1
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Oh H, Kim J, Jung SH, Ha TH, Ahn YG, Nam G, Moon K, Singh P, Kim IS. Discovery of 2,6-Naphthyridine Analogues as Selective FGFR4 Inhibitors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Med Chem 2024; 67:8445-8459. [PMID: 38706130 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer and is responsible for 90% of cases. Approximately 30% of patients diagnosed with HCC are identified as displaying an aberrant expression of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19)-fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) as an oncogenic-driver pathway. Therefore, the control of the FGF19-FGFR4 signaling pathway with selective FGFR4 inhibitors can be a promising therapy for the treatment of HCC. We herein disclose the design and synthesis of novel FGFR4 inhibitors containing a 2,6-naphthyridine scaffold. Compound 11 displayed a nanomolar potency against Huh7 cell lines and high selectivity over FGFR1-3 that were comparable to that of fisogatinib (8) as a reference standard. Additionally, compound 11 demonstrated remarkable antitumor efficacy in the Huh7 and Hep3B HCC xenograft mouse model. Moreover, bioluminescence imaging experiments with the orthotopic mouse model support that compound 11 can be considered a promising candidate for treating HCC.
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MESH Headings
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4/metabolism
- Humans
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis
- Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Mice
- Naphthyridines/pharmacology
- Naphthyridines/chemical synthesis
- Naphthyridines/chemistry
- Naphthyridines/therapeutic use
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Structure-Activity Relationship
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Drug Discovery
- Mice, Nude
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
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Affiliation(s)
- Heesook Oh
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Hanmi Research Center, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hwaseong 18469, Republic of Korea
| | - Jisook Kim
- Hanmi Research Center, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hwaseong 18469, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hyun Jung
- Hanmi Research Center, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hwaseong 18469, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hee Ha
- Hanmi Research Center, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hwaseong 18469, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Gil Ahn
- Hanmi Research Center, Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hwaseong 18469, Republic of Korea
| | - Gibeom Nam
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeongwon Moon
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Pargat Singh
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - In Su Kim
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
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2
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Wang Y, Pan Y, Lv Z, Gou S. Discovery of N-(4-((6-(3,5- Dimethoxyphenyl)-9H-purine derivatives as irreversible covalent FGFR inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 271:116415. [PMID: 38643670 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) is an attractive target for cancer therapy, but existing FGFR inhibitors appear to hardly meet the demand for clinical application. Herein, a number of irreversible covalent FGFR inhibitors were designed and synthesized by selecting several five- and six-membered azaheterocycles as parent scaffold with different substituents to take over the hydrophobic region in the active pocket of FGFR proteins. Among the resulting target compounds, III-30 showed the most potent effect on enzyme activity inhibition and anti-proliferative activity against the tested cancer cell lines. Significantly, III-30 could inhibit the enzyme activity by achieving irreversible covalent binding with FGFR1 and FGFR4 proteins. It could also regulate FGFR-mediated signaling pathway and mitochondrial apoptotic pathway to promote cancer cell apoptosis and inhibit cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Moreover, III-30 had a good metabolic stability and showed relatively potent anti-tumor activity in the MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumor mice model.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Agents/chemical synthesis
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Mice
- Structure-Activity Relationship
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis
- Molecular Structure
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Purines/pharmacology
- Purines/chemistry
- Purines/chemical synthesis
- Drug Discovery
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1/metabolism
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Mice, Nude
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Neoplasms, Experimental/drug therapy
- Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4/metabolism
- Female
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanjiang Wang
- Pharmaceutical Research Center and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, PR China; Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, PR China
| | - Yanchang Pan
- Pharmaceutical Research Center and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, PR China
| | - Zhaodan Lv
- Pharmaceutical Research Center and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, PR China
| | - Shaohua Gou
- Pharmaceutical Research Center and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, PR China; Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, PR China.
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3
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Hu S, Liu Y, Ma J, Ding W, Chen H, Jiang H, Chen H, Wei S, Liu Y, Jin Q, Yuan H, Yan L. Discovery and Structural Optimization of Novel Quinolone Derivatives as Potent Irreversible Pan-Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors for Treating Solid Tumors. J Med Chem 2023. [PMID: 37335602 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) has been identified as an oncogenic driver force for multiple cancer types, making FGFRs a compelling target for anticancer therapy. Because of the renewed interest in irreversible inhibitors, considerable efforts have been made to find irreversible FGFR inhibitors. Herein, we discovered a series of novel quinolone-based covalent pan-FGFR inhibitors by further optimizing the lead compound (lenvatinib) under the guidance of molecular docking. The representative pan-FGFR inhibitor I-5 exhibited significant inhibitory potency against FGFR1-4 with nanomolar activity and effectively suppressed the proliferation of Huh-7 and Hep3B HCC cells. I-5 displayed high selectivity against a panel of 369 kinases at 1 μM. The irreversible binding to target proteins was characterized by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Moreover, I-5 exhibited favorable PK properties in vivo and induced significant TGI in the Huh-7 and NCI-H1581 xenograft mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihe Hu
- SkyRun Pharma Co., Ltd., No. 9 Weidi Road, Nanjing 210046, P. R. China
| | - Yu Liu
- SkyRun Pharma Co., Ltd., No. 9 Weidi Road, Nanjing 210046, P. R. China
| | - Jiye Ma
- SkyRun Pharma Co., Ltd., No. 9 Weidi Road, Nanjing 210046, P. R. China
| | - Weijie Ding
- SkyRun Pharma Co., Ltd., No. 9 Weidi Road, Nanjing 210046, P. R. China
| | - Hua Chen
- SkyRun Pharma Co., Ltd., No. 9 Weidi Road, Nanjing 210046, P. R. China
| | - Haifang Jiang
- SkyRun Pharma Co., Ltd., No. 9 Weidi Road, Nanjing 210046, P. R. China
| | - Hongxing Chen
- SkyRun Pharma Co., Ltd., No. 9 Weidi Road, Nanjing 210046, P. R. China
| | - Song Wei
- SkyRun Pharma Co., Ltd., No. 9 Weidi Road, Nanjing 210046, P. R. China
| | - Yonggao Liu
- SkyRun Pharma Co., Ltd., No. 9 Weidi Road, Nanjing 210046, P. R. China
| | - Qiaomei Jin
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, P. R. China
- Laboratories of Translational Medicine, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Haoliang Yuan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Disease and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Libo Yan
- SkyRun Pharma Co., Ltd., No. 9 Weidi Road, Nanjing 210046, P. R. China
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4
