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Deppas JJ, Kiesel BF, Guo J, Parise RA, Clump DA, D'Argenio DZ, Bakkenist CJ, Beumer JH. Non-linear IV pharmacokinetics of the ATR inhibitor berzosertib (M6620) in mice. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2024:10.1007/s00280-024-04675-3. [PMID: 38743253 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-024-04675-3] [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: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) protein complex is an apical initiator of DNA damage response pathways. Several ATR inhibitors (ATRi) are in clinical development including berzosertib (formerly M6620, VX-970). Although clinical studies have examined plasma pharmacokinetics (PK) in humans, little is known regarding dose/exposure relationships and tissue distribution. To understand these concepts, we extensively characterized the PK of berzosertib in mouse plasma and tissues. METHODS A highly sensitive LC-MS/MS method was utilized to quantitate berzosertib in plasma and tissues. Dose proportionality was assessed in female BALB/c mice following single IV doses (2, 6, 20 or 60 mg/kg). A more extensive PK study was conducted in tumor-bearing mice following a single IV dose of 20 mg/kg to evaluate distribution to tissues. PK parameters were calculated by non-compartmental analysis (NCA). A compartmental model was developed to describe the PK behavior of berzosertib. Plasma protein binding was determined in vitro. RESULTS Increased doses of berzosertib were associated with less than proportional increases in early plasma concentrations and greater than proportional increase in tissue exposure, attributable to saturation of plasma protein binding. Berzosertib extensively distributed into bone marrow, tumor, thymus, and lymph nodes, however; brain and spinal cord exposure was less than plasma. CONCLUSION The nonlinear PK of berzosertib displayed here can be attributed to saturation of plasma protein binding and occurred at concentrations close to those observed in clinical trials. Our results will help to understand preclinical pharmacodynamic and toxicity data and to inform optimal dosing and deployment of berzosertib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J Deppas
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Room G27e 5117 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Brian F Kiesel
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Room G27e 5117 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jianxia Guo
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Room G27e 5117 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Robert A Parise
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Room G27e 5117 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - D Andy Clump
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David Z D'Argenio
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher J Bakkenist
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jan H Beumer
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Room G27e 5117 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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2
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Tong J, Song J, Zhang W, Zhai J, Guan Q, Wang H, Liu G, Zheng C. When DNA-damage responses meet innate and adaptive immunity. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:185. [PMID: 38630271 PMCID: PMC11023972 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05214-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
When cells proliferate, stress on DNA replication or exposure to endogenous or external insults frequently results in DNA damage. DNA-Damage Response (DDR) networks are complex signaling pathways used by multicellular organisms to prevent DNA damage. Depending on the type of broken DNA, the various pathways, Base-Excision Repair (BER), Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER), Mismatch Repair (MMR), Homologous Recombination (HR), Non-Homologous End-Joining (NHEJ), Interstrand Crosslink (ICL) repair, and other direct repair pathways, can be activated separately or in combination to repair DNA damage. To preserve homeostasis, innate and adaptive immune responses are effective defenses against endogenous mutation or invasion by external pathogens. It is interesting to note that new research keeps showing how closely DDR components and the immune system are related. DDR and immunological response are linked by immune effectors such as the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) pathway. These effectors act as sensors of DNA damage-caused immune response. Furthermore, DDR components themselves function in immune responses to trigger the generation of inflammatory cytokines in a cascade or even trigger programmed cell death. Defective DDR components are known to disrupt genomic stability and compromise immunological responses, aggravating immune imbalance and leading to serious diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. This study examines the most recent developments in the interaction between DDR elements and immunological responses. The DDR network's immune modulators' dual roles may offer new perspectives on treating infectious disorders linked to DNA damage, including cancer, and on the development of target immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Tong
- College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
- Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Jiangwei Song
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases in Livestock and Poultry, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Wuchao Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, 071000, China
| | - Jingbo Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Zoonose Prevention and Control at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Medical College, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao, 028000, China
| | - Qingli Guan
- The Affiliated Hospital of Chinese PLA 80th Group Army, Weifang, 261000, China
| | - Huiqing Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Gentao Liu
- Department of Oncology, Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University & Cancer Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 20000, China.
