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Yap TA, Tolcher AW, Plummer R, Mukker JK, Enderlin M, Hicking C, Grombacher T, Locatelli G, Szucs Z, Gounaris I, de Bono JS. First-in-Human Study of the Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-Related (ATR) Inhibitor Tuvusertib (M1774) as Monotherapy in Patients with Solid Tumors. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:2057-2067. [PMID: 38407317 PMCID: PMC11094421 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-2409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Tuvusertib (M1774) is a potent, selective, orally administered ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) protein kinase inhibitor. This first-in-human study (NCT04170153) evaluated safety, tolerability, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), recommended dose for expansion (RDE), pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and preliminary efficacy of tuvusertib monotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ascending tuvusertib doses were evaluated in 55 patients with metastatic or locally advanced unresectable solid tumors. A safety monitoring committee determined dose escalation based on PK, PD, and safety data guided by a Bayesian 2-parameter logistic regression model. Molecular responses (MR) were assessed in circulating tumor DNA samples. RESULTS Most common grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events were anemia (36%), neutropenia, and lymphopenia (both 7%). Eleven patients experienced dose-limiting toxicities, most commonly grade 2 (n = 2) or 3 (n = 8) anemia. No persistent effects on blood immune cell populations were observed. The RDE was 180 mg tuvusertib QD (once daily), 2 weeks on/1 week off treatment, which was better tolerated than the MTD (180 mg QD continuously). Tuvusertib median time to peak plasma concentration ranged from 0.5 to 3.5 hours and mean elimination half-life from 1.2 to 5.6 hours. Exposure-related PD analysis suggested maximum target engagement at ≥130 mg tuvusertib QD. Tuvusertib induced frequent MRs in the predicted efficacious dose range; MRs were enriched in patients with radiological disease stabilization, and complete MRs were detected for mutations in ARID1A, ATRX, and DAXX. One patient with platinum- and PARP inhibitor-resistant BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer achieved an unconfirmed RECIST v1.1 partial response. CONCLUSIONS Tuvusertib demonstrated manageable safety and exposure-related target engagement. Further clinical evaluation of tuvusertib is ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A. Yap
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Ruth Plummer
- Newcastle University and Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | | | - Marta Enderlin
- The Healthcare Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Zoltan Szucs
- Merck Serono Ltd., Feltham, UK, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Ioannis Gounaris
- Merck Serono Ltd., Feltham, UK, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
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Duan Y, Zhuang L, Xu Y, Cheng H, Xia J, Lu T, Chen Y. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives as novel ATR inhibitors. Bioorg Chem 2023; 136:106535. [PMID: 37086581 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106535] [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: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
Targeting ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase is being pursued as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of advanced solid tumor with specific DNA damage response deficiency. Herein, we report a series of pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives with potent ATR inhibitory activity through structure-based drug design. Among them, the representative compound 10q exhibited excellent potency against ATR in both biochemical and cellular assays. More importantly, 10q exhibited good liver microsomes stability in different species and also showed moderate inhibitory activity against HT-29 cells in combination treatment with the ATM inhibitor AZD1390. Thus, this work provides a promising lead compound against ATR for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxin Duan
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Lili Zhuang
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Yerong Xu
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Haodong Cheng
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Jiawei Xia
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Tao Lu
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Yadong Chen
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China.
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3
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Therapeutic targeting of ATR in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4297. [PMID: 35879366 PMCID: PMC9314382 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32023-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in multi-modal treatment approaches, clinical outcomes of patients suffering from PAX3-FOXO1 fusion oncogene-expressing alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) remain dismal. Here we show that PAX3-FOXO1-expressing ARMS cells are sensitive to pharmacological ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related protein (ATR) inhibition. Expression of PAX3-FOXO1 in muscle progenitor cells is not only sufficient to increase sensitivity to ATR inhibition, but PAX3-FOXO1-expressing rhabdomyosarcoma cells also exhibit increased sensitivity to structurally diverse inhibitors of ATR. Mechanistically, ATR inhibition leads to replication stress exacerbation, decreased BRCA1 phosphorylation and reduced homologous recombination-mediated DNA repair pathway activity. Consequently, ATR inhibitor treatment increases sensitivity of ARMS cells to PARP1 inhibition in vitro, and combined treatment with ATR and PARP1 inhibitors induces complete regression of primary patient-derived ARMS xenografts in vivo. Lastly, a genome-wide CRISPR activation screen (CRISPRa) in combination with transcriptional analyses of ATR inhibitor resistant ARMS cells identifies the RAS-MAPK pathway and its targets, the FOS gene family, as inducers of resistance to ATR inhibition. Our findings provide a rationale for upcoming biomarker-driven clinical trials of ATR inhibitors in patients suffering from ARMS.