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Ornitz DM, Itoh N. New developments in the biology of fibroblast growth factors. WIREs Mech Dis 2022; 14:e1549. [PMID: 35142107 PMCID: PMC10115509 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family is composed of 18 secreted signaling proteins consisting of canonical FGFs and endocrine FGFs that activate four receptor tyrosine kinases (FGFRs 1-4) and four intracellular proteins (intracellular FGFs or iFGFs) that primarily function to regulate the activity of voltage-gated sodium channels and other molecules. The canonical FGFs, endocrine FGFs, and iFGFs have been reviewed extensively by us and others. In this review, we briefly summarize past reviews and then focus on new developments in the FGF field since our last review in 2015. Some of the highlights in the past 6 years include the use of optogenetic tools, viral vectors, and inducible transgenes to experimentally modulate FGF signaling, the clinical use of small molecule FGFR inhibitors, an expanded understanding of endocrine FGF signaling, functions for FGF signaling in stem cell pluripotency and differentiation, roles for FGF signaling in tissue homeostasis and regeneration, a continuing elaboration of mechanisms of FGF signaling in development, and an expanding appreciation of roles for FGF signaling in neuropsychiatric diseases. This article is categorized under: Cardiovascular Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Congenital Diseases > Stem Cells and Development Cancer > Stem Cells and Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Ornitz
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Nobuyuki Itoh
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan
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5
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Yin F, Zhao R, Gorja DR, Fu X, Lu N, Huang H, Xu B, Chen H, Shim JH, Liu K, Li Z, Laster KV, Dong Z, Lee MH. Novel dual inhibitor for targeting PIM1 and FGFR1 kinases inhibits colorectal cancer growth in vitro and patient-derived xenografts in vivo. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:4122-4137. [PMID: 36386480 PMCID: PMC9643289 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. The pro-viral integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus 1 (PIM1) is a proto-oncogene and belongs to the serine/threonine kinase family, which are involved in cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) is a tyrosine kinase that has been implicated in cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. Small molecule HCI-48 is a derivative of chalcone, a class of compounds known to possess anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. However, the underlying mechanism of chalcones against colorectal cancer remains unclear. This study reports that HCI-48 mainly targets PIM1 and FGFR1 kinases, thereby eliciting antitumor effects on colorectal cancer growth in vitro and in vivo. HCI-48 inhibited the activity of both PIM1 and FGFR1 kinases in an ATP-dependent manner, as revealed by computational docking models. Cell-based assays showed that HCI-48 inhibited cell proliferation in CRC cells (HCT-15, DLD1, HCT-116 and SW620), and induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase through modulation of cyclin A2. HCI-48 also induced cellular apoptosis, as evidenced by an increase in the expression of apoptosis biomarkers such as cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase 3 and cleaved caspase 7. Moreover, HCI-48 attenuated the activation of downstream components of the PIM1 and FGFR1 signaling pathways. Using patient-derived xenograft (PDX) murine tumor models, we found that treatment with HCI-48 diminished the PDX tumor growth of implanted CRC tissue expressing high protein levels of PIM1 and FGFR1. This study suggests that the inhibitory effect of HCI-48 on colorectal tumor growth is mainly mediated through the dual-targeting of PIM1 and FGFR1 kinases. This work provides a theoretical basis for the future application of HCI-48 in the treatment of clinical CRC.
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6
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Zhang X, Wang Y, Ji J, Si D, Bao X, Yu Z, Zhu Y, Zhao L, Li W, Liu J. Discovery of 1,6-Naphthyridin-2(1 H)-one Derivatives as Novel, Potent, and Selective FGFR4 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Med Chem 2022; 65:7595-7618. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomeng Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
- R & D Center, Nanjing Sanhome Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Nanjing 211135, China
| | - Yazhou Wang
- R & D Center, Nanjing Sanhome Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Nanjing 211135, China
| | - Jianfeng Ji
- R & D Center, Nanjing Sanhome Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Nanjing 211135, China
| | - Dongjuan Si
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xueting Bao
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Yu
- R & D Center, Nanjing Sanhome Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Nanjing 211135, China
| | - Yueyue Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Liwen Zhao
- R & D Center, Nanjing Sanhome Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Nanjing 211135, China
| | - Wei Li
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jian Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
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7
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Zheng J, Zhang W, Li L, He Y, Wei Y, Dang Y, Nie S, Guo Z. Signaling Pathway and Small-Molecule Drug Discovery of FGFR: A Comprehensive Review. Front Chem 2022; 10:860985. [PMID: 35494629 PMCID: PMC9046545 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.860985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapy is a groundbreaking innovation for cancer treatment. Among the receptor tyrosine kinases, the fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) garnered substantial attention as promising therapeutic targets due to their fundamental biological functions and frequently observed abnormality in tumors. In the past 2 decades, several generations of FGFR kinase inhibitors have been developed. This review starts by introducing the biological basis of FGF/FGFR signaling. It then gives a detailed description of different types of small-molecule FGFR inhibitors according to modes of action, followed by a systematic overview of small-molecule-based therapies of different modalities. It ends with our perspectives for the development of novel FGFR inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zufeng Guo
- *Correspondence: Shenyou Nie, ; Zufeng Guo,
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8
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Expanding horizons of achondroplasia treatment: current options and future developments. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2022; 30:535-544. [PMID: 34864168 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2021.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Activating mutations in the FGFR3 receptor tyrosine kinase lead to most prevalent form of genetic dwarfism in humans, the achondroplasia. Many features of the complex function of FGFR3 in growing skeleton were characterized, which facilitated identification of therapy targets, and drove progress toward treatment. In August 2021, the vosoritide was approved for treatment of achondroplasia, which is based on a stable variant of the C-natriuretic peptide. Other drugs may soon follow, as several conceptually different inhibitors of FGFR3 signaling progress through clinical trials. Here, we review the current achondroplasia therapeutics, describe their mechanisms, and illuminate motivations leading to their development. We also discuss perspectives of curing achondroplasia, and options for repurposing achondroplasia drugs for dwarfing conditions unrelated to FGFR3.
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9
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Takuma K, Fujihara S, Fujita K, Iwama H, Nakahara M, Oura K, Tadokoro T, Mimura S, Tani J, Shi T, Morishita A, Kobara H, Himoto T, Masaki T. Antitumor Effect of Regorafenib on MicroRNA Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031667. [PMID: 35163589 PMCID: PMC8835935 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignancy of the liver and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Regorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor, is used as a second-line treatment for advanced HCC. Here, we aimed to investigate the mechanism of the antitumor effect of regorafenib on HCC and evaluate altered microRNA (miRNA) expression. Cell proliferation was examined in six HCC cell lines (HuH-7, HepG2, HLF, PLC/PRF/5, Hep3B, and Li-7) using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Xenografted mouse models were used to assess the effects of regorafenib in vivo. Cell cycle analysis, western blotting analysis, and miRNA expression analysis were performed to identify the antitumor inhibitory potential of regorafenib on HCC cells. Regorafenib suppressed proliferation in HuH-7 cell and induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and cyclin D1 downregulation in regorafenib-sensitive cells. During miRNA analysis, miRNA molecules associated with the antitumor effect of regorafenib were found. Regorafenib suppresses cell proliferation and tumor growth in HCC by decreasing cyclin D1 via alterations in intracellular and exosomal miRNAs in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Takuma
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho 761-0793, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan; (K.T.); (S.F.); (K.F.); (M.N.); (K.O.); (T.T.); (S.M.); (J.T.); (T.S.); (A.M.); (H.K.); (T.H.)
