak RP, Zhang T, Fischer ES, Gray NS, Jones LH. Catalytic Degraders Effectively Address Kinase Site Mutations in EML4-ALK Oncogenic Fusions. J Med Chem 2023; 66:5524-5535. [PMID: 37036171 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Heterobifunctional degraders, known as proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), theoretically possess a catalytic mode-of-action, yet few studies have either confirmed or exploited this potential advantage of event-driven pharmacology. Degraders of oncogenic EML4-ALK fusions were developed by conjugating ALK inhibitors to cereblon ligands. Simultaneous optimization of pharmacology and compound properties using ternary complex modeling and physicochemical considerations yielded multiple catalytic degraders that were more resilient to clinically relevant ATP-binding site mutations than kinase inhibitor drugs. Our strategy culminated in the design of the orally bioavailable derivative CPD-1224 that avoided hemolysis (a feature of detergent-like PROTACs), degraded the otherwise recalcitrant mutant L1196M/G1202R in vivo, and commensurately slowed tumor growth, while the third generation ALK inhibitor drug lorlatinib had no effect. These results validate our original therapeutic hypothesis by exemplifying opportunities for catalytic degraders to proactively address binding site resistant mutations in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Gao
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Baishan Jiang
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Hellen Kim
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Matthew J Berberich
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Jianwei Che
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Katherine A Donovan
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - John M Hatcher
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Fidel Huerta
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Nicholas P Kwiatkowski
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Yingpeng Liu
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Peter P Liuni
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Rebecca J Metivier
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Vineeth K Murali
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Radosław P Nowak
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Tinghu Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, ChEM-H, Stanford Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Eric S Fischer
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, ChEM-H, Stanford Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Lyn H Jones
- Center for Protein Degradation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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18
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Hagopian G, Grant C, Nagasaka M. Proteolysis targeting chimeras in non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer Treat Rev 2023; 117:102561. [PMID: 37178629 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2023.102561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has very poor prognosis in advanced stages. Discovery and application of therapies targeting specific oncogenic driver mutations has greatly improved overall survival. However, targeted therapies are limited in their efficacy due to resistance mutations that may arise with long term use. Proteolysis targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) are a promising approach to combating resistance mutations. PROTACs commandeer innate ubiquitination machinery to degrade oncogenic proteins. Here we review the PROTACs that have been developed for targeting common EGFR, KRAS, and ALK mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garo Hagopian
- Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange CA, United States
| | - Christopher Grant
- Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange CA, United States
| | - Misako Nagasaka
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, United States; St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, JAPAN.
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19
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Gong L, Li R, Gong J, Ning X, Sun J, Ma Q, Zhu C, Yang Y, Lin K, Li Y, Zhang Q, Li T, Lin Z. Discovery of a miniaturized PROTAC with potent activity and high selectivity. Bioorg Chem 2023; 136:106556. [PMID: 37105002 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
The approved small-molecule inhibitors of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) have shown remarkable efficacy in some subset of cancer patients. However, the numerous ALK mutants or fusion partners are resistant to such drugs, greatly limiting their application in clinic. Despite the drug design strategy of proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) holds great potential to overcome drug resistance in theory, there are obvious disadvantages for the reported PROTACs that include high molecular weight, long linkers, difficult synthesis routes as well as insufficient evidence in activity for diverse ALK mutants. In this study, we designed and synthesized a miniaturized PROTAC of ALK named AP-1 following the principle of minimalist design. Two simple chemical units of ligands and a minimized linker with only two atoms were selected for synthesis of AP-1. At cellular level, AP-1 successfully degraded three types of ALK mutants including NPM-ALK, EML4-ALK and F1174L mutation ALK form with potent activity, high selectivity in ALK-positive cells. In xenograft mouse model, AP-1 showed the stronger antitumor efficacy than ceritinib as well as ALK degraders reported in literatures. AP-1 with an extremely simple PROTAC structure can be served as an effective candidate drug for therapy of various types of ALK-positive cancers. And the design principle of AP-1 has a good guiding significance for overcoming the disadvantages such as excessive molecular weight and poor solubility of PROTAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidong Gong
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Ridong Li
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Jingjing Gong
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Xianling Ning
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Jiawei Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010110, PR China
| | - Qiang Ma
- College of Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China
| | - Chuanda Zhu
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Yuanyuan Yang
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Kerui Lin
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Yanglonghao Li
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Tiancheng Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, PR China.
| | - Zhiqiang Lin
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, PR China.
