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Wang F, Fu K, Wang Y, Pan C, Wang X, Liu Z, Yang C, Zheng Y, Li X, Lu Y, To KKW, Xia C, Zhang J, Shi Z, Hu Z, Huang M, Fu L. Small-molecule agents for cancer immunotherapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:905-952. [PMID: 38486980 PMCID: PMC10935485 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.12.010] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy, exemplified by the remarkable clinical benefits of the immune checkpoint blockade and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, is revolutionizing cancer therapy. They induce long-term tumor regression and overall survival benefit in many types of cancer. With the advances in our knowledge about the tumor immune microenvironment, remarkable progress has been made in the development of small-molecule drugs for immunotherapy. Small molecules targeting PRR-associated pathways, immune checkpoints, oncogenic signaling, metabolic pathways, cytokine/chemokine signaling, and immune-related kinases have been extensively investigated. Monotherapy of small-molecule immunotherapeutic drugs and their combinations with other antitumor modalities are under active clinical investigations to overcome immune tolerance and circumvent immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance. Here, we review the latest development of small-molecule agents for cancer immunotherapy by targeting defined pathways and highlighting their progress in recent clinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Kai Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yujue Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Can Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xueping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Zeyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Chuan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Ying Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaopeng Li
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, NMPA and State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Kenneth Kin Wah To
- School of Pharmacy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Chenglai Xia
- Affiliated Foshan Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Jianye Zhang
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology, NMPA and State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Zhi Shi
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zeping Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Min Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Liwu Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Esophageal Cancer Institute, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
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Ryu H, Kim H, Park I, Lee M, Park YS, Jin DH, Hur SC, Park J, Lee H. Discovery of Novel, Thienopyridine-Based Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Targeting Tumorigenic RON Splice Variants. ACS Med Chem Lett 2023; 14:1198-1207. [PMID: 37736180 PMCID: PMC10510527 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00206] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Herein, we report the identification, structural optimization, and biological efficacy of thieno[2,3-b]pyridines as potent inhibitors of splice variants of the tyrosine kinase recepteur d'origine nantais (RON). Among synthesized compounds, compound 15f exhibited excellent in vitro kinase inhibition and antiproliferative activity, as well as in vivo antineoplastic efficacy against RON splice variant-expressing tumors. Moreover, compound 15f with excellent pharmacokinetics demonstrated significant activity with greater tumor growth inhibition (74.9% at 10 mg/kg) than compounds 2 and 4 in a patient-derived xenograft model. Collectively, 15f represents a promising, novel anticancer agent targeting RON splice variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Ryu
- Wellmarkerbio
Co., Ltd., Seoul 05855, Republic
of Korea
| | - Hyojin Kim
- Wellmarkerbio
Co., Ltd., Seoul 05855, Republic
of Korea
| | - Inwon Park
- Wellmarkerbio
Co., Ltd., Seoul 05855, Republic
of Korea
| | - Minki Lee
- Wellmarkerbio
Co., Ltd., Seoul 05855, Republic
of Korea
| | - Yoon Sun Park
- Wellmarkerbio
Co., Ltd., Seoul 05855, Republic
of Korea
| | - Dong-Hoon Jin
- Wellmarkerbio
Co., Ltd., Seoul 05855, Republic
of Korea
- Department
of Convergence Medicine, Asan Institute for Life Science, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
- Department
of Pharmacology, University of Ulsan College
of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-chul Hur
- Wellmarkerbio
Co., Ltd., Seoul 05855, Republic
of Korea
| | - Junho Park
- Wellmarkerbio
Co., Ltd., Seoul 05855, Republic
of Korea
| | - Hyunho Lee
- Wellmarkerbio
Co., Ltd., Seoul 05855, Republic
of Korea
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Jung YY, Um JY, Sethi G, Ahn KS. Fangchinoline abrogates growth and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma by negative regulation of c-met/HGF and its associated downstream signaling pathways. Phytother Res 2022; 36:4542-4557. [PMID: 35867025 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Among all cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a lethal disease with limited treatment options. In this study, we have analyzed the possible inhibitory effects of Fangchinoline (FCN) on c-Met, a protein known to regulate the rapid phosphorylation of downstream signals, as well as mediate aberrant growth, metastasis, survival, and motility in cancer. FCN inhibited the activation of c-Met and its downstream signals PI3K, AKT, mTOR, MEK, and ERK under in vitro settings. Moreover, c-Met gene silencing lead to suppression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MEK/ERK signaling pathways, and induced apoptotic cell death upon exposure to FCN. In addition, FCN markedly inhibited the expression of the various oncogenic proteins such as Bcl-2/xl, survivin, IAP-1/2, cyclin D1, and COX-2. In vivo studies in HepG2 cells xenograft mouse model showed that FCN could significantly attenuate the tumor volume and weight, without affecting significant loss in the body weight. Similar to in vitro studies, expression level of c-Met and PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MEK/ERK signals was also suppressed by FCN in the tissues obtained from mice. Therefore, the novel findings of this study suggest that FCN can potentially function as a potent anticancer agent against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Yun Jung
- Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jae-Young Um
- Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kwang Seok Ahn
- Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
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Anti-neoplastic Effect of Ginkgolide C through Modulating c-Met Phosphorylation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218303. [PMID: 33167504 PMCID: PMC7664003 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ginkgolide C (GGC) derived from Ginkgo biloba, has been reported to exhibit various biological functions. However, the anti-neoplastic effect of GGC and its mechanisms in liver cancer have not been studied previously. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition receptor (c-Met) pathway can regulate tumor growth and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-neoplastic effect of GGC against HCC cells and we observed that GGC inhibited HGF-induced c-Met and c-Met downstream oncogenic pathways, such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MEK/ERK. In addition, GGC also suppressed the proliferation of expression of diverse tumorigenic proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Survivin, IAP-1, IAP-2, Cyclin D1, and COX-2) and induced apoptosis. Interestingly, the silencing of c-Met by small interfering RNA (siRNA) mitigated c-Met expression and enhanced GGC-induced apoptosis. Moreover, it was noted that GGC also significantly reduced the invasion and migration of HCC cells. Overall, the data clearly demonstrate that GGC exerts its anti-neoplastic activity through modulating c-Met phosphorylation and may be used as an effective therapy against HCC.
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Farina AR, Cappabianca L, Sebastiano M, Zelli V, Guadagni S, Mackay AR. Hypoxia-induced alternative splicing: the 11th Hallmark of Cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2020; 39:110. [PMID: 32536347 PMCID: PMC7294618 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01616-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia-induced alternative splicing is a potent driving force in tumour pathogenesis and progression. In this review, we update currents concepts of hypoxia-induced alternative splicing and how it influences tumour biology. Following brief descriptions of tumour-associated hypoxia and the pre-mRNA splicing process, we review the many ways hypoxia regulates alternative splicing and how hypoxia-induced alternative splicing impacts each individual hallmark of cancer. Hypoxia-induced alternative splicing integrates chemical and cellular tumour microenvironments, underpins continuous adaptation of the tumour cellular microenvironment responsible for metastatic progression and plays clear roles in oncogene activation and autonomous tumour growth, tumor suppressor inactivation, tumour cell immortalization, angiogenesis, tumour cell evasion of programmed cell death and the anti-tumour immune response, a tumour-promoting inflammatory response, adaptive metabolic re-programming, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, invasion and genetic instability, all of which combine to promote metastatic disease. The impressive number of hypoxia-induced alternative spliced protein isoforms that characterize tumour progression, classifies hypoxia-induced alternative splicing as the 11th hallmark of cancer, and offers a fertile source of potential diagnostic/prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Rosella Farina
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Lucia Cappabianca
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Michela Sebastiano
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Veronica Zelli
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Stefano Guadagni
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Andrew Reay Mackay
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
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6
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RON receptor tyrosine kinase in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Pathogenic mechanism in malignancy and pharmaceutical target for therapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1873:188360. [PMID: 32234337 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers with poor prognosis and high mortality. Molecular aberrations associated with PDAC pathogenesis and progression have been extensively investigated. Nevertheless, these findings have not been translated into clinical practice. Lack of therapeutics for PDAC treatment is another challenge. Recent application of molecularly targeted and immunoregulatory therapies appears to be disappointing. Thus, discovery of new targets and therapeutics is urgently needed to combat this malignant disease. The RON receptor tyrosine kinase is a tumorigenic determinant in PDAC malignancy, which provides the rationale to target RON for PDAC treatment. In this review, we summarize the latest evidence of RON in PDAC pathogenesis and the development of anti-RON antibody-drug conjugates for potential PDAC therapy. The finding that anti-RON antibody-drug conjugates show efficacy in preclinical animal models highlights the potential of this novel class of anti-cancer biotherapeutics in future clinical trials.