| | - Shintaro Fujihara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho 761-0793, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan; (K.T.); (S.F.); (K.F.); (M.N.); (K.O.); (T.T.); (S.M.); (J.T.); (T.S.); (A.M.); (H.K.); (T.H.)
| | - Koji Fujita
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho 761-0793, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan; (K.T.); (S.F.); (K.F.); (M.N.); (K.O.); (T.T.); (S.M.); (J.T.); (T.S.); (A.M.); (H.K.); (T.H.)
| | - Hisakazu Iwama
- Life Science Research Center, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho 761-0793, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan;
| | - Mai Nakahara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho 761-0793, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan; (K.T.); (S.F.); (K.F.); (M.N.); (K.O.); (T.T.); (S.M.); (J.T.); (T.S.); (A.M.); (H.K.); (T.H.)
| | - Kyoko Oura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho 761-0793, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan; (K.T.); (S.F.); (K.F.); (M.N.); (K.O.); (T.T.); (S.M.); (J.T.); (T.S.); (A.M.); (H.K.); (T.H.)
| | - Tomoko Tadokoro
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho 761-0793, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan; (K.T.); (S.F.); (K.F.); (M.N.); (K.O.); (T.T.); (S.M.); (J.T.); (T.S.); (A.M.); (H.K.); (T.H.)
| | - Shima Mimura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho 761-0793, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan; (K.T.); (S.F.); (K.F.); (M.N.); (K.O.); (T.T.); (S.M.); (J.T.); (T.S.); (A.M.); (H.K.); (T.H.)
| | - Joji Tani
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho 761-0793, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan; (K.T.); (S.F.); (K.F.); (M.N.); (K.O.); (T.T.); (S.M.); (J.T.); (T.S.); (A.M.); (H.K.); (T.H.)
| | - Tingting Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho 761-0793, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan; (K.T.); (S.F.); (K.F.); (M.N.); (K.O.); (T.T.); (S.M.); (J.T.); (T.S.); (A.M.); (H.K.); (T.H.)
| | - Asahiro Morishita
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho 761-0793, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan; (K.T.); (S.F.); (K.F.); (M.N.); (K.O.); (T.T.); (S.M.); (J.T.); (T.S.); (A.M.); (H.K.); (T.H.)
| | - Hideki Kobara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho 761-0793, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan; (K.T.); (S.F.); (K.F.); (M.N.); (K.O.); (T.T.); (S.M.); (J.T.); (T.S.); (A.M.); (H.K.); (T.H.)
| | - Takashi Himoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho 761-0793, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan; (K.T.); (S.F.); (K.F.); (M.N.); (K.O.); (T.T.); (S.M.); (J.T.); (T.S.); (A.M.); (H.K.); (T.H.)
| | - Tsutomu Masaki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho 761-0793, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan; (K.T.); (S.F.); (K.F.); (M.N.); (K.O.); (T.T.); (S.M.); (J.T.); (T.S.); (A.M.); (H.K.); (T.H.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-87-891-2156
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10
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Adachi Y, Kamiyama H, Ichikawa K, Fukushima S, Ozawa Y, Yamaguchi S, Goda S, Kimura T, Kodama K, Matsuki M, Miyano SW, Yokoi A, Kato Y, Funahashi Y. Inhibition of FGFR Reactivates IFNγ Signaling in Tumor Cells to Enhance the Combined Antitumor Activity of Lenvatinib with Anti-PD-1 Antibodies. Cancer Res 2022; 82:292-306. [PMID: 34753772 PMCID: PMC9397636 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-2426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Combination therapies consisting of immune checkpoint inhibitors plus anti-VEGF therapy show enhanced antitumor activity and are approved treatments for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The immunosuppressive roles of VEGF in the tumor microenvironment are well studied, but those of FGF/FGFR signaling remain largely unknown. Lenvatinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets both VEGFR and FGFR. Here, we examine the antitumor activity of anti-PD-1 mAb combined with either lenvatinib or axitinib, a VEGFR-selective inhibitor, in RCC. Both combination treatments showed greater antitumor activity and longer survival in mouse models versus either single agent treatment, whereas anti-PD-1 mAb plus lenvatinib had enhanced antitumor activity compared with anti-PD-1 mAb plus axitinib. Flow cytometry analysis showed that lenvatinib decreased the population of tumor-associated macrophages and increased that of IFNγ-positive CD8+ T cells. Activation of FGFR signaling inhibited the IFNγ-stimulated JAK/STAT signaling pathway and decreased expression of its target genes, including B2M, CXCL10, and PD-L1. Furthermore, inhibition of FGFR signaling by lenvatinib restored the tumor response to IFNγ stimulation in mouse and human RCC cell lines. These preclinical results reveal novel roles of tumor FGFR signaling in the regulation of cancer immunity through inhibition of the IFNγ pathway, and the inhibitory activity of lenvatinib against FGFRs likely contributes to the enhanced antitumor activity of combination treatment comprising lenvatinib plus anti-PD-1 mAb. SIGNIFICANCE: FGFR pathway activation inhibits IFNγ signaling in tumor cells, and FGFR inhibition with lenvatinib enhances antitumor immunity and the activity of anti-PD-1 antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Adachi
- Corresponding Authors: Yusuke Adachi, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 3002635, Japan. Phone: 81-29-847-7098; Fax: 81-29-847-7614; E-mail: ; and Yasuhiro Funahashi,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yasuhiro Funahashi
- Corresponding Authors: Yusuke Adachi, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 3002635, Japan. Phone: 81-29-847-7098; Fax: 81-29-847-7614; E-mail: ; and Yasuhiro Funahashi,
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11
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Dark and bright side of targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 in the liver. J Hepatol 2021; 75:1440-1451. [PMID: 34364916 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor 4 (FGFR4) and its cognate ligand, FGF19, are implicated in a range of cellular processes, including differentiation, metabolism and proliferation. Indeed, their aberrant activation has been associated with the development of hepatic tumours. Despite great advances in early diagnosis and the development of new therapies, liver cancer is still associated with a high mortality rate, owing primarily to high molecular heterogeneity and unclear molecular targeting. The development of FGFR4 inhibitors is a promising tool in patients with concomitant supraphysiological levels of FGF19 and several clinical trials are testing these treatments for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Conversely, using FGF19 analogues to activate FGFR4-KLOTHO β represents a novel therapeutic strategy in patients presenting with cholestatic liver disorders and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which could potentially prevent the development of metabolic HCC. Herein, we provide an overview of the currently available therapeutic options for targeting FGFR4 in HCC and other liver diseases, highlighting the need to carefully stratify patients and personalise therapeutic strategies.