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20
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Zhang X, Chen Y, Yang B, Shao X, Ying M. Driving the degradation of oncofusion proteins for targeted cancer therapy. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103584. [PMID: 37061213 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
Oncofusion proteins drive the development of about 16.5% of human cancers {AuQ: Edit OK?}, functioning as the unique pathogenic factor in some cancers. The targeting of oncofusion proteins is an attractive strategy to treat malignant tumors. Recently, triggering the degradation of oncofusion proteins has been shown to hold great promise as a therapeutic strategy. Here, we review the recent findings on the mechanisms that maintain the high stability of oncofusion proteins. Then, we summarize strategies to target the degradation of oncofusion proteins through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, the autophagy-lysosomal pathway, and the caspase-dependent pathway. By examining oncofusion protein degradation in cancer, we not only gain better insight into the carcinogenic mechanisms that involve oncofusion proteins, but also raise the possibility of treating oncofusion-driven cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingya Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yingqian Chen
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuejing Shao
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Meidan Ying
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Pediatric Cancer Research Center, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310052, China; Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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21
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Kelm JM, Pandey DS, Malin E, Kansou H, Arora S, Kumar R, Gavande NS. PROTAC'ing oncoproteins: targeted protein degradation for cancer therapy. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:62. [PMID: 36991452 PMCID: PMC10061819 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01707-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecularly targeted cancer therapies substantially improve patient outcomes, although the durability of their effectiveness can be limited. Resistance to these therapies is often related to adaptive changes in the target oncoprotein which reduce binding affinity. The arsenal of targeted cancer therapies, moreover, lacks coverage of several notorious oncoproteins with challenging features for inhibitor development. Degraders are a relatively new therapeutic modality which deplete the target protein by hijacking the cellular protein destruction machinery. Degraders offer several advantages for cancer therapy including resiliency to acquired mutations in the target protein, enhanced selectivity, lower dosing requirements, and the potential to abrogate oncogenic transcription factors and scaffolding proteins. Herein, we review the development of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) for selected cancer therapy targets and their reported biological activities. The medicinal chemistry of PROTAC design has been a challenging area of active research, but the recent advances in the field will usher in an era of rational degrader design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy M Kelm
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (EACPHS), Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Deepti S Pandey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (EACPHS), Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Evan Malin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (EACPHS), Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Hussein Kansou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (EACPHS), Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Sahil Arora
- Laboratory for Drug Design and Synthesis, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, India
| | - Raj Kumar
- Laboratory for Drug Design and Synthesis, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, India
| | - Navnath S Gavande
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (EACPHS), Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
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22
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Li JW, Zheng G, Kaye FJ, Wu L. PROTAC therapy as a new targeted therapy for lung cancer. Mol Ther 2023; 31:647-656. [PMID: 36415148 PMCID: PMC10014230 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite recent advances in molecular therapeutics, lung cancer is still a leading cause of cancer deaths. Currently, limited targeted therapy options and acquired drug resistance present significant barriers in the treatment of patients with lung cancer. New strategies in drug development, including those that take advantage of the intracellular ubiquitin-proteasome system to induce targeted protein degradation, have the potential to advance the field of personalized medicine for patients with lung cancer. Specifically, small molecule proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), consisting of two ligands connected by a linker that bind to a target protein and an E3 ubiquitin ligase, have been developed against many cancer targets, providing promising opportunities for advanced lung cancer. In this review, we focus on the rationale for PROTAC therapy as a new targeted therapy and the current status of PROTAC development in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer W Li
- Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Guangrong Zheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Frederic J Kaye
- UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Lizi Wu
- UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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23
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Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have shown great therapeutic potential by degrading various disease-causing proteins, particularly those related to tumors. Therefore, the introduction of PROTACs has ushered in a new chapter of antitumor drug development, marked by significant advances over recent years. Herein, we describe recent developments in PROTAC technology, focusing on design strategy, development workflow, and future outlooks. We also discuss potential opportunities and challenges for PROTAC research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minglei Li
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117 Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Ying Zhi
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117 Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Bo Liu
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117 Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Qingqiang Yao
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117 Shandong, P. R. China
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24
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Wang S, Luo D, Pu C, Ma X, Zhang H, Feng Z, Deng R, Yu S, Liu Y, Huang Q, Li R. Discovery of the GSH responsive "Y-PROTACs" targeting ALK and CDK4/6 as a potential treatment for cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 248:115082. [PMID: 36628851 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.115082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Combination of different molecular target inhibitors is an available method to improve the therapeutic effect on tumors. Herein, to achieve both tumor cell targeting and ALK degradation & CDK4/6 inhibition in one molecule, we designed and synthesized a novel GSH responsive "Y-PROTACs", Y5-3, a highly potent molecule with an IC50 value of 90 nM against H3122 cells, which can be cleaved into ALK PROTAC and CDK4/6 inhibitor moieties in tumor cells. Mechanism studies revealed that Y5-3 exert anti-tumor proliferation activity in vitro not only by ALK degradation and CDK4/6 inhibition, but also by ALK/CDK4 dual degradation. These properties make Y5-3 a GSH responsive multifunctional antitumor agent, and our work provide a new strategy for the development of multifunctional PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Dan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610031, China; Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Chunlan Pu
- Medical Research Center, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, The Second Chengdu Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Xinyu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610031, China; Department of Nanomedicine & Drug Targeting, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, 9713 AV, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Hongjia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Zhanzhan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Rui Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Su Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Yuanyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Qing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Rui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610031, China.