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7
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Yao HP, Feng L, Suthe SR, Chen LH, Weng TH, Hu CY, Jun ES, Wu ZG, Wang WL, Kim SC, Tong XM, Wang MH. Therapeutic efficacy, pharmacokinetic profiles, and toxicological activities of humanized antibody-drug conjugate Zt/g4-MMAE targeting RON receptor tyrosine kinase for cancer therapy. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:75. [PMID: 30871619 PMCID: PMC6419354 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0525-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant expression of the RON receptor tyrosine kinase is a pathogenic feature and a validated drug target in various types of cancers. Currently, therapeutic antibodies targeting RON for cancer therapy are under intensive evaluation. Here we report the development and validation of a novel humanized anti-RON antibody-drug conjugate for cancer therapy. METHODS Antibody humanization was achieved by grafting sequences of complementarity-determining regions from mouse monoclonal antibody Zt/g4 into human IgG1/κ acceptor frameworks. The selected humanized Zt/g4 subclone H1L3 was conjugated with monomethyl auristatin E using a dipeptide linker to form H-Zt/g4-MMAE. Pharmacokinetic analysis of H-Zt/g4-MMAE was determined using hydrophobic interaction chromatography and a MMAE ADC ELISA kit. Biochemical and biological assays were used for measuring RON expression, internalization, cell viability and death. Therapeutic efficacies of H-Zt/g4-MMAE were validated in vivo using three pancreatic cancer xenograft models. Toxicological activities of H-Zt/g4-MMAE were determined in mouse and cynomolgus monkey. RESULTS H-Zt/g4-MMAE had a drug to antibody ratio of 3.77:1 and was highly stable in human plasma with a dissociation rate less than 5% within a 20 day period. H-Zt/g4-MMAE displayed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile in both mouse and cynomolgus monkey. In vitro, H-Zt/g4-MMAE induced RON internalization, which results in killing of pancreatic cancer cells with IC50 values at 10-20 nM. In vivo, H-Zt/g4-MMAE inhibited pancreatic cancer xenograft growth with tumoristatic concentrations at 1~3 mg/kg bodyweight. Significantly, H-Zt/g4-MMAE eradicated tumors across multiple xenograft models regardless their chemoresistant and metastatic statuses. Moreover, H-Zt/g4-MMAE inhibited and eradicated xenografts mediated by pancreatic cancer stem-like cells and by primary cells from patient-derived tumors. Toxicologically, H-Zt/g4-MMAE is well tolerated in mice up to 60 mg/kg. In cynomolgus monkey, H-Zt/g4-MMAE up to 30 mg/kg had a manageable and reversible toxicity profile. CONCLUSIONS H-Zt/g4-MMAE is superior in eradication of pancreatic cancer xenografts with favorable pharmacokinetic profiles and manageable toxicological activities. These findings warrant the transition of H-Zt/g4-MMAE into clinical trials in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang-Ping Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis & Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liang Feng
- Cancer Biology Research Center, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy, Amarillo, TX, USA
| | - Sreedhar Reddy Suthe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy, Amarillo, TX, USA
| | - Ling-Hui Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Precision Diagnosis & Treatment of Hepatic & Pancreatic Oncology, Zhejiang Province, China.,Division of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tian-Hao Weng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis & Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen-Yu Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis & Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Eun Sung Jun
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Zhi-Gang Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Precision Diagnosis & Treatment of Hepatic & Pancreatic Oncology, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Wei-Lin Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Precision Diagnosis & Treatment of Hepatic & Pancreatic Oncology, Zhejiang Province, China. .,Division of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Song Cheol Kim
- Biliary and Pancreatic Cancer Center at Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Xiang-Min Tong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Ming-Hai Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis & Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. .,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy, Amarillo, TX, USA. .,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Precision Diagnosis & Treatment of Hepatic & Pancreatic Oncology, Zhejiang Province, China.
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8
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Chakedis J, French R, Babicky M, Jaquish D, Mose E, Cheng P, Holman P, Howard H, Miyamoto J, Porras P, Walterscheid Z, Schultz-Fademrecht C, Esdar C, Schadt O, Eickhoff J, Lowy AM. Characterization of RON protein isoforms in pancreatic cancer: implications for biology and therapeutics. Oncotarget 2018; 7:45959-45975. [PMID: 27323855 PMCID: PMC5216774 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The RON tyrosine kinase receptor is under investigation as a novel target in pancreatic cancer. While RON mutations are uncommon, RON isoforms are produced in cancer cells via a variety of mechanisms. In this study we sought to: 1) characterize RON isoform expression in pancreatic cancer, 2) investigate mechanisms that regulate isoform expression, and 3) determine how various isoforms effect gene expression, oncogenic phenotypes and responses to RON directed therapies. We quantified RON transcripts in human pancreatic cancer and found expression levels 2500 fold that of normal pancreas with RON isoform expression comprising nearly 50% of total transcript. RNA seq studies revealed that the short form (sfRON) and P5P6 isoforms which have ligand independent activity, induce markedly different patterns of gene expression than wild type RON. We found that transcription of RON isoforms is regulated by promoter hypermethylation as the DNA demethylating agent 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine decreased all RON transcripts in a subset of pancreatic cancer cell lines. The viability of sfRON-expressing HPDE cells was reduced by a RON specific small molecule inhibitor, while a therapeutic monoclonal antibody had no demonstrable effects. In summary, RON isoforms may comprise half of total RON transcript in human pancreatic cancer and their expression is regulated at least in part by promoter hypermethylation. RON isoforms activate distinct patterns of gene expression, have transforming activity and differential responses to RON directed therapies. These findings further our understanding of RON biology in pancreatic cancer and have implications for therapeutic strategies to target RON activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffery Chakedis
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Randall French
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michele Babicky
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Dawn Jaquish
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Evangeline Mose
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Peter Cheng
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Holman
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Haleigh Howard
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jaclyn Miyamoto
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Paula Porras
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Zakk Walterscheid
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Andrew M Lowy
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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9
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Han DH, Kang CM, Lee SW, Hwang HK, Lee WJ. A missing link between RON expression and oncological outcomes in resected left-sided pancreatic cancer. Oncol Lett 2017; 14:4225-4230. [PMID: 28943931 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.6696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alteration and activation of recepteur d'origine nantais (RON) expression is known to be associated with cancer progression and decreased survival in various types of human cancer, including pancreatic cancer. Therefore, in the present study, RON expression levels were determined in resected left-sided pancreatic cancer to evaluate the potential oncological role of RON in the clinical setting of distal pancreatic cancer. From January 2005 to December 2011, a total of 57 patients underwent radical distal pancreatectomy for left-sided pancreatic cancer. Ductal adenocarcinoma was confirmed in all patients. Among these patients, 17 patients who received preoperative neoadjuvant treatment and 7 patients without available paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were excluded from the present study. RON expression in a the pancreatic cancer cell lines ASPC-1, BxPC-3, MiaPaCa-3 and Panc-1, as well as in resected left-sided pancreatic cancer specimens was determined by Western blot analysis. RON and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression in resected left-sided pancreatic cancer was also evaluated by immunohistochemistry using pre-diluted anti-RON and anti-VEGF antibodies. An association was identified between the oncological outcome and RON overexpression. Increased levels of RON expression were observed in two pancreatic cancer cell lines, AsPC-1 and BxPC-3. RON overexpression was detected in specimens from 15/33 patients (45.5%) using immunohistochemistry. No significant association was identified between RON overexpression and VEGF overexpression (25.5 vs. 87.9%; P=0.667). No significant differences in disease-free survival or disease-specific survival associated with RON overexpression were identified. Although the results of previous studies have suggested that RON is a potential target for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, in the present study no association between RON overexpression and any adverse oncological effect was identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dai Hoon Han
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Pancreaticobiliary Cancer Clinic, Yonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul 120-752, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Moo Kang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Pancreaticobiliary Cancer Clinic, Yonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul 120-752, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Whan Lee
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Pancreaticobiliary Cancer Clinic, Yonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul 120-752, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Kyoung Hwang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Pancreaticobiliary Cancer Clinic, Yonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul 120-752, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Jung Lee
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Pancreaticobiliary Cancer Clinic, Yonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul 120-752, Republic of Korea
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10
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A mini-review of c-Met as a potential therapeutic target in melanoma. Biomed Pharmacother 2017; 88:194-202. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.01.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 12/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
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11
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Kim JW, Lee MN, Jeong BC, Oh SH, Kook MS, Koh JT. Chemical inhibitors of c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase stimulate osteoblast differentiation and bone regeneration. Eur J Pharmacol 2017; 806:10-17. [PMID: 28322831 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2016] [Revised: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase and its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), have been recently introduced to negatively regulate bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-induced osteogenesis. However, the effect of chemical inhibitors of c-Met receptor on osteoblast differentiation process has not been examined, especially the applicability of c-Met chemical inhibitors on in vivo bone regeneration. In this study, we demonstrated that chemical inhibitors of c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase, SYN1143 and SGX523, could potentiate the differentiation of precursor cells to osteoblasts and stimulate regeneration in calvarial bone defects of mice. Treatment with SYN1143 or SGX523 inhibited HGF-induced c-Met phosphorylation in MC3T3-E1 and C3H10T1/2 cells. Cell proliferation of MC3T3-E1 or C3H10T1/2 was not significantly affected by the concentrations of these inhibitors. Co-treatment with chemical inhibitor of c-Met and osteogenic inducing media enhanced osteoblast-specific genes expression and calcium nodule formation accompanied by increased Runx2 expression via c-Met receptor-dependent but Erk-Smad signaling independent pathway. Notably, the administration of these c-Met inhibitors significantly repaired critical-sized calvarial bone defects. Collectively, our results suggest that chemical inhibitors of c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase might be used as novel therapeutics to induce bone regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Woo Kim
- Research Center for Biomineralization Disorders, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; Department of Pharmacology and Dental Therapeutics, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Nam Lee
- Research Center for Biomineralization Disorders, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; Department of Pharmacology and Dental Therapeutics, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Chul Jeong
- Research Center for Biomineralization Disorders, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; Department of Pharmacology, Seonam University Medical School, Namwon, Chonbuk 55724, Republic of Korea
| | - Sin-Hye Oh
- Research Center for Biomineralization Disorders, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; Department of Pharmacology and Dental Therapeutics, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Suk Kook
- Research Center for Biomineralization Disorders, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Tae Koh
- Research Center for Biomineralization Disorders, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; Department of Pharmacology and Dental Therapeutics, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea.