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12
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Guo J, Zhu P, Ye Z, Wang M, Yang H, Huang S, Shu Y, Zhang W, Zhou H, Li Q. YRDC Mediates the Resistance of Lenvatinib in Hepatocarcinoma Cells via Modulating the Translation of KRAS. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:744578. [PMID: 34658879 PMCID: PMC8517968 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.744578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lenvatinib is the latest and promising agent that has demonstrated a significant improvement of progression-free survival in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, resistance emerges soon after initial treatment, limiting the clinical benefits of lenvatinib. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of resistance is necessary for improving lenvatinib efficacy. YRDC promotes the proliferation of hepatocarcinoma cells via regulating the activity of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, which was the primary pathway of the anticancer effect of lenvatinib. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether YRDC modulates the sensitivity of lenvatinib in hepatocarcinoma cells. Using the CCK-8 cell viability assay, wound-healing assay and clone formation assay in cell models, and xenograft assay in null mouse, we demonstrated that Huh7 cells with YRDC knockdown showed decreased susceptibility to lenvatinib than their control cells. Furthermore, we found that lenvatinib inhibited the expression of YRDC in a time-dependent manner. This effect may aggravate resistance to lenvatinib in hepatocarcinoma cells and may be an underlying cause of resistance, which emerges soon after lenvatinib initial treatment. To investigate how YRDC modulates the sensitivity of lenvatinib, we assessed the effect of tRNA with different t6A levels on the translation of the KRAS gene by in vitro rabbit reticulocyte translation system and measured the expression levels of the KRAS gene by western blot together with qPCR. We found that YRDC regulates the protein translation of KRAS in cell models, and the tRNA with low t6A modification level reduces the translation of the KRAS in the in vitro translation system. These results suggested that YRDC mediates the resistance of lenvatinib in hepatocarcinoma cells via modulating the translation of the KRAS. In this study, YRDC was confirmed to be a potential novel predictive biomarker of lenvatinib sensitivity in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Guo
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Peng Zhu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Zhi Ye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mengke Wang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Haijun Yang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Shiqiong Huang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Yan Shu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland at Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Honghao Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Applied Technology of Pharmacogenomics, Ministry of Education, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Changsha, China
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13
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Song H, Zhu J, Li P, Han F, Fang L, Yu P. Metabolic flexibility maintains proliferation and migration of FGFR signaling-deficient lymphatic endothelial cells. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101149. [PMID: 34473994 PMCID: PMC8498002 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic flexibility is the capacity of cells to alter fuel metabolism in response to changes in metabolic demand or nutrient availability. It is critical for maintaining cellular bioenergetics and is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders. However, the regulation and function of metabolic flexibility in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) remain unclear. We have previously shown that glycolysis is the predominant metabolic pathway to generate ATP in LECs and that fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling controls lymphatic vessel formation by promoting glycolysis. Here, we found that chemical inhibition of FGFR activity or knockdown of FGFR1 induces substantial upregulation of fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) while reducing glycolysis and cellular ATP generation in LECs. Interestingly, such compensatory elevation was not observed in glucose oxidation and glutamine oxidation. Mechanistic studies show that FGFR blockade promotes the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), a rate-limiting enzyme of FAO; this is achieved by dampened extracellular signal–regulated protein kinase activation, which in turn upregulates the expression of the peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor alpha. Metabolic analysis further demonstrates that CPT1A depletion decreases total cellular ATP levels in FGFR1-deficient rather than wildtype LECs. This result suggests that FAO, which makes a negligible contribution to cellular energy under normal conditions, can partially compensate for energy deficiency caused by FGFR inhibition. Consequently, CPT1A silencing potentiates the effect of FGFR1 knockdown on impeding LEC proliferation and migration. Collectively, our study identified a key role of metabolic flexibility in modulating the effect of FGFR signaling on LEC growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyuan Song
- Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Jie Zhu
- Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Ping Li
- Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Fei Han
- Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Longhou Fang
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA; Department of Cardiothoracic Surgeries, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Pengchun Yu
- Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
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14
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Liu G, Chen T, Ding Z, Wang Y, Wei Y, Wei X. Inhibition of FGF-FGFR and VEGF-VEGFR signalling in cancer treatment. Cell Prolif 2021; 54:e13009. [PMID: 33655556 PMCID: PMC8016646 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The sites of targeted therapy are limited and need to be expanded. The FGF‐FGFR signalling plays pivotal roles in the oncogenic process, and FGF/FGFR inhibitors are a promising method to treat FGFR‐altered tumours. The VEGF‐VEGFR signalling is the most crucial pathway to induce angiogenesis, and inhibiting this cascade has already got success in treating tumours. While both their efficacy and antitumour spectrum are limited, combining FGF/FGFR inhibitors with VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors are an excellent way to optimize the curative effect and expand the antitumour range because their combination can target both tumour cells and the tumour microenvironment. In addition, biomarkers need to be developed to predict the efficacy, and combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors is a promising direction in the future. The article will discuss the FGF‐FGFR signalling pathway, the VEGF‐VEGFR signalling pathway, the rationale of combining these two signalling pathways and recent small‐molecule FGFR/VEGFR inhibitors based on clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guihong Liu
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Cardiology Department, Chengdu NO.7 People's Hospital, Chengdu Tumor Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhenyu Ding
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuquan Wei
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiawei Wei
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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15
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Li H. Angiogenesis in the progression from liver fibrosis to cirrhosis and hepatocelluar carcinoma. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 15:217-233. [PMID: 33131349 DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2021.1842732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Persistent inflammation and hypoxia are strong stimulus for pathological angiogenesis and vascular remodeling, and are also the most important elements resulting in liver fibrosis. Sustained inflammatory process stimulates fibrosis to the end-point of cirrhosis and sinusoidal portal hypertension is an important feature of cirrhosis. Neovascularization plays a pivotal role in collateral circulation formation of portal vein, mesenteric congestion, and high perfusion. Imbalance of hepatic artery and portal vein blood flow leads to the increase of hepatic artery inflow, which is beneficial to the formation of nodules. Angiogenesis contributes to progression from liver fibrosis to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and anti-angiogenesis therapy can improve liver fibrosis, reduce portal pressure, and prolong overall survival of patients with HCC. Areas covers: This paper will try to address the difference of the morphological characteristics and mechanisms of neovascularization in the process from liver fibrosis to cirrhosis and HCC and further compare the different efficacy of anti-angiogenesis therapy in these three stages. Expert opinion: More in-depth understanding of the role of angiogenesis factors and the relationship between angiogenesis and other aspects of the pathogenesis and transformation may be the key to enabling future progress in the treatment of patients with liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Central Laboratory, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Chengdu, Sichuan Province, P. R. China
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16
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Wu X, Dai M, Cui R, Wang Y, Li C, Peng X, Zhao J, Wang B, Dai Y, Feng D, Yang T, Jiang H, Geng M, Ai J, Zheng M, Liu H. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of pyrazolo[3,4- d]pyridazinone derivatives as covalent FGFR inhibitors. Acta Pharm Sin B 2021; 11:781-794. [PMID: 33777682 PMCID: PMC7982429 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2020.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) have emerged as promising targets for anticancer therapy. In this study, we synthesized and evaluated the biological activity of 66 pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridazinone derivatives. Kinase inhibition, cell proliferation, and whole blood stability assays were used to evaluate their activity on FGFR, allowing us to explore structure−activity relationships and thus to gain understanding of the structural requirements to modulate covalent inhibitors’ selectivity and reactivity. Among them, compound 10h exhibited potent enzymatic activity against FGFR and remarkably inhibited proliferation of various cancer cells associated with FGFR dysregulation, and suppressed FGFR signaling pathway in cancer cells by the immunoblot analysis. Moreover, 10h displayed highly potent antitumor efficacy (TGI = 91.6%, at a dose of 50 mg/kg) in the FGFR1-amplified NCI-H1581 xenograft model.