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25
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Kumar A, Singh AK, Singh H, Vijayan V, Kumar D, Naik J, Thareja S, Yadav JP, Pathak P, Grishina M, Verma A, Khalilullah H, Jaremko M, Emwas AH, Kumar P. Nitrogen Containing Heterocycles as Anticancer Agents: A Medicinal Chemistry Perspective. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:299. [PMID: 37259442 PMCID: PMC9965678 DOI: 10.3390/ph16020299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the major healthcare challenges across the globe. Several anticancer drugs are available on the market but they either lack specificity or have poor safety, severe side effects, and suffer from resistance. So, there is a dire need to develop safer and target-specific anticancer drugs. More than 85% of all physiologically active pharmaceuticals are heterocycles or contain at least one heteroatom. Nitrogen heterocycles constituting the most common heterocyclic framework. In this study, we have compiled the FDA approved heterocyclic drugs with nitrogen atoms and their pharmacological properties. Moreover, we have reported nitrogen containing heterocycles, including pyrimidine, quinolone, carbazole, pyridine, imidazole, benzimidazole, triazole, β-lactam, indole, pyrazole, quinazoline, quinoxaline, isatin, pyrrolo-benzodiazepines, and pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines, which are used in the treatment of different types of cancer, concurrently covering the biochemical mechanisms of action and cellular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adarsh Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, India
| | - Ankit Kumar Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, India
| | - Harshwardhan Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, India
| | - Veena Vijayan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, India
| | - Deepak Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, India
| | - Jashwanth Naik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, India
| | - Suresh Thareja
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, India
| | - Jagat Pal Yadav
- Pharmacology Research Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rama University, Kanpur 209217, India
| | - Prateek Pathak
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Drugs, Higher Medical and Biological School, South Ural State University, 454008 Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - Maria Grishina
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Drugs, Higher Medical and Biological School, South Ural State University, 454008 Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - Amita Verma
- Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj 211007, India
| | - Habibullah Khalilullah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Unayzah 51911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mariusz Jaremko
- Smart-Health Initiative and Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdul-Hamid Emwas
- Core Labs, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pradeep Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Natural Products, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, India
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26
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Zhao HY, Xin M, Zhang SQ. Progress of small molecules for targeted protein degradation: PROTACs and other technologies. Drug Dev Res 2023; 84:337-394. [PMID: 36606428 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.22026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed the rapid development of targeted protein degradation (TPD), especially proteolysis targeting chimeras. These degraders have manifested many advantages over small molecule inhibitors. To date, a huge number of degraders have been excavated against over 70 disease-related targets. In particular, degraders against estrogen receptor and androgen receptor have crowded into phase II clinical trial. TPD technologies largely expand the scope of druggable targets, and provide powerful tools for addressing intractable problems that can not be tackled by traditional small molecule inhibitors. In this review, we mainly focus on the structures and biological activities of small molecule degraders as well as the elucidation of mechanisms of emerging TPD technologies. We also propose the challenges that exist in the TPD field at present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Yi Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Minhang Xin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - San-Qi Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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27
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Chatterjee DR, Kapoor S, Jain M, Das R, Chowdhury MG, Shard A. PROTACting the kinome with covalent warheads. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103417. [PMID: 36306996 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.103417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The dawn of targeted degradation using proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) against recalcitrant proteins has prompted numerous efforts to develop complementary drugs. Although many of these are specifically directed against undruggable proteins, there is increasing interest in small molecule-based PROTACs that target intracellular pathways, and some have recently entered clinical trials. Concurrently, small molecule-based PROTACs that target protumorigenic pathways in cancer cells, the tumor microenvironment (TME), and angiogenesis have been found to have potent effects that synergize with the action of antibodies. This has led to the augmentation of PROTACs with variable substitution patterns. Several combinations with small molecules targeting undruggable proteins are now under clinical investigation. In this review, we discuss the recent milestones achieved as well as challenges encountered in this area of drug development, as well as our opinion on the best path forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deep Rohan Chatterjee
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382355, India
| | - Saumya Kapoor
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382355, India
| | - Meenakshi Jain
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382355, India
| | - Rudradip Das
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382355, India
| | - Moumita Ghosh Chowdhury
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382355, India
| | - Amit Shard
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382355, India.
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28
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Qiu YF, Song LH, Jiang GL, Zhang Z, Liu XY, Wang G. Hallmarks of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Inhibitors with Its Quick Emergence of Drug Resistance. PHARMACEUTICAL FRONTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1758542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is one of the most popular targets for anticancer therapies. In the past decade, the use of anaplastic lymphoma tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs), including crizotinib and ceritinib, has been a reliable and standard options for patients with lung cancer, particularly for patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma. ALK-targeted therapies initially benefit the patients, yet, resistance eventually occurs. Therefore, resistance mechanisms of ALK-TKIs and the solutions have become a formidable challenge in the development of ALK inhibitors. In this review, based on the knowledge of reported ALK inhibitors, we illustrated the crystal structures of ALK, summarized the resistance mechanisms of ALK-targeted drugs, and proposed potential therapeutic strategies to prevent or overcome the resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Fu Qiu
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Lian-Hua Song
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang-Long Jiang
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu-Yan Liu
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Guan Wang
- Novel Technology Center of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Co., Ltd., China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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29
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Wang C, Zhang Y, Zhang T, Shi L, Geng Z, Xing D. Proteolysis-targeting chimaeras (PROTACs) as pharmacological tools and therapeutic agents: advances and future challenges. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2022; 37:1667-1693. [PMID: 35702041 PMCID: PMC9225776 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2022.2076675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimaeras (PROTACs) have been developed to be an emerging technology for targeted protein degradation and attracted the favour of academic institutions, large pharmaceutical enterprises, and biotechnology companies. The mechanism is based on the inhibition of protein function by hijacking a ubiquitin E3 ligase for protein degradation. The heterobifunctional PROTACs contain a ligand for recruiting an E3 ligase, a linker, and another ligand to bind with the protein targeted for degradation. To date, PROTACs targeting ∼70 proteins, many of which are clinically validated drug targets, have been successfully developed with several in clinical trials for diseases therapy. In this review, the recent advances in PROTACs against clinically validated drug targets are summarised and the chemical structure, cellular and in vivo activity, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of these PROTACs are highlighted. In addition, the potential advantages, challenges, and prospects of PROTACs technology in disease treatment are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
| | - Yujing Zhang
