1
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Schmitt L, Hoppe J, Cea-Medina P, Bruch PM, Krings KS, Lechtenberg I, Drießen D, Peter C, Bhatia S, Dietrich S, Stork B, Fritz G, Gohlke H, Müller TJJ, Wesselborg S. Novel meriolin derivatives potently inhibit cell cycle progression and transcription in leukemia and lymphoma cells via inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:279. [PMID: 38862521 PMCID: PMC11167047 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-02056-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
A key feature of cancer is the disruption of cell cycle regulation, which is characterized by the selective and abnormal activation of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Consequently, targeting CDKs via meriolins represents an attractive therapeutic approach for cancer therapy. Meriolins represent a semisynthetic compound class derived from meridianins and variolins with a known CDK inhibitory potential. Here, we analyzed the two novel derivatives meriolin 16 and meriolin 36 in comparison to other potent CDK inhibitors and could show that they displayed a high cytotoxic potential in different lymphoma and leukemia cell lines as well as in primary patient-derived lymphoma and leukemia cells. In a kinome screen, we showed that meriolin 16 and 36 prevalently inhibited most of the CDKs (such as CDK1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20). In drug-to-target modeling studies, we predicted a common binding mode of meriolin 16 and 36 to the ATP-pocket of CDK2 and an additional flipped binding for meriolin 36. We could show that cell cycle progression and proliferation were blocked by abolishing phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (a major target of CDK2) at Ser612 and Thr82. Moreover, meriolin 16 prevented the CDK9-mediated phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II at Ser2 which is crucial for transcription initiation. This renders both meriolin derivatives as valuable anticancer drugs as they target three different Achilles' heels of the tumor: (1) inhibition of cell cycle progression and proliferation, (2) prevention of transcription, and (3) induction of cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Schmitt
- Institute for Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Julia Hoppe
- Institute for Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Pablo Cea-Medina
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Peter-Martin Bruch
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Medicine V, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Düsseldorf (CIO ABCD), Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Karina S Krings
- Institute for Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ilka Lechtenberg
- Institute for Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Daniel Drießen
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christoph Peter
- Institute for Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sanil Bhatia
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sascha Dietrich
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Medicine V, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Düsseldorf (CIO ABCD), Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Björn Stork
- Institute for Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gerhard Fritz
- Institute of Toxicology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Holger Gohlke
- Institute for Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- John von Neumann Institute for Computing (NIC), Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC) and Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-4: Bioinformatics), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Thomas J J Müller
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sebastian Wesselborg
- Institute for Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen-Bonn-Cologne-Düsseldorf (CIO ABCD), Düsseldorf, Germany.
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2
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Valdez Capuccino L, Kleitke T, Szokol B, Svajda L, Martin F, Bonechi F, Krekó M, Azami S, Montinaro A, Wang Y, Nikolov V, Kaiser L, Bonasera D, Saggau J, Scholz T, Schmitt A, Beleggia F, Reinhardt HC, George J, Liccardi G, Walczak H, Tóvári J, Brägelmann J, Montero J, Sos ML, Őrfi L, Peltzer N. CDK9 inhibition as an effective therapy for small cell lung cancer. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:345. [PMID: 38769311 PMCID: PMC11106072 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06724-4] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Treatment-naïve small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is typically susceptible to standard-of-care chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin and etoposide recently combined with PD-L1 inhibitors. Yet, in most cases, SCLC patients develop resistance to first-line therapy and alternative therapies are urgently required to overcome this resistance. In this study, we tested the efficacy of dinaciclib, an FDA-orphan drug and inhibitor of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 9, among other CDKs, in SCLC. Furthermore, we report on a newly developed, highly specific CDK9 inhibitor, VC-1, with tumour-killing activity in SCLC. CDK9 inhibition displayed high killing potential in a panel of mouse and human SCLC cell lines. Mechanistically, CDK9 inhibition led to a reduction in MCL-1 and cFLIP anti-apoptotic proteins and killed cells, almost exclusively, by intrinsic apoptosis. While CDK9 inhibition did not synergise with chemotherapy, it displayed high efficacy in chemotherapy-resistant cells. In vivo, CDK9 inhibition effectively reduced tumour growth and improved survival in both autochthonous and syngeneic SCLC models. Together, this study shows that CDK9 inhibition is a promising therapeutic agent against SCLC and could be applied to chemo-refractory or resistant SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Valdez Capuccino
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Translational Genomics, Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Research Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - T Kleitke
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Translational Genomics, Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Research Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - B Szokol
- Vichem Chemie Research Ltd., Veszprém, Hungary
| | - L Svajda
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, and the National Tumor Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - F Martin
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Research Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Bonechi
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Translational Genomics, Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Research Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - M Krekó
- Vichem Chemie Research Ltd., Veszprém, Hungary
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - S Azami
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Translational Genomics, Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Research Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - A Montinaro
- Centre for Cell Death, Cancer, and Inflammation (CCCI), UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Y Wang
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Translational Genomics, Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- CECAD Research Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - V Nikolov
- CECAD Research Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Cell death, inflammation and immunity laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry I, Centre for Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - L Kaiser
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Translational Genomics, Cologne, Germany
| | - D Bonasera
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Cell death, inflammation and immunity laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry I, Centre for Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Genome instability, inflammation and cell death laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry I, Centre for Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - J Saggau
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Cell death, inflammation and immunity laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry I, Centre for Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Genome instability, inflammation and cell death laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry I, Centre for Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - T Scholz
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Translational Genomics, Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - A Schmitt
- University Hospital of Cologne, Medical Faculty, Department I for Internal Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - F Beleggia
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Translational Genomics, Cologne, Germany
- University Hospital of Cologne, Medical Faculty, Department I for Internal Medicine, Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Mildred Scheel School of Oncology Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - H C Reinhardt
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK partner site Essen), Essen, Germany
| | - J George
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Translational Genomics, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - G Liccardi
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Genome instability, inflammation and cell death laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry I, Centre for Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - H Walczak
- CECAD Research Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Centre for Cell Death, Cancer, and Inflammation (CCCI), UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
- Cell death, inflammation and immunity laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry I, Centre for Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - J Tóvári
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, and the National Tumor Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - J Brägelmann
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Translational Genomics, Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Mildred Scheel School of Oncology Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - J Montero
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Research Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M L Sos
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Translational Genomics, Cologne, Germany
- Division for Translational Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), The German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), München Partner Site, Ludwig-Maximilian University München, Munich, Germany
| | - L Őrfi
- Vichem Chemie Research Ltd., Veszprém, Hungary
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - N Peltzer
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Translational Genomics, Cologne, Germany.
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- CECAD Research Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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3
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Gao Y, Vakoc CR. Therapeutic index of targeting select chromatin complexes in human cancer patients. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 85:102162. [PMID: 38401489 PMCID: PMC11072572 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2024.102162] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Aberrant chromatin regulation can promote the initiation and progression of human cancer. An improved understanding of such mechanisms has resulted in the identification of cancers with an enhanced dependency on specific chromatin regulatory proteins relative to nonmalignant cell types. Hence, targeting of such complexes with small molecules has significant therapeutic potential in oncology. In recent years, several drugs have been developed and evaluated in human cancer patients, which can influence tumor biology by reprogramming of chromatin structure. In this review, we summarize several of the known mechanisms that endow cancer cells with a powerful dependency on chromatin regulation that exceeds the requirements for normal tissue homeostasis. We also summarize the remarkable small-molecule inhibitors that exploit chromatin regulator dependencies with a clear therapeutic benefit in human cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Gao
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA. https://twitter.com/@yuangao_yg
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4
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Chan KI, Zhang S, Li G, Xu Y, Cui L, Wang Y, Su H, Tan W, Zhong Z. MYC Oncogene: A Druggable Target for Treating Cancers with Natural Products. Aging Dis 2024; 15:640-697. [PMID: 37450923 PMCID: PMC10917530 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0520] [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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Various diseases, including cancers, age-associated disorders, and acute liver failure, have been linked to the oncogene, MYC. Animal testing and clinical trials have shown that sustained tumor volume reduction can be achieved when MYC is inactivated, and different combinations of therapeutic agents including MYC inhibitors are currently being developed. In this review, we first provide a summary of the multiple biological functions of the MYC oncoprotein in cancer treatment, highlighting that the equilibrium points of the MYC/MAX, MIZ1/MYC/MAX, and MAD (MNT)/MAX complexes have further potential in cancer treatment that could be used to restrain MYC oncogene expression and its functions in tumorigenesis. We also discuss the multifunctional capacity of MYC in various cellular cancer processes, including its influences on immune response, metabolism, cell cycle, apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, metastasis, angiogenesis, multidrug resistance, and intestinal flora. Moreover, we summarize the MYC therapy patent landscape and emphasize the potential of MYC as a druggable target, using herbal medicine modulators. Finally, we describe pending challenges and future perspectives in biomedical research, involving the development of therapeutic approaches to modulate MYC or its targeted genes. Patients with cancers driven by MYC signaling may benefit from therapies targeting these pathways, which could delay cancerous growth and recover antitumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ka Iong Chan
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Siyuan Zhang
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Guodong Li
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Yida Xu
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Liao Cui
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
| | - Yitao Wang
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Huanxing Su
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
| | - Wen Tan
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zhangfeng Zhong
- Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR 999078, China
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5
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Marr AR, Halpin M, Corbin DL, Asemelash Y, Sher S, Gordon BK, Whipp EC, Mitchell S, Harrington BK, Orwick S, Benrashid S, Goettl VM, Yildiz V, Mitchell AD, Cahn O, Mims AS, Larkin KTM, Long M, Blachly J, Woyach JA, Lapalombella R, Grieselhuber NR. The multi-CDK inhibitor dinaciclib reverses bromo- and extra-terminal domain (BET) inhibitor resistance in acute myeloid leukemia via inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Exp Hematol Oncol 2024; 13:27. [PMID: 38438856 PMCID: PMC10913666 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-024-00483-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly aggressive hematologic cancer with poor survival across a broad range of molecular subtypes. Development of efficacious and well-tolerable therapies encompassing the range of mutations that can arise in AML remains an unmet need. The bromo- and extra-terminal domain (BET) family of proteins represents an attractive therapeutic target in AML due to their crucial roles in many cellular functions, regardless of any specific mutation. Many BET inhibitors (BETi) are currently in pre-clinical and early clinical development, but acquisition of resistance continues to remain an obstacle for the drug class. Novel methods to circumvent this development of resistance could be instrumental for the future use of BET inhibitors in AML, both as monotherapy and in combination. To date, many investigations into possible drug combinations of BETi with CDK inhibitors have focused on CDK9, which has a known physical and functional interaction with the BET protein BRD4. Therefore, we wished to investigate possible synergy and additive effects between inhibitors of these targets in AML. Here, we describe combination therapy with the multi-CDK inhibitor dinaciclib and the BETi PLX51107 in pre-clinical models of AML. Dinaciclib and PLX51107 demonstrate additive effects in AML cell lines, primary AML samples, and in vivo. Further, we demonstrate novel activity of dinaciclib through inhibition of the canonical/β-catenin dependent Wnt signaling pathway, a known resistance mechanism to BETi in AML. We show dinaciclib inhibits Wnt signaling at multiple levels, including downregulation of β-catenin, the Wnt co-receptor LRP6, as well as many Wnt pathway components and targets. Moreover, dinaciclib sensitivity remains unaffected in a setting of BET resistance, demonstrating similar inhibitory effects on Wnt signaling when compared to BET-sensitive cells. Ultimately, our results demonstrate rationale for combination CDKi and BETi in AML. In addition, our novel finding of Wnt signaling inhibition could have potential implications in other cancers where Wnt signaling is dysregulated and demonstrates one possible approach to circumvent development of BET resistance in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander R Marr
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Madeline Halpin
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dominique L Corbin
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Yerdanos Asemelash
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Steven Sher
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Britten K Gordon
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ethan C Whipp
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | | | - Shelley Orwick
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Samon Benrashid
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Virginia M Goettl
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Vedat Yildiz
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Andrew D Mitchell
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Olivia Cahn
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Alice S Mims
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Karilyn T M Larkin
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Meixao Long
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - James Blachly
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Leukemia Research Program, The Ohio State University James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jennifer A Woyach
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Leukemia Research Program, The Ohio State University James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Rosa Lapalombella
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Leukemia Research Program, The Ohio State University James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Nicole R Grieselhuber
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Leukemia Research Program, The Ohio State University James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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6
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Zhang H, Huang C, Gordon J, Yu S, Morton G, Childers W, Abou-Gharbia M, Zhang Y, Jelinek J, Issa JPJ. MC180295 is a highly potent and selective CDK9 inhibitor with preclinical in vitro and in vivo efficacy in cancer. Clin Epigenetics 2024; 16:3. [PMID: 38172923 PMCID: PMC10765884 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01617-3] [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: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), a novel epigenetic target in cancer, can reactivate epigenetically silenced genes in cancer by dephosphorylating the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler BRG1. Here, we characterized the anti-tumor efficacy of MC180295, a newly developed CDK9 inhibitor. METHODS In this study, we explored the pharmacokinetics of MC180295 in mice and rats, and tested the anti-tumor efficacy of MC180295, and its enantiomers, in multiple cancer cell lines and mouse models. We also combined CDK9 inhibition with a DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor, decitabine, in multiple mouse models, and tested MC180295 dependence on T cells. Drug toxicity was measured by checking body weights and complete blood counts. RESULTS MC180295 had high specificity for CDK9 and high potency against multiple neoplastic cell lines (median IC50 of 171 nM in 46 cell lines representing 6 different malignancies), with the highest potency seen in AML cell lines derived from patients with MLL translocations. MC180295 is a racemic mixture of two enantiomers, MC180379 and MC180380, with MC180380 showing higher potency in a live-cell epigenetic assay. Both MC180295 and MC180380 showed efficacy in in vivo AML and colon cancer xenograft models, and significant synergy with decitabine in both cancer models. Lastly, we found that CDK9 inhibition-mediated anti-tumoral effects were partially dependent on CD8 + T cells in vivo, indicating a significant immune component to the response. CONCLUSIONS MC180380, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), is an efficacious anti-cancer agent worth advancing further toward clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanghang Zhang
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Chen Huang
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - John Gordon
- Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Sijia Yu
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - George Morton
- Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Wayne Childers
- Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Magid Abou-Gharbia
- Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Yi Zhang
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ, 07110, USA
| | - Jaroslav Jelinek
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
- Coriell Institute for Medical Research, 403 Haddon Avenue, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA
- Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA
| | - Jean-Pierre J Issa
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA.
