Identification and characterization of MAM03055A: A novel bivalent sigma-2 receptor/TMEM97 ligand with cytotoxic activity

First-In-Class Thiosemicarbazone Metal Complexes Targeting the Sigma-2 Receptor (S2R) as an Innovative Strategy against Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer, with its increasing incidence and lowest 5-year survival rate, is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer deaths by 2030. Current clinical trials have shown limited improvement, highlighting the need for new therapies. The sigma-2 receptor (S2R), with roles in tumor progression, is a target for novel thiosemicarbazones (TSCs). FA4 has shown potent activity against pancreatic cancer in vivo. We synthesized complexes of FA4 with Cu(II) and Pt(II), and compared their efficacy with complexes of the non-S2R-targeting TSC 1. TSC-Cu exhibited over 50-fold higher in vitro cytotoxicity than TSCs-Pt, which was less active than TSCs. FA4-Cu induced apoptotic cell death via ER and mitochondrial stress showing more potent activity than FA4. This in vitro effect was replicated in the preclinical PANC-1 model, where FA4-Cu was more potent than FA4, 1, and 1-Cu. These results support further exploration of FA4-Cu as a potential therapy for pancreatic cancer.

The Benzoxazole Heterocycle: A Comprehensive Review of the Most Recent Medicinal Chemistry Developments of Antiproliferative, Brain-Penetrant, and Anti-inflammatory Agents

The benzoxazole is one of the most widely exploited heterocycles in drug discovery. Natural occurring and synthetic benzoxazoles show a broad range of biological activities. Many benzoxazoles are available for treating several diseases, and, to date, a few are in clinical trials. Moreover, an ever-increasing number of benzoxazole derivatives are under investigation in the early drug discovery phase and as potential hit or lead compounds. This perspective is an attempt to thoroughly review the rational design, the structure-activity relationship, and the biological activity of the most notable benzoxazoles developed during the past 5 years (period 2019-to date) in cancers, neurological disorders, and inflammation. We also briefly overviewed each target and its role in the disease. The huge amount of work examined suggests the great potential of the scaffold and the high interest of the scientific community in novel biologically active compounds containing the benzoxazole core.

Structure-Affinity relationships of novel σ2R/TMEM97 ligands

The sigma 2 receptor (σ2R), which was recently identified as the transmembrane protein 97 (TMEM97), is increasingly attracting interest as a possible therapeutic target for indications in neuroscience. Toward identifying novel modulators of σ2R/TMEM97, we prepared a collection of benzoxazocine, benzomorphan, and methanobenzazepine ligands related to the known bioactive norbenzomorphans DKR-1677, FEM-1689, and EES-1686 and determined their Ki values for σ2R/TMEM97 and the sigma 1 receptor (σ1R). The σ2R/TMEM97 binding affinities and selectivities relative to σ1R of these new benzoxazocine, benzomorphan, and methanobenzazepine analogs are lower, often significantly lower, than their respective norbenzomorphan counterparts, suggesting the spatial orientation of pharmacophoric substituents is critical for binding to the two proteins. The benzoxazocine, benzomorphan, and methanobenzazepine congeners of DKR-1677 and FEM-1689 tend to be weakly selective for σ2R/TMEM97 versus σ1R, whereas EES-1686 derivatives exhibit the greatest selectivity, suggesting the size and/or nature of the substituent on the nitrogen atom of the scaffold may be important for selectivity. Computational docking studies were performed for the 1S,5R-and 1R,5S-enantiomers of DKR-1677, FEM-1689, and EES-1686 and their benzoxazocine, benzomorphan, and methanobenzazepine counterparts. These computations predict that the protonated amino group of each ligand forms a highly conserved salt bridge and a H-bonding interaction with Asp29 as well as a cation-π interaction with Tyr150 of σ2R/TMEM97. These electrostatic interactions are major driving forces for binding to σ2R/TMEM97 and are similar, though not identical, for each ligand. Other interactions within the well-defined binding pocket also tend to be comparable, but there are some major differences in how the hydrophobic aryl groups of various ligands interact with the protein surface external to the binding pocket. Overall, these studies show that the orientations of aryl and N-substituents on the norbenzomorphan and related scaffolds are important determinants of binding affinity of σ2R/TMEM97 ligands, and small changes can have significant effects upon binding profiles.

Cytotoxic pathways activated by multifunctional thiosemicarbazones targeting sigma-2 receptors in breast and lung carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

Multifunctional thiosemicarbazones (TSCs) able to bind sigma receptors and chelate metals are considered as a promising avenue for the treatment of pancreatic cancer due to the encouraging results obtained on in vitro and in vivo models. Here, we assessed the biochemical mechanism of these TSCs also on lung (A549) and breast (MCF7) cancer cells.

METHODS

The density of sigma-2 receptors in normal (BEAS-2B and MCF10A) and in lung and breast (A549 and MCF7) cancer cells was evaluated by flow cytometry. In these cells, cytotoxicity (MTT assay) and activation of ER- and mitochondria-dependent cell death pathways (by spectrofluorimetric assays to measure Caspases 3/7/9; qRT-PCR detection of GRP78, ATF6, IRE1, PERK; MitoSOX, DCFDA-AM and JC-1 staining), induced by the TSCs FA4, MLP44, PS3 and ACThio1, were evaluated.