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Roulston A, Zimmermann M, Papp R, Skeldon A, Pellerin C, Dumas-Bérube É, Dumais V, Dorich S, Fader LD, Fournier S, Li L, Leclaire ME, Yin SY, Chefson A, Alam H, Yang W, Fugère-Desjardins C, Vignini-Hammond S, Skorey K, Mulani A, Rimkunas V, Veloso A, Hamel M, Stocco R, Mamane Y, Li Z, Young JT, Zinda M, Black WC. RP-3500: A Novel, Potent, and Selective ATR Inhibitor that is Effective in Preclinical Models as a Monotherapy and in Combination with PARP Inhibitors. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:245-256. [PMID: 34911817 PMCID: PMC9398170 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase protects genome integrity during DNA replication. RP-3500 is a novel, orally bioavailable clinical-stage ATR kinase inhibitor (NCT04497116). RP-3500 is highly potent with IC50 values of 1.0 and 0.33 nmol/L in biochemical and cell-based assays, respectively. RP-3500 is highly selective for ATR with 30-fold selectivity over mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and more than 2,000-fold selectivity over ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase alpha (PI3Kα) kinases. In vivo, RP-3500 treatment results in potent single-agent efficacy and/or tumor regression in multiple xenograft models at minimum effective doses (MED) of 5 to 7 mg/kg once daily. Pharmacodynamic assessments validate target engagement, with dose-proportional tumor inhibition of phosphorylated checkpoint kinase 1 (pCHK1) (IC80 = 18.6 nmol/L) and induction of phosphorylated H2A.X variant histone (γH2AX), phosphorylated DNA-PK catalytic subunit (pDNA-PKcs), and phosphorylated KRAB-associated protein 1 (pKAP1). RP-3500 exposure at MED indicates that circulating free plasma levels above the in vivo tumor IC80 for 10 to 12 hours are sufficient for efficacy on a continuous schedule. However, short-duration intermittent (weekly 3 days on/4 days off) dosing schedules as monotherapy or given concomitantly with reduced doses of olaparib or niraparib, maximize tumor growth inhibition while minimizing the impact on red blood cell depletion, emphasizing the reversible nature of erythroid toxicity with RP-3500 and demonstrating superior efficacy compared with sequential treatment. These results provide a strong preclinical rationale to support ongoing clinical investigation of the novel ATR inhibitor, RP-3500, on an intermittent schedule as a monotherapy and in combination with PARP inhibitors as a potential means of maximizing clinical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Roulston
- Repare Therapeutics Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada.,Corresponding Author: Anne Roulston, Repare Therapeutics Inc., 7171 Frederick Banting, Saint-Laurent, QC H4S 1Z9, Canada. Phone: 514-286-4789; Fax: 888-595-2535; E-mail:
| | | | - Robert Papp
- Repare Therapeutics Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Lee D. Fader
- Ventus Therapeutics Inc. Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sara Fournier
- Repare Therapeutics Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | - Li Li
- Repare Therapeutics Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Shou Yun Yin
- Repare Therapeutics Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Hunain Alam
- Repare Therapeutics Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | - William Yang
- Repare Therapeutics Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Amina Mulani
- NuChem Sciences Inc. Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Artur Veloso
- Repare Therapeutics Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | - Martine Hamel
- Repare Therapeutics Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | - Rino Stocco
- Repare Therapeutics Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | - Yael Mamane
- Repare Therapeutics Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | - Zuomei Li
- NuChem Sciences Inc. Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Michael Zinda
- Repare Therapeutics Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
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Gorecki L, Andrs M, Korabecny J. Clinical Candidates Targeting the ATR-CHK1-WEE1 Axis in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:795. [PMID: 33672884 PMCID: PMC7918546 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Selective killing of cancer cells while sparing healthy ones is the principle of the perfect cancer treatment and the primary aim of many oncologists, molecular biologists, and medicinal chemists. To achieve this goal, it is crucial to understand the molecular mechanisms that distinguish cancer cells from healthy ones. Accordingly, several clinical candidates that use particular mutations in cell-cycle progressions have been developed to kill cancer cells. As the majority of cancer cells have defects in G1 control, targeting the subsequent intra‑S or G2/M checkpoints has also been extensively pursued. This review focuses on clinical candidates that target the kinases involved in intra‑S and G2/M checkpoints, namely, ATR, CHK1, and WEE1 inhibitors. It provides insight into their current status and future perspectives for anticancer treatment. Overall, even though CHK1 inhibitors are still far from clinical establishment, promising accomplishments with ATR and WEE1 inhibitors in phase II trials present a positive outlook for patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Gorecki
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; (L.G.); (M.A.)
| | - Martin Andrs
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; (L.G.); (M.A.)
- Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Korabecny
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; (L.G.); (M.A.)
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Yap TA, O’Carrigan B, Penney MS, Lim JS, Brown JS, de Miguel Luken MJ, Tunariu N, Perez-Lopez R, Rodrigues DN, Riisnaes R, Figueiredo I, Carreira S, Hare B, McDermott K, Khalique S, Williamson CT, Natrajan R, Pettitt SJ, Lord CJ, Banerji U, Pollard J, Lopez J, de Bono JS. Phase I Trial of First-in-Class ATR Inhibitor M6620 (VX-970) as Monotherapy or in Combination With Carboplatin in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors. J Clin Oncol 2020; 38:3195-3204. [PMID: 32568634 PMCID: PMC7499606 DOI: 10.1200/jco.19.02404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Preclinical studies demonstrated that ATR inhibition can exploit synthetic lethality (eg, in cancer cells with impaired compensatory DNA damage responses through ATM loss) as monotherapy and combined with DNA-damaging drugs such as carboplatin. PATIENTS AND METHODS This phase I trial assessed the ATR inhibitor M6620 (VX-970) as monotherapy (once or twice weekly) and combined with carboplatin (carboplatin on day 1 and M6620 on days 2 and 9 in 21-day cycles). Primary objectives were safety, tolerability, and maximum tolerated dose; secondary objectives included pharmacokinetics and antitumor activity; exploratory objectives included pharmacodynamics in timed paired tumor biopsies. RESULTS Forty patients were enrolled; 17 received M6620 monotherapy, which was safe and well tolerated. The recommended phase II dose (RP2D) for once- or twice-weekly administration was 240 mg/m2. A patient with metastatic colorectal cancer harboring molecular aberrations, including ATM loss and an ARID1A mutation, achieved RECISTv1.1 complete response and maintained this response, with a progression-free survival of 29 months at last assessment. Twenty-three patients received M6620 with carboplatin, with mechanism-based hematologic toxicities at higher doses, requiring dose delays and reductions. The RP2D for combination therapy was M6620 90 mg/m2 with carboplatin AUC5. A patient with advanced germline BRCA1 ovarian cancer achieved RECISTv1.1 partial response and Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup CA125 response despite being platinum refractory and PARP inhibitor resistant. An additional 15 patients had RECISTv1.1 stable disease as best response. Pharmacokinetics were dose proportional and exceeded preclinical efficacious levels. Pharmacodynamic studies demonstrated substantial inhibition of phosphorylation of CHK1, the downstream ATR substrate. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this report is the first of an ATR inhibitor as monotherapy and combined with carboplatin. M6620 was well tolerated, with target engagement and preliminary antitumor responses observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A. Yap
- Drug Development Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Brent O’Carrigan
- Drug Development Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Joline S. Lim
- Drug Development Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica S. Brown
- Drug Development Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Nina Tunariu
- Drug Development Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Ruth Riisnaes
- The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - Saira Khalique
- Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chris T. Williamson
- Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachael Natrajan
- Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen J. Pettitt
- Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. Lord
- Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Udai Banerji
- Drug Development Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Pollard
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Juanita Lopez
- Drug Development Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Johann S. de Bono
- Drug Development Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
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7
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Bradbury A, O’Donnell R, Drew Y, Curtin NJ, Sharma Saha S. Characterisation of Ovarian Cancer Cell Line NIH-OVCAR3 and Implications of Genomic, Transcriptomic, Proteomic and Functional DNA Damage Response Biomarkers for Therapeutic Targeting. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12071939. [PMID: 32709004 PMCID: PMC7409137 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to be effective models to identify biomarkers of chemotherapy response, cancer cell lines require thorough characterization. In this study, we characterised the widely used high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) cell line NIH-OVCAR3 using bioinformatics, cytotoxicity assays and molecular/functional analyses of DNA damage response (DDR) pathways in comparison to an ovarian cancer cell line panel. Bioinformatic analysis confirmed the HGSOC-like features of NIH-OVCAR3, including low mutation frequency, TP53 loss and high copy number alteration frequency similar to 201 HGSOCs analysed (TCGA). Cytotoxicity assays were performed for the standard of care chemotherapy, carboplatin, and DDR targeting drugs: rucaparib (a PARP inhibitor) and VE-821 (an ATR inhibitor). Interestingly, NIH-OVCAR3 cells showed sensitivity to carboplatin and rucaparib which was explained by functional loss of homologous recombination repair (HRR) identified by plasmid re-joining assay, despite the ability to form RAD51 foci and absence of mutations in HRR genes. NIH-OVCAR3 cells also showed high non-homologous end joining activity, which may contribute to HRR loss and along with genomic amplification in ATR and TOPBP1, could explain the resistance to VE-821. In summary, NIH-OVCAR3 cells highlight the complexity of HGSOCs and that genomic or functional characterization alone might not be enough to predict/explain chemotherapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Bradbury
- Newcastle Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK; (A.B.); (Y.D.); (N.J.C.)