- Coriell Institute for Medical Research, 403 Haddon Avenue, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA.
- Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA.
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7
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Freeman DB, Hopkins TD, Mikochik PJ, Vacca JP, Gao H, Naylor-Olsen A, Rudra S, Li H, Pop MS, Villagomez RA, Lee C, Li H, Zhou M, Saffran DC, Rioux N, Hood TR, Day MAL, McKeown MR, Lin CY, Bischofberger N, Trotter BW. Discovery of KB-0742, a Potent, Selective, Orally Bioavailable Small Molecule Inhibitor of CDK9 for MYC-Dependent Cancers. J Med Chem 2023; 66:15629-15647. [PMID: 37967851 PMCID: PMC10726352 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01233] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptional deregulation is a hallmark of many cancers and is exemplified by genomic amplifications of the MYC family of oncogenes, which occur in at least 20% of all solid tumors in adults. Targeting of transcriptional cofactors and the transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK9) has emerged as a therapeutic strategy to interdict deregulated transcriptional activity including oncogenic MYC. Here, we report the structural optimization of a small molecule microarray hit, prioritizing maintenance of CDK9 selectivity while improving on-target potency and overall physicochemical and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties. This led to the discovery of the potent, selective, orally bioavailable CDK9 inhibitor 28 (KB-0742). Compound 28 exhibits in vivo antitumor activity in mouse xenograft models and a projected human PK profile anticipated to enable efficacious oral dosing. Notably, 28 is currently being investigated in a phase 1/2 dose escalation and expansion clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B. Freeman
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Tamara D. Hopkins
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Peter J. Mikochik
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Joseph P. Vacca
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Hua Gao
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Adel Naylor-Olsen
- Naylor
Olsen Consulting, LLC, 3369 Saddle Wood Court, Lansdale, Pennsylvania 19446, United States
| | - Sonali Rudra
- TCG
Lifesciences Private Limited, Block BN, Plot 7, Salt-lake Electronics Complex, Sector V, Kolkata 700091, West Bengal, India
| | - Huixu Li
- WuXi
AppTec (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., 168 NanHai Road, 10th Avenue, TEDA, Tianjin 300457, P. R. China
| | - Marius S. Pop
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Rosa A. Villagomez
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Christina Lee
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Heng Li
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Minyun Zhou
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Douglas C. Saffran
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Nathalie Rioux
- Certara
Strategic Consulting, 100 Overlook Center, Suite 101, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, United States
| | - Tressa R. Hood
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Melinda A. L. Day
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Michael R. McKeown
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Charles Y. Lin
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - Norbert Bischofberger
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
| | - B. Wesley Trotter
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 301 Binney
Street, 2nd Floor East, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Kronos
Bio, Inc., 1300 So. El
Camino Real Suite 400, San Mateo, California 94402, United States
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8
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Dominguez EC, Roleder C, Ball B, Danilov AV. Cyclin-dependent kinase-9 in B-cell malignancies: pathogenic role and therapeutic implications. Leuk Lymphoma 2023; 64:1893-1904. [PMID: 37552126 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2023.2244102] [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: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) regulate cell cycle and transcriptional activity. Pan-CDK inhibitors demonstrated early efficacy in lymphoid malignancies, but also have been associated with narrow therapeutic index. Among transcriptional CDKs, CDK7 and CDK9 emerged as promising targets. CDK9 serves as a component of P-TEFb elongation complex and thus is indispensable in mRNA transcription. Selective CDK9 inhibitors demonstrated pre-clinical efficacy in in vitro and in vivo models of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. CDK9 inhibition results in transcriptional pausing with rapid downmodulation of short-lived oncogenic proteins, e.g. Myc and Mcl-1, followed by cell apoptosis. Early phase clinical trials established safety of CDK9 inhibitors, with manageable neutropenia, infections and gastrointestinal toxicities. In this review, we summarize the rationale of targeting CDK9 in lymphoid malignancies, as well as pre-clinical and early clinical data with pan-CDK and selective CDK9 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carly Roleder
- City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Brian Ball
- City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
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9
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Beltrán-Visiedo M, Jiménez-Alduán N, Díez R, Cuenca M, Benedi A, Serrano-Del Valle A, Azaceta G, Palomera L, Peperzak V, Anel A, Naval J, Marzo I. Dinaciclib synergizes with BH3 mimetics targeting BCL-2 and BCL-X L in multiple myeloma cell lines partially dependent on MCL-1 and in plasma cells from patients. Mol Oncol 2023; 17:2507-2525. [PMID: 37704591 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A better understanding of multiple myeloma (MM) biology has led to the development of novel therapies. However, MM is still an incurable disease and new pharmacological strategies are needed. Dinaciclib, a multiple cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor, which inhibits CDK1, 2, 5 and 9, displays significant antimyeloma activity as found in phase II clinical trials. In this study, we have explored the mechanism of dinaciclib-induced death and evaluated its enhancement by different BH3 mimetics in MM cell lines as well as in plasma cells from MM patients. Our results indicate a synergistic effect of dinaciclib-based combinations with B-cell lymphoma 2 or B-cell lymphoma extra-large inhibitors, especially in MM cell lines with partial dependence on myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (MCL-1). Simultaneous treatment with dinaciclib and BH3 mimetics ABT-199 or A-1155463 additionally showed a synergistic effect in plasma cells from MM patients, ex vivo. Altered MM cytogenetics did not affect dinaciclib response ex vivo, alone or in combined treatment, suggesting that these combinations could be a suitable therapeutic option for patients bearing cytogenetic alterations and poor prognosis. This work also opens the possibility to explore cyclin-dependent kinase 9 inhibition as a targeted therapy in MM patients overexpressing or with high dependence on MCL-1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rosana Díez
- Apoptosis, Immunity & Cancer Group, IIS Aragón, University of Zaragoza, Spain
- Hematology Service, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Marta Cuenca
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea Benedi
- Apoptosis, Immunity & Cancer Group, IIS Aragón, University of Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Gemma Azaceta
- Hematology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, Spain
- HCU-Lozano Blesa-Hematology Research Group, IIS Aragón, Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Luis Palomera
- Hematology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, Spain
- HCU-Lozano Blesa-Hematology Research Group, IIS Aragón, Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Victor Peperzak
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
| | - Alberto Anel
- Apoptosis, Immunity & Cancer Group, IIS Aragón, University of Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Javier Naval
- Apoptosis, Immunity & Cancer Group, IIS Aragón, University of Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Isabel Marzo
- Apoptosis, Immunity & Cancer Group, IIS Aragón, University of Zaragoza, Spain
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10
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Frigault MM, Mithal A, Wong H, Stelte-Ludwig B, Mandava V, Huang X, Birkett J, Johnson AJ, Izumi R, Hamdy A. Enitociclib, a Selective CDK9 Inhibitor, Induces Complete Regression of MYC+ Lymphoma by Downregulation of RNA Polymerase II Mediated Transcription. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:2268-2279. [PMID: 37882668 PMCID: PMC10634346 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Double-hit diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DH-DLBCL) is an aggressive, and often refractory, type of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) characterized by rearrangements in MYC and BCL2. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) regulates transcriptional elongation and activation of transcription factors, including MYC, making it a potential targeted approach for the treatment of MYC+ lymphomas. Enitociclib is a well-tolerated and clinically active CDK9 inhibitor leading to complete metabolic remissions in 2 of 7 patients with DH-DLBCL treated with once weekly 30 mg intravenous administration. Herein, we investigate the pharmacodynamic effect of CDK9 inhibition in preclinical models and in blood samples from patients [DH-DLBCL (n = 10) and MYC+ NHL (n = 5)] treated with 30 mg i.v. once weekly enitociclib. Enitociclib shows significant regulation of RNA polymerase II Ser2 phosphorylation in a MYC-amplified SU-DHL-4 cell line and depletion of MYC and antiapoptosis protein MCL1 in SU-DHL-4 and MYC-overexpressing SU-DHL-10 cell lines in vitro. Tumor growth inhibition reaching 0.5% of control treated SU-DHL-10 xenografts is achieved in vivo and MYC and MCL1 depletion as well as evidence of apoptosis activation after enitociclib treatment is demonstrated. An unbiased analysis of the genes affected by CDK9 inhibition in both cell lines demonstrates that RNA polymerase II and transcription pathways are primarily affected and novel enitociclib targets such as PHF23 and TP53RK are discovered. These findings are recapitulated in blood samples from enitociclib-treated patients; while MYC downregulation is most robust with enitociclib treatment, other CDK9-regulated targets may be MYC independent delivering a transcriptional downregulation via RNA polymerase II. SIGNIFICANCE MYC+ lymphomas are refractory to standard of care and novel treatments that downregulate MYC are needed. The utility of enitociclib, a selective CDK9 inhibitor in this patient population, is demonstrated in preclinical models and patients. Enitociclib inhibits RNA polymerase II function conferring a transcriptional shift and depletion of MYC and MCL1. Enitociclib intermittent dosing downregulates transcription factors including MYC, providing a therapeutic window for durable responses in patients with MYC+ lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Xin Huang
- Vincerx Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, California
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11
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Sim KM, Kim SY, Hwang S, Park S, Lee BR, Nam K, Oh S, Kim I. A new cyclin-dependent kinase-9 inhibitor A09-003 induces apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia cells with reduction of myeloid cell leukemia sequence-1 protein. Chem Biol Interact 2023; 382:110554. [PMID: 37271215 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110554] [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: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of hematological disease in adults, and has a very poor outcome [1]. Based on its wide range of efficacy in AML models, a small-molecule inhibitor of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2, venetoclax (ABT-199/GDC-0199), was developed for clinical trials. However, venetoclax showed limited monotherapy activity [2]. The overexpression of myeloid cell leukemia sequence-1 protein (Mcl-1)-due to mutations in Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 internal tandem duplication (FLT-3 ITD)-was considered to be the main reason for low efficacy of venetoclax in clinical trials [3-5]. To achieve venetoclax sensitization in AML, targeting CDK-9 with venetoclax is a promising therapeutic strategy. In this study, we developed A09-003 as a potent inhibitor of CDK-9, with an IC50 value of 16 nM. A09-003 inhibited cell proliferation in various leukemia cell lines. In particular, the proliferation inhibitory effect of A09-003 was most potent in MV4-11 and Molm-14 cells, harboring the FLT-3 ITD mutation with a high expression profile of Mcl-1. Marker analysis revealed that A09-003 reduced CDK-9 phosphorylation and reduced RNA polymerase II activity with decreased Mcl-1 expression. Finally, combining A09-003 with venetoclax induced apoptotic cell death in a synergistic manner. In summary, this study shows the potential of A09-003 in AML therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung Mi Sim
- Biomedical Research Center, ASAN Institute for Life Sciences, ASAN Medical Center, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - So Young Kim
- Biomedical Research Center, ASAN Institute for Life Sciences, ASAN Medical Center, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Supyong Hwang
- Convergence Medicine Research Center (CREDIT), ASAN Institute for Life Sciences, ASAN Medical Center, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sojung Park
- Convergence Medicine Research Center (CREDIT), ASAN Institute for Life Sciences, ASAN Medical Center, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo Ra Lee
- Convergence Medicine Research Center (CREDIT), ASAN Institute for Life Sciences, ASAN Medical Center, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - SeakHee Oh
- Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital, University Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Inki Kim