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12
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Strategies of targeting the extracellular domain of RON tyrosine kinase receptor for cancer therapy and drug delivery. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2016; 142:2429-2446. [PMID: 27503093 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-016-2214-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cancer is one of the most important life-threatening diseases in the world. The current efforts to combat cancer are being focused on molecular-targeted therapies. The main purpose of such approaches is based on targeting cancer cell-specific molecules to minimize toxicity for the normal cells. RON (Recepteur d'Origine Nantais) tyrosine kinase receptor is one of the promising targets in cancer-targeted therapy and drug delivery. METHODS In this review, we will summarize the available agents against extracellular domain of RON with potential antitumor activities. RESULTS The presented antibodies and antibody drug conjugates against RON in this review showed wide spectrum of in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities promising the hope for them entering the clinical trials. CONCLUSION Due to critical role of extracellular domain of RON in receptor activation, the development of therapeutic agents against this region could lead to fruitful outcome in cancer therapy.
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Boezio AA, Copeland KW, Rex K, K. Albrecht B, Bauer D, Bellon SF, Boezio C, Broome MA, Choquette D, Coxon A, Dussault I, Hirai S, Lewis R, Lin MHJ, Lohman J, Liu J, Peterson EA, Potashman M, Shimanovich R, Teffera Y, Whittington DA, Vaida KR, Harmange JC. Discovery of (R)-6-(1-(8-Fluoro-6-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-3-yl)ethyl)-3-(2-methoxyethoxy)-1,6-naphthyridin-5(6H)-one (AMG 337), a Potent and Selective Inhibitor of MET with High Unbound Target Coverage and Robust In Vivo Antitumor Activity. J Med Chem 2016; 59:2328-42. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro A. Boezio
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Katrina W. Copeland
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Karen Rex
- Amgen Incorporated, One Amgen
Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, California 91320, United States
| | - Brian K. Albrecht
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - David Bauer
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Steven F. Bellon
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Christiane Boezio
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Martin A. Broome
- Amgen Incorporated, One Amgen
Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, California 91320, United States
| | - Deborah Choquette
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Angela Coxon
- Amgen Incorporated, One Amgen
Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, California 91320, United States
| | - Isabelle Dussault
- Amgen Incorporated, One Amgen
Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, California 91320, United States
| | - Satoko Hirai
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Richard Lewis
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Min-Hwa Jasmine Lin
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Julia Lohman
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Jingzhou Liu
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Emily A. Peterson
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Michele Potashman
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Roman Shimanovich
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Yohannes Teffera
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | | | - Karina R. Vaida
- Amgen Incorporated, 360 Binney
Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
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14
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Mereiter S, Magalhães A, Adamczyk B, Jin C, Almeida A, Drici L, Ibáñez-Vea M, Gomes C, Ferreira JA, Afonso LP, Santos LL, Larsen MR, Kolarich D, Karlsson NG, Reis CA. Glycomic analysis of gastric carcinoma cells discloses glycans as modulators of RON receptor tyrosine kinase activation in cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2015; 1860:1795-808. [PMID: 26721331 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2015.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Revised: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Terminal α2-3 and α2-6 sialylation of glycans precludes further chain elongation, leading to the biosynthesis of cancer relevant epitopes such as sialyl-Lewis X (SLe(X)). SLe(X) overexpression is associated with tumor aggressive phenotype and patients' poor prognosis. METHODS MKN45 gastric carcinoma cells transfected with the sialyltransferase ST3GAL4 were established as a model overexpressing sialylated terminal glycans. We have evaluated at the structural level the glycome and the sialoproteome of this gastric cancer cell line applying liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. We further validated an identified target expression by proximity ligation assay in gastric tumors. RESULTS Our results showed that ST3GAL4 overexpression leads to several glycosylation alterations, including reduced O-glycan extension and decreased bisected and increased branched N-glycans. A shift from α2-6 towards α2-3 linked sialylated N-glycans was also observed. Sialoproteomic analysis further identified 47 proteins with significantly increased sialylated N-glycans. These included integrins, insulin receptor, carcinoembryonic antigens and RON receptor tyrosine kinase, which are proteins known to be key players in malignancy. Further analysis of RON confirmed its modification with SLe(X) and the concomitant activation. SLe(X) and RON co-expression was validated in gastric tumors. CONCLUSION The overexpression of ST3GAL4 interferes with the overall glycophenotype of cancer cells affecting a multitude of key proteins involved in malignancy. Aberrant glycosylation of the RON receptor was shown as an alternative mechanism of oncogenic activation. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE This study provides novel targets and points to an integrative tumor glycomic/proteomic-profiling for gastric cancer patients' stratification. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Glycans in personalised medicine" Guest Editor: Professor Gordan Lauc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Mereiter
- I3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto - IPATIMUP, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Biomedical Sciences of Abel Salazar - ICBAS, University of Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Magalhães
- I3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto - IPATIMUP, Porto, Portugal
| | - Barbara Adamczyk
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Chunsheng Jin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Andreia Almeida
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14424 Potsdam, Germany; Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lylia Drici
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Maria Ibáñez-Vea
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Catarina Gomes
- I3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto - IPATIMUP, Porto, Portugal
| | - José A Ferreira
- I3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto - IPATIMUP, Porto, Portugal; Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto, Portugal
| | - Luis P Afonso
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto, Portugal
| | - Lúcio L Santos
- Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto, Portugal; Department of Surgical Oncology, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto, Portugal
| | - Martin R Larsen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Daniel Kolarich
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Niclas G Karlsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Celso A Reis
- I3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto - IPATIMUP, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Biomedical Sciences of Abel Salazar - ICBAS, University of Porto, Portugal; Medical Faculty, University of Porto, Portugal.
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15
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Zhou DH, Li C, Yang LN. Variant RONΔ160 of the RON receptor tyrosine kinase promotes the growth and invasion in vitro and in vivo in gastric cancer cell lines. Cancer Cell Int 2015; 15:9. [PMID: 25685065 PMCID: PMC4326440 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-015-0157-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recepteur d'origine nantais (RON) is a receptor tyrosine kinase whose overexpression has been observed in human gastric cancers. This study aimed to determine whether overexpression of the variant RONΔ160 could induce tumorigenicity of gastric cancer cells in vitro or in vivo, and whether its specific small molecule inhibitor (Compound I) could inhibit the effect of RONΔ160. METHODS We constructed human gastric cancer cell line MGC-803 that was stably transfected with a recombinant plasmid expressing RONΔ160, and the effect of RONΔ160 overexpression and macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP) activation on proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of MGC-803 cells were evaluated. Tumor-bearing mice with gastric cancer cells were used to analyze the effects of RONΔ160 overexpression and Compound I on implanted tumor growth. RESULTS In vitro, overexpression of RONΔ160 in MGC-803 cells resulted changes to their cell morphology, and promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion. In addition, overexpression of RONΔ160 increased the proportion of cells in the S phase. The effect of RONΔ160 was significantly enhanced by induction of MSP inducing (p < 0.05). In vivo, RONΔ160 promoted the growth of MGC-803 cells in nude mice, including increased tumor size and weight, and lower tumor incubation period. The Compound I inhibited the tumorigenic abilities of RONΔ160 (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that overexpression of the variant RONΔ160 altered the phenotype and tumorigenicity of MGC-803 cells. Its specific small molecule inhibitor could inhibit the effect of RONΔ160. Therefore, the variant RONΔ160 may become a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Hui Zhou
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003 China
| | - Chao Li
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003 China
| | - Li-Na Yang
- Department of Oncology, Dongnan Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Zhangzhou, China
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Wang X, Yennawar N, Hankey PA. Autoinhibition of the Ron receptor tyrosine kinase by the juxtamembrane domain. Cell Commun Signal 2014; 12:28. [PMID: 24739671 PMCID: PMC4021555 DOI: 10.1186/1478-811x-12-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Ron receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) has been implicated in the progression of a number of carcinomas, thus understanding the regulatory mechanisms governing its activity is of potential therapeutic significance. A critical role for the juxtamembrane domain in regulating RTK activity is emerging, however the mechanism by which this regulation occurs varies considerably from receptor to receptor. Results Unlike other RTKs described to date, tyrosines in the juxtamembrane domain of Ron are inconsequential for receptor activation. Rather, we have identified an acidic region in the juxtamembrane domain of Ron that plays a central role in promoting receptor autoinhibition. Furthermore, our studies demonstrate that phosphorylation of Y1198 in the kinase domain promotes Ron activation, likely by relieving the inhibitory constraints imposed by the juxtamembrane domain. Conclusions Taken together, our experimental data and molecular modeling provide a better understanding of the mechanisms governing Ron activation, which will lay the groundwork for the development of novel therapeutic approaches for targeting Ron in human malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pamela A Hankey
- Graduate Program in Cell and Developmental Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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17
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The RON receptor tyrosine kinase in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis and its potential implications for future targeted therapies. Pancreas 2014; 43:183-9. [PMID: 24518495 PMCID: PMC4009395 DOI: 10.1097/mpa.0000000000000088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer remains a devastating disease with a mortality rate that has not changed substantially in decades. Novel therapies are therefore desperately needed. The RON receptor tyrosine kinase has been identified as an important mediator of KRAS oncogene addiction and is overexpressed in the majority of pancreatic cancers. Preclinical studies show that inhibition of RON function decreases pancreatic cancer cell migration, invasion, and survival and can sensitize pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapy. This article reviews the current state of knowledge regarding RON biology and pancreatic cancer and discusses its potential as a therapeutic target.