| | - Rachel O’Donnell
- Newcastle Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK; (A.B.); (Y.D.); (N.J.C.)
- Northern Cancer Alliance, Northern Centre for Gynaecological Surgery, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Yvette Drew
- Newcastle Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK; (A.B.); (Y.D.); (N.J.C.)
- Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC), Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN, UK
| | - Nicola J. Curtin
- Newcastle Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK; (A.B.); (Y.D.); (N.J.C.)
| | - Sweta Sharma Saha
- Newcastle Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK; (A.B.); (Y.D.); (N.J.C.)
- Correspondence:
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Lücking U, Wortmann L, Wengner AM, Lefranc J, Lienau P, Briem H, Siemeister G, Bömer U, Denner K, Schäfer M, Koppitz M, Eis K, Bartels F, Bader B, Bone W, Moosmayer D, Holton SJ, Eberspächer U, Grudzinska-Goebel J, Schatz C, Deeg G, Mumberg D, von Nussbaum F. Damage Incorporated: Discovery of the Potent, Highly Selective, Orally Available ATR Inhibitor BAY 1895344 with Favorable Pharmacokinetic Properties and Promising Efficacy in Monotherapy and in Combination Treatments in Preclinical Tumor Models. J Med Chem 2020; 63:7293-7325. [PMID: 32502336 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The ATR kinase plays a key role in the DNA damage response by activating essential signaling pathways of DNA damage repair, especially in response to replication stress. Because DNA damage and replication stress are major sources of genomic instability, selective ATR inhibition has been recognized as a promising new approach in cancer therapy. We now report the identification and preclinical evaluation of the novel, clinical ATR inhibitor BAY 1895344. Starting from quinoline 2 with weak ATR inhibitory activity, lead optimization efforts focusing on potency, selectivity, and oral bioavailability led to the discovery of the potent, highly selective, orally available ATR inhibitor BAY 1895344, which exhibited strong monotherapy efficacy in cancer xenograft models that carry certain DNA damage repair deficiencies. Moreover, combination treatment of BAY 1895344 with certain DNA damage inducing chemotherapy resulted in synergistic antitumor activity. BAY 1895344 is currently under clinical investigation in patients with advanced solid tumors and lymphomas (NCT03188965).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Lücking
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Wortmann
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Antje M Wengner
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Julien Lefranc
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Philip Lienau
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hans Briem
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerhard Siemeister
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulf Bömer
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Karsten Denner
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martina Schäfer
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcus Koppitz
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Knut Eis
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Florian Bartels
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Benjamin Bader
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Wilhelm Bone
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dieter Moosmayer
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon J Holton
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Eberspächer
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Christoph Schatz
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gesa Deeg
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dominik Mumberg
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Franz von Nussbaum
- Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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9
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Targeting ATR as Cancer Therapy: A new era for synthetic lethality and synergistic combinations? Pharmacol Ther 2020; 207:107450. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.107450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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10