- Biomedical Research Center, ASAN Institute for Life Sciences, ASAN Medical Center, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Convergence Medicine Research Center (CREDIT), ASAN Institute for Life Sciences, ASAN Medical Center, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Pharmacology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympicro 43 gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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12
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Hu C, Shen L, Zou F, Wu Y, Wang B, Wang A, Wu C, Wang L, Liu J, Wang W, Liu Q. Predicting and overcoming resistance to CDK9 inhibitors for cancer therapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:3694-3707. [PMID: 37719386 PMCID: PMC10502288 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.05.026] [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: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormally activated CDK9 participates in the super-enhancer mediated transcription of short-lived proteins required for cancer cell survival. Targeting CDK9 has shown potent anti-tumor activity in clinical trials among different cancers. However, the study and knowledge on drug resistance to CDK9 inhibitors are very limited. In this study, we established an AML cell line with acquired resistance to a highly selective CDK9 inhibitor BAY1251152. Through genomic sequencing, we identified in the kinase domain of CDK9 a mutation L156F, which is also a coding SNP in the CDK9 gene. By knocking in L156F into cancer cells using CRISPR/Cas9, we found that single CDK9 L156F could drive the resistance to CDK9 inhibitors, not only ATP competitive inhibitor but also PROTAC degrader. Mechanistically, CDK9 L156F disrupts the binding with inhibitors due to steric hindrance, further, the mutation affects the thermal stability and catalytic activity of CDK9 protein. To overcome the drug resistance mediated by the CDK9-L156F mutation, we discovered a compound, IHMT-CDK9-36 which showed potent inhibition activity both for CDK9 WT and L156F mutant. Together, we report a novel resistance mechanism for CDK9 inhibitors and provide a novel chemical scaffold for the future development of CDK9 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Hu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Lijuan Shen
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Fengming Zou
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Yun Wu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Beilei Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Aoli Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Chao Wu
- Tarapeutics Science Inc., Bengbu 233000, China
| | - Li Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Wenchao Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Qingsong Liu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- Precision Medicine Research Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei 230088, China
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13
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Morillo D, Vega G, Moreno V. CDK9 INHIBITORS: a promising combination partner in the treatment of hematological malignancies. Oncotarget 2023; 14:749-752. [PMID: 37552223 PMCID: PMC10408673 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28473] [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: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Most hematological malignancies are characterized by overexpression of certain cancer promoting genes, such as MYC, MCL1 and cyclin D1. Preclinical studies in animal models have shown that CDK9 inhibitors supress the transcription of these anti-apoptotic and pro-survival proteins, and suggest their potential synergism with other drugs. In its first in-human trial, enitociclib demonstrated clinical activity in a small cohort of patients with high grade B lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements, inducing complete responses in 2 of 7 subjects (29%) in monotherapy. These data suggest CDK9 inhibitors could play a role in the treatment of hematological diseases and could be a great ally when combined with other therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Morillo
- Division of Hematology, START Madrid-FJD, Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gala Vega
- Division of Hematology, START Madrid-FJD, Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Victor Moreno
- Division of Oncology, START Madrid-FJD, Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
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14
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Kuo YH, Lai TC, Chang CH, Hsieh HC, Yang FM, Hu MC. 5,6-Dichloro-1-β-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells through inhibiting of Mcl-1 expression. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12621. [PMID: 37537243 PMCID: PMC10400577 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39340-x] [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: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The effective treatment of breast cancer remains a profound clinical challenge, especially due to drug resistance and metastasis which unfortunately arise in many patients. The transcription inhibitor 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-benzimidazole (DRB), as a selective inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 9, was shown to be effective in inducing apoptosis in various hematopoietic malignancies. However, the anticancer efficacy of DRB against breast cancer is still unclear. Herein, we demonstrated that administration of DRB to the breast cancer cell line led to the inhibition of cellular proliferation and induction of the typical signs of apoptotic cells, including the increases in Annexin V-positive cells, DNA fragmentation, and activation of caspase-7, caspase-9, and poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP). Treatment of DRB resulted in a rapid decline in the myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1) protein, whereas levels of other antiapoptotic proteins did not change. Overexpression of Mcl-1 decreased the DRB-induced PARP cleavage, whereas knockdown of Mcl-1 enhanced the effects of DRB on PARP activation, indicating that loss of Mcl-1 accounts for the DRB-mediated apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, but not in T-47D. Furthermore, we found that co-treatment of MCF-7 cells with an inhibitor of AKT (LY294002) or an inhibitor of the proteasome (MG-132) significantly augmented the DRB-induced apoptosis. These data suggested that DRB in combination with LY294002 or MG-132 may have a greater therapeutic potency against breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsuan Kuo
- Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| | - Tsai-Chun Lai
- Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hsin Chang
- Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| | - Han-Ching Hsieh
- Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Ming Yang
- School of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110, Taiwan.
| | - Meng-Chun Hu
- Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, 100, Taiwan.
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15
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Huang H, Wu L, Lu L, Zhang Z, Qiu B, Mo J, Luo Y, Xi Z, Feng M, Wan P, Zhu J, Yu D, Wu W, Tan K, Liu J, Sheng Q, Xu T, Huang J, Lv Z, Tang Y, Xia Q. Single-cell transcriptomics uncovers cellular architecture and developmental trajectories in hepatoblastoma. Hepatology 2023; 77:1911-1928. [PMID: 36059151 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the predominant type of childhood liver cancer. Treatment options for the clinically advanced HB remain limited. We aimed to dissect the cellular and molecular basis underlying HB oncogenesis and heterogeneity at the single-cell level, which could facilitate a better understanding of HB at both the biological and clinical levels. APPROACH AND RESULTS Single-cell transcriptome profiling of tumor and paired distal liver tissue samples from five patients with HB was performed. Deconvolution analysis was used for integrating the single-cell transcriptomic profiles with the bulk transcriptomes of our HB cohort of post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy tumor samples. A single-cell transcriptomic landscape of early human liver parenchymal development was established for exploring the cellular root and hierarchy of HB oncogenesis. As a result, seven distinct tumor cell subpopulations were annotated, and an effective HB subtyping method was established based on their compositions. A HB tumor cell hierarchy was further revealed to not only fit with the classical cancer stem cell (CSC) model but also mirror the early human liver parenchymal development. Moreover, FACT inhibition, which could disrupt the oncogenic positive feedback loop between MYC and SSRP1 in HB, was identified as a promising epigenetic-targeted therapeutic strategy against the CSC-like HB1-Pro-like1 subpopulation and its related high-risk "Pro-like1" subtype of HB. CONCLUSIONS Our findings illustrate the cellular architecture and developmental trajectories of HB via integrative bulk and single-cell transcriptome analyses, thus establishing a resourceful framework for the development of targeted diagnostics and therapeutics in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongting Huang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Liang Wu
- Research Center of Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology , Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Rui Jin Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Li Lu
- Research Center of Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology , Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Zijie Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Bijun Qiu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Jialin Mo
- Research Center of Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology , Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China
| | - Yi Luo
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Zhifeng Xi
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Mingxuan Feng
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Ping Wan
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Jianjun Zhu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Dingye Yu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery , Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Kezhe Tan
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Jiangbin Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Qingfeng Sheng
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Ting Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Jinyan Huang
- Biomedical Big Data Center , The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine , Hangzhou , China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease , Zhejiang University School of Medicine First Affiliated Hospital , Hangzhou , China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center , Zhejiang University , Hangzhou , China
| | - Zhibao Lv
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
| | - Yujie Tang
- Research Center of Translational Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology , Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histoembryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology , Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine , Shanghai , China
| | - Qiang Xia
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai , China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Transplantation and Immunology , Shanghai , China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation , Shanghai , China
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16
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Donati G, Amati B. MYC and therapy resistance in cancer: risks and opportunities. Mol Oncol 2022; 16:3828-3854. [PMID: 36214609 PMCID: PMC9627787 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The MYC transcription factor, encoded by the c-MYC proto-oncogene, is activated by growth-promoting signals, and is a key regulator of biosynthetic and metabolic pathways driving cell growth and proliferation. These same processes are deregulated in MYC-driven tumors, where they become critical for cancer cell proliferation and survival. As other oncogenic insults, overexpressed MYC induces a series of cellular stresses (metabolic, oxidative, replicative, etc.) collectively known as oncogenic stress, which impact not only on tumor progression, but also on the response to therapy, with profound, multifaceted consequences on clinical outcome. On one hand, recent evidence uncovered a widespread role for MYC in therapy resistance in multiple cancer types, with either standard chemotherapeutic or targeted regimens. Reciprocally, oncogenic MYC imparts a series of molecular and metabolic dependencies to cells, thus giving rise to cancer-specific vulnerabilities that may be exploited to obtain synthetic-lethal interactions with novel anticancer drugs. Here we will review the current knowledge on the links between MYC and therapeutic responses, and will discuss possible strategies to overcome resistance through new, targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Donati
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO) – IRCCSMilanItaly
| | - Bruno Amati
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO) – IRCCSMilanItaly
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17
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Cyclin-dependent kinases as potential targets for colorectal cancer: past, present and future. Future Med Chem 2022; 14:1087-1105. [PMID: 35703127 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2022-0064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cancer in the world and its prevalence is increasing in developing countries. Deregulated cell cycle traverse is a hallmark of malignant transformation and is often observed in CRC as a result of imprecise activity of cell cycle regulatory components, viz. cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Apart from cell cycle regulation, some CDKs also regulate processes such as transcription and have also been shown to be involved in colorectal carcinogenesis. This article aims to review cyclin-dependent kinases as potential targets for CRC. Furthermore, therapeutic candidates to target CDKs are also discussed.