- The Affiliated Cardiovascular Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.,School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
| | - Lingyu Shi
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhongmin Geng
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China
| | - Dongming Xing
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, China.,School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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30
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Liu J, Peng Y, Inuzuka H, Wei W. Targeting micro-environmental pathways by PROTACs as a therapeutic strategy. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:269-279. [PMID: 35798235 PMCID: PMC11000491 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment (TME) composes of multiple cell types and non-cellular components, which supports the proliferation, metastasis and immune surveillance evasion of tumor cells, as well as accounts for the resistance to therapies. Therefore, therapeutic strategies using small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) and antibodies to block potential targets in TME are practical for cancer treatment. Targeted protein degradation using PROteolysis-TArgeting Chimera (PROTAC) technic has several advantages over traditional SMIs and antibodies, including overcoming drug resistance. Thus many PROTACs are currently under development for cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of PROTAC development that target TME pathways and propose the potential direction of future PROTAC technique to advance as novel cancer treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Yunhua Peng
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Hiroyuki Inuzuka
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Wenyi Wei
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
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31
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Meng F, Xu C, Park KS, Kaniskan HÜ, Wang GG, Jin J. Discovery of a First-in-Class Degrader for Nuclear Receptor Binding SET Domain Protein 2 (NSD2) and Ikaros/Aiolos. J Med Chem 2022; 65:10611-10625. [PMID: 35895319 PMCID: PMC9378504 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of nuclear receptor binding SET domain protein 2 (NSD2) is frequent in multiple myeloma (MM). However, existing NSD2 inhibitors are largely ineffective in suppressing MM cell proliferation. Here, we report the discovery of a first-in-class NSD2 proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) degrader, 9 (MS159), and two structurally similar controls, 17 (MS159N1) and 18 (MS159N2), with diminished binding to the cereblon (CRBN) E3 ligase and NSD2, respectively. Compound 9, but not 17 and 18, effectively degraded NSD2 in a concentration-, time-, CRBN-, and proteasome-dependent manner. Compound 9 also effectively degraded CRBN neo-substrates IKZF1 and IKZF3, but not GSPT1. Importantly, compound 9 was much more effective in suppressing the growth in cancer cells than the parent NSD2 binder. Moreover, compound 9 was bioavailable in mice. Altogether, compound 9 and its two controls 17 and 18 are valuable chemical tools for exploring the roles of NSD2 in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanye Meng
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Chenxi Xu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Kwang-Su Park
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - H Ümit Kaniskan
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
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32
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He M, Cao C, Ni Z, Liu Y, Song P, Hao S, He Y, Sun X, Rao Y. PROTACs: great opportunities for academia and industry (an update from 2020 to 2021). Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:181. [PMID: 35680848 PMCID: PMC9178337 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-00999-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) technology is a new protein-degradation strategy that has emerged in recent years. It uses bifunctional small molecules to induce the ubiquitination and degradation of target proteins through the ubiquitin–proteasome system. PROTACs can not only be used as potential clinical treatments for diseases such as cancer, immune disorders, viral infections, and neurodegenerative diseases, but also provide unique chemical knockdown tools for biological research in a catalytic, reversible, and rapid manner. In 2019, our group published a review article “PROTACs: great opportunities for academia and industry” in the journal, summarizing the representative compounds of PROTACs reported before the end of 2019. In the past 2 years, the entire field of protein degradation has experienced rapid development, including not only a large increase in the number of research papers on protein-degradation technology but also a rapid increase in the number of small-molecule degraders that have entered the clinical and will enter the clinical stage. In addition to PROTAC and molecular glue technology, other new degradation technologies are also developing rapidly. In this article, we mainly summarize and review the representative PROTACs of related targets published in 2020–2021 to present to researchers the exciting developments in the field of protein degradation. The problems that need to be solved in this field will also be briefly introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming He
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Chaoguo Cao
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China.,Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhihao Ni
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yongbo Liu
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Peilu Song
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Shuang Hao
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yuna He
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Xiuyun Sun
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yu Rao
- Ministry of Education (MOE) Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, P. R. China. .,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 450001, Zhengzhou, China.
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33
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Wu Y, Zhang J, Zhu X, Zhang Y. Developing PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) for hematologic malignancies. Cancer Lett 2022; 544:215808. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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34
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Peng L, Zhu L, Sun Y, Stebbing J, Selvaggi G, Zhang Y, Yu Z. Targeting ALK Rearrangements in NSCLC: Current State of the Art. Front Oncol 2022; 12:863461. [PMID: 35463328 PMCID: PMC9020874 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.863461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) alterations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can be effectively treated with a variety of ALK-targeted drugs. After the approval of the first-generation ALK inhibitor crizotinib which achieved better results in prolonging the progression-free survival (PFS) compared with chemotherapy, a number of next-generation ALK inhibitors have been developed including ceritinib, alectinib, brigatinib, and ensartinib. Recently, a potent, third-generation ALK inhibitor, lorlatinib, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the first-line treatment of ALK-positive (ALK+) NSCLC. These drugs have manageable toxicity profiles. Responses to ALK inhibitors are however often not durable, and acquired resistance can occur as on-target or off-target alterations. Studies are underway to explore the mechanisms of resistance and optimal treatment options beyond progression. Efforts have also been undertaken to develop further generations of ALK inhibitors. This review will summarize the current situation of targeting the ALK signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Peng
- Cancer Center, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liping Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shouguang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shouguang, China
| | - Yilan Sun
- Cancer Center, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Justin Stebbing
- Division of Cancer, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Yongchang Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Lung Cancer and Gastrointestinal Unit, Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Zhentao Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital and Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, China
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35
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Li X, Pu W, Zheng Q, Ai M, Chen S, Peng Y. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) in cancer therapy. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:99. [PMID: 35410300 PMCID: PMC8996410 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-021-01434-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractProteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are engineered techniques for targeted protein degradation. A bifunctional PROTAC molecule with two covalently-linked ligands recruits target protein and E3 ubiquitin ligase together to trigger proteasomal degradation of target protein by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. PROTAC has emerged as a promising approach for targeted therapy in various diseases, particularly in cancers. In this review, we introduce the principle and development of PROTAC technology, as well as the advantages of PROTACs over traditional anti-cancer therapies. Moreover, we summarize the application of PROTACs in targeting critical oncoproteins, provide the guidelines for the molecular design of PROTACs and discuss the challenges in the targeted degradation by PROTACs.