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Foote KM, Nissink JWM, McGuire T, Turner P, Guichard S, Yates JWT, Lau A, Blades K, Heathcote D, Odedra R, Wilkinson G, Wilson Z, Wood CM, Jewsbury PJ. Discovery and Characterization of AZD6738, a Potent Inhibitor of Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated and Rad3 Related (ATR) Kinase with Application as an Anticancer Agent. J Med Chem 2018; 61:9889-9907. [PMID: 30346772 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The kinase ataxia telangiectasia mutated and rad3 related (ATR) is a key regulator of the DNA-damage response and the apical kinase which orchestrates the cellular processes that repair stalled replication forks (replication stress) and associated DNA double-strand breaks. Inhibition of repair pathways mediated by ATR in a context where alternative pathways are less active is expected to aid clinical response by increasing replication stress. Here we describe the development of the clinical candidate 2 (AZD6738), a potent and selective sulfoximine morpholinopyrimidine ATR inhibitor with excellent preclinical physicochemical and pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics. Compound 2 was developed improving aqueous solubility and eliminating CYP3A4 time-dependent inhibition starting from the earlier described inhibitor 1 (AZ20). The clinical candidate 2 has favorable human PK suitable for once or twice daily dosing and achieves biologically effective exposure at moderate doses. Compound 2 is currently being tested in multiple phase I/II trials as an anticancer agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Foote
- Chemistry, Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Cambridge Science Park, 310 Milton Road , Milton, Cambridge CB4 0WG , U.K
| | - J Willem M Nissink
- Chemistry, Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Cambridge Science Park, 310 Milton Road , Milton, Cambridge CB4 0WG , U.K
| | - Thomas McGuire
- Chemistry, Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Cambridge Science Park, 310 Milton Road , Milton, Cambridge CB4 0WG , U.K
| | - Paul Turner
- Chemistry, Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Cambridge Science Park, 310 Milton Road , Milton, Cambridge CB4 0WG , U.K
| | - Sylvie Guichard
- Bioscience, Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Chesterford Research Park , Little Chesterford, Cambridge CB10 1XL , U.K
| | - James W T Yates
- DMPK, Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Chesterford Research Park , Little Chesterford, Cambridge CB10 1XL , U.K
| | - Alan Lau
- Bioscience, Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Chesterford Research Park , Little Chesterford, Cambridge CB10 1XL , U.K
| | - Kevin Blades
- Chemistry, Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Cambridge Science Park, 310 Milton Road , Milton, Cambridge CB4 0WG , U.K
| | - Dan Heathcote
- Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Cambridge Science Park, 310 Milton Road , Milton, Cambridge CB4 0WG , U.K
| | - Rajesh Odedra
- Bioscience, Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Chesterford Research Park , Little Chesterford, Cambridge CB10 1XL , U.K
| | - Gary Wilkinson
- Chemistry, Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Cambridge Science Park, 310 Milton Road , Milton, Cambridge CB4 0WG , U.K
| | - Zena Wilson
- Bioscience, Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Chesterford Research Park , Little Chesterford, Cambridge CB10 1XL , U.K
| | - Christine M Wood
- Chemistry, Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Cambridge Science Park, 310 Milton Road , Milton, Cambridge CB4 0WG , U.K
| | - Philip J Jewsbury
- Chemistry, Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Cambridge Science Park, 310 Milton Road , Milton, Cambridge CB4 0WG , U.K
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11
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The Impact of p53 Dysfunction in ATR Inhibitor Cytotoxicity and Chemo- and Radiosensitisation. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10080275. [PMID: 30127241 PMCID: PMC6116113 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10080275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3 related kinase (ATR) signals replication stress and DNA damage to S and G2 arrest and promotes DNA repair. Mutations in p53, critical for G1 checkpoint control, are common in cancer and predicted to confer vulnerability to ATR inhibitors. Reported data on the impact of p53 status are variable possibly because of the use of unmatched cells and surrogate endpoints of survival. The cytotoxicity of VE-821 alone and its ability to potentiate radiation and gemcitabine cytotoxicity was determined in isogenic and unmatched p53 wild-type (wt) and null/mutant cells, as well as immortalised nonmalignant MCF10 (immortalised non-neoplastic) cells, by colony-forming assay. The effect on cell cycle checkpoints was determined by flow cytometry. The isogenic p53 defective cells were not more sensitive to VE-821 alone. Defective p53 consistently conferred greater chemo- and radiosensitisation, particularly at high dose levels in isogenic cells but not unmatched cells. VE-821 did not sensitise MCF10 cells. We conclude that p53 status is just one factor contributing to chemo- and radiosensitisation by ATR inhibition, the lack of chemo- or radiosensitisation in the noncancerous cells suggests an element of tumour-specificity that warrants further investigation. The greater sensitisation at high-dose irradiation suggests that ATR inhibitors may be most effective with hypofractionated radiotherapy.