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18
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Winder ML, Campbell KJ. MCL-1 is a clinically targetable vulnerability in breast cancer. Cell Cycle 2022; 21:1439-1455. [PMID: 35349392 PMCID: PMC9278428 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2022.2054096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Pro-survival members of the BCL-2 family, including MCL-1, are emerging as important proteins during the development and therapeutic response of solid tumors. Notably, high levels of MCL-1 occur in breast cancer, where functional dependency has been demonstrated using cell lines and mouse models. The utility of restoring apoptosis in cancer cells through inhibition of pro-survival BCL-2 proteins has been realized in the clinic, where the first specific inhibitor of BCL-2 is approved for use in leukemia. A variety of MCL-1 inhibitors are now undergoing clinical trials for blood cancer treatment and application of this new class of drugs is also being tested in solid cancers. On-target compounds specific to MCL-1 have demonstrated promising efficacy in preclinical models of breast cancer and show potential to enhance the anti-tumor effect of conventional therapies. Taken together, this makes MCL-1 an extremely attractive target for clinical evaluation in the context of breast cancer.Abbreviations: ADC (antibody-drug conjugate); AML (Acute myeloid leukemia); APAF1 (apoptotic protease activating factor 1); bCAFs (breast cancer associated fibroblasts); BCL-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2); BH (BCL-2 homology); CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia); EGF (epidermal growth factor); EMT (epithelial to mesenchymal transition); ER (estrogen receptor); FDA (food and drug administration); GEMM (genetically engineered mouse model); HER2 (human epidermal growth factor 2); IL6 (interleukin 6); IMM (inner mitochondrial membrane); IMS (intermembrane space); MCL-1 (myeloid cell leukemia-1); MOMP (mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilisation); MM (multiple myeloma); PDX (patient-derived xenograft); OMM (outer mitochondrial membrane); PROTAC (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) TNBC (triple negative breast cancer); UPS (ubiquitin mediated proteolysis system).
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L Winder
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate,Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Kirsteen J Campbell
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate,Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
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19
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Genetic characterization and drug sensitivity study of newly derived HGBL double/triple-hit lymphoma cell lines. Blood Adv 2022; 6:5067-5071. [PMID: 35687491 PMCID: PMC9631616 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021006709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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20
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Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Synthetic Lethality Partners in DNA Damage Response. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073555. [PMID: 35408915 PMCID: PMC8998982 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are pivotal mediators and effectors of the DNA damage response (DDR) that regulate both the pathway components and proteins involved in repair processes. Synthetic lethality (SL) describes a situation in which two genes are linked in such a way that the lack of functioning of just one maintains cell viability, while depletion of both triggers cell death. Synthetic lethal interactions involving CDKs are now emerging, and this can be used to selectively target tumor cells with DNA repair defects. In this review, SL interactions of CDKs with protooncogene products MYC, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1), and cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53) are discussed. The individual roles of each of the SL partners in DDR are described.
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21
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Huang S, Liu Y, Chen Z, Wang M, Jiang VC. PIK-75 overcomes venetoclax resistance via blocking PI3K-AKT signaling and MCL-1 expression in mantle cell lymphoma. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:1102-1115. [PMID: 35411248 PMCID: PMC8984906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic resistance is the major challenge in clinic for patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), an aggressive subtype of B-cell lymphoma. In addition to the FDA-approved Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, multiple clinical trials have demonstrated clinical benefits in targeting BCL-2 by venetoclax and reported to greatly improve clinical outcome for refractory/relapsed patients with MCL alone or in combination with BTK inhibitors. However, resistance to venetoclax is no exception and marks as a new clinic challenge. To decode the underlying mechanisms driving venetoclax resistance, we established two MCL cell lines, Mino-Re and Rec1-Re, with acquired resistance to venetoclax from sensitive Mino and Rec-1. Using reverse phase protein assay (RPPA), an agnostic proteomic approach, we identified targetable signaling pathways that are associated with acquired venetoclax resistance in Mino-Re and Rec1-Re cells. A panel of pro-survival signals was identified to correlate well with venetoclax-resistance, including increased expression of MCL-1, BCL-xL and AKT phosphorylation, and decreased expression of BIM, BAX and PTEN. Based on a high throughput drug screening of over 320 FDA-approved/investigational drugs in the paired venetoclax-sensitive and -resistant cell lines Mino-Re and Rec1-Re, we identified the top candidates that are capable to overcome acquired venetoclax resistance in these cells. The best candidate is PIK-75, a dual inhibitor targeting both PI3K and CDK9. Its action to overcome venetoclax resistance was further confirmed in additional cell lines with primary venetoclax resistance (n=4) and primary patient samples (n=21). Mechanistically, PIK75 treatment potently diminished the elevated MCL-1 expression and AKT activation in cells with acquired or primary venetoclax resistance and resulted in potent anti-MCL activity to overcome these resistances. In addition, PIK75 is also potent in overcoming tumor microenvironment (TME)-associated venetoclax resistance. Furthermore, PIK-75 treatment is efficacious in overcoming primary and acquired venetoclax resistance in xenograft models and inhibited tumor cell dissemination to spleen in mice. Altogether, our data demonstrated that PIK-75 is highly potent in overcoming primary, acquired, or stromal cells-induced venetoclax resistances in MCL cells and revealed a new tumor vulnerability that can be exploited clinically in difficult to treat MCL cases, especially those with venetoclax resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjian Huang
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhihong Chen
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael Wang
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Vivian C Jiang
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA
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22
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Nelson LJ, Castro KE, Xu B, Li J, Dinh NB, Thompson JM, Woytash J, Kipp KR, Razorenova OV. Synthetic lethality of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor Dinaciclib with VHL-deficiency allows for selective targeting of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Cell Cycle 2022; 21:1103-1119. [PMID: 35240916 PMCID: PMC9037521 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2022.2041783] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CC-RCC) remains one of the most deadly forms of kidney cancer despite recent advancements in targeted therapeutics, including tyrosine kinase and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Unfortunately, these therapies have not been able to show better than a 16% complete response rate. In this study we evaluated a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, Dinaciclib, as a potential new targeted therapeutic for CC-RCC. In vitro, Dinaciclib showed anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on CC-RCC cell lines in Cell Titer Glo, Crystal Violet, FACS-based cell cycle analysis, and TUNEL assays. Additionally, these responses were accompanied by a reduction in phospho-Rb and pro-survival MCL-1 cell signaling responses, as well as the induction of caspase 3 and PARP cleavage. In vivo, Dinaciclib efficiently inhibited primary tumor growth in an orthotopic, patient-derived xenograft-based CC-RCC mouse model. Importantly, Dinaciclib targeted both CD105+ cancer stem cells (CSCs) and CD105− non-CSCs in vivo. Moreover, normal cell lines, as well as a CC-RCC cell line with re-expressed von-Hippel Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene, were protected from Dinaciclib-induced cytotoxicity when not actively dividing, indicating an effective therapeutic window due to synthetic lethality of Dinaciclib treatment with VHL loss. Thus, Dinaciclib represents a novel potential therapeutic for CC-RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke J Nelson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Kyleen E Castro
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Binzhi Xu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Junyi Li
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Nguyen B Dinh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Jordan M Thompson
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Jordan Woytash
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | | | - Olga V Razorenova
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
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23
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Pembrolizumab plus dinaciclib in patients with hematologic malignancies: the phase 1b KEYNOTE-155 study. Blood Adv 2022; 6:1232-1242. [PMID: 34972202 PMCID: PMC8864641 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021005872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Preclinical data demonstrated that combining an anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor with a cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) inhibitor provided enhanced antitumor activity with no significant toxicities, suggesting this combination may be a potential therapeutic option. The multicohort, phase 1 KEYNOTE-155 study evaluated the safety and antitumor activity of the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab plus the CDK9 inhibitor dinaciclib in patients with relapsed or refractory (rr) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and multiple myeloma (MM). Patients enrolled were ≥18 years of age with a confirmed diagnosis of CLL, DLBCL, or MM. The study included 2 phases: a dose-evaluation phase to determine dose-limiting toxicities and a signal-detection phase. Patients received pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks plus dinaciclib 7 mg/m2 on day 1 and 10 mg/m2 on day 8 of cycle 1 and 14 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 of cycles 2 and later. Primary endpoint was safety, and a key secondary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Seventy-two patients were enrolled and received ≥1 dose of study treatment (CLL, n = 17; DLBCL, n = 38; MM, n = 17). Pembrolizumab plus dinaciclib was generally well tolerated and produced no unexpected toxicities. The ORRs were 29.4% (5/17, rrCLL), 21.1% (8/38, rrDLBCL), and 0% (0/17, rrMM), respectively. At data cutoff, all 72 patients had discontinued treatment, 38 (52.8%) because of progressive disease. These findings demonstrate activity with combination pembrolizumab plus dinaciclib and suggest that a careful and comprehensive approach to explore anti-PD-1 and CDK9 inhibitor combinations is warranted. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02684617.
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24
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Borowczak J, Szczerbowski K, Ahmadi N, Szylberg Ł. CDK9 inhibitors in multiple myeloma: a review of progress and perspectives. Med Oncol 2022; 39:39. [PMID: 35092513 PMCID: PMC8800928 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-021-01636-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Currently, multiple myeloma is not yet considered a curable disease. Despite the recent advances in therapy, the average patient lifespan is still unsatisfactory. Recently, CDK9 inhibitors emerged as a suitable agent to overcome resistance and prolong survival in patients with poor diagnoses. Downregulation of c-MYC, XIAP, Mcl-1 and restoration of p53 tumor-suppressive functions seems to play a key role in achieving clinical response. The applicability of the first generation of CDK9 inhibitors was limited due to relatively high toxicity, but the introduction of novel, highly selective drugs, seems to reduce the effects of off-target inhibition. CDK9 inhibitors were able to induce dose-dependent cytotoxicity in Doxorubicin-resistant, Lenalidomide-resistant and Bortezomib-resistant cell lines. They seem to be effective in cell lines with unfavorable prognostic factors, such as p53 deletion, t(4; 14) and t(14; 16). In preclinical trials, the application of CDK9 inhibitors led to tumor cells apoptosis, tumor growth inhibition and tumor mass reduction. Synergistic effects between CDK9 inhibitors and either Venetoclax, Bortezomib, Lenalidomide or Erlotinib have been proven and are awaiting verification in clinical trials. Although conclusions should be drawn with due care, obtained reports suggest that including CDK9 inhibitors into the current drug regimen may turn out to be beneficial, especially in poor prognosis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jędrzej Borowczak
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
| | - Krzysztof Szczerbowski
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Navid Ahmadi
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Łukasz Szylberg
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Bydgoszcz, Poland
- Department of Tumor Pathology and Pathomorphology, Oncology Centre-Prof. Franciszek Łukaszczyk Memorial Hospital, Bydgoszcz, Poland
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25
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Gaggianesi M, Mangiapane LR, Modica C, Pantina VD, Porcelli G, Di Franco S, Lo Iacono M, D’Accardo C, Verona F, Pillitteri I, Turdo A, Veschi V, Brancato OR, Muratore G, Pistone G, Bongiorno MR, Todaro M, De Maria R, Stassi G. Dual Inhibition of Myc Transcription and PI3K Activity Effectively Targets Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030673. [PMID: 35158939 PMCID: PMC8833549 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030673] [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: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Compelling evidence has shown that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for high resistance to conventional anti-cancer therapies. Here, we demonstrate that the tumor microenvironment protects CR-CSCs from EGFR/HER2, BRAF and PI3K targeting, promoting CD44v6 and Myc expression. Alternatively, as a substitution for HER2 and BRAF, the Myc transcription inhibitor can overcome the protective effects of microenvironmental cytokines, impairing the survival of CR-CSCs. These data highlight the targeting of Myc and PI3K activity as a novel therapeutic strategy against advanced colorectal cancer. Abstract Despite advances in the curative approach, the survival rate of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) patients is still poor, which is likely due to the emergence of cancer cell clones resistant to the available therapeutic options. We have already shown that CD44v6-positive CRC stem cells (CR-CSCs) are refractory toward standard anti-tumor therapeutic agents due to the activation of the PI3K pathway together with high HER2 expression levels. Tumor microenvironmental cytokines confer resistance to CR-CSCs against HER2/PI3K targeting by enhancing activation of the MAPK pathway. Here, we show that the CSC compartment, spared by BRAF inhibitor-based targeted therapy, is associated with increased expression levels of CD44v6 and Myc and retains boosted clonogenic activity along with residual tumorigenic potential. Inhibition of Myc transcription, downstream of the MAPK cascade components, and PI3K pathway activity was able to overcome the protective effects of microenvironmental cytokines, affecting the survival and the clonogenic activity of CR-CSCs, regardless of their mutational background. Likewise, the double targeting induced stabilization of mouse tumor avatars. Altogether, these data outline the rationale for dual kinase targeting of CR-CSCs to prevent their adaptive response, which would lead to disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Gaggianesi
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (M.G.); (C.M.); (V.D.P.); (S.D.F.); (M.L.I.); (I.P.); (V.V.); (O.R.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Laura Rosa Mangiapane
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.R.M.); (G.P.); (C.D.); (F.V.); (A.T.); (G.P.); (M.R.B.); (M.T.)