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36
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Wang Y, He J, Xu M, Xue Q, Zhu C, Liu J, Zhang Y, Shi W. Holistic View of ALK TKI Resistance in ALK-Positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:815654. [PMID: 35211406 PMCID: PMC8862178 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.815654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a receptor tyrosine kinase expressed at early stages of normal development and in various cancers including ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALK+ ALCL), in which it is the main therapeutic target. ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK TKIs) have greatly improved the prognosis of ALK+ALCL patients, but the emergence of drug resistance is inevitable and limits the applicability of these drugs. Although various mechanisms of resistance have been elucidated, the problem persists and there have been relatively few relevant clinical studies. This review describes research progress on ALK+ ALCL including the application and development of new therapies, especially in relation to drug resistance. We also propose potential treatment strategies based on current knowledge to inform the design of future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Wang
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, China
| | - Jing He
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, China
| | - Manyu Xu
- Department of Clinical Biobank, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Qingfeng Xue
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Cindy Zhu
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Juan Liu
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, China
| | - Yaping Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Wenyu Shi
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
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37
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Wang C, Zhang Y, Wang J, Xing D. VHL-based PROTACs as potential therapeutic agents: Recent progress and perspectives. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 227:113906. [PMID: 34656901 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which hijack proteins of interest (POIs) and recruit E3 ligases for target degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, are a novel drug discovery paradigm that has been widely used as biological tools and medicinal molecules with the potential of clinical application value. To date, a wide variety of small molecule PROTACs have been developed. Importantly, VHL-based PROTACs have emerged to be a promising approach for proteins, including those non-druggable ones, such as transcriptional factors and scaffold proteins. VHL-based PRTOACs have been developed for the treatment of diseases that are difficult to be dealt with by conventional methods, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and small molecule inhibitors. In this review, the recent advances of VHL-based PRTOACs were summarized, and the chances and challenges associated with this area were also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Yujing Zhang
- The Affiliated Cardiovascular Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China; School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266021, Shandong, China.
| | - Jie Wang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Dongming Xing
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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38
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Targeted protein degraders from an oncologist point of view: The Holy Grail of cancer therapy? Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2021; 169:103532. [PMID: 34800655 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In the era of precision medicine, monoclonal antibodies and small molecule inhibitors are the mainstays of the biological therapy in patients with solid tumors. However, resistance to treatment and the "undruggability" of certain key oncogenic proteins emerged as major limitations and jeopardize the clinical benefit of modern therapeutic approaches. Targeted protein degraders are novel molecules entering the early phase of clinical development that exploit the intracellular ubiquitine-proteasome system to promote a specific degradation of target proteins. Since the peculiar mechanism of action, targeted protein degraders have the potential to limit and overcome resistance to treatment and to allow a full actionability of certain cancer drivers that are actually elusive targets. Here, we discuss the state-of-the-art and the open issues in the development of these emerging biological agents from a clinical perspective and with a focus on solid tumors.