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12
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Kopp B, Dario M, Zalko D, Audebert M. Assessment of a panel of cellular biomarkers and the kinetics of their induction in comparing genotoxic modes of action in HepG2 cells. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2018; 59:516-528. [PMID: 29668064 DOI: 10.1002/em.22197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
One major challenge for in vitro genotoxicology is the determination of the genotoxic mode of action of tested compounds. The quantification of the phosphorylation of the histones H3 (pH3) and H2AX (γH2AX) allows an efficient discrimination between aneugenic and clastogenic compounds. However, these two biomarkers do not permit to deduct the specific mechanisms involved in the action of clastogenic compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate other possible cellular biomarkers allowing differentiating clastogenic properties. For this purpose, we analyzed γH2AX and pH3 plus six other biomarkers involved in the DNA damage signaling pathway in HepG2 cells treated with nine clastogens exhibiting different mechanisms of action, as well as one aneugen. All compounds were tested at various concentrations and with kinetics of 2, 6, 24 and 48 hr. Our results demonstrate the activation of the investigated biomarkers by the tested compounds in a time and concentration dependent manner. Notably, we observed for some nondirect genotoxic clastogens, notably dNTPs pool imbalance inducers, a different kinetic of DNA damage induction compared with direct genotoxins (oxidative stress). However, no specific biomarker signature of mechanisms of clastogenic action could be specified. Multiparametric analysis demonstrates a strong correlation between γH2AX and p-p53(S15) for clastogen compounds. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 59:516-528, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Kopp
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse, France
- Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Toxicology of Contaminants Unit, French Agency for Food, Fougères, France
| | - Morgane Dario
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Daniel Zalko
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Marc Audebert
- Toxalim (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse, France
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13
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Qiu Z, Oleinick NL, Zhang J. ATR/CHK1 inhibitors and cancer therapy. Radiother Oncol 2017; 126:450-464. [PMID: 29054375 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2017.09.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The cell cycle checkpoint proteins ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated-and-Rad3-related kinase (ATR) and its major downstream effector checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) prevent the entry of cells with damaged or incompletely replicated DNA into mitosis when the cells are challenged by DNA damaging agents, such as radiation therapy (RT) or chemotherapeutic drugs, that are the major modalities to treat cancer. This regulation is particularly evident in cells with a defective G1 checkpoint, a common feature of cancer cells, due to p53 mutations. In addition, ATR and/or CHK1 suppress replication stress (RS) by inhibiting excess origin firing, particularly in cells with activated oncogenes. Those functions of ATR/CHK1 make them ideal therapeutic targets. ATR/CHK1 inhibitors have been developed and are currently used either as single agents or paired with radiotherapy or a variety of genotoxic chemotherapies in preclinical and clinical studies. Here, we review the status of the development of ATR and CHK1 inhibitors. We also discuss the potential mechanisms by which ATR and CHK1 inhibition induces cell killing in the presence or absence of exogenous DNA damaging agents, such as RT and chemotherapeutic agents. Lastly, we discuss synthetic lethality interactions between the inhibition of ATR/CHK1 and defects in other DNA damage response (DDR) pathways/genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaojun Qiu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Nancy L Oleinick
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Junran Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA.