| | - Chiara Modica
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (M.G.); (C.M.); (V.D.P.); (S.D.F.); (M.L.I.); (I.P.); (V.V.); (O.R.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Vincenzo Davide Pantina
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (M.G.); (C.M.); (V.D.P.); (S.D.F.); (M.L.I.); (I.P.); (V.V.); (O.R.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Gaetana Porcelli
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.R.M.); (G.P.); (C.D.); (F.V.); (A.T.); (G.P.); (M.R.B.); (M.T.)
| | - Simone Di Franco
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (M.G.); (C.M.); (V.D.P.); (S.D.F.); (M.L.I.); (I.P.); (V.V.); (O.R.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Melania Lo Iacono
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (M.G.); (C.M.); (V.D.P.); (S.D.F.); (M.L.I.); (I.P.); (V.V.); (O.R.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Caterina D’Accardo
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.R.M.); (G.P.); (C.D.); (F.V.); (A.T.); (G.P.); (M.R.B.); (M.T.)
| | - Francesco Verona
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.R.M.); (G.P.); (C.D.); (F.V.); (A.T.); (G.P.); (M.R.B.); (M.T.)
| | - Irene Pillitteri
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (M.G.); (C.M.); (V.D.P.); (S.D.F.); (M.L.I.); (I.P.); (V.V.); (O.R.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Alice Turdo
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.R.M.); (G.P.); (C.D.); (F.V.); (A.T.); (G.P.); (M.R.B.); (M.T.)
| | - Veronica Veschi
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (M.G.); (C.M.); (V.D.P.); (S.D.F.); (M.L.I.); (I.P.); (V.V.); (O.R.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Ornella Roberta Brancato
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (M.G.); (C.M.); (V.D.P.); (S.D.F.); (M.L.I.); (I.P.); (V.V.); (O.R.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Giampaolo Muratore
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (M.G.); (C.M.); (V.D.P.); (S.D.F.); (M.L.I.); (I.P.); (V.V.); (O.R.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Giuseppe Pistone
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.R.M.); (G.P.); (C.D.); (F.V.); (A.T.); (G.P.); (M.R.B.); (M.T.)
| | - Maria Rita Bongiorno
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.R.M.); (G.P.); (C.D.); (F.V.); (A.T.); (G.P.); (M.R.B.); (M.T.)
| | - Matilde Todaro
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (L.R.M.); (G.P.); (C.D.); (F.V.); (A.T.); (G.P.); (M.R.B.); (M.T.)
| | - Ruggero De Maria
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico A Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy
- Correspondence: (R.D.M.); (G.S.); Tel.: +39-06-3015-4914 (R.D.M.); +39-091-2389-0813 (G.S.)
| | - Giorgio Stassi
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences (DICHIRONS), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (M.G.); (C.M.); (V.D.P.); (S.D.F.); (M.L.I.); (I.P.); (V.V.); (O.R.B.); (G.M.)
- Correspondence: (R.D.M.); (G.S.); Tel.: +39-06-3015-4914 (R.D.M.); +39-091-2389-0813 (G.S.)
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He S, Dong G, Cheng J, Wu Y, Sheng C. Strategies for designing proteolysis targeting chimaeras (PROTACs). Med Res Rev 2022; 42:1280-1342. [PMID: 35001407 DOI: 10.1002/med.21877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimaeras (PROTACs) is a cutting edge and rapidly growing technique for new drug discovery and development. Currently, the largest challenge in the molecular design and drug development of PROTACs is efficient identification of potent and drug-like degraders. This review aims to comprehensively summarize and analyse state-of-the-art methods and strategies in the design of PROTACs. We provide a detailed illustration of the general principles and tactics for designing potent PROTACs, highlight representative case studies, and discuss the advantages and limitations of these strategies. Particularly, structure-based rational PROTAC design and emerging new types of PROTACs (e.g., homo-PROTACs, multitargeting PROTACs, photo-control PROTACs and PROTAC-based conjugates) will be focused on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shipeng He
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoqiang Dong
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junfei Cheng
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Pharmacy, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, China
| | - Chunquan Sheng
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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27
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Vervoort SJ, Devlin JR, Kwiatkowski N, Teng M, Gray NS, Johnstone RW. Targeting transcription cycles in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2022; 22:5-24. [PMID: 34675395 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00411-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Accurate control of gene expression is essential for normal development and dysregulation of transcription underpins cancer onset and progression. Similar to cell cycle regulation, RNA polymerase II-driven transcription can be considered as a unidirectional multistep cycle, with thousands of unique transcription cycles occurring in concert within each cell. Each transcription cycle comprises recruitment, initiation, pausing, elongation, termination and recycling stages that are tightly controlled by the coordinated action of transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinases and their cognate cyclins as well as the opposing activity of transcriptional phosphatases. Oncogenic dysregulation of transcription can entail defective control of gene expression, either at select loci or more globally, impacting a large proportion of the genome. The resultant dependency on the core-transcriptional machinery is believed to render 'transcriptionally addicted' cancers sensitive to perturbation of transcription. Based on these findings, small molecules targeting transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinases and associated proteins hold promise for the treatment of cancer. Here, we utilize the transcription cycles concept to explain how dysregulation of these finely tuned gene expression processes may drive tumorigenesis and how therapeutically beneficial responses may arise from global or selective transcriptional perturbation. This conceptual framework helps to explain tumour-selective transcriptional dependencies and facilitates the rational design of combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephin J Vervoort
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jennifer R Devlin
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicholas Kwiatkowski
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mingxing Teng
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, CHEM-H and SCI, Stanford Medical School, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Ricky W Johnstone
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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28
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Howard D, James D, Garcia-Parra J, Pan-Castillo B, Worthington J, Williams N, Coombes Z, Rees SC, Lutchman-Singh K, Francis LW, Rees P, Margarit L, Conlan RS, Gonzalez D. Dinaciclib as an effective pan-cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor in platinum resistant ovarian cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1014280. [PMID: 36505806 PMCID: PMC9732436 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1014280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ovarian cancer (OC) is amongst the most lethal of common cancers in women. Lacking in specific symptoms in the early stages, OC is predominantly diagnosed late when the disease has undergone metastatic spread and chemotherapy is relied on to prolong life. Platinum-based therapies are preferred and although many tumors respond initially, the emergence of platinum-resistance occurs in the majority of cases after which prognosis is very poor. Upregulation of DNA damage pathways is a common feature of platinum resistance in OC with cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) serving as key regulators of this process and suggesting that CDK inhibitors (CDKis) could be effective tools in the treatment of platinum resistant and refractory OC. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of CDKis in platinum resistant OC models and serve as a predictor of potential clinical utility. Methods The efficacy of CDKi, dinaciclib, was determined in wildtype and platinum resistant cell line pairs representing different OC subtypes. In addition, dinaciclib was evaluated in primary cells isolated from platinum-sensitive and platinum-refractory tumors to increase the clinical relevance of the study. Results and conclusions Dinaciclib proved highly efficacious in OC cell lines and primary cells, which were over a thousand-fold more sensitive to the CDKi than to cisplatin. Furthermore, cisplatin resistance in these cells did not influence sensitivity to dinaciclib and the two drugs combined additively in both platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant OC cells suggesting a potential role for pan-CDKis (CDKis targeting multiple CDKs), such as dinaciclib, in the treatment of advanced and platinum-resistant OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Howard
- Reproductive Biology and Gynaecology (RBGO) Group, Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - David James
- Reproductive Biology and Gynaecology (RBGO) Group, Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Jezabel Garcia-Parra
- Reproductive Biology and Gynaecology (RBGO) Group, Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Belen Pan-Castillo
- Reproductive Biology and Gynaecology (RBGO) Group, Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Zoe Coombes
- Reproductive Biology and Gynaecology (RBGO) Group, Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie Colleen Rees
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Princess of Wales Hospital, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Bridgend, United Kingdom
| | - Kerryn Lutchman-Singh
- Department of Gynaecology Oncology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Lewis W Francis
- Reproductive Biology and Gynaecology (RBGO) Group, Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Rees
- College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Lavinia Margarit
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Princess of Wales Hospital, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Bridgend, United Kingdom
| | - R Steven Conlan
- Reproductive Biology and Gynaecology (RBGO) Group, Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Deyarina Gonzalez
- Reproductive Biology and Gynaecology (RBGO) Group, Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
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Fairlie WD, Lee EF. Targeting the BCL-2-regulated apoptotic pathway for the treatment of solid cancers. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:2397-2410. [PMID: 34581776 PMCID: PMC8589438 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The deregulation of apoptosis is a key contributor to tumourigenesis as it can lead to the unwanted survival of rogue cells. Drugs known as the BH3-mimetics targeting the pro-survival members of the BCL-2 protein family to induce apoptosis in cancer cells have achieved clinical success for the treatment of haematological malignancies. However, despite our increasing knowledge of the pro-survival factors mediating the unwanted survival of solid tumour cells, and our growing BH3-mimetics armamentarium, the application of BH3-mimetic therapy in solid cancers has not reached its full potential. This is mainly attributed to the need to identify clinically safe, yet effective, combination strategies to target the multiple pro-survival proteins that typically mediate the survival of solid tumours. In this review, we discuss current and exciting new developments in the field that has the potential to unleash the full power of BH3-mimetic therapy to treat currently recalcitrant solid malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. Douglas Fairlie
- Cell Death and Survival Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
- Cell Death and Survival Laboratory, School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Erinna F. Lee
- Cell Death and Survival Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
- Cell Death and Survival Laboratory, School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
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30
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Cyclin-dependent kinases-based synthetic lethality: Evidence, concept, and strategy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2021; 11:2738-2748. [PMID: 34589394 PMCID: PMC8463275 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic lethality is a proven effective antitumor strategy that has attracted great attention. Large-scale screening has revealed many synthetic lethal genetic phenotypes, and relevant small-molecule drugs have also been implemented in clinical practice. Increasing evidence suggests that CDKs, constituting a kinase family predominantly involved in cell cycle control, are synthetic lethal factors when combined with certain oncogenes, such as MYC, TP53, and RAS, which facilitate numerous antitumor treatment options based on CDK-related synthetic lethality. In this review, we focus on the synthetic lethal phenotype and mechanism related to CDKs and summarize the preclinical and clinical discoveries of CDK inhibitors to explore the prospect of CDK inhibitors as antitumor compounds for strategic synthesis lethality in the future.