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39
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Song X, Zhong H, Qu X, Yang L, Jiang B. Two novel strategies to overcome the resistance to ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor drugs: Macrocyclic inhibitors and proteolysis-targeting chimeras. MedComm (Beijing) 2021; 2:341-350. [PMID: 34766150 PMCID: PMC8554663 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the most malignant tumor in the worldwide. About 3%‐5% non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients carry anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene fusions and receive great benefits from ALK‐targeted therapy. However, drug resistance inevitably occurs even with the most potent inhibitor drug lorlatinib. About half of the resistance are caused by alteration in ALK proteins for earlier ALK TKI drugs and near one‐third of loratinib resistant cases are caused by compound mutations without current effective treatment strategy in clinic. Novel strategies are in great need to overcome drug resistance. Lately, two novel strategies have been developed and attracted great attentions for their potentials to overcome drug resistance problems: (1) developed small compact macrocyclic ALK kinase inhibitors and (2) developed ALK targeted proteolysis‐targeting chimera (PROTAC) drugs. The macrocyclic molecules are small and compact in size, brain barrier permeable, and highly potent against lorlatinib‐resistant compound mutations. Developed ALK targeted PROTAC molecules could degrade oncogenic ALK driver proteins. Some showed superiority in killing ALK positive cancer cells and inhibiting the growth of cells expressing G1202R resistant ALK proteins comparing to inhibitor drugs. The update on these two treatment strategies was reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Song
- Shanghai institute for advanced immunochemical studiesShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hui Zhong
- Shanghai institute for advanced immunochemical studiesShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- School of pharmaceutical engineering and life scienceChangzhou UniversityJiangsuChina
| | - Xiaojuan Qu
- Shanghai institute for advanced immunochemical studiesShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Linsong Yang
- School of pharmaceutical engineering and life scienceChangzhou UniversityJiangsuChina
| | - Biao Jiang
- Shanghai institute for advanced immunochemical studiesShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- Chinese academy of sciencesShanghai institute of organic chemistryShanghaiChina
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40
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Liu J, Peng Y, Wei W. Light-Controllable PROTACs for Temporospatial Control of Protein Degradation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:678077. [PMID: 34350175 PMCID: PMC8326567 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.678077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PROteolysis-TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) is an emerging and promising approach to target intracellular proteins for ubiquitination-mediated degradation, including those so-called undruggable protein targets, such as transcriptional factors and scaffold proteins. To date, plenty of PROTACs have been developed to degrade various disease-relevant proteins, such as estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor (AR), RTK, and CDKs. However, the on-target off-tissue and off-target effect is one of the major limitation that prevents the usage of PROTACs in clinic. To this end, we and several other groups have recently developed light-controllable PROTACs, as the representative for the third generation controllable PROTACs, by using either photo-caging or photo-switch approaches. In this review, we summarize the emerging light-controllable PROTACs and the prospective for other potential ways to achieve temporospatial control of PROTACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Yunhua Peng
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Wenyi Wei
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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41
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Samarasinghe KTG, Crews CM. Targeted protein degradation: A promise for undruggable proteins. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:934-951. [PMID: 34004187 PMCID: PMC8286327 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Protein homeostasis, or "proteostasis," is indispensable for a balanced, healthy environment within the cell. However, when natural proteostasis mechanisms are overwhelmed from excessive loads of dysregulated proteins, their accumulation can lead to disease initiation and progression. Recently, the induced degradation of such disease-causing proteins by heterobifunctional molecules, i.e., PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs), is emerging as a potential therapeutic modality. In the 2 decades since the PROTAC concept was proposed, several additional Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) strategies have also been explored to target previously undruggable proteins, such as transcription factors. In this review, we discuss the progress and evolution of the TPD field, the breadth of the proteins targeted by PROTACs and the biological effects of their degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kusal T G Samarasinghe
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Craig M Crews
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
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42
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Xie S, Sun Y, Liu Y, Li X, Li X, Zhong W, Zhan F, Zhu J, Yao H, Yang DH, Chen ZS, Xu J, Xu S. Development of Alectinib-Based PROTACs as Novel Potent Degraders of Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK). J Med Chem 2021; 64:9120-9140. [PMID: 34176264 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
A series of novel anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) degraders were designed and synthesized based on proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology by linking two alectinib analogs (36 and 37) with pomalidomide through linkers of different lengths and types. The most promising degrader 17 possessed a high ALK-binding affinity and potent antiproliferative activity in the ALK-dependent cell lines and did not exhibit obvious cytotoxicity in ALK fusion-negative cells. More importantly, the efficacy of compound 17 in a Karpas 299 xenograft mouse model was further evaluated based on its ALK-sustained degradation ability in vivo. The reduction in tumor weight in the compound 17-treated group (10 mg/kg/day, I.V.) reached 75.82%, while alectinib reduced tumor weight by 63.82% at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day (P.O.). Taken together, our findings suggest that alectinib-based PROTACs associated with the degradation of ALK may have promising beneficial effects for treating ALK-driven malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaowen Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Yuan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Yulin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China.,Department of Organic Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Xinnan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Xinuo Li
- Key Lab of Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Wenyi Zhong
- Department of Organic Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Feiyan Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Jingjie Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Hong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Dong-Hua Yang
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, New York 11439, United States
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, New York 11439, United States
| | - Jinyi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Shengtao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
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43
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Abstract
A current bottleneck in the development of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) is the empirical nature of linker length structure-activity relationships (SARs). A multidisciplinary approach to alleviate the bottleneck is detailed here. First, we examine four published synthetic approaches that have been developed to increase synthetic throughput. We then discuss advances in structural biology and computational chemistry that have led to successful rational PROTAC design efforts and give promise to de novo linker design in silico. Lastly, we present a model generated from a curated list of linker SARs studies normalized to reflect how linear linker length affects the observed degradation potency (DC50).