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Key Words
- Antitumor efficacy
- BTK, brutons tyrosine kinase
- CADD, computer-aided drug design
- Covalent FGFR inhibitors
- EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor
- FGFR, fibroblast growth factor receptor
- GSH, glutathione
- MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase
- PI3K, phosphoinositide 3-kinase
- PK, pharmacokinetics
- PLCγ, phospholipase Cγ
- Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridazinone
- RTKs, receptor tyrosine kinases
- SAR, structure−activity relationship
- Structure−activity relationships
- Tyrosine kinase
- Virtual screening
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17
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Ozaki T, Kawamoto T, Iimori Y, Takeshita N, Yamagishi Y, Nakamura H, Kamohara M, Fujita K, Tanahashi M, Tsumaki N. Evaluation of FGFR inhibitor ASP5878 as a drug candidate for achondroplasia. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20915. [PMID: 33262386 PMCID: PMC7708468 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77345-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Achondroplasia is caused by gain-of-function mutations in FGFR3 gene and leads to short-limb dwarfism. A stabilized analogue of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is known to elongate bone by interacting with FGFR3 signals and thus is a promising drug candidate. However, it needs daily administration by percutaneous injection. FGFR inhibitor compounds are other drug candidates for achondroplasia because they directly fix the mutant protein malfunction. Although FGFR inhibitors elongate the bone of model mice, their adverse effects are not well studied. In this study, we found that a new FGFR inhibitor, ASP5878, which was originally developed as an anti-cancer drug, elongated the bone of achondroplasia model male mice at the dose of 300 μg/kg, which confers an AUC of 275 ng·h/ml in juvenile mice. Although ASP5878 was less effective in bone elongation than a CNP analogue, it is advantageous in that ASP5878 can be administered orally. The AUC at which minimal adverse effects were observed (very slight atrophy of the corneal epithelium) was 459 ng·h/ml in juvenile rats. The positive discrepancy between AUCs that brought efficacy and minimal adverse effect suggests the applicability of ASP5878 to achondroplasia in the clinical setting. We also analyzed effects of ASP5878 in a patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model for achondroplasia and found the effects on patient chondrocyte equivalents. Nevertheless, cautious consideration is needed when referring to safety data obtained from its application to adult patients with cancer in clinical tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomonori Ozaki
- Cell Induction and Regulation Field, Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Yuki Iimori
- Cell Induction and Regulation Field, Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | | | | | - Hiroaki Nakamura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Kaori Fujita
- Cell Induction and Regulation Field, Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | | | - Noriyuki Tsumaki
- Cell Induction and Regulation Field, Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
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18
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Huynh H, Prawira A, Le TBU, Vu TC, Hao HX, Huang A, Wang Y, Porta DG. FGF401 and vinorelbine synergistically mediate antitumor activity and vascular normalization in FGF19-dependent hepatocellular carcinoma. Exp Mol Med 2020; 52:1857-1868. [PMID: 33235319 PMCID: PMC8080677 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-020-00524-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal cancer with limited therapeutic options, and standard therapy with sorafenib provides only modest survival benefits. Fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) has been proposed as a driver oncogene, and targeting its receptor, FGFR-4, may provide a better alternative to standard therapy for patients with FGF19-driven tumors. Sixty-three HCC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models were screened for FGF19 expression. Mice bearing high and low FGF19-expressing tumors were treated with FGF401 and/or vinorelbine, and the antitumor activity of both agents was assessed individually and in combination. Tumor vasculature and intratumoral hypoxia were also examined. High FGF19 expression was detected in 14.3% (9 of 63) of the HCC models tested and may represent a good target for HCC treatment. FGF401 potently inhibited the growth of high FGF19-expressing HCC models regardless of FGF19 gene amplification. Furthermore, FGF401 inhibited the FGF19/FGFR-4 signaling pathway, cell proliferation, and hypoxia, induced apoptosis and blood vessel normalization and prolonged the overall survival (OS) of mice bearing high FGF19 tumors. FGF401 synergistically acted with the microtubule-depolymerizing drug vinorelbine to further suppress tumor growth, promote apoptosis, and prolong the OS of mice bearing high FGF19 tumors, with no evidence of increased toxicity. Our study suggests that a subset of patients with high FGF19-expressing HCC tumors could benefit from FGF401 or FGF401/vinorelbine treatment. A high level of FGF19 in a tumor may serve as a potential biomarker for patient selection. The drugs FGF401 and vinorelbine, when working together synergistically, could be effective in treating those liver cancers driven by the activity of the fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) protein. The drugs’ effects on human tumors grafted into mice were studied by an international research team led by Hung Huynh at the National Cancer Centre in Singapore. FGF401 is a small molecule that inhibits the activity of the receptor protein that the FGF19 growth factor interacts with to promote some cancers. Vinorelbine disrupts protein microtubules required for the cell division that allows cancer cells to multiply. In combination, the drugs achieved significantly enhanced anti-cancer effects which can now be tested in clinical trials. The research also uncovered new details of FGF401’s therapeutic actions, including its ability to restore healthy blood vessel formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung Huynh
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Division of Molecular and Cellular Research, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Aldo Prawira
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Division of Molecular and Cellular Research, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Thi Bich Uyen Le
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Division of Molecular and Cellular Research, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Thanh Chung Vu
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Division of Molecular and Cellular Research, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Huai-Xiang Hao
- Oncology Drug Discovery Pharmacology, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Alan Huang
- Oncology Drug Discovery Pharmacology, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Youzhen Wang
- Oncology Drug Discovery Pharmacology, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Diana Graus Porta
- Oncology Translational Research, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research at Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Chandana SR, Babiker HM, Mahadevan D. Clinical complexity of utilizing FGFR inhibitors in cancer therapeutics. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2020; 29:1413-1429. [PMID: 33074030 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2020.1838484] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR 1-4) are a highly conserved family of receptor tyrosine kinases, involved in several physiological processes. Genetic aberrations of FGFRs and their ligands, fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are involved in several pathological processes including cancer. The FGF-FGFR axis has emerged as a treatment target in oncology. Because these aberrations drive cancer progression, the development of FGFR targeted therapies have been accelerated. AREAS COVERED In this comprehensive review, we evaluate molecular pathology and targeted therapies to FGFRs. We reviewed the evidence for safety and efficacy from preclinical and clinical studies (phase I-III) of FGFR targeted therapies. We also discuss potential challenges in bringing these targeted therapies from bench to bedside and the potential opportunities. EXPERT OPINION Despite the challenges of the clinical development of FGFR targeted therapies, two FGFR small-molecule inhibitors, namely Erdafitinib and Pemigatinib, are FDA approved for urothelial cancer and cholangiocarcinoma, respectively. Understanding and detection of FGFR genomic aberrations, protein overexpression and the development of isoform-specific inhibitors are factors in the clinical success of these therapies. An enhanced understanding of patient selection based on a gene signatures or biomarkers is key to success of FGFR targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreenivasa R Chandana