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Cyclin Dependent Kinase-1 (CDK-1) Inhibition as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy against Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13174389. [PMID: 34503199 PMCID: PMC8430873 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13174389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of CDK1 in PDAC onset and development is two-fold. Firstly, since CDK1 activity regulates the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint, overexpression of CDK1 can lead to progression into mitosis even in cells with DNA damage, a potentially tumorigenic process. Secondly, CDK1 overexpression leads to the stimulation of a range of proteins that induce stem cell properties, which can contribute to the development of cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs promote tumor-initiation and metastasis and play a crucial role in the development of PDAC. Targeting CDK1 showed promising results for PDAC treatment in different preclinical models, where CDK1 inhibition induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and led to induction of apoptosis. Next to this, PDAC CSCs are uniquely sensitive to CDK1 inhibition. In addition, targeting of CDK1 has shown potential for combination therapy with both ionizing radiation treatment and conventional chemotherapy, through sensitizing tumor cells and reducing resistance to these treatments. To conclude, CDK1 inhibition induces G2/M cell cycle arrest, stimulates apoptosis, and specifically targets CSCs, which makes it a promising treatment for PDAC. Screening of patients for CDK1 overexpression and further research into combination treatments is essential for optimizing this novel targeted therapy.
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32
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Ahmadi SE, Rahimi S, Zarandi B, Chegeni R, Safa M. MYC: a multipurpose oncogene with prognostic and therapeutic implications in blood malignancies. J Hematol Oncol 2021; 14:121. [PMID: 34372899 PMCID: PMC8351444 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-021-01111-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
MYC oncogene is a transcription factor with a wide array of functions affecting cellular activities such as cell cycle, apoptosis, DNA damage response, and hematopoiesis. Due to the multi-functionality of MYC, its expression is regulated at multiple levels. Deregulation of this oncogene can give rise to a variety of cancers. In this review, MYC regulation and the mechanisms by which MYC adjusts cellular functions and its implication in hematologic malignancies are summarized. Further, we also discuss potential inhibitors of MYC that could be beneficial for treating hematologic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Esmaeil Ahmadi
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samira Rahimi
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahman Zarandi
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rouzbeh Chegeni
- Medical Laboratory Sciences Program, College of Health and Human Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA.
| | - Majid Safa
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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33
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Inhibitors Targeting CDK9 Show High Efficacy against Osimertinib and AMG510 Resistant Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13153906. [PMID: 34359807 PMCID: PMC8345430 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 80% of all lung cancer cases. While a subset of non-small cell lung cancer patients respond to immunotherapy, those who are treated with chemotherapy or targeted therapy develop resistance to the drugs. Thus, novel therapeutic strategies are needed to combat this disease. Here we show that inhibitors of the cyclin-dependent kinase 9 are highly effective in preventing the growth of a variety of lung cancer cell lines and lung cancer organoids with high potency. These inhibitors suppressed the expression of several genes like Sox2, Sox9, and Mcl1 that promote tumor growth, facilitating growth arrest. Since inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 are undergoing clinical trials for hematological malignancies, our studies suggest that these inhibitors would be attractive candidates to combat non-small cell lung cancer. Abstract Non-small cell lung cancer has a 5-year survival rate of less than 12–15%, calling for the development of additional therapeutic strategies to combat this disease. Here we tested the efficacy of inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) on lung cancer cell lines with K-Ras and EGFR mutations and on lung cancer organoids. Three different CDK9 inhibitors reduced the viability and anchorage-independent growth of lung cancer cell lines at very low nanomolar to micromolar concentrations. CDK9 inhibition suppressed the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Mcl1, as well as the embryonic stem cell transcription factors, Sox2 and Sox9, which are pro-tumorigenic. In contrast, treatment with CDK9 inhibitors increased the levels of WT p53 and its downstream target p21 in K-Ras mutant cell lines. Furthermore, the CDK9 inhibitors could markedly reduce the viability of Osimertinib-resistant PC9 and AMG510-resistant H23 and H358 cells with comparable efficacy as the parental cells. CDK9 inhibitors could also significantly reduce the growth and viability of lung cancer organoids with high potency. Taken together, the data presented here strongly suggest that CDK9 inhibitors would be efficacious against K-Ras mutant and EGFR mutant NSCLCs, including those that develop resistance to targeted therapies.
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34
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Tong Y, Florjancic AS, Clark RF, Lai C, Mastracchio A, Zhu GD, Smith ML, Kovar PJ, Shaw B, Albert DH, Qiu W, Longenecker KL, Liu X, Olson AM, Osterling DJ, Tahir SK, Phillips DC, Leverson JD, Souers AJ, Penning TD. Balancing Properties with Carboxylates: A Lead Optimization Campaign for Selective and Orally Active CDK9 Inhibitors. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:1108-1115. [PMID: 34267880 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is a serine/threonine kinase involved in the regulation of transcription elongation. An inhibition of CDK9 downregulates a number of short-lived proteins responsible for tumor maintenance and survival, including the antiapoptotic BCL-2 family member MCL-1. As pan-CDK inhibitors under development have faced dosing and toxicity challenges in the clinical setting, we generated selective CDK9 inhibitors that could be amenable to an oral administration. Here, we report the lead optimization of a series of azaindole-based inhibitors. To overcome early challenges with promiscuity and cardiovascular toxicity, carboxylates were introduced into the pharmacophore en route to compounds such as 14 and 16. These CDK9 inhibitors demonstrated a reduced toxicity, adequate pharmacokinetic properties, and a robust in vivo efficacy in mice upon oral dosing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunsong Tong
- Drug Discovery Science & Technology, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Alan S. Florjancic
- Oncology Discovery, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Rick F. Clark
- Oncology Discovery, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Chunqiu Lai
- Oncology Discovery, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Anthony Mastracchio
- Oncology Discovery, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Gui-dong Zhu
- Oncology Discovery, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Morey L. Smith
- Oncology Discovery, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Peter J. Kovar
- High Throughput Biology, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Bailin Shaw
- Oncology Discovery, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Daniel H. Albert
- Oncology Discovery, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Wei Qiu
- Structural Biology, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Kenton L. Longenecker
- Structural Biology, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Xiaoqin Liu
- Pharmacology, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Amanda M. Olson
- Pharmacology, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Donald J. Osterling
- Pharmacology, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Stephen K. Tahir
- Oncology Discovery, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Darren C. Phillips
- Oncology Discovery, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Joel D. Leverson
- Oncology Discovery, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Andrew J. Souers
- Oncology Discovery, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
| | - Thomas D. Penning
- Oncology Discovery, Abbvie, 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, United States
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35
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Vervoort SJ, Welsh SA, Devlin JR, Barbieri E, Knight DA, Offley S, Bjelosevic S, Costacurta M, Todorovski I, Kearney CJ, Sandow JJ, Fan Z, Blyth B, McLeod V, Vissers JHA, Pavic K, Martin BP, Gregory G, Demosthenous E, Zethoven M, Kong IY, Hawkins ED, Hogg SJ, Kelly MJ, Newbold A, Simpson KJ, Kauko O, Harvey KF, Ohlmeyer M, Westermarck J, Gray N, Gardini A, Johnstone RW. The PP2A-Integrator-CDK9 axis fine-tunes transcription and can be targeted therapeutically in cancer. Cell 2021; 184:3143-3162.e32. [PMID: 34004147 PMCID: PMC8567840 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Gene expression by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) is tightly controlled by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) at discrete checkpoints during the transcription cycle. The pausing checkpoint following transcription initiation is primarily controlled by CDK9. We discovered that CDK9-mediated, RNAPII-driven transcription is functionally opposed by a protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) complex that is recruited to transcription sites by the Integrator complex subunit INTS6. PP2A dynamically antagonizes phosphorylation of key CDK9 substrates including DSIF and RNAPII-CTD. Loss of INTS6 results in resistance to tumor cell death mediated by CDK9 inhibition, decreased turnover of CDK9 phospho-substrates, and amplification of acute oncogenic transcriptional responses. Pharmacological PP2A activation synergizes with CDK9 inhibition to kill both leukemic and solid tumor cells, providing therapeutic benefit in vivo. These data demonstrate that fine control of gene expression relies on the balance between kinase and phosphatase activity throughout the transcription cycle, a process dysregulated in cancer that can be exploited therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephin J Vervoort
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia.
| | - Sarah A Welsh
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jennifer R Devlin
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Deborah A Knight
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah Offley
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Stefan Bjelosevic
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Matteo Costacurta
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Izabela Todorovski
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Conor J Kearney
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Jarrod J Sandow
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Zheng Fan
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Benjamin Blyth
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia
| | - Victoria McLeod
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia
| | - Joseph H A Vissers
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia; Centre for Cancer Research and Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Karolina Pavic
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku FI-20014, Finland; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland
| | - Ben P Martin
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Gareth Gregory
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia; School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton 3168, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Magnus Zethoven
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia
| | - Isabella Y Kong
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Edwin D Hawkins
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Simon J Hogg
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Madison J Kelly
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrea Newbold
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Otto Kauko
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku FI-20014, Finland; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland
| | - Kieran F Harvey
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, and Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton 3168, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael Ohlmeyer
- Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA; Atux Iskay LLC, Plainsboro, NJ 08536, USA
| | - Jukka Westermarck
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku FI-20014, Finland; Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland
| | | | | | - Ricky W Johnstone
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne 3000, VIC, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia.
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Anshabo AT, Milne R, Wang S, Albrecht H. CDK9: A Comprehensive Review of Its Biology, and Its Role as a Potential Target for Anti-Cancer Agents. Front Oncol 2021; 11:678559. [PMID: 34041038 PMCID: PMC8143439 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.678559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are proteins pivotal to a wide range of cellular functions, most importantly cell division and transcription, and their dysregulations have been implicated as prominent drivers of tumorigenesis. Besides the well-established role of cell cycle CDKs in cancer, the involvement of transcriptional CDKs has been confirmed more recently. Most cancers overtly employ CDKs that serve as key regulators of transcription (e.g., CDK9) for a continuous production of short-lived gene products that maintain their survival. As such, dysregulation of the CDK9 pathway has been observed in various hematological and solid malignancies, making it a valuable anticancer target. This therapeutic potential has been utilized for the discovery of CDK9 inhibitors, some of which have entered human clinical trials. This review provides a comprehensive discussion on the structure and biology of CDK9, its role in solid and hematological cancers, and an updated review of the available inhibitors currently being investigated in preclinical and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abel Tesfaye Anshabo
- Drug Discovery and Development, Centre for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Robert Milne
- Drug Discovery and Development, Centre for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Shudong Wang
- Drug Discovery and Development, Centre for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Hugo Albrecht
- Drug Discovery and Development, Centre for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Buzzetti M, Morlando S, Solomos D, Mehmood A, Cox AWI, Chiesa M, D'Alessandra Y, Garofalo M, Topham CH, Di Leva G. Pre-therapeutic efficacy of the CDK inhibitor dinaciclib in medulloblastoma cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5374. [PMID: 33686114 PMCID: PMC7940474 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84082-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common aggressive paediatric brain tumour and, despite the recent progress in the treatments of MB patients, there is still an urgent need of complementary or alternative therapeutic options for MB infants. Cyclin Dependent Kinase inhibitors (CDKi) are at the front-line of novel targeted treatments for multiple cancers and the CDK4/6 specific inhibitor palbociclib has been pre-clinically identified as an effective option for MB cells. Herein, we identified the pan-CDKi dinaciclib as a promising alternative to palbociclib for the suppression of MB cells proliferation. We present evidence supporting dinaciclib’s ability to inhibit MB cells in vitro proliferation at considerably lower doses than palbociclib. Sequencing data and pathway analysis suggested that dinaciclib is a potent cell death inducer in MB cells. We found that dinaciclib-triggered apoptosis is triggered by CDK9 inhibition and the resultant reduction in RNA pol II phosphorylation, which leads to the downregulation of the oncogenic marker MYC, and the anti-apoptotic protein MCL-1. Specifically, we demonstrated that MCL-1 is a key apoptotic mediator for MB cells and co-treatment of dinaciclib with BH3 mimetics boosts the therapeutic efficacy of dinaciclib. Together, these findings highlight the potential of multi-CDK inhibition by dinaciclib as an alternative option to CDK4/6 specific inhibition, frequently associated with drug resistance in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Buzzetti
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, Biomedical Research Centre, Salford, Greater Manchester, UK.,Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sonia Morlando
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, Biomedical Research Centre, Salford, Greater Manchester, UK
| | - Dimitrios Solomos
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, Biomedical Research Centre, Salford, Greater Manchester, UK
| | - Ammara Mehmood
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, Biomedical Research Centre, Salford, Greater Manchester, UK
| | - Alexander W I Cox
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, at Manchester and University College London, London, UK
| | - Mattia Chiesa
- Bioinformatics and Artificial Intelligence Facility, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Yuri D'Alessandra
- Immunology and Functional Genomics Unit, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Garofalo
- Transcriptional Networks in Lung Cancer Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, at Manchester and University College London, London, UK
| | - Caroline H Topham
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, Biomedical Research Centre, Salford, Greater Manchester, UK
| | - Gianpiero Di Leva
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Guy Hilton Research Centre, Keele University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.