RESULTS

FA4 and PS3 exerted more potent cytotoxicity than MLP44 and ACThio1 in all cancer cell lines, where the density of sigma-2 receptors was higher than in normal cells. Remarkably, FA4 promoted ER- and mitochondria-dependent cell death pathways in both cell models, whereas the other TSCs had variable, cell-dependent effects on the activation of the two proapoptotic pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that FA4 is a promising compound that deserves to be further studied for lung and breast cancer treatment. However, the other multifunctional TSCs also hold promise for the development of therapies towards a personalized medicine approach. Indeed, the presence of the sigma-2 receptor-targeting moiety would lead to a more specific tumor delivery embracing the characteristics of individual tumor types.

BS148 Reduces the Aggressiveness of Metastatic Melanoma via Sigma-2 Receptor Targeting

The management of advanced-stage melanoma is clinically challenging, mainly because of its resistance to the currently available therapies. Therefore, it is important to develop alternative therapeutic strategies. The sigma-2 receptor (S2R) is overexpressed in proliferating tumor cells and represents a promising vulnerability to target. Indeed, we have recently identified a potent S2R modulator (BS148) that is effective in melanoma. To elucidate its mechanism of action, we designed and synthesized a BS148 fluorescent probe that enters SK-MEL-2 melanoma cells as assessed using confocal microscopy analysis. We show that S2R knockdown significantly reduces the anti-proliferative effect induced by BS148 administration, indicating the engagement of S2R in BS148-mediated cytotoxicity. Interestingly, BS148 treatment showed similar molecular effects to S2R RNA interference-mediated knockdown. We demonstrate that BS148 administration activates the endoplasmic reticulum stress response through the upregulation of protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) genes, and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). Furthermore, we show that BS148 treatment downregulates genes related to the cholesterol pathway and activates the MAPK signaling pathway. Finally, we translate our results into patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cells, proving that BS148 treatment reduces melanoma cell viability and migration. These results demonstrate that BS148 is able to inhibit metastatic melanoma cell proliferation and migration through its interaction with the S2R and confirm its role as a promising target to treat cancer.

Development of Fluorescent 4-[4-(3H-Spiro[isobenzofuran-1,4'-piperidin]-1'-yl)butyl]indolyl Derivatives as High-Affinity Probes to Enable the Study of σ Receptors via Fluorescence-Based Techniques

Sigma (σ) receptor subtypes, σ₁ and σ₂, are targets of wide pharmaceutical interest. The σ₂ receptor holds promise for the development of diagnostics and therapeutics against cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Nevertheless, little is known about the mechanisms activated by the σ₂ receptor. To contribute to the exploitation of its therapeutic potential, we developed novel specific fluorescent ligands. Indole derivatives bearing the N-butyl-3H-spiro[isobenzofuran-1,4'-piperidine] portion were functionalized with fluorescent tags. Nanomolar-affinity fluorescent σ ligands, spanning from green to red to near-infrared emission, were obtained. Compounds 19 (σ pan affinity) and 29 (σ₂ selective), which displayed the best compromise between pharmacodynamic and photophysical properties, were investigated in flow cytometry, confocal, and live cell microscopy, demonstrating their specificity for the σ₂ receptor. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first red-emitting fluorescent σ₂ ligands, validated as powerful tools for the study of σ₂ receptors via fluorescence-based techniques.

TMEM97 is transcriptionally activated by YY1 and promotes colorectal cancer progression via the GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway

Transmembrane protein 97 (TMEM97) is a conserved integral membrane protein highly expressed in various human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), and it exhibits pro-tumor roles in breast cancer, gastric cancer, and glioma. However, whether TMEM97 participates in CRC progression is not fully understood. The expression of mRNA and protein was evaluated by real-time qPCR, western blotting, immunofluorescent, and immunohistochemical staining. TMEM97 functions in cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were assessed by CCK-8, flow cytometry, and transwell assays. The roles of TMEM97 in CRC cells in vivo was investigated using a subcutaneous xenograft model. The transcriptional regulation of TMEM97 was explored by luciferase reporter and ChIP assays. The silencing of TMEM97 inhibited migration and invasion of CRC cells in vitro and led to suppressed growth and enhanced apoptosis in CRC cells and xenografts, whereas overexpression of TMEM97 displayed opposite effects. Mechanistically, TMEM97 knockdown caused a reduction of the proliferating marker PCNA and an increase of pro-apoptotic proteins (cleaved caspase 8/3/7 and cleaved PARP) in CRC cells. TMEM97 also positively regulated the β-catenin signaling pathway in CRC cells and xenografts by modulating the phosphorylated-GSK-3β and active (non-phospho) β-catenin levels. Interestingly, YY1, a well-recognized oncogenic transcription factor, was identified to bind to the TMEM97 promoter and enhance its transcriptional activity, and silencing of TMEM97 abolished YY1-mediated pro-tumor effects on CRC cells. Our results suggest that TMEM97 is transcriptionally activated by YY1 and promotes CRC progression via the GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway, providing that TMEM97 might be a novel therapeutic target for preventing CRC development.