- Phase I Program, START Midwest , Grand Rapids, MI, USA.,Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer and Hematology Centers of Western Michigan , Grand Rapids, MI, USA.,Department of Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University , East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Hani M Babiker
- Early Phase Clinical Trials Program, University of Arizona Cancer Center , Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Daruka Mahadevan
- Early Phase Clinical Trials Program, University of Arizona Cancer Center , Tucson, AZ, USA.,Division of Hematology-Oncology, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health San Antonio , San Antonio, TX, USA
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20
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Shin E, Lim DH, Han J, Nam DH, Park K, Ahn MJ, Kang WK, Lee J, Ahn JS, Lee SH, Sun JM, Jung HA, Chung TY. Markedly increased ocular side effect causing severe vision deterioration after chemotherapy using new or investigational epidermal or fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitors. BMC Ophthalmol 2020; 20:19. [PMID: 31918686 PMCID: PMC6953164 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-019-1285-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We sought to describe corneal epithelial changes after using epidermal (EGFR) or fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors as chemotherapy and to clarify incidence and prognosis. Materials Retrospective chart review. Results Among 6871 patients and 17 EGFR or FGFR inhibitors, 1161 patients (16.9%) referred for ophthalmologic examination. In total, 1145 patients had disease-related or unrelated ocular complications. Among 16 patients with treatment-related ocular complications, three patients had treatment-related radiation retinopathy and one patient showed treatment-related corneal ulcer. Finally the authors identified that, in 12 patients, three EGFR inhibitors and two FGFR inhibitors caused corneal epithelial lesions. Vandetanib, Osimertinib, and ABT-414 caused vortex keratopathy in nine patients, while ASP-5878 and FPA-144 caused epithelial changes resembling corneal dysmaturation in three patients. The mean interval until symptoms appeared was 246 days with vandetanib, 196 days with osimertinib, 30 days with ABT-414, 55 days with ASP-5878, and 70 days with FPA-144. The mean of the lowest logarithm of minimal angle of resolution visual acuity results of the right and left eyes after chemotherapy were 0.338 and 0.413. The incidence rates of epithelial changes were 15.79% with vandetanib, 0.5% with osimertinib, 100% with ABT-414, 50.0% with ASP-5878, and 18.2% with FPA-144. After excluding deceased patients and those who were lost to follow-up or still undergoing treatment, we confirmed the reversibility of corneal lesions after the discontinuation of each agent. Seven patients showed full recovery of their vision and corneal epithelium, while three achieved a partial level of recovery. Although patients diagnosed with glioblastoma used prophylactic topical steroids before and during ABT-414 therapy, all developed vortex keratopathy. Conclusions EGFR and FGFR inhibitors are chemotherapy agents that could make corneal epithelial changes. Contrary to the low probability of ocular complication with old EGFR drugs, recently introduced EGFR and FGFR agents showed a high incidence of ocular complication with severe vision distortion. Doctors should forewarn patients planning chemotherapy with these agents that decreased visual acuity could develop due to corneal epithelial changes and also reassure them that the condition could be improved after the end of treatment without the use of steroid eye drops. Trial registration This study was approved by the institutional review board (IRB) of Samsung Medical Center (IRB no. 2019–04-027) and was conducted according to the principles expressed in the Declaration of Helsinki.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunhae Shin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Hui Lim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Preventive Medicine, Graduate School, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jisang Han
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Hyun Nam
- Cancer Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Samsung Medical Center and Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Keunchil Park
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung-Ju Ahn
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Ki Kang
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeeyun Lee
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Seok Ahn
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Hoon Lee
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Mu Sun
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Ae Jung
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Young Chung
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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21
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Marseglia G, Lodola A, Mor M, Castelli R. Fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitors: patent review (2015-2019). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2019; 29:965-977. [PMID: 31679402 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2019.1688300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are a family of tyrosine-kinase receptors whose signaling cascade regulates cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Deregulation of the FGFR pathway is recognized as a driving factor in tumor development. On this basis, FGFR is an attractive target for anti-cancer small-molecule therapeutic agents.Areas covered: This review summarizes patent and literature publications spanning from 2015 to 2019 pertaining to small-molecule FGFR kinase inhibitors.Expert opinion: The first generation of non-covalent FGFR inhibitors is characterized by a broad spectrum of activity and a relatively high toxicity profile. The second generation of FGFR inhibitors shows higher selectivity and a more favorable toxicity profile, but the clinical use appears restricted only to small subsets of cancers strongly dependent on FGFR signaling. Nevertheless, erdafitinib has been approved for the treatment of metastatic urothelial carcinoma, becoming the first marketed selective FGFR inhibitor. The insurgence of mutant kinases, resistant to available therapies, has led to the development of irreversible FGFR inhibitors. The adoption of safer and more selective covalent inhibitors might supersede reversible inhibitors in specific therapeutic areas. Alternative strategies, such as FGF trapping by protein or small-molecule therapeutics, deserve attention and further investigations to unravel their potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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22
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Futami T, Kawase T, Mori K, Asaumi M, Kihara R, Shindoh N, Kuromitsu S. Identification of a novel oncogenic mutation of FGFR4 in gastric cancer. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14627. [PMID: 31601997 PMCID: PMC6787178 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51217-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Despite intensive investigations of treatments over the past three decades, the poor prognosis of patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent gastric cancer has not significantly changed, and improved therapies are required. Here, we report the identification of an oncogenic mutation in FGFR4 in a human gastric tumour that leads to constitutive activation of its product, FGFR4. The G636C-FGFR4 tyrosine kinase domain mutation was found in 1 of 83 primary human gastric tumours. The G636C mutation increased FGFR4 autophosphorylation, and activated FGFR4 downstream signalling molecules and enhanced anchorage-independent cell growth when expressed in NIH/3T3 cells. 3D-structural analysis and modelling of FGFR4 suggest that G636C destabilizes an auto-inhibitory conformation and stabilizes an active conformation, leading to increased kinase activation. Ba/F3 cell lines expressing the G636C-FGFR4 mutant were significantly more sensitive to ASP5878, a selective FGFR inhibitor, than the control. Oral administration of ASP5878 significantly inhibited the growth of tumours in mice engrafted with G636C-FGFR4/3T3 cells. Together, our results demonstrate that mutationally activated FGFR4 acts as an oncoprotein. These findings support the therapeutic targeting of FGFR4 in gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Futami
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc., Ibaraki, Japan.