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Howard D, James D, Murphy K, Garcia-Parra J, Pan-Castillo B, Rex S, Moul A, Jones E, Bilbao-Asensio M, Michue-Seijas S, Lutchman-Singh K, Margarit L, Francis LW, Rees P, Gonzalez D, Conlan RS. Dinaciclib, a Bimodal Agent Effective against Endometrial Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1135. [PMID: 33800911 PMCID: PMC7962054 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the sixth most prevalent female cancer globally and although high rates of success are achieved when diagnosed at an early stage, the 5-year survival rate for cancers diagnosed at Stages II-IV is below 50%. Improving patient outcomes will necessitate the introduction of novel therapies to the clinic. Pan-cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKis) have been explored as therapies for a range of cancers due to their ability to simultaneously target multiple key cellular processes, such as cell cycle progression, transcription, and DNA repair. Few studies, however, have reported on their potential for the treatment of EC. Herein, we examined the effects of the pan-CDKi dinaciclib in primary cells isolated directly from tumors and EC cell lines. Dinaciclib was shown to elicit a bimodal action in EC cell lines, disrupting both cell cycle progression and phosphorylation of the RNA polymerase carboxy terminal domain, with a concomitant reduction in Bcl-2 expression. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential of combining dinaciclib and cisplatin was explored, with the drugs demonstrating synergy at specific doses in Type I and Type II EC cell lines. Together, these results highlight the potential of dinaciclib for use as an effective EC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Howard
- Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (D.H.); (D.J.); (J.G.-P.); (B.P.-C.); (L.W.F.); (D.G.)
| | - David James
- Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (D.H.); (D.J.); (J.G.-P.); (B.P.-C.); (L.W.F.); (D.G.)
| | - Kate Murphy
- Department of Pathology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea SA2 8QA, UK; (K.M.); (S.R.); (A.M.); (E.J.)
| | - Jezabel Garcia-Parra
- Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (D.H.); (D.J.); (J.G.-P.); (B.P.-C.); (L.W.F.); (D.G.)
| | - Belen Pan-Castillo
- Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (D.H.); (D.J.); (J.G.-P.); (B.P.-C.); (L.W.F.); (D.G.)
| | - Stuart Rex
- Department of Pathology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea SA2 8QA, UK; (K.M.); (S.R.); (A.M.); (E.J.)
| | - Annemarie Moul
- Department of Pathology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea SA2 8QA, UK; (K.M.); (S.R.); (A.M.); (E.J.)
| | - Eilir Jones
- Department of Pathology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea SA2 8QA, UK; (K.M.); (S.R.); (A.M.); (E.J.)
| | - Marc Bilbao-Asensio
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (M.B.-A.); (S.M.-S.)
| | - Saul Michue-Seijas
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (M.B.-A.); (S.M.-S.)
| | - Kerryn Lutchman-Singh
- Department of Gynaecology Oncology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea SA2 8QA, UK;
| | - Lavinia Margarit
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Princess of Wales Hospital, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Bridgend CF31 1RQ, UK;
| | - Lewis W. Francis
- Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (D.H.); (D.J.); (J.G.-P.); (B.P.-C.); (L.W.F.); (D.G.)
| | - Paul Rees
- College of Engineering, Swansea University, Bay Campus, Swansea SA1 8EN, UK;
| | - Deyarina Gonzalez
- Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (D.H.); (D.J.); (J.G.-P.); (B.P.-C.); (L.W.F.); (D.G.)
| | - R. Steven Conlan
- Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; (D.H.); (D.J.); (J.G.-P.); (B.P.-C.); (L.W.F.); (D.G.)
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Targeting transcription of MCL-1 sensitizes HER2-amplified breast cancers to HER2 inhibitors. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:179. [PMID: 33589591 PMCID: PMC7884408 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03457-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 gene (HER2) is focally amplified in approximately 20% of breast cancers. HER2 inhibitors alone are not effective, and sensitizing agents will be necessary to move away from a reliance on heavily toxic chemotherapeutics. We recently demonstrated that the efficacy of HER2 inhibitors is mitigated by uniformly low levels of the myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1) endogenous inhibitor, NOXA. Emerging clinical data have demonstrated that clinically advanced cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors are effective MCL-1 inhibitors in patients, and, importantly, well tolerated. We, therefore, tested whether the CDK inhibitor, dinaciclib, could block MCL-1 in preclinical HER2-amplified breast cancer models and therefore sensitize these cancers to dual HER2/EGFR inhibitors neratinib and lapatinib, as well as to the novel selective HER2 inhibitor tucatinib. Indeed, we found dinaciclib suppresses MCL-1 RNA and is highly effective at sensitizing HER2 inhibitors both in vitro and in vivo. This combination was tolerable in vivo. Mechanistically, liberating the effector BCL-2 protein, BAK, from MCL-1 results in robust apoptosis. Thus, clinically advanced CDK inhibitors may effectively combine with HER2 inhibitors and present a chemotherapy-free therapeutic strategy in HER2-amplified breast cancer, which can be tested immediately in the clinic.
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40
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Koduri V, Duplaquet L, Lampson BL, Wang AC, Sabet AH, Ishoey M, Paulk J, Teng M, Harris IS, Endress JE, Liu X, Dasilva E, Paulo JA, Briggs KJ, Doench JG, Ott CJ, Zhang T, Donovan KA, Fischer ES, Gygi SP, Gray NS, Bradner J, Medin JA, Buhrlage SJ, Oser MG, Kaelin WG. Targeting oncoproteins with a positive selection assay for protein degraders. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/6/eabd6263. [PMID: 33547076 PMCID: PMC7864573 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd6263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Most intracellular proteins lack hydrophobic pockets suitable for altering their function with drug-like small molecules. Recent studies indicate that some undruggable proteins can be targeted by compounds that can degrade them. For example, thalidomide-like drugs (IMiDs) degrade the critical multiple myeloma transcription factors IKZF1 and IKZF3 by recruiting them to the cereblon E3 ubiquitin ligase. Current loss of signal ("down") assays for identifying degraders often exhibit poor signal-to-noise ratios, narrow dynamic ranges, and false positives from compounds that nonspecifically suppress transcription or translation. Here, we describe a gain of signal ("up") assay for degraders. In arrayed chemical screens, we identified novel IMiD-like IKZF1 degraders and Spautin-1, which, unlike the IMiDs, degrades IKZF1 in a cereblon-independent manner. In a pooled CRISPR-Cas9-based screen, we found that CDK2 regulates the abundance of the ASCL1 oncogenic transcription factor. This methodology should facilitate the identification of drugs that directly or indirectly degrade undruggable proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidyasagar Koduri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Leslie Duplaquet
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Benjamin L Lampson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Adam C Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Amin H Sabet
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Mette Ishoey
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Joshiawa Paulk
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Mingxing Teng
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Isaac S Harris
- Ludwig Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jennifer E Endress
- Ludwig Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Xiaoxi Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Linde Program in Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ethan Dasilva
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Linde Program in Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Joao A Paulo
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kimberly J Briggs
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - John G Doench
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Christopher J Ott
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Tinghu Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Katherine A Donovan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eric S Fischer
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Steven P Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - James Bradner
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Medin
- Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Sara J Buhrlage
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Linde Program in Chemical Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Matthew G Oser
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
- Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - William G Kaelin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
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Thng DKH, Toh TB, Chow EKH. Capitalizing on Synthetic Lethality of MYC to Treat Cancer in the Digital Age. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 42:166-182. [PMID: 33422376 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2020.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Deregulation of MYC is among the most frequent oncogenic drivers of cancer. Developing targeted therapies against MYC is, therefore, one of the most critical unmet needs of cancer therapy. Unfortunately, MYC has been labelled as undruggable due to the lack of success in developing clinically relevant MYC-targeted therapies. Synthetic lethality is a promising approach that targets MYC-dependent vulnerabilities in cancer. However, translating the synthetic lethality targets to the clinics is still challenging due to the complex nature of cancers. This review highlights the most promising mechanisms of MYC synthetic lethality and how these discoveries are currently translated into the clinic. Finally, we discuss how in silico computational platforms can improve clinical success of synthetic lethality-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dexter Kai Hao Thng
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tan Boon Toh
- The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore; The Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Edward Kai-Hua Chow
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore; The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore; The Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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42
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Bolomsky A, Vogler M, Köse MC, Heckman CA, Ehx G, Ludwig H, Caers J. MCL-1 inhibitors, fast-lane development of a new class of anti-cancer agents. J Hematol Oncol 2020; 13:173. [PMID: 33308268 PMCID: PMC7731749 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-020-01007-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell death escape is one of the most prominent features of tumor cells and closely linked to the dysregulation of members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins. Among those, the anti-apoptotic family member myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1) acts as a master regulator of apoptosis in various human malignancies. Irrespective of its unfavorable structure profile, independent research efforts recently led to the generation of highly potent MCL-1 inhibitors that are currently evaluated in clinical trials. This offers new perspectives to target a so far undruggable cancer cell dependency. However, a detailed understanding about the tumor and tissue type specific implications of MCL-1 are a prerequisite for the optimal (i.e., precision medicine guided) use of this novel drug class. In this review, we summarize the major functions of MCL-1 with a special focus on cancer, provide insights into its different roles in solid vs. hematological tumors and give an update about the (pre)clinical development program of state-of-the-art MCL-1 targeting compounds. We aim to raise the awareness about the heterogeneous role of MCL-1 as drug target between, but also within tumor entities and to highlight the importance of rationale treatment decisions on a case by case basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnold Bolomsky
- Wilhelminen Cancer Research Institute, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Meike Vogler
- Department of Clinical Hematology, GIGA-I3, University of Liège, CHU De Liège, 35, Dom Univ Sart Tilman B, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Murat Cem Köse
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Caroline A Heckman
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland-FIMM, HiLIFE-Helsinki Institute of Life Science, iCAN Digital Cancer Medicine Flagship, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Grégory Ehx
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Heinz Ludwig
- Wilhelminen Cancer Research Institute, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jo Caers
- Department of Clinical Hematology, GIGA-I3, University of Liège, CHU De Liège, 35, Dom Univ Sart Tilman B, 4000, Liège, Belgium.