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18
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Zeng JY, Sharma S, Zhou YQ, Yao HP, Hu X, Zhang R, Wang MH. Synergistic activities of MET/RON inhibitor BMS-777607 and mTOR inhibitor AZD8055 to polyploid cells derived from pancreatic cancer and cancer stem cells. Mol Cancer Ther 2014; 13:37-48. [PMID: 24233399 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-13-0242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Tyrosine kinase inhibitor BMS-777067 is an inhibitor of RON/MET receptor tyrosine kinases currently under clinical trials. Here, we report the synergistic activity of BMS-777607 in combination with mTOR inhibitor AZD8055 in killing chemoresistant pancreatic cancer and cancer stem cells. Treatment of pancreatic cancer L3.6pl cells with BMS-777607 alone inhibited clonogenic growth and moderately induced apoptotic death. However, BMS-777607 caused extensive polyploidy in L3.6pl cells through inhibition of aurora kinase B activity, independent of RON expression. In contrast, L3.6pl-derived cancer stem cells were highly resistant to BMS-777607-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis. The effect of BMS-777607 on induction of cancer stem cell polyploidy was also weak. BMS-777607-induced polyploidy features a predominant cell population with 8N chromosome content in both L3.6pl and cancer stem cells. These cells also showed decreased sensitivity toward chemotherapeutics by increased survival of IC(50) values in response to doxorubicin, cisplatin, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracial, and gemcitabine. Among a panel of chemical inhibitors that target different signaling proteins, we found that BMS-777607 in combination with mTOR inhibitor AZD8055 exerted synergistic effects on L3.6pl and cancer stem cells. More than 70% of L3.6pl and cancer stem cells lost their viability when both inhibitors were used. Specifically, BMS-777607 in combination with inhibition of mTORC2, but not mTORC1, was responsible for the observed synergism. Our findings demonstrate that BMS-777607 at therapeutic doses exerts inhibitory activities on pancreatic cancer cells but also induces polyploidy insensitive to chemotherapeutics. Combination of BMS-777607 with AZD8055 achieves the maximal cytotoxic effect on pancreatic cancer and cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Ying Zeng
- Corresponding Author: M.H. Wang, Department of Biomedical Sciences; School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 1406 South Coulter Street, Suite 1117, Amarillo, TX 79106.
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Zhu K, Kong X, Zhao D, Liang Z, Luo C. c-MET kinase inhibitors: a patent review (2011 – 2013). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2013; 24:217-30. [DOI: 10.1517/13543776.2014.864279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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20
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Knockdown of RON receptor kinase delays but does not prevent tumor progression while enhancing HGF/MET signaling in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Oncogenesis 2013; 2:e76. [PMID: 24100611 PMCID: PMC3816215 DOI: 10.1038/oncsis.2013.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Revised: 06/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, the role of RON (receptor originated from nantes) in tumor progression was further investigated in context with MET expression and activity. RON and MET expressions were not detected in an immortalized normal human pancreas cell line (HPNE), but were co-expressed in five of seven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell lines (PANC-1, BxPC-3, Capan-2, CFPAC-1 and AsPC-1). RON expression was knocked down by an shRNA approach in two PDAC cell lines (BxPC-3 and CFPAC-1) that co-express MET. Knockdown of RON significantly inhibited cell growth, clonogenicity and macrophage stimulating protein (MSP), RON ligand induced invasion by in vitro assays and significantly inhibited tumor growth (P<0.001) and metastasis (P<0.009) in an orthotopic pancreatic cancer mouse model at week 7. However, by week 9, the mice implanted with RON knockdown cells had developed similar size primary tumors and metastases compared with that seen in the control group at week 7. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry analyses showed that MET remains highly expressed in cells and tumor tissues where RON was knocked down. Moreover, knockdown of RON did not prevent hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) stimulated invasion in in vitro Matrigel assays. Treating cells with MSP induced the transphosphorylation of MET, suggesting that signaling may be modulated by relative levels of RON and MET receptors and their corresponding ligands. To this point, HGF treatment of RON knockdown cells caused an increase in intensity and duration of MET signaling, suggesting that MET signaling may compensate for loss of RON signaling. Treatment of cells with an MET inhibitor, PHA-665752, had minimal effects on inhibiting cell growth but significantly inhibited cell invasion induce by ligands for either MET or RON. These results suggest that HGF/MET signaling may have a more important role in tumor cell invasion and metastasis rather than in tumor cell proliferation. This study indicates that specific inhibition of RON delays but does not prevent progression of PDAC. Moreover, specific signaling may be modulated by the interaction of RON and MET receptors. This dynamic interaction of RON and MET in pancreatic cancer cells suggests that dual targeting of both RON and MET will be preferable to inhibition of either target alone.
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21
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Wang Q, Quan H, Zhao J, Xie C, Wang L, Lou L. RON confers lapatinib resistance in HER2-positive breast cancer cells. Cancer Lett 2013; 340:43-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2013.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2013] [Revised: 06/04/2013] [Accepted: 06/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Wang MH, Zhang R, Zhou YQ, Yao HP. Pathogenesis of RON receptor tyrosine kinase in cancer cells: activation mechanism, functional crosstalk, and signaling addiction. J Biomed Res 2013; 27:345-56. [PMID: 24086167 PMCID: PMC3783819 DOI: 10.7555/jbr.27.20130038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2013] [Accepted: 05/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The RON receptor tyrosine kinase, a member of the MET proto-oncogene family, is a pathogenic factor implicated in tumor malignancy. Specifically, aberrations in RON signaling result in increased cancer cell growth, survival, invasion, angiogenesis, and drug resistance. Biochemical events such as ligand binding, receptor overexpression, generation of structure-defected variants, and point mutations in the kinase domain contribute to RON signaling activation. Recently, functional crosstalk between RON and signaling proteins such as MET and EFGR has emerged as an additional mechanism for RON activation, which is critical for tumorigenic development. The RON signaling crosstalk acts either as a regulatory feedback loop that strengthens or enhances tumorigenic phenotype of cancer cells or serves as a signaling compensatory pathway providing a growth/survival advantage for cancer cells to escape targeted therapy. Moreover, viral oncoproteins derived from Friend leukemia or Epstein-Barr viruses interact with RON to drive viral oncogenesis. In cancer cells, RON signaling is integrated into cellular signaling network essential for cancer cell growth and survival. These activities provide the molecular basis of targeting RON for cancer treatment. In this review, we will discuss recent data that uncover the mechanisms of RON activation in cancer cells, review evidence of RON signaling crosstalk relevant to cancer malignancy, and emphasize the significance of the RON signaling addiction by cancer cells for tumor therapy. Understanding aberrant RON signaling will not only provide insight into the mechanisms of tumor pathogenesis, but also lead to the development of novel strategies for molecularly targeted cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hai Wang
- Cancer Biology Research Center, ; Department of Biomedical Sciences, and
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23
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Shin JM, Jeong YJ, Cho HJ, Park KK, Chung IK, Lee IK, Kwak JY, Chang HW, Kim CH, Moon SK, Kim WJ, Choi YH, Chang YC. Melittin suppresses HIF-1α/VEGF expression through inhibition of ERK and mTOR/p70S6K pathway in human cervical carcinoma cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69380. [PMID: 23936001 PMCID: PMC3720276 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 06/08/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Melittin (MEL), a major component of bee venom, has been associated with various diseases including arthritis, rheumatism and various cancers. In this study, the anti-angiogenic effects of MEL in CaSki cells that were responsive to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) were examined. Methodology/Principal Findings MEL decreased the EGF-induced hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein and significantly regulated angiogenesis and tumor progression. We found that inhibition of the HIF-1α protein level is due to the shortened half-life by MEL. Mechanistically, MEL specifically inhibited the EGF-induced HIF-1α expression by suppressing the phosphorylation of ERK, mTOR and p70S6K. It also blocked the EGF-induced DNA binding activity of HIF-1α and the secretion of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Furthermore, the chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay revealed that MEL reduced the binding of HIF-1α to the VEGF promoter HRE region. The anti-angiogenesis effects of MEL were confirmed through a matrigel plus assay. Conclusions MEL specifically suppressed EGF-induced VEGF secretion and new blood vessel formation by inhibiting HIF-1α. These results suggest that MEL may inhibit human cervical cancer progression and angiogenesis by inhibiting HIF-1α and VEGF expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Moon Shin
- Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Jeong Jeong
- Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Ji Cho
- Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwan-Kyu Park
- Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Il-Kyung Chung
- Department of Biotechnology, Catholic University of Daegu, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Kyu Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Young Kwak
- Department of Biochemistry, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeun-Wook Chang
- College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheorl-Ho Kim
- Department of Biological Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Kwon Moon
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Ansung, Republic of Korea
| | - Wun-Jae Kim
- Personalized Tumor Engineering Research Center, Department of Urology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yung-Hyun Choi
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongeui University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Chae Chang
- Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Since the discovery of MSP (macrophage-stimulating protein; also known as MST1 and hepatocyte growth factor-like (HGFL)) as the ligand for the receptor tyrosine kinase RON (also known as MST1R) in the early 1990s, the roles of this signalling axis in cancer pathogenesis has been extensively studied in various model systems. Both in vitro and in vivo evidence has revealed that MSP-RON signalling is important for the invasive growth of different types of cancers. Currently, small-molecule inhibitors and antibodies blocking RON signalling are under investigation. Substantial responses have been achieved in human tumour xenograft models, laying the foundation for clinical validation. In this Review, we discuss recent advances that demonstrate the importance of MSP-RON signalling in cancer and its potential as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang-Ping Yao
- Viral Oncogenesis Section in State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis & Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P. R. China
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Sharma S, Zeng JY, Zhuang CM, Zhou YQ, Yao HP, Hu X, Zhang R, Wang MH. Small-molecule inhibitor BMS-777607 induces breast cancer cell polyploidy with increased resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy agents. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:725-36. [PMID: 23468529 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-12-1079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The RON receptor tyrosine kinase is a therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Here, we report therapeutic effect and phenotypic change of breast cancer cells in response to BMS-777607, a RON tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Treatment of breast cancer cells with BMS-777607 at therapeutic doses inhibited cancerous clonogenic growth but had only minimal effect on cell apoptosis. Significantly, BMS-777607 induced extensive polyploidy with multiple sets of chromosomes in cancer cells. This effect is independent of RON expression. Knockdown of RON in T-47D and ZR-75-1 cells by specific siRNA did not prevent polyploid formation. Immunofluorescent analysis of α-tubulin and γ-tubulin expression in polyploid cells revealed that BMS-777607 disrupts bipolar spindle formation and causes multipolar-like microtubule assembly. Also, both metaphase equatorial alignment and chromosomal segregation were absent in polyploid cells. These results suggest that cellular mitosis arrests at prophase/pro-metaphase and fails to undergo cytokinesis. By analyzing kinase-inhibitory profiles, aurora kinase B was identified as the target molecule inhibited by BMS-777607. In BMS-777607-treated cells, aurora kinase B was inhibited followed by protein degradation. Moreover, BMS-777607 inhibited Ser10 phosphorylation of histone H3, a substrate of aurora kinase B. Chemosensitivity analysis indicated the resistance of polyploid cells toward chemotherapeutics. Treatment with doxorubicin, bleomycin, methotrexate, and paclitaxel significantly increased cellular IC50 values. These findings highlight the theory that BMS-777607 acts as a multikinase inhibitor at therapeutic doses and is capable of inducing polyploidy by inhibiting aurora kinase B. Increased resistance of polyploid cells to cytotoxic chemotherapeutics could have a negative impact on targeted cancer therapy using BMS-777607.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharad Sharma
- Cancer Biology Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
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Chou YC, Chen CL, Yeh TH, Lin SJ, Chen MR, Doong SL, Lu J, Tsai CH. Involvement of recepteur d'origine nantais receptor tyrosine kinase in Epstein-Barr virus-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its metastasis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2012; 181:1773-81. [PMID: 22974584 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2012.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2012] [Revised: 06/05/2012] [Accepted: 07/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characteristic for its strong association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and high metastatic rate. Recently, overexpressed recepteur d'origine nantais (RON) (MST1R), receptor tyrosine kinase has been reported in human cancers and tumor metastasis. Therefore, the role of RON in EBV-associated NPC and its metastasis was investigated. Here we show that RON was found in NPC but not in control tissues. A significant correlation of latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) and RON expression was found in NPC (Pearson's χ(2) test; P = 0.0023). At the molecular level, LMP1 stimulates nuclear factor-κB binding to the RON promoter through its carboxyl-terminal activation region 1 to induce expression of RON. Knockdown of RON in cells expressing LMP1 significantly reverses LMP1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and suppresses LMP1-induced cell migration and invasion. These results suggest an important role of RON in the tumorigenesis and metastasis of NPC and RON may be a novel therapeutic target for EBV-associated NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ching Chou
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Tactacan CM, Chang DK, Cowley MJ, Humphrey ES, Wu J, Gill AJ, Chou A, Nones K, Grimmond SM, Sutherland RL, Biankin AV, Daly RJ. RON is not a prognostic marker for resectable pancreatic cancer. BMC Cancer 2012; 12:395. [PMID: 22958871 PMCID: PMC3532183 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2012] [Accepted: 07/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The receptor tyrosine kinase RON exhibits increased expression during pancreatic cancer progression and promotes migration, invasion and gemcitabine resistance of pancreatic cancer cells in experimental models. However, the prognostic significance of RON expression in pancreatic cancer is unknown. Methods RON expression was characterized in several large cohorts, including a prospective study, totaling 492 pancreatic cancer patients and relationships with patient outcome and clinico-pathologic variables were assessed. Results RON expression was associated with outcome in a training set, but this was not recapitulated in the validation set, nor was there any association with therapeutic responsiveness in the validation set or the prospective study. Conclusions Although RON is implicated in pancreatic cancer progression in experimental models, and may constitute a therapeutic target, RON expression is not associated with prognosis or therapeutic responsiveness in resected pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole M Tactacan
- Cancer Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria St, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
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Liu L, Norman MH, Lee M, Xi N, Siegmund A, Boezio AA, Booker S, Choquette D, D'Angelo ND, Germain J, Yang K, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Bellon SF, Whittington DA, Harmange JC, Dominguez C, Kim TS, Dussault I. Structure-based design of novel class II c-Met inhibitors: 2. SAR and kinase selectivity profiles of the pyrazolone series. J Med Chem 2012; 55:1868-97. [PMID: 22320327 DOI: 10.1021/jm201331s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
As part of our effort toward developing an effective therapeutic agent for c-Met-dependent tumors, a pyrazolone-based class II c-Met inhibitor, N-(4-((6,7-dimethoxyquinolin-4-yl)oxy)-3-fluorophenyl)-1,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide (1), was identified. Knowledge of the binding mode of this molecule in both c-Met and VEGFR-2 proteins led to a novel strategy for designing more selective analogues of 1. Along with detailed SAR information, we demonstrate that the low kinase selectivity associated with class II c-Met inhibitors can be improved significantly. This work resulted in the discovery of potent c-Met inhibitors with improved selectivity profiles over VEGFR-2 and IGF-1R that could serve as useful tools to probe the relationship between kinase selectivity and in vivo efficacy in tumor xenograft models. Compound 59e (AMG 458) was ultimately advanced into preclinical safety studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longbin Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Amgen Inc., One Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, California 91320, USA.