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14
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Beyaert M, Starczewska E, Pérez ACG, Vanlangendonck N, Saussoy P, Tilman G, De Leener A, Vekemans MC, Van Den Neste E, Bontemps F. Reevaluation of ATR signaling in primary resting chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells: evidence for pro-survival or pro-apoptotic function. Oncotarget 2017; 8:56906-56920. [PMID: 28915641 PMCID: PMC5593612 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
ATM, primarily activated by DNA double-strand breaks, and ATR, activated by single-stranded DNA, are master regulators of the cellular response to DNA damage. In primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells, ATR signaling is considered to be switched off due to ATR downregulation. Here, we hypothesized that ATR, though expressed at low protein level, could play a role in primary resting CLL cells after genotoxic stress. By investigating the response of CLL cells to UV-C irradiation, a prototypical activator of ATR, we could detect phosphorylation of ATR at Thr-1989, a marker for ATR activation, and also observed that selective ATR inhibitors markedly decreased UV-C-induced phosphorylation of ATR targets, including H2AX and p53. Similar results were obtained with the purine analogs fludarabine and cladribine that were also shown to activate ATR and induce ATR-dependent phosphorylation of H2AX and p53. In addition, ATR inhibition was found to sensitize primary CLL cells to UV-C by decreasing DNA repair synthesis. Conversely, ATR inhibition rescued CLL cells against purine analogs by reducing expression of the pro-apoptotic genes PUMA and BAX. Collectively, our study indicates that ATR signaling can be activated in resting CLL cells and play a pro-survival or pro-apoptotic role, depending on the genotoxic context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Beyaert
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eliza Starczewska
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Nicolas Vanlangendonck
- Department of Hematology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pascale Saussoy
- Service de Biologie clinique, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gaëlle Tilman
- Center for Human Genetic, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anne De Leener
- Center for Human Genetic, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marie-Christiane Vekemans
- Department of Hematology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eric Van Den Neste
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Hematology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Françoise Bontemps
- de Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
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15
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Drugging ATR: progress in the development of specific inhibitors for the treatment of cancer. Future Med Chem 2016; 7:873-91. [PMID: 26061106 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.15.33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In this article, we review the ATR inhibitor field from initial pharmacological tools to first-generation clinical candidates with the potential to bring benefit to cancer patients. ATR is a critical part of the cell DNA-damage response. Over the past decade or more, compounds with weak ATR potency and low specificity have been used as tools in early studies to elucidate ATR pharmacology. More recently highly potent, selective and in vivo active ATR inhibitors have been developed enabling detailed preclinical in vitro and in vivo target assessment to be made. The published studies reveal the potential of ATR inhibitors for use as monotherapy or in combination with DNA-damaging agents. To date, VX-970 and AZD6738, have entered clinical assessment.
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16
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Alsubhi N, Middleton F, Abdel-Fatah TMA, Stephens P, Doherty R, Arora A, Moseley PM, Chan SYT, Aleskandarany MA, Green AR, Rakha EA, Ellis IO, Martin SG, Curtin NJ, Madhusudan S. Chk1 phosphorylated at serine345 is a predictor of early local recurrence and radio-resistance in breast cancer. Mol Oncol 2015; 10:213-23. [PMID: 26459098 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2015.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Revised: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation-induced DNA damage activates the DNA damage response (DDR). DDR up-regulation may predict radio-resistance and increase the risk of early local recurrence despite radiotherapy in early stage breast cancers. In 1755 early stage breast cancers, DDR signalling [ATM, ATR, total Ckh1, Chk1 phosphorylated at serine(345) (pChk1), Chk2, p53], base excision repair [PARP1, POLβ, XRCC1, FEN1, SMUG1], non-homologous end joining (Ku70/Ku80, DNA-PKcs) and homologous recombination [RAD51, BRCA1, γH2AX, BLM, WRN, RECQL5, PTEN] protein expression was correlated to time to early local recurrence. Pre-clinically, radio-sensitization by inhibition of Chk1 activation by ATR inhibitor (VE-821) and inhibition of Chk1 (V158411) were investigated in MDA-MB-231 (p53 mutant) and MCF-7 (p53 wild-type) breast cancer cells. In the whole cohort, 208/1755 patients (11.9%) developed local recurrence of which 126 (61%) developed local recurrence within 5 years of initiation of primary therapy. Of the 20 markers tested, only pChk1 and p53 significantly associated with early local recurrence (p value = 0.015 and 0.010, respectively). When analysed together, high cytoplasmic pChk1-nuclear pChk1 (p = 0.039), high cytoplasmic pChk1-p53 (p = 0.004) and high nuclear pChk1-p53 (p = 0.029) co-expression remain significantly linked to early local recurrence. In multivariate analysis, cytoplasmic pChk1 level independently predicted early local recurrence (p = 0.025). In patients who received adjuvant local radiotherapy (n = 949), p53 (p = 0.014) and high cytoplasmic pChk1-p53 (p = 0.017) remain associated with early local recurrence. Pre-clinically, radio-sensitisation by VE-821 or V158411 was observed in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells and was more pronounced in MCF-7 cells. We conclude that pChk1 is a predictive biomarker of radiotherapy resistance and early local recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nouf Alsubhi
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Fiona Middleton
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Clinical & Laboratory Sciences, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | | | - Peter Stephens
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Clinical & Laboratory Sciences, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Rachel Doherty
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Arvind Arora
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Paul M Moseley
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Stephen Y T Chan
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | | | - Andrew R Green
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Emad A Rakha
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Ian O Ellis
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Stewart G Martin
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK
| | - Nicola J Curtin
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Clinical & Laboratory Sciences, Newcastle University, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
| | - Srinivasan Madhusudan
- Academic Unit of Oncology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG51PB, UK; Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham NG51PB, UK.