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Dinaciclib, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, suppresses cholangiocarcinoma growth by targeting CDK2/5/9. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18489. [PMID: 33116269 PMCID: PMC7595101 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75578-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly invasive cancer, diagnosed at an advanced stage, and refractory to surgical intervention and chemotherapy. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) regulate cell cycle progression and transcriptional processes, and are considered potential therapeutic targets for cancer. Dinaciclib is a small molecule multi-CDK inhibitor targeting CDK 2/5/9. In this study, the therapeutic efficacy of dinaciclib was assessed using patient-derived xenograft cells (PDXC) and CCA cell lines. Treatment with dinaciclib significantly suppressed cell proliferation, induced caspase 3/7 levels and apoptotic activity in PDXC and CCA cell lines. Dinaciclib suppressed expression of its molecular targets CDK2/5/9, and anti-apoptotic BCL-XL and BCL2 proteins. Despite the presence of cyclin D1 amplification in the PDXC line, palbociclib treatment had no effect on cell proliferation, cell cycle or apoptosis in the PDXC as well as other CCA cell lines. Importantly, dinaciclib, in combination with gemcitabine, produced a robust and sustained inhibition of tumor progression in vivo in a PDX mouse model, greater than either of the treatments alone. Expression levels of two proliferative markers, phospho-histone H3 and Ki-67, were substantially suppressed in samples treated with the combination regimen. Our results identify dinaciclib as a novel and potent therapeutic agent alone or in combination with gemcitabine for the treatment of CCA.
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44
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CDK12: a potential therapeutic target in cancer. Drug Discov Today 2020; 25:2257-2267. [PMID: 33038524 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.09.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 12 engages in diversified biological functions, from transcription, post-transcriptional modification, cell cycle, and translation to cellular proliferation. Moreover, it regulates the expression of cancer-related genes involved in DNA damage response (DDR) and replication, which are responsible for maintaining genomic stability. CDK12 emerges as an oncogene or tumor suppressor in different cellular contexts, where its dysregulation results in tumorigenesis. Current CDK12 inhibitors are nonselective, which impedes the process of pharmacological target validation and drug development. Herein, we discuss the latest understanding of the biological roles of CDK12 in cancers and provide molecular analyses of CDK12 inhibitors to guide the rational design of selective inhibitors.
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A review on kinases phosphorylating the carboxyl-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II-Biological functions and inhibitors. Bioorg Chem 2020; 104:104318. [PMID: 33142427 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.104318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) plays a major role in gene transcription for eukaryote. One of the major modes of regulation in eukaryotes is the phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA Pol II. The current study found that the phosphorylation of Ser2, Ser5, Ser7, Thr4 and Tyr1 among the heptapeptide repeats of CTD plays a key role in the transcription process. We therefore review the biological functions and inhibitors of kinases that phosphorylate these amino acid residues including transcriptional cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs), bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), Polo-like kinases 3 (Plk3) and Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene 1 and 2 (c-Abl1/2).
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Wu T, Qin Z, Tian Y, Wang J, Xu C, Li Z, Bian J. Recent Developments in the Biology and Medicinal Chemistry of CDK9 Inhibitors: An Update. J Med Chem 2020; 63:13228-13257. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tizhi Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhen Qin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yucheng Tian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jubo Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chenxi Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiyu Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinlei Bian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People’s Republic of China
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Satta T, Grant S. Enhancing venetoclax activity in hematological malignancies. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2020; 29:697-708. [PMID: 32600066 PMCID: PMC7529910 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2020.1789588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Targeting anti-apoptotic pathways involving the BCL2 family proteins represents a novel treatment strategy in hematologic malignancies. Venetoclax, a selective BCL2 inhibitor, represents the first approved agent of this class, and is currently used in CLL and AML. However, monotherapy is rarely sufficient for sustained responses due to the development of drug resistance and loss of dependence upon the targeted protein. Numerous pre-clinical studies have shown that combining venetoclax with other agents may represent a more effective therapeutic strategy by circumventing resistance mechanisms. In this review, we summarize pre-clinical data providing a foundation for rational combination strategies involving venetoclax. AREAS COVERED Novel combination strategies in hematologic malignancies involving venetoclax, primarily at the pre-clinical level, will be reviewed. We emphasize novel agents that interrupt complementary or compensatory pro-survival pathways, and particularly mechanistic insights underlying synergism. PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google scholar were searched from 2000. EXPERT OPINION Although venetoclax has proven to be an effective therapeutic in hematologic malignancies, monotherapy may be insufficient for maximal effectiveness due to the development of resistance and/or loss of BCL2 addiction. Further pre-clinical and clinical development of combination therapies may be necessary for optimal outcomes in patients with diverse blood cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihisa Satta
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, USA
| | - Steven Grant
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, USA
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Phillips DC, Jin S, Gregory GP, Zhang Q, Xue J, Zhao X, Chen J, Tong Y, Zhang H, Smith M, Tahir SK, Clark RF, Penning TD, Devlin JR, Shortt J, Hsi ED, Albert DH, Konopleva M, Johnstone RW, Leverson JD, Souers AJ. A novel CDK9 inhibitor increases the efficacy of venetoclax (ABT-199) in multiple models of hematologic malignancies. Leukemia 2020; 34:1646-1657. [PMID: 31827241 PMCID: PMC7266741 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-019-0652-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
MCL-1 is one of the most frequently amplified genes in cancer, facilitating tumor initiation and maintenance and enabling resistance to anti-tumorigenic agents including the BCL-2 selective inhibitor venetoclax. The expression of MCL-1 is maintained via P-TEFb-mediated transcription, where the kinase CDK9 is a critical component. Consequently, we developed a series of potent small-molecule inhibitors of CDK9, exemplified by the orally active A-1592668, with CDK selectivity profiles that are distinct from related molecules that have been extensively studied clinically. Short-term treatment with A-1592668 rapidly downregulates RNA pol-II (Ser 2) phosphorylation resulting in the loss of MCL-1 protein and apoptosis in MCL-1-dependent hematologic tumor cell lines. This cell death could be attenuated by either inhibiting caspases or overexpressing BCL-2 protein. Synergistic cell killing was also observed between A-1592668 or the related analog A-1467729, and venetoclax in a number of hematologic cell lines and primary NHL patient samples. Importantly, the CDK9 inhibitor plus venetoclax combination was well tolerated in vivo and demonstrated efficacy superior to either agent alone in mouse models of lymphoma and AML. These data indicate that CDK9 inhibitors could be highly efficacious in tumors that depend on MCL-1 for survival or when used in combination with venetoclax in malignancies dependent on MCL-1 and BCL-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren C Phillips
- Oncology-Discovery, AbbVie Inc., 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA.
| | - Sha Jin
- Oncology-Discovery, AbbVie Inc., 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Gareth P Gregory
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Translational Hematology Program, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Blood Cancer Therapeutics Laboratory, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, 246 Clayton Rd, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - John Xue
- Oncology-Discovery, AbbVie Inc., 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Xiaoxian Zhao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Jun Chen
- TEST, AbbVie Inc., 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Yunsong Tong
- Oncology-Discovery, AbbVie Inc., 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Haichao Zhang
- Oncology-Discovery, AbbVie Inc., 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Morey Smith
- Oncology-Discovery, AbbVie Inc., 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Stephen K Tahir
- Oncology-Discovery, AbbVie Inc., 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Rick F Clark
- Oncology-Discovery, AbbVie Inc., 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Thomas D Penning
- Oncology-Discovery, AbbVie Inc., 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Jennifer R Devlin
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Translational Hematology Program, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Jake Shortt
- Blood Cancer Therapeutics Laboratory, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, 246 Clayton Rd, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Eric D Hsi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Daniel H Albert
- Oncology-Discovery, AbbVie Inc., 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Marina Konopleva
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ricky W Johnstone
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Translational Hematology Program, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Joel D Leverson
- Oncology-Development, AbbVie Inc., 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Andrew J Souers
- Oncology-Discovery, AbbVie Inc., 1 North Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
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Xu J, Li H, Wang X, Huang J, Li S, Liu C, Dong R, Zhu G, Duan C, Jiang F, Zhang Y, Zhu Y, Zhang T, Chen Y, Tang W, Lu T. Discovery of coumarin derivatives as potent and selective cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) inhibitors with high antitumour activity. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 200:112424. [PMID: 32447197 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Specific inhibition of CDK9 is considered a promising strategy for developing effective anticancer therapeutics. However, most of the reported CDK9 inhibitors are still at an early stage of development and lack selectivity against other CDKs. Herein, we discovered coumarin derivative 30i as a potent CDK9 inhibitor with high selectivity (8300-fold over CDK7). Binding mode analysis illustrated that the substituent coumarin moiety is a critical group for CDK9 selectivity by occupying a flexible hinge/αD region, which is sterically hindered in other CDKs. Compound 30i showed excellent cellular antiproliferative activity, moderate pharmacokinetic property and low hERG inhibition. Moreover, 30i significantly induced tumour growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner without causing an obvious loss of body weight in an MV4-11 xenograft mice model. Altogether, these results suggest that 30i may serve as a potential acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) therapeutics by selectively targeting CDK9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyu Xu
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China; Hainan province Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Tropical Herbs, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Hongmei Li
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Xinren Wang
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Jianhang Huang
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Shuwen Li
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Chenhe Liu
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Ruinan Dong
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Gaoyuan Zhu
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Chunqi Duan
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Fei Jiang
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Yanmin Zhang
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China; Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Yuqin Zhu
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Tianyi Zhang
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Yadong Chen
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, China; Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Weifang Tang
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Tao Lu
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, China; Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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50
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Fan Z, Devlin JR, Hogg SJ, Doyle MA, Harrison PF, Todorovski I, Cluse LA, Knight DA, Sandow JJ, Gregory G, Fox A, Beilharz TH, Kwiatkowski N, Scott NE, Vidakovic AT, Kelly GP, Svejstrup JQ, Geyer M, Gray NS, Vervoort SJ, Johnstone RW. CDK13 cooperates with CDK12 to control global RNA polymerase II processivity. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaaz5041. [PMID: 32917631 PMCID: PMC7190357 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz5041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The RNA polymerase II (POLII)-driven transcription cycle is tightly regulated at distinct checkpoints by cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and their cognate cyclins. The molecular events underpinning transcriptional elongation, processivity, and the CDK-cyclin pair(s) involved remain poorly understood. Using CRISPR-Cas9 homology-directed repair, we generated analog-sensitive kinase variants of CDK12 and CDK13 to probe their individual and shared biological and molecular roles. Single inhibition of CDK12 or CDK13 induced transcriptional responses associated with cellular growth signaling pathways and/or DNA damage, with minimal effects on cell viability. In contrast, dual kinase inhibition potently induced cell death, which was associated with extensive genome-wide transcriptional changes including widespread use of alternative 3' polyadenylation sites. At the molecular level, dual kinase inhibition resulted in the loss of POLII CTD phosphorylation and greatly reduced POLII elongation rates and processivity. These data define substantial redundancy between CDK12 and CDK13 and identify both as fundamental regulators of global POLII processivity and transcription elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Fan
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, 3000 VIC, Australia
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 VIC, Australia
| | - Jennifer R Devlin
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, 3000 VIC, Australia
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 VIC, Australia
| | - Simon J Hogg
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, 3000 VIC, Australia
| | - Maria A Doyle
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, 3000 VIC, Australia
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 VIC, Australia
| | - Paul F Harrison
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, 3800 VIC, Australia
- Monash Bioinformatics Platform, Monash University, Clayton, 3800 VIC, Australia
| | - Izabela Todorovski
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, 3000 VIC, Australia
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 VIC, Australia
| | - Leonie A Cluse
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, 3000 VIC, Australia
| | - Deborah A Knight
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, 3000 VIC, Australia
| | - Jarrod J Sandow
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052 VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3052 VIC, Australia
| | - Gareth Gregory
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, 3000 VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew Fox
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, 3000 VIC, Australia
| | - Traude H Beilharz
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, 3800 VIC, Australia
| | - Nicholas Kwiatkowski
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nichollas E Scott
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 VIC, Australia
| | | | - Gavin P Kelly
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Jesper Q Svejstrup
- Mechanisms of Transcription Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Matthias Geyer
- Institute of Structural Biology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephin J Vervoort
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, 3000 VIC, Australia.
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 VIC, Australia
| | - Ricky W Johnstone
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, 3000 VIC, Australia.
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 VIC, Australia
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