| | - Chunfu Zheng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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3
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Pandya P, Vendetti FP, El-Ghoubaira J, Pathak S, Deppas JJ, Jones R, Columbus AV, Zhang Y, Ivanov D, Huang Z, MacDonald KM, Harding SM, Buj R, Aird KM, Beumer JH, Sobol RW, Bakkenist CJ. Deoxyuridine-rich cytoplasmic DNA antagonizes STING-dependent innate immune responses and sensitizes resistant tumors to anti-PD-L1 therapy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.04.588079. [PMID: 38883769 PMCID: PMC11178004 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.04.588079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
DNA damage and cytoplasmic DNA induce type-1 interferon (IFN-1) and potentiate responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Our prior work found that inhibitors of the DNA damage response kinase ATR (ATRi) induce IFN-1 and deoxyuridine (dU) incorporation by DNA polymerases, akin to antimetabolites. Whether and how dU incorporation is required for ATRi-induced IFN-1 signaling is not known. Here, we show that ATRi-dependent IFN-1 responses require uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG)-initiated base excision repair and STING. Quantitative analyses of nine distinct nucleosides reveals that ATRi induce dU incorporation more rapidly in UNG wild-type than knockout cells, and that induction of IFN-1 is associated with futile cycles of repair. While ATRi induce similar numbers of micronuclei in UNG wild-type and knockout cells, dU containing micronuclei and cytoplasmic DNA are increased in knockout cells. Surprisingly, DNA fragments containing dU block STING-dependent induction of IFN-1, MHC-1, and PD-L1. Furthermore, UNG knockout sensitizes cells to IFN-γ in vitro , and potentiates responses to anti-PD-L1 in resistant tumors in vivo . These data demonstrate an unexpected and specific role for dU-rich DNA in suppressing STING-dependent IFN-1 responses, and show that UNG-deficient tumors have a heightened response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Antimetabolites disrupt nucleotide pools and increase dU incorporation by DNA polymerases. We show that unrepaired dU potentiates responses to checkpoint inhibitors in mouse models of cancer. Patients with low tumor UNG may respond to antimetabolites combined with checkpoint inhibitors, and patients with high tumor UNG may respond to UNG inhibitors combined with checkpoint inhibitors.
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4
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Odhiambo DA, Pittman AN, Rickard AG, Castillo RJ, Bassil AM, Chen J, Ravotti ML, Xu ES, Himes JE, Daniel AR, Watts TL, Williams NT, Luo L, Kirsch DG, Mowery YM. Preclinical Evaluation of the ATR Inhibitor BAY 1895344 as a Radiosensitizer for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2024; 118:1315-1327. [PMID: 38104870 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite aggressive multimodal treatment that typically includes definitive or adjuvant radiation therapy (RT), locoregional recurrence rates approach 50% for patients with locally advanced human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Thus, more effective therapeutics are needed to improve patient outcomes. We evaluated the radiosensitizing effects of ataxia telangiectasia and RAD3-related (ATR) inhibitor (ATRi) BAY 1895344 in preclinical models of HNSCC. METHODS AND MATERIALS Murine and human HPV-negative HNSCC cells (MOC2, MOC1, JHU-012) were treated with vehicle or ATRi with or without 4 Gy. Checkpoint kinase 1 phosphorylation and DNA damage (γH2AX) were evaluated by Western blot, and ATRi half-maximal inhibitory concentration was determined by MTT assay for HNSCC cells and immortalized murine oral keratinocytes. In vitro radiosensitization was tested by clonogenic assay. Cell cycle distribution and mitotic catastrophe were evaluated by flow cytometry. Mitotic aberrations were quantified by fluorescent microscopy. Tumor growth delay and survival were assessed in mice bearing MOC2 or JHU-012 transplant tumors treated with vehicle, ATRi, RT (10 Gy × 1 or 8 Gy × 3), or combined ATRi + RT. RESULTS ATRi caused dose-dependent reduction in checkpoint kinase 1 phosphorylation at 1 hour post-RT (4 Gy) and dose-dependent increase in γH2AX at 18 hours post-RT. Addition of RT to ATRi led to decreased BAY 1895344 half-maximal inhibitory concentration in HNSCC cell lines but not in normal tissue surrogate immortalized murine oral keratinocytes. Clonogenic assays demonstrated radiosensitization in the HNSCC cell lines. ATRi abrogated the RT-induced G2/M checkpoint, leading to mitosis with unrepaired DNA damage and increased mitotic aberrations (multinucleated cells, micronuclei, nuclear buds, nucleoplasmic bridges). ATRi and RT significantly delayed tumor growth in MOC2 and JHU-012 in vivo models, with improved overall survival in the MOC2 model. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrated that BAY 1895344 increased in vitro and in vivo radiosensitivity in HPV-negative HNSCC preclinical models, suggesting therapeutic potential warranting evaluation in clinical trials for patients with locally advanced or recurrent HPV-negative HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana A Odhiambo