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17
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Bakkenist CJ, Czambel RK, Hershberger PA, Tawbi H, Beumer JH, Schmitz JC. A quasi-quantitative dual multiplexed immunoblot method to simultaneously analyze ATM and H2AX Phosphorylation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Oncoscience 2015; 2:542-54. [PMID: 26097887 PMCID: PMC4468340 DOI: 10.18632/oncoscience.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacologic inhibition of DNA repair may increase the efficacy of many cytotoxic cancer agents. Inhibitors of DNA repair enzymes including APE1, ATM, ATR, DNA-PK and PARP have been developed and the PARP inhibitor olaparib is the first-in-class approved in Europe and the USA for the treatment of advanced BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer. Sensitive pharmacodynamic (PD) biomarkers are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of inhibitors of DNA repair enzymes in clinical trials. ATM is a protein kinase that mediates cell-cycle checkpoint activation and DNA double-strand break repair. ATM kinase activation at DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) is associated with intermolecular autophosphorylation on serine-1981. Exquisite sensitivity and high stoichiometry as well as facile extraction suggest that ATM serine-1981 phosphorylation may be a highly dynamic PD biomarker for both ATM kinase inhibitors and radiation- and chemotherapy-induced DSBs. Here we report the pre-clinical analytical validation and fit-for-purpose biomarker method validation of a quasi-quantitative dual multiplexed immunoblot method to simultaneously analyze ATM and H2AX phosphorylation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We explore the dynamics of these phosphorylations in PBMCs exposed to chemotherapeutic agents and DNA repair inhibitors in vitro, and show that ATM serine-1981 phosphorylation is increased in PBMCs in sarcoma patients treated with DNA damaging chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - R Kenneth Czambel
- Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-1863
| | - Pamela A Hershberger
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm & Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263
| | - Hussein Tawbi
- Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-1863
| | - Jan H Beumer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, 5117 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-1863
| | - John C Schmitz
- Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 5117 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-1863
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18
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Chen T, Middleton FK, Falcon S, Reaper PM, Pollard JR, Curtin NJ. Development of pharmacodynamic biomarkers for ATR inhibitors. Mol Oncol 2014; 9:463-72. [PMID: 25459351 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2014.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Revised: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND ATR, which signals DNA damage to S/G2 cell cycle checkpoints and for repair, is an attractive target in cancer therapy. ATR inhibitors are being developed and a pharmacodynamic assay is needed to support clinical studies. METHODS Phosphorylation of ATR targets, Chk1 and H2AX, was evaluated in MCF7 and K562 cells, human volunteer PBMCs and whole blood by Western blot, immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry after DNA damage. The effect of cell cycle phase, ATR knockdown and inhibition on these phosphorylation events was determined. RESULTS Hydroxyurea, UV and 4NQO induced Chk1 and H2AX phosphorylation in MCF7 and K562 cells. UV/4NQO activation of ATR was detectable in non-cycling cells. Chk1 phosphorylation was reduced by ATR knockdown and reflects ATR activity for 3 h, H2AX phosphorylation after UV/4NQO is ATR-dependent for 1 h but increasingly ATM and DNA-PK-dependent at later time points. In isolated PBMCs both phospho-targets were detectable after UV/4NQO but in PBMCs from whole blood treated with 4NQO only H2AX was detectable. CONCLUSION PhosphoChk1 and H2AX are useful biomarkers for ATR inhibition using a variety of immuno-detection methods, but timing may be critical. Importantly, ATR activity is detectable in non-cycling PBMCs allowing them to be used as a surrogate tissue for biomarker measurement. In PBMCs from whole blood treated with 4NQO phosphoH2AX was the most useful biomarker of ATR activity and a clinically viable pharmacodynamic assay for ATR inhibitors has been developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Chen
- Newcastle University, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Fiona K Middleton
- Newcastle University, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Susanna Falcon
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Limited, 86-88 Jubilee Avenue, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RW, UK
| | - Philip M Reaper
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Limited, 86-88 Jubilee Avenue, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RW, UK
| | - John R Pollard
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Limited, 86-88 Jubilee Avenue, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RW, UK
| | - Nicola J Curtin
- Newcastle University, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
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