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy A. Bemis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093–0358, United States
| | - James J. La Clair
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093–0358, United States
| | - Michael D. Burkart
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093–0358, United States
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44
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Ren C, Sun N, Liu H, Kong Y, Sun R, Qiu X, Chen J, Li Y, Zhang J, Zhou Y, Zhong H, Yin Q, Song X, Yang X, Jiang B. Discovery of a Brigatinib Degrader SIAIS164018 with Destroying Metastasis-Related Oncoproteins and a Reshuffling Kinome Profile. J Med Chem 2021; 64:9152-9165. [PMID: 34138566 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) is an attractive technology in drug discovery. Canonically, targets act as a basic starting point in the most previous PROTAC design. Here, we designed degraders considering from the view of clinical benefits. With this novel design, Brigatinib was turned into a degrader SIAIS164018 and endowed with unique features. First, SIAIS164018 could degrade not only ALK fusion proteins in activating or G1202R-mutated form but also mutant EGFR with L858R + T790M, which are two most important targets in non-small-cell lung cancer. Second, SIAIS164018 strongly inhibited cell migration and invasion of Calu-1 and MDA-MB-231. Third and surprisingly, SIAIS164018 degrades several important oncoproteins involved in metastasis such as FAK, PYK2, and PTK6. Interestingly, SIAIS164018 reshuffled the kinome ranking profile when compared to Brigatinib. Finally, SIAIS164018 is orally bioavailable and well tolerated in vivo. SIAIS164018 is an enlightening degrader for us to excavate the charm of protein degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaowei Ren
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ning Sun
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Haixia Liu
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ying Kong
- Jing Medicine Technology (Shanghai), Ltd., Y Building, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Renhong Sun
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xing Qiu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry of Natural Substances, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jinju Chen
- Jing Medicine Technology (Shanghai), Ltd., Y Building, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yan Li
- Jing Medicine Technology (Shanghai), Ltd., Y Building, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jianshui Zhang
- Jing Medicine Technology (Shanghai), Ltd., Y Building, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yuedong Zhou
- Jing Medicine Technology (Shanghai), Ltd., Y Building, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Hui Zhong
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Life Science, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China
| | - Qianqian Yin
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xiaoling Song
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xiaobao Yang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Biao Jiang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry of Natural Substances, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
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45
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Liang X, Yang Q, Wu P, He C, Yin L, Xu F, Yin Z, Yue G, Zou Y, Li L, Song X, Lv C, Zhang W, Jing B. The synthesis review of the approved tyrosine kinase inhibitors for anticancer therapy in 2015-2020. Bioorg Chem 2021; 113:105011. [PMID: 34091289 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In the 21st century, cancer is the major public health problem worldwide. Based on the important roles of protein tyrosine kinase, the accelerated hunt for potent small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors has led to the success of 30 newly inhibitors in this family for the cancer therapy in last five years. In this review, we updated their synthesis methods, and compared the original research routes with the optimized routes for each PTK inhibitor against different target, in order to make an outlook on the future synthesis of potential PTK inhibitors for anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Liang
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of veterinary medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China.
| | - Qian Yang
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of veterinary medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Pan Wu
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of veterinary medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Changliang He
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of veterinary medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Lizi Yin
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of veterinary medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Funeng Xu
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of veterinary medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Zhongqiong Yin
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of veterinary medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Guizhou Yue
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of veterinary medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Yuanfeng Zou
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of veterinary medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Lixia Li
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of veterinary medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Xu Song
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of veterinary medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Cheng Lv
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of veterinary medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of veterinary medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
| | - Bo Jing
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of veterinary medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, PR China
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Liang X, Wu P, Yang Q, Xie Y, He C, Yin L, Yin Z, Yue G, Zou Y, Li L, Song X, Lv C, Zhang W, Jing B. An update of new small-molecule anticancer drugs approved from 2015 to 2020. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 220:113473. [PMID: 33906047 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
A high incidence of cancer has given rise to the development of more anti-tumor drugs. From 2015 to 2020, fifty-six new small-molecule anticancer drugs, divided into ten categories according to their anti-tumor target activities, have been approved. These include TKIs (30 drugs), MAPK inhibitors (3 drugs), CDK inhibitors (3 drugs), PARP inhibitors (3 drugs), PI3K inhibitors (3 drugs), SMO receptor antagonists (2 drugs), AR antagonists (2 drugs), SSTR inhibitors (2 drugs), IDH inhibitors (2 drugs) and others (6 drugs). Among them, PTK inhibitors (30/56) have led to a paradigm shift in cancer treatment with less toxicity and more potency. Each of their structures, approval statuses, applications, SAR analyses, and original research synthesis routes have been summarized, giving us a more comprehensive map for further efforts to design more specific targeted agents for reducing cancer in the future. We believe this review will help further research of potential antitumor agents in clinical usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Liang
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China.