| | - Tatsuya Kawase
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kenichi Mori
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Makoto Asaumi
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Rumi Kihara
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Shindoh
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Sadao Kuromitsu
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc., Ibaraki, Japan
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23
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Zhan W, Liao X, Chen Z, Li L, Tian T, Yu L, Wang W, Hu Q. Circular RNA hsa_circRNA_103809 promoted hepatocellular carcinoma development by regulating miR‐377‐3p/FGFR1/ERK axis. J Cell Physiol 2019; 235:1733-1745. [PMID: 31317555 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University Guiyang Guizhou China
| | - Xin Liao
- Department of Imaging Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University Guiyang Guizhou China
| | - Zhongsheng Chen
- Clinical Medical College Guizhou Medical University Guiyang Guizhou China
| | - Lianghe Li
- Clinical Medical College Guizhou Medical University Guiyang Guizhou China
| | - Tian Tian
- Centre of Clinical Laboratory Guiyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital Guiyang City Guizhou China
| | - Lei Yu
- Department of Pathology Guiyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital Guiyang Guizhou China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science Xiangyang Hubei China
| | - Qiyan Hu
- Department of Oncology Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science Xiangyang Hubei China
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24
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Raja A, Park I, Haq F, Ahn SM. FGF19- FGFR4 Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cells 2019; 8:E536. [PMID: 31167419 PMCID: PMC6627123 DOI: 10.3390/cells8060536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer, with an increasing mortality rate. Aberrant expression of fibroblast growth factor 19-fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGF19-FGFR4) is reported to be an oncogenic-driver pathway for HCC patients. Thus, the FGF19-FGFR4 signaling pathway is a promising target for the treatment of HCC. Several pan-FGFR (1-4) and FGFR4-specific inhibitors are in different phases of clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the information, recent developments, binding modes, selectivity, and clinical trial phases of different available FGFR4/pan-FGF inhibitors. We also discuss future perspectives and highlight the points that should be addressed to improve the efficacy of these inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aroosha Raja
- Department of Biosciences, Comsats University, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan.
| | - Inkeun Park
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon 21565, Korea.
| | - Farhan Haq
- Department of Biosciences, Comsats University, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan.
| | - Sung-Min Ahn
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon 21565, Korea.
- Department of Genome Medicine and Science, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 21565, Korea.
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25
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Yamamoto N, Ryoo BY, Keam B, Kudo M, Lin CC, Kunieda F, Ball HA, Moran D, Komatsu K, Takeda K, Fukuda M, Furuse J, Morita S, Doi T. A phase 1 study of oral ASP5878, a selective small-molecule inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptors 1-4, as a single dose and multiple doses in patients with solid malignancies. Invest New Drugs 2019; 38:445-456. [PMID: 31041575 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-019-00780-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
ASP5878 is a selective small-molecule inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs). This study investigated safety, tolerability, and antitumor effect of single and multiple oral doses of ASP5878 in patients with solid tumors. This phase 1, open label, first-in-human study comprised dose-escalation and dose-expansion parts. Primary objectives of the dose-escalation part were to identify the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), maximum tolerated dose, and recommended dose of ASP5878 for the dose-expansion part. Nine dose cohorts of ASP5878 were evaluated (0.5─2 mg once daily; 2─40 mg twice daily [BID]). A single dose of ASP5878 was followed by a 2-day pharmacokinetic collection, and then either 28-day cycles of daily dosing (ASP5878 ≤ 10 mg BID) or 5-day dosing/2-day interruption (ASP5878 ≥ 20 mg BID). The primary objective of the dose-expansion part was to determine the safety of ASP5878 (16 mg BID) administered in 28-day cycles of 5-day dosing/2-day interruption in patients with urothelial carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, or squamous cell lung carcinoma with FGFR genetic alterations. Safety was assessed by monitoring adverse events (AEs). Thirty-five patients were enrolled and 31 discontinued in the dose-escalation part; 51 patients were enrolled and 51 discontinued in the dose-expansion part. In the dose-escalation part, 66.7% of patients in the 20 mg BID 5-day dosing/2-day interruption group reported DLTs of hyperphosphatemia. The recommended dose for the dose-expansion part was 16 mg BID. Common AEs included retinal detachment, diarrhea, and increased alanine aminotransferase. One death occurred that was not related to ASP5878. ASP5878 was well tolerated with manageable toxicities including hyperphosphatemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noboru Yamamoto
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tsukiji 5-1-1, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan.
| | - Baek-Yeol Ryoo
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Bhumsuk Keam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101, Daehak-ro Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Masatoshi Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, Kindai University, 3-4-1 Kowakae, Higashiosaka City, Osaka, 577-8502, Japan
| | - Chia-Chi Lin
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung Shan S Rd, Taipei, 10002, Taiwan
| | - Futoshi Kunieda
- Medical Science Oncology, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., 1 Astellas Way, Northbrook, IL, 60062, USA
| | - Howard A Ball
- Clinical Pharmacology & Exploratory Development - Oncology, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., 1 Astellas Way, Northbrook, IL, 60062, USA
| | - Diarmuid Moran
- Clinical Pharmacology & Exploratory Development - Oncology, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., 1 Astellas Way, Northbrook, IL, 60062, USA
| | - Kanji Komatsu
- Clinical Pharmacology, Astellas Pharma, Inc., 2-5-1 Nihonbashi-Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-8411, Japan
| | - Kentaro Takeda
- Data Science, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., 1 Astellas Way, Northbrook, IL, 60062, USA
| | - Musashi Fukuda
- Japan-Asia Data Science, Astellas Pharma, Inc., 2-5-1 Nihonbashi-Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-8411, Japan
| | - Junji Furuse
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, 6-20-2, Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8611, Japan
| | - Satoshi Morita
- Department of Biomedical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Doi
- Experimental Therapeutics of Digestive Endoscopy/Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba, 277-8577, Japan
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26
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Hoshi T, Watanabe Miyano S, Watanabe H, Sonobe RMK, Seki Y, Ohta E, Nomoto K, Matsui J, Funahashi Y. Lenvatinib induces death of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells harboring an activated FGF signaling pathway through inhibition of FGFR-MAPK cascades. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 513:1-7. [PMID: 30944079 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Lenvatinib inhibits VEGF- and FGF-driven angiogenesis, and proliferation of tumor cells with activated FGF signaling pathways in preclinical models, and we previously demonstrated antitumor activity in human HCC xenograft tumor models. Here, we examined the inhibitory activity of lenvatinib against FGF-driven survival of human HCC cell lines. First, we conducted a histological analysis of FGF19-overexpressing Hep3B2.1-7 xenograft tumors collected from mice treated with lenvatinib. Second, we examined the effects of pharmacological inhibition on survival of cultured HCC cells with an activated FGF signaling pathway under nutrient-starved culture condition to mimic tumor microenvironments induced by angiogenesis inhibition. In the first analysis, area of histological focal necrosis was greater in Hep3B2.1-7 xenograft tumors with the lenvatinib treatment than that after the treatment with sorafenib, which does not inhibit FGFRs. Lenvatinib and E7090 (a selective FGFR1-3 inhibitor), but not sorafenib, induced death of Hep3B2.1-7, and another FGF19 overexpressing HuH-7 cells. Lenvatinib and E7090 decreased phosphorylation of downstream molecules of the FGF signaling pathway (such as FRS2, Erk, and p38 MAPK), and induced PARP cleavage, even under limited nutrients. PD0325901, MEK inhibitor, caused the same changes in HCC cells as those described above for lenvatinib and E7090. These results reveal that the FGF signaling pathway through MAPK cascades plays an important role in survival of HCC cell lines with an activated FGF signaling pathway under limited nutrients, and FGFR-MAPK cascades likely contribute to survival of HCC cells with an activated FGF signaling pathway under tumor microenvironments with limited nutrients, where tumor angiogenesis is inhibited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taisuke Hoshi