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Yao HP, Zhou YQ, Ma Q, Guin S, Padhye SS, Zhang RW, Wang MH. The monoclonal antibody Zt/f2 targeting RON receptor tyrosine kinase as potential therapeutics against tumor growth-mediated by colon cancer cells. Mol Cancer 2011; 10:82. [PMID: 21749705 PMCID: PMC3142532 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-10-82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2010] [Accepted: 07/12/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Overexpression of the RON receptor tyrosine kinase contributes to epithelial cell transformation, malignant progression, and acquired drug resistance. RON also has been considered as a potential target for therapeutic intervention. This study determines biochemical features and inhibitory activity of a mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) Zt/f2 in experimental cancer therapy. Results Zt/f2 is a mouse IgG2a mAb that is highly specific and sensitive to human RON and its oncogenic variants such as RON160 (ED50 = 2.3 nmol/L). Receptor binding studies revealed that Zt/f2 interacts with an epitope(s) located in a 49 amino acid sequence coded by exon 11 in the RON β-chain extracellular sequences. This sequence is critical in regulating RON maturation and phosphorylation. Zt/f2 did not compete with ligand macrophage-stimulating protein for binding to RON; however, its engagement effectively induced RON internalization, which diminishes RON expression and impairs downstream signaling activation. These biochemical features provide the cellular basis for the use of Zt/f2 to inhibit tumor growth in animal model. Repeated administration of Zt/f2 as a single agent into Balb/c mice results in partial inhibition of tumor growth caused by transformed NIH-3T3 cells expressing oncogenic RON160. Colon cancer HT-29 cell-mediated tumor growth in athymic nude mice also was attenuated following Zt/f2 treatment. In both cases, ~50% inhibition of tumor growth as measured by tumor volume was achieved. Moreover, Zt/f2 in combination with 5-fluorouracil showed an enhanced inhibition effect of ~80% on HT-29 cell-mediated tumor growth in vivo. Conclusions Zt/f2 is a potential therapeutic mAb capable of inhibiting RON-mediated oncogenesis by colon cancer cells in animal models. The inhibitory effect of Zt/f2 in vivo in combination with chemoagent 5-fluorouracil could represent a novel strategy for future colon cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang-Ping Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, PR China
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION The aberrantly upregulated c-mesenchymal-epithelia transition factor (c-MET) signaling pathway has been considered to be an attractive target for cancer intervention owing to the important roles it plays in tumor formation, progression, metastasis, angiogenesis and drug resistance. Based on the historical preclinical evidence, a number of c-MET pathway targeted agents are being developed in the clinic, and recent clinical data have begun to provide some insight into which tumor types and patient populations a c-MET pathway inhibitor may be beneficial for. AREAS COVERED Through reviewing recent publications in the literature and information disclosed in other public forums, we describe the current understanding of c-MET biology in human malignancies and discuss the latest progress in the development of c-MET pathway inhibitors for cancer treatment. EXPERT OPINION The c-MET pathway inhibitors currently being evaluated in the clinic have demonstrated compelling evidence of clinical activity in different cancer types and may provide significant therapeutic opportunities. The challenges, however, are to identify the tumor types and patient populations that benefit most, and find the most effective combinations of therapies while minimizing potential toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangdong Liu
- Incyte Corporation, Experimental Station, Wilmington, DE 19880, USA.
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Requirement for LMP1-induced RON receptor tyrosine kinase in Epstein-Barr virus-mediated B-cell proliferation. Blood 2011; 118:1340-9. [PMID: 21659546 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2011-02-335448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
EBV, an oncogenic human herpesvirus, can transform primary B lymphocytes into immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) through multiple regulatory mechanisms. However, the involvement of protein tyrosine kinases in the infinite proliferation of B cells is not clear. In this study, we performed kinase display assays to investigate this subject and identified a specific cellular target, Recepteur d'Origine Nantais (RON) tyrosine kinase, expressed in LCLs but not in primary B cells. Furthermore, we found that latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), an important EBV oncogenic protein, enhanced RON expression through its C-terminal activation region-1 (CTAR1) by promoting NF-κB binding to the RON promoter. RON knockdown decreased the proliferation of LCLs, and transfection with RON compensated for the growth inhibition caused by knockdown of LMP1. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a correlation between LMP1 and RON expression in biopsies from posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), suggesting that LMP1-induced RON expression not only is essential for the growth of LCLs but also may contribute to the pathogenesis of EBV-associated PTLD. Our study is the first to reveal the impact of RON on the proliferation of transformed B cells and to suggest that RON may be a novel therapeutic target for EBV-associated lymphoproliferative diseases.
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Ma Q, Guin S, Padhye SS, Zhou YQ, Zhang RW, Wang MH. Ribosomal protein S6 kinase (RSK)-2 as a central effector molecule in RON receptor tyrosine kinase mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition induced by macrophage-stimulating protein. Mol Cancer 2011; 10:66. [PMID: 21619683 PMCID: PMC3117816 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-10-66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2011] [Accepted: 05/28/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurs during cancer cell invasion and malignant metastasis. Features of EMT include spindle-like cell morphology, loss of epithelial cellular markers and gain of mesenchymal phenotype. Activation of the RON receptor tyrosine kinase by macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP) has been implicated in cellular EMT program; however, the major signaling determinant(s) responsible for MSP-induced EMT is unknown. RESULTS The study presented here demonstrates that RSK2, a downstream signaling protein of the Ras-Erk1/2 pathway, is the principal molecule that links MSP-activated RON signaling to complete EMT. Using MDCK cells expressing RON as a model, a spindle-shape based screen was conducted, which identifies RSK2 among various intracellular proteins as a potential signaling molecule responsible for MSP-induced EMT. MSP stimulation dissociated RSK2 with Erk1/2 and promoted RSK2 nuclear translocation. MSP strongly induced RSK2 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. These effects relied on RON and Erk1/2 phosphorylation, which is significantly potentiated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, an EMT-inducing cytokine. Specific RSK inhibitor SL0101 completely prevented MSP-induced RSK phosphorylation, which results in inhibition of MSP-induced spindle-like morphology and suppression of cell migration associated with EMT. In HT-29 cancer cells that barely express RSK2, forced RSK2 expression results in EMT-like phenotype upon MSP stimulation. Moreover, specific siRNA-mediated silencing of RSK2 but not RSK1 in L3.6pl pancreatic cancer cells significantly inhibited MSP-induced EMT-like phenotype and cell migration. CONCLUSIONS MSP-induced RSK2 activation is a critical determinant linking RON signaling to cellular EMT program. Inhibition of RSK2 activity may provide a therapeutic opportunity for blocking RON-mediated cancer cell migration and subsequent invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Ma
- Division of Cancer Biology at State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis & Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
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Katz JD, Jewell JP, Guerin DJ, Lim J, Dinsmore CJ, Deshmukh SV, Pan BS, Marshall CG, Lu W, Altman MD, Dahlberg WK, Davis L, Falcone D, Gabarda AE, Hang G, Hatch H, Holmes R, Kunii K, Lumb KJ, Lutterbach B, Mathvink R, Nazef N, Patel SB, Qu X, Reilly JF, Rickert KW, Rosenstein C, Soisson SM, Spencer KB, Szewczak AA, Walker D, Wang W, Young J, Zeng Q. Discovery of a 5H-benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyridin-5-one (MK-2461) inhibitor of c-Met kinase for the treatment of cancer. J Med Chem 2011; 54:4092-108. [PMID: 21608528 DOI: 10.1021/jm200112k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
c-Met is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase that mediates activation of several signaling pathways implicated in aggressive cancer phenotypes. In recent years, research into this area has highlighted c-Met as an attractive cancer drug target, triggering a number of approaches to disrupt aberrant c-Met signaling. Screening efforts identified a unique class of 5H-benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyridin-5-one kinase inhibitors, exemplified by 1. Subsequent SAR studies led to the development of 81 (MK-2461), a potent inhibitor of c-Met that was efficacious in preclinical animal models of tumor suppression. In addition, biochemical studies and X-ray analysis have revealed that this unique class of kinase inhibitors binds preferentially to the activated (phosphorylated) form of the kinase. This report details the development of 81 and provides a description of its unique biochemical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason D Katz
- Department of Chemistry, Merck Research Laboratories, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, BMB-2-114, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.