| | - Pan Wu
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Qian Yang
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Yunyu Xie
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Changliang He
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Lizi Yin
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Zhongqiong Yin
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Guizhou Yue
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Yuanfeng Zou
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Lixia Li
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Xu Song
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Cheng Lv
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Bo Jing
- Natural Medicine Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
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Ren C, Sun N, Kong Y, Qu X, Liu H, Zhong H, Song X, Yang X, Jiang B. Structure-based discovery of SIAIS001 as an oral bioavailability ALK degrader constructed from Alectinib. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 217:113335. [PMID: 33751979 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Fusion proteins of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) are promising therapeutic targets for cancer and other human diseases, especially for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and anaplastic large-cell lymphomas (ALCLs). We described herein a structure-based design, synthesis, and evaluation of ALK PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) based on Alectinib as the warhead. We firstly screened CRBN ligands as the E3 ligase moiety, then obtained a series of potent ALK degraders based on different CRBN ligands, exemplified by SIAIS091 and SIAIS001 with lenalidomide/thalidomide-based linkers. Both of them induced effective ALK degradation at low nanomolar concentrations in cells, and showed much better growth inhibition effects than Alectinib. SIAIS091 or SIAIS001 also promoted cell cycle arrest in G1/S phase. Finally, SIAIS001 exhibited good oral bioavailability in Pharmacokinetics study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaowei Ren
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ning Sun
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Ying Kong
- Jing Medicine Technology (Shanghai), Ltd., Y building230 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Xiaojuan Qu
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Haixia Liu
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China; School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Hui Zhong
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China; Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213164, China
| | - Xiaoling Song
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Xiaobao Yang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Biao Jiang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry of Natural Substances, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Effective degradation of EGFR L858R+T790M mutant proteins by CRBN-based PROTACs through both proteosome and autophagy/lysosome degradation systems. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 218:113328. [PMID: 33773286 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Targeted therapy of treating patients with specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is currently the standard care for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant non-small cell lung cancer. However, the inevitably developed drug resistance in patients to EGFR TKIs is the biggest obstacle for cancer targeted therapy. About 60% of drug resistance to the 1st generation of EGFR TKIs was resulted from an acquired T790M mutation in the kinase domain of EGFR protein. Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) is a lately-developed technology to target point of interest proteins for degradation. Because EGFR-mutant lung cancers are highly dependent on EGFR proteins, designing specific PROTAC molecules to degrade EGFR proteins from cancer cells provides a very promising strategy to treat such patients and eradicate drug resistance. Currently, there is no cereblon (CRBN)-based PROTAC reported able to degrade T790M-containing EGFR resistant proteins. In this study, we synthesized two novel CRBN-based EGFR PROTACs, SIAIS125 and SIAIS126, based on EGFR inhibitor canertinib and cereblon ligand pomalidomide. These two degraders displayed potent and selective antitumor activities in EGFR TKI resistant lung cancer cells. Firstly, they could selectively degrade EGFRL858R+T790M resistant proteins in H1975 cells at the concentration of 30-50 nM, and EGFREx19del proteins in PC9 cells. But they did not degrade EGFREx19del+T790M mutant proteins in PC9Brca1 cells or wild type EGFR in A549 lung cancer cells. They could also selectively inhibit the growth of EGFR mutant lung cancer cells but not that of normal cells or A549 cells. Secondly, the degradation of EGFRL858R+T790M proteins was long lasting up to 72 h. Thirdly, these degraders displayed better inhibition of EGFR phosphorylation in H1975 cells and PC9Brca1 cells comparing to canertinib. Finally, these degraders could also induce significant apoptosis and cell cycles arrest in H1975 cells. Pre-incubation with canertinib, pomalidomide or ubiquitination inhibitor MLN4924 totally blocked EGFR degradation by PROTACs. Mechanistic studies showed that PROTAC could induce autophagy in lung cancer cells. PROTAC-induced EGFR degradation acted through both ubiquitin/proteosome system and ubiquitin/autophagy/lysosome system. Elevating autophagy activities enhanced EGFR degradation and cell apoptosis induced by PROTACs. Our research not only offered a novel PROTAC tool to target EGFR TKI drug resistance in lung cancer, but also firstly demonstrated that the involvement of autophagy/lysosome system in PROTAC- mediated target protein degradation.
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Yan G, Zhong X, Yue L, Pu C, Shan H, Lan S, Zhou M, Hou X, Yang J, Li R. Discovery of a PROTAC targeting ALK with in vivo activity. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 212:113150. [PMID: 33453602 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.113150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) was involved in the development of various cancer types. Although several ALK inhibitors have been advanced to clinical trials, the emergence of drug resistance has limited the clinical application of them. To overcome the drug resistance, proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) could be an alternative strategy. In this study, a series of ALK degraders were designed and synthesized. The degraders were developed through the conjugation of LDK378 and CRBN E3 ubiquitin ligase ligands. Among all the molecules, compound B3 showed potent selective inhibitory activity to ALK and can decrease the cellular levels of ALK fusion proteins in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in H3122 cell line. Meanwhile, B3 showed improved anticancer activity in vitro comparing with LDK378 and the antiproliferative activity to xenograft tumor model was acceptable. All the results demonstrated that ALK degrader B3 with in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer activities was valuable for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoyi Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinxin Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chunlan Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huifang Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Suke Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Meng Zhou
- Engineering Research Center for the Development and Application of Ethnic Medicine and TCM, Ministry of Education & State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xueyan Hou
- College of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Rui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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50
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Preclinical and Clinical Advances of Targeted Protein Degradation as a Novel Cancer Therapeutic Strategy: An Oncologist Perspective. Target Oncol 2020; 16:1-12. [PMID: 33369705 DOI: 10.1007/s11523-020-00782-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
PROteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) are a family of heterobifunctional small molecules that specifically target cellular proteins for degradation. Given that their mode of action is distinct from that of small-molecule inhibitors widely used in clinical practice, PROTACs have the potential to improve current cancer therapies. Multiple studies have suggested that PROTACs exhibit enhanced pharmacodynamics and reduced toxicity both in vitro and in vivo compared to clinically relevant small-molecule kinase inhibitors. In addition, PROTACs have been reported to be less prone to mutation-mediated drug resistance in specific disease settings. Since its development in 2001, the field of targeted protein degradation, in which PROTACs are used, has expanded rapidly. However, earlier studies focused on the advancement of the technology itself, while preclinical and clinical data on the disease-modifying effect of PROTACs have only recently been reported. As preclinical and clinical evidence accumulates, the efficacy of PROTACs as targeted therapeutics-distinct from that of small-molecule kinase inhibitors-suggests potential translational benefit in the clinical setting. In this short review, we aim to describe translational potentials of PROTACs. We offer our perspectives as practicing oncologists on the preclinical and clinical data on PROTACs as novel therapeutics for both solid and hematological malignancies.
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