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Ibaraki, Japan
| | | | - Hideki Watanabe
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Ibaraki, Japan
| | | | - Yuki Seki
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Etsuko Ohta
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kenichi Nomoto
- Oncology Business Group, Eisai Inc., Woodcliff Lake, NJ, USA
| | - Junji Matsui
- Oncology Business Group, Eisai Inc., Woodcliff Lake, NJ, USA
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Somm E, Jornayvaz FR. Fibroblast Growth Factor 15/19: From Basic Functions to Therapeutic Perspectives. Endocr Rev 2018; 39:960-989. [PMID: 30124818 DOI: 10.1210/er.2018-00134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Discovered 20 years ago, fibroblast growth factor (FGF)19, and its mouse ortholog FGF15, were the first members of a new subfamily of FGFs able to act as hormones. During fetal life, FGF15/19 is involved in organogenesis, affecting the development of the ear, eye, heart, and brain. At adulthood, FGF15/19 is mainly produced by the ileum, acting on the liver to repress hepatic bile acid synthesis and promote postprandial nutrient partitioning. In rodents, pharmacologic doses of FGF19 induce the same antiobesity and antidiabetic actions as FGF21, with these metabolic effects being partly mediated by the brain. However, activation of hepatocyte proliferation by FGF19 has long been a challenge to its therapeutic use. Recently, genetic reengineering of the molecule has resolved this issue. Despite a global overlap in expression pattern and function, murine FGF15 and human FGF19 exhibit several differences in terms of regulation, molecular structure, signaling, and biological properties. As most of the knowledge originates from the use of FGF19 in murine models, differences between mice and humans in the biology of FGF15/19 have to be considered for a successful translation from bench to bedside. This review summarizes the basic knowledge concerning FGF15/19 in mice and humans, with a special focus on regulation of production, morphogenic properties, hepatocyte growth, bile acid homeostasis, as well as actions on glucose, lipid, and energy homeostasis. Moreover, implications and therapeutic perspectives concerning FGF19 in human diseases (including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hepatic steatosis, biliary disorders, and cancer) are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Somm
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Hypertension, and Nutrition, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - François R Jornayvaz
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Hypertension, and Nutrition, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
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28
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Katoh M. Fibroblast growth factor receptors as treatment targets in clinical oncology. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2018; 16:105-122. [DOI: 10.1038/s41571-018-0115-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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29
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Matsuki M, Hoshi T, Yamamoto Y, Ikemori‐Kawada M, Minoshima Y, Funahashi Y, Matsui J. Lenvatinib inhibits angiogenesis and tumor fibroblast growth factor signaling pathways in human hepatocellular carcinoma models. Cancer Med 2018; 7:2641-2653. [PMID: 29733511 PMCID: PMC6010799 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.1517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) is one of the most lethal and prevalent cancers worldwide, and current systemic therapeutic options for uHCC are limited. Lenvatinib, a multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) and fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs), recently demonstrated a treatment effect on overall survival by statistical confirmation of noninferiority to sorafenib in a phase 3 study of uHCC. Here, we investigated mechanisms underlying the antitumor activity of lenvatinib in preclinical HCC models. In vitro proliferation assay of nine human HCC cell lines showed that lenvatinib selectively inhibited proliferation of FGF signal-activated HCC cells including FGF19-expressing Hep3B2.1-7. Lenvatinib suppressed phosphorylation of FRS2, a substrate of FGFR1-4, in these cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Lenvatinib inhibited in vivo tumor growth in Hep3B2.1-7 and SNU-398 xenografts and decreased phosphorylation of FRS2 and Erk1/2 within the tumor tissues. Lenvatinib also exerted antitumor activity and potently reduced tumor microvessel density in PLC/PRF/5 xenograft model and two HCC patient-derived xenograft models. These results suggest that lenvatinib has antitumor activity consistently across diverse HCC models, and that targeting of tumor FGF signaling pathways and anti-angiogenic activity underlies its antitumor activity against HCC tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Taisuke Hoshi
- Tsukuba Research LaboratoriesEisai Co., Ltd.IbarakiJapan
| | - Yuji Yamamoto
- Tsukuba Research LaboratoriesEisai Co., Ltd.IbarakiJapan
| | | | | | | | - Junji Matsui
- Tsukuba Research LaboratoriesEisai Co., Ltd.IbarakiJapan
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30
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Zhang X, Kong M, Zhang Z, Xu S, Yan F, Wei L, Zhou J. FGF19 genetic amplification as a potential therapeutic target in lung squamous cell carcinomas. Thorac Cancer 2017; 8:655-665. [PMID: 28906590 PMCID: PMC5668513 DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.12504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although FGF19 gene aberrations are associated with carcinogenesis and progression in human cancers, the roles of FGF19 genetic amplification and expression in Chinese patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and FGF19 amplification as a potential therapeutic target for LSCC are not well understood. Methods Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis and quantitative real‐time‐PCR was used to detect FGF19 genetic amplification and FGF19 messenger RNA expression in LSCC tumor and paired adjacent samples. Small interfering RNA and short hairpin RNA were used to knockdown FGF19 in vitro and in vivo. Results FGF19 amplification was identified in a subset of LSCC patients (37.5%, 15/40), and upregulation of FGF19 expression was found in 60% (24/40) of tumor tissues compared to adjacent non‐tumorous tissues. Correlation analysis with clinicopathologic parameters showed that FGF19 upregulation was significantly associated with heavy smoking. Small interfering RNA knockdown of FGF19 led to the significant inhibition of cell growth and induced apoptosis in LSCC cells carrying the amplified FGF19 gene, but these effects was not observed in non‐amplified LSCC cells. Interfering FGF19 expression with short hairpin RNA also resulted in tumor growth inhibition and induced apoptosis in LSCC xenografts with amplified FGF19 in tumor cells. Conclusion Our results suggested that FGF19 signaling activation is required for cell growth and survival of FGF19 amplified LSCC cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Intervention of FGF19 activation could be a potential therapeutic strategy for LSCC patients with FGF19 amplification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mei Kong
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Suzhen Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feifei Yan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liyuan Wei
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianying Zhou
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Thoracic Disease Centre, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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31
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Discovery and optimization of selective FGFR4 inhibitors via scaffold hopping. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2017; 27:2420-2423. [PMID: 28433531 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Introduction of a Michael acceptor on a flexible scaffold derived from pan-FGFR inhibitors has successfully yielded a novel series of highly potent FGFR4 inhibitors with selectivity over FGFR1. Due to reduced lipophilicity and aromatic ring count, this series demonstrated improved solubility and permeability. However, plasma instability and fast metabolism limited its potential for in vivo studies. Efforts have been made to address these problems, which led to the discovery of compound (-)-11 with improved stability, CYP inhibition, and good activity/selectivity for further optimization.
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