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Wang MH, Padhye SS, Guin S, Ma Q, Zhou YQ. Potential therapeutics specific to c-MET/RON receptor tyrosine kinases for molecular targeting in cancer therapy. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2010; 31:1181-8. [PMID: 20694025 PMCID: PMC4002297 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2010.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2010] [Accepted: 07/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Products of proto-oncogenes c-MET and RON belong to a subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases that contribute significantly to tumorigenic progression. In primary tumors, altered c-MET/RON expression transduces signals regulating invasive growth that is characterized by cell migration and matrix invasion. These pathogenic features provide the basis for targeting c-MET/RON in cancer therapy. In the last decade, various approaches have been investigated to suppress c-MET/RON-transduced oncogenesis. Among the therapeutics developed, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and small-molecule inhibitors (SMIs) have emerged as promising candidates. The mechanism of these therapeutic candidates is the disruption of tumor dependency on c-MET/RON signals for survival. The mAbs specific to hepatocyte growth factor (AMG102) and c-MET (MetMAb) are both humanized and able to block c-MET signaling, leading to inhibition of tumor cell proliferation in vitro and inhibition of tumor growth in xenograft models. The mAb AMG102 neutralizes hepatocyte growth factor and enhances the cytotoxicity of various chemotherapeutics to tumors in vivo. AMG102 is currently in phase II clinical trials for patients with advanced solid tumors. IMC-41A40 and Zt/f2 are RON-specific mAbs that down-regulate RON expression and inhibit ligand-induced phosphorylation. Both mAbs inhibit tumor growth in mice mediated by colon and pancreatic cancer cells. SMIs specific to c-MET (ARQ107 and PF-02341066) are in various phases of clinical trials. Therapeutic efficacy has also been observed with dual inhibitors such as Compound I, which is specific to c-MET/RON. However, a potential issue is the emergence of acquired resistance to these inhibitors. Clearly, development of c-MET/RON therapeutics provides opportunities and challenges for combating cancer in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hai Wang
- Center for Cancer Biology & Therapeutics and Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Snehal S Padhye
- Center for Cancer Biology & Therapeutics and Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Sunny Guin
- Center for Cancer Biology & Therapeutics and Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Qi Ma
- Center for Cancer Biology & Therapeutics and Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Yong-qing Zhou
- Division of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
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Guin S, Ma Q, Padhye S, Zhou YQ, Yao HP, Wang MH. Targeting acute hypoxic cancer cells by doxorubicin-immunoliposomes directed by monoclonal antibodies specific to RON receptor tyrosine kinase. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2010; 67:1073-83. [PMID: 20658288 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-010-1408-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2010] [Accepted: 07/11/2010] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hypoxia contributes to acquired drug resistance in various cancer cells. The underlying mechanism is cellular insensitivity regulated by hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF), which impairs drug uptake, transport, and metabolism. The current study determines anti-RON antibody-directed cytotoxicity of doxorubicin (Dox)-immunoliposomes (IL) in hypoxic colon cancer cells. METHODS Cells were cultured under hypoxia (1% O(2), 5% CO(2), and 96% N(2)) for 24 h. Dox-loaded IL were formulated followed by post-insertion of monoclonal antibody Zt/g4 specific to RON. Western blotting was used to detect HIF-1α and RON expression. Cellular uptake of Zt/g4-conjugated IL was determined by confocal and internalization assays. Cell viability was assessed by the MTT assay. RESULTS RON and HIF-1α expression were observed in hypoxic colon HCT116 and SW620 cells. Resistance to Dox-induced cytotoxicity was acquired in hypoxic cells with increased IC(50) values. However, acquired resistance was attenuated by Zt/g4-directed Dox-IL, which displays increased cytotoxic activities. IL binding and uptake revealed that hypoxic RON expression is functional, which mediates high levels of Zt/g4-Dox-IL binding and cytoplasmic internalization. Zt/g4-Dox-IL is effective in killing hypoxic HCT116 and SW620 cells with reduced IC(50) values compared to Dox and pegylated-liposomal Dox. These effects were dependent on hypoxic RON expression. HCC1937 cells with diminished RON expression under hypoxia were insensitive to Zt/g4-Dox-IL-induced cytotoxic effect. CONCLUSIONS RON expressed by hypoxic colon cancer cells is thus a potential targeting molecule for delivery of chemotherapeutics. The ability of anti-RON mAb to direct Dox-IL cytotoxicity could be developed for attenuating hypoxia-acquired drug resistance in various cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunny Guin
- Center for Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 1406 Coulter Street, Suite 1117, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
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Guin S, Yao HP, Wang MH. RON receptor tyrosine kinase as a target for delivery of chemodrugs by antibody directed pathway for cancer cell cytotoxicity. Mol Pharm 2010; 7:386-97. [PMID: 20039696 DOI: 10.1021/mp900168v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of the RON receptor tyrosine kinase exists in various cancers and contributes to malignant progression. To validate RON as a targeting moiety for delivery of chemoagents for enhanced tumor cytotoxicity, immunoliposomes (IL) loaded with doxorubicin (Dox) were formulated followed by postinsertion of monoclonal antibodies Zt/g4, Zt/c1, or their Fab fragments specific to the RON extracellular domains. Flow cytometry analysis showed that Zt/g4 or Zt/c1-IL binds to cancer cells and causes RON internalization as evident in confocal analysis of intracellular fluorescence intensity. The antibody-directed IL uptake by cancer cells is in both dose and time-dependent manners. Studies of cytotoxicity of individual IL in vitro against colon or breast cancer cell lines revealed that Zt/g4 directed Dox-IL displayed increased cytotoxic activities with a significant reduction of IC(50) values. An average of 8-fold increases in cytotoxic efficiency was achieved among four cell lines tested. Moreover, Zt/g4 directed Dox-IL also displayed the effective killing of cancer cells that are insensitive to pegylated liposomal doxorubicin. The effect of Zt/c1-Dox-IL was not as strong as Zt/g4-Dox-IL, and only moderate activities were observed. IL coupled with the Fab fragments of Zt/g4 or Zt/c1 show moderate activities against cancer cells. The ineffectiveness seemed to be related to the weak activities of the Fab fragments in the induction of RON internalization, which resulted in reduced drug uptakes. We conclude that anti-RON antibody-directed drug delivery is effective for increased uptake of cytotoxic drugs. Antibody-based RON targeting could be developed into a potential therapeutic for treatment of malignant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunny Guin
- Center for Cancer Biology & Therapeutics, and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences, Amarillo, Texas 79106, USA
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Cheng L, Williamson SR, Zhang S, MacLennan GT, Montironi R, Lopez-Beltran A. Understanding the molecular genetics of renal cell neoplasia: implications for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2010; 10:843-864. [DOI: 10.1586/era.10.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
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Raeppel S, Gaudette F, Mannion M, Claridge S, Saavedra O, Isakovic L, Déziel R, Beaulieu N, Beaulieu C, Dupont I, Nguyen H, Wang J, Macleod AR, Maroun C, Besterman JM, Vaisburg A. Identification of a novel series of potent RON receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2010; 20:2745-9. [PMID: 20363625 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2010.03.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2010] [Revised: 03/17/2010] [Accepted: 03/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A novel series of N-(3-fluoro-4-(2-substituted-thieno[3,2-b]pyridin-7-yloxy)phenyl)-1-phenyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamides targeting RON receptor tyrosine kinase was designed and synthesized. SAR study of the series allowed us to identify compounds possessing either inhibitory activity of RON kinase enzyme in the low nanomolar range with low residual activity against the closely related c-Met or potent dual inhibitory activity against RON and c-Met, with no significant activity against VEGFR2 in both cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Raeppel
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, MethylGene Inc., 7220 rue Frederick-Banting, Montréal, QC, Canada H4S 2A1.
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Pan BS, Chan GKY, Chenard M, Chi A, Davis LJ, Deshmukh SV, Gibbs JB, Gil S, Hang G, Hatch H, Jewell JP, Kariv I, Katz JD, Kunii K, Lu W, Lutterbach BA, Paweletz CP, Qu X, Reilly JF, Szewczak AA, Zeng Q, Kohl NE, Dinsmore CJ. MK-2461, a novel multitargeted kinase inhibitor, preferentially inhibits the activated c-Met receptor. Cancer Res 2010; 70:1524-33. [PMID: 20145145 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-09-2541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase c-Met is an attractive target for therapeutic blockade in cancer. Here, we describe MK-2461, a novel ATP-competitive multitargeted inhibitor of activated c-Met. MK-2461 inhibited in vitro phosphorylation of a peptide substrate recognized by wild-type or oncogenic c-Met kinases (N1100Y, Y1230C, Y1230H, Y1235D, and M1250T) with IC(50) values of 0.4 to 2.5 nmol/L. In contrast, MK-2461 was several hundredfold less potent as an inhibitor of c-Met autophosphorylation at the kinase activation loop. In tumor cells, MK-2461 effectively suppressed constitutive or ligand-induced phosphorylation of the juxtamembrane domain and COOH-terminal docking site of c-Met, and its downstream signaling to the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-AKT and Ras-extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathways, without inhibiting autophosphorylation of the c-Met activation loop. BIAcore studies indicated 6-fold tighter binding to c-Met when it was phosphorylated, suggesting that MK-2461 binds preferentially to activated c-Met. MK-2461 displayed significant inhibitory activities against fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and other receptor tyrosine kinases. In cell culture, MK-2461 inhibited hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met-dependent mitogenesis, migration, cell scatter, and tubulogenesis. Seven of 10 MK-2461-sensitive tumor cell lines identified from a large panel harbored genomic amplification of MET or FGFR2. In a murine xenograft model of c-Met-dependent gastric cancer, a well-tolerated oral regimen of MK-2461 administered at 100 mg/kg twice daily effectively suppressed c-Met signaling and tumor growth. Similarly, MK-2461 inhibited the growth of tumors formed by s.c. injection of mouse NIH-3T3 cells expressing oncogenic c-Met mutants. Taken together, our findings support further preclinical development of MK-2461 for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Sheng Pan
- Department of In Vitro Sciences, Merck Research Laboratories, BMB-11, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Wu C, Tang Z, Fan W, Zhu W, Wang C, Somoza E, Owino N, Li R, Ma PC, Wang Y. In vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) receptor. J Med Chem 2010; 53:139-46. [PMID: 19968287 DOI: 10.1021/jm900803q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
We report the radiosynthesis and evaluation of 3-[3,5-dimethyl-4-(4-[11C]methylpiperazinecarbonyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-ylmethylene]-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-5-sulfonic acid (3-chlorophenyl)methylamide, termed [11C]SU11274 ([11C]14) for in vivo imaging of mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) receptor by positron emission tomography (PET). Following the synthesis of the precursor (13) that was achieved in 10 steps with a total yield of 9.7%, [11C]14 was obtained through radiomethylation in a range of 5-10% radiochemical yield and over 95% radiochemical purity. For in vivo PET studies, two human lung cancer xenograft models were established using MET-positive NCI-H1975 and MET-negative NCI-H520 cell lines. Quantitative [11C]14-PET studies showed that the tumor uptake of [11C]14 in the NCI-H1975 xenografts was significantly higher than that in the NCI-H520 xenografts, which is consistent with their corresponding immunohistochemical tissue staining patterns of MET receptors from the same animals. These studies demonstrated that [11C]14-PET is an appropriate imaging marker for quantification of MET receptor in vivo, which can facilitate efficacy evaluation in the clinical development of MET-targeted cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunying Wu
- Division of Radiopharmaceutical Science, Case Center for Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
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Nakagawa T, Tohyama O, Yamaguchi A, Matsushima T, Takahashi K, Funasaka S, Shirotori S, Asada M, Obaishi H. E7050: a dual c-Met and VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor promotes tumor regression and prolongs survival in mouse xenograft models. Cancer Sci 2010; 101:210-5. [PMID: 19832844 PMCID: PMC11159146 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2009.01343.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
c-Met is the cellular receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and is known to be dysregulated in various types of human cancers. Activation of the HGF/c-Met pathway causes tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is also known as a key molecule in tumor progression through the induction of tumor angiogenesis. Because of their key roles in tumor progression, these pathways provide attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. We have generated a novel, orally active, small molecule compound, E7050, which inhibits both c-Met and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2. In vitro studies indicate that E7050 potently inhibits phosphorylation of both c-Met and VEGFR-2. E7050 also potently represses the growth of both c-met amplified tumor cells and endothelial cells stimulated with either HGF or VEGF. In vivo studies using E7050 showed inhibition of the phosphorylation of c-Met and VEGFR-2 in tumors, and strong inhibition of tumor growth and tumor angiogenesis in xenograft models. Treatment of some tumor lines containing c-met amplifications with high doses of E7050 (50-200 mg/kg) induced tumor regression and disappearance. In a peritoneal dissemination model, E7050 showed an antitumor effect against peritoneal tumors as well as a significant prolongation of lifespan in treated mice. Our results indicate that E7050 is a potent inhibitor of c-Met and VEGFR-2 and has therapeutic potential for the treatment of cancer.
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Liu X, Newton RC, Scherle PA. Developing c-MET pathway inhibitors for cancer therapy: progress and challenges. Trends Mol Med 2009; 16:37-45. [PMID: 20031486 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2009.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2009] [Revised: 11/02/2009] [Accepted: 11/23/2009] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Successfully developed target-based therapies have significantly changed cancer treatment. Among many targets, the c-MET receptor tyrosine kinase and its ligand hepatocyte growth factor have recently gained considerable attention. The c-MET pathway is dysregulated in most human malignancies, and regulates tumor formation, progression and dissemination, and numerous c-MET pathway inhibitors are currently being evaluated in the clinic. Although some studies have shown impressive evidence of antitumor activity, the data should be interpreted with caution because of the distinct properties of these agents and diverse patient populations studied. Furthermore, in tumor types where patients might benefit from c-MET inhibition, rational combination treatments might ultimately provide maximal clinical benefit. Here, we review the evidence linking c-MET activation to cancer, and discuss the latest progress, opportunities and challenges in the clinical development of c-MET pathway inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangdong Liu
- Incyte Corporation, Experimental Station, Wilmington, DE 19880, USA.
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Meyer SE, Waltz SE, Goss KH. The Ron receptor tyrosine kinase is not required for adenoma formation in Apc(Min/+) mice. Mol Carcinog 2009; 48:995-1004. [PMID: 19452510 DOI: 10.1002/mc.20551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The Ron receptor tyrosine kinase is overexpressed in approximately half of all human colon cancers. Increased Ron expression positively correlates with tumor progression, and reduction of Ron levels in human colon adenocarcinoma cells reverses their tumorigenic properties. Nearly all colon tumors demonstrate loss of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor, an early initiating event, subsequently leading to beta-catenin stabilization. To understand the role of Ron in early stage intestinal tumorigenesis, we generated Apc-mutant (Apc(Min/+)) mice with and without Ron signaling. Interestingly, we report here that significantly more Apc(Min/+) Ron-deficient mice developed higher tumor burden than Apc(Min/+) mice with wild-type Ron. Even though baseline levels of intestinal crypt proliferation were increased in the Apc(Min/+) Ron-deficient mice, loss of Ron did not influence tumor size or histological appearance of the Apc(Min/+) adenomas, nor was beta-catenin localization changed compared to Apc(Min/+) mice with Ron. Together, these data suggest that Ron may be important in normal intestinal tissue homeostasis, but that the expression of this receptor is not required for the formation and growth of adenomas in Apc(Min/+) mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Meyer
- Department of Cancer and Cell Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Boezio AA, Berry L, Albrecht BK, Bauer D, Bellon SF, Bode C, Chen A, Choquette D, Dussault I, Fang M, Hirai S, Kaplan-Lefko P, Larrow JF, Lin MHJ, Lohman J, Potashman MH, Qu Y, Rex K, Santostefano M, Shah K, Shimanovich R, Springer SK, Teffera Y, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Harmange JC. Discovery and optimization of potent and selective triazolopyridazine series of c-Met inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2009; 19:6307-12. [PMID: 19819693 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2009.09.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2009] [Revised: 09/22/2009] [Accepted: 09/24/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Deregulation of the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Met has been implicated in several human cancers and is an attractive target for small molecule drug discovery. We previously showed that O-linked triazolopyridazines can be potent inhibitors of c-Met. Herein, we report the discovery of a related series of N-linked triazolopyridazines which demonstrate nanomolar inhibition of c-Met kinase activity and display improved pharmacodynamic profiles. Specifically, the potent time-dependent inhibition of cytochrome P450 associated with the O-linked triazolopyridazines has been eliminated within this novel series of inhibitors. N-linked triazolopyridazine 24 exhibited favorable pharmacokinetics and displayed potent inhibition of HGF-mediated c-Met phosphorylation in a mouse liver PD model. Once-daily oral administration of 24 for 22days showed significant tumor growth inhibition in an NIH-3T3/TPR-Met xenograft mouse efficacy model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro A Boezio
- Amgen Inc., One Kendall Square, Building 1000, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Amgen Inc., One Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.
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Karamouzis MV, Konstantinopoulos PA, Papavassiliou AG. Targeting MET as a strategy to overcome crosstalk-related resistance to EGFR inhibitors. Lancet Oncol 2009; 10:709-17. [PMID: 19573800 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(09)70137-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) pathway has a key role in carcinogenesis; it is implicated in proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, angiogenesis, migration, invasiveness, and metastasis. All of these molecular events are driven through membrane and intracellular coplayers and several downstream effector proteins. MET has been shown to cross react with epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) proteins and possibly substitutes their activity, thus conferring resistance to EGFR-targeting drugs. Therefore, identification of MET inhibitors might lead to new treatments for MET-triggered neoplasia and improve the sensitivity of molecularly targeted antineoplastic compounds that are currently in use. In this Review, we outline current data regarding the HGF-MET pathway during carcinogenesis and the strategies for therapeutic targeting of this pathway. We also discuss the rationale and future perspectives of the combinatorial blockade of HGF-MET and EGFR signalling cascades in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michalis V Karamouzis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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Eckerich C, Schulte A, Martens T, Zapf S, Westphal M, Lamszus K. RON receptor tyrosine kinase in human gliomas: expression, function, and identification of a novel soluble splice variant. J Neurochem 2009; 109:969-80. [PMID: 19519771 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06027.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Malignant gliomas are incurable because of their diffuse infiltration of the surrounding brain. The recepteur d'origine nantais (RON) receptor tyrosine kinase is highly expressed in several epithelial cancer types and mediates tumorigenic, pro-invasive as well as metastatic effects. Analyzing RON expression in human gliomas, we found that different splice variants with known oncogenic activity are expressed in glioblastomas (GBM). In addition, the RON ligand macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP) is secreted by cultured GBM cells. MSP showed no mitogenic effect on GBM cells but displayed significant chemotactic activity for several GBM cell lines. We identified a novel splice variant, RONDelta90, which is generated by a transcript missing exon 6. As a result of a frameshift, translation is terminated in exon 7, resulting in a truncated soluble protein. RONDelta90 transcripts are expressed in normal human brain as well as in low grade astrocytomas but only in approximately 50% of highly malignant astrocytomas. In addition, RONDelta90 is detectable in supernatants of GBM cell lines. We cloned the RONDelta90 cDNA, and purified the recombinant protein from transfected cells. RONDelta90 inhibited MSP-induced phosphorylation of cellular RON and also attenuated basal activation levels. In addition, RONDelta90 inhibited MSP-induced glioma cell migration as well as random motility. To conclude, RONDelta90 is a novel soluble receptor variant with antagonistic activity that may act as a physiological modulator of RON signaling. The expression of several oncogenic RON splice variants in malignant gliomas suggests that these could represent candidate targets for treatment with agents inhibiting RON activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Eckerich
- Department of Neurosurgery, Laboratory for Brain Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse, Hamburg, Germany
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