- School of Medicine, Washington University of St Louis, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Allison N Pittman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Ashlyn G Rickard
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Rico J Castillo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Alex M Bassil
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Joshua Chen
- College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Madison L Ravotti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Eric S Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jonathan E Himes
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Andrea R Daniel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Tammara L Watts
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Nerissa T Williams
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Lixia Luo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - David G Kirsch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Radiation Oncology and Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yvonne M Mowery
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; Department of Radiation Oncology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
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5
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Mavroeidi D, Georganta A, Panagiotou E, Syrigos K, Souliotis VL. Targeting ATR Pathway in Solid Tumors: Evidence of Improving Therapeutic Outcomes. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2767. [PMID: 38474014 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The DNA damage response (DDR) system is a complicated network of signaling pathways that detects and repairs DNA damage or induces apoptosis. Critical regulators of the DDR network include the DNA damage kinases ataxia telangiectasia mutated Rad3-related kinase (ATR) and ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM). The ATR pathway coordinates processes such as replication stress response, stabilization of replication forks, cell cycle arrest, and DNA repair. ATR inhibition disrupts these functions, causing a reduction of DNA repair, accumulation of DNA damage, replication fork collapse, inappropriate mitotic entry, and mitotic catastrophe. Recent data have shown that the inhibition of ATR can lead to synthetic lethality in ATM-deficient malignancies. In addition, ATR inhibition plays a significant role in the activation of the immune system by increasing the tumor mutational burden and neoantigen load as well as by triggering the accumulation of cytosolic DNA and subsequently inducing the cGAS-STING pathway and the type I IFN response. Taken together, we review stimulating data showing that ATR kinase inhibition can alter the DDR network, the immune system, and their interplay and, therefore, potentially provide a novel strategy to improve the efficacy of antitumor therapy, using ATR inhibitors as monotherapy or in combination with genotoxic drugs and/or immunomodulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitra Mavroeidi
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 116 35 Athens, Greece
- Third Department of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital for Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Georganta
- Third Department of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital for Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Emmanouil Panagiotou
- Third Department of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital for Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Syrigos
- Third Department of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital for Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Vassilis L Souliotis
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 116 35 Athens, Greece
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6
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Hardaker EL, Sanseviero E, Karmokar A, Taylor D, Milo M, Michaloglou C, Hughes A, Mai M, King M, Solanki A, Magiera L, Miragaia R, Kar G, Standifer N, Surace M, Gill S, Peter A, Talbot S, Tohumeken S, Fryer H, Mostafa A, Mulgrew K, Lam C, Hoffmann S, Sutton D, Carnevalli L, Calero-Nieto FJ, Jones GN, Pierce AJ, Wilson Z, Campbell D, Nyoni L, Martins CP, Baker T, Serrano de Almeida G, Ramlaoui Z, Bidar A, Phillips B, Boland J, Iyer S, Barrett JC, Loembé AB, Fuchs SY, Duvvuri U, Lou PJ, Nance MA, Gomez Roca CA, Cadogan E, Critichlow SE, Fawell S, Cobbold M, Dean E, Valge-Archer V, Lau A, Gabrilovich DI, Barry ST. The ATR inhibitor ceralasertib potentiates cancer checkpoint immunotherapy by regulating the tumor microenvironment. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1700. [PMID: 38402224 PMCID: PMC10894296 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45996-4] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) inhibitor ceralasertib in combination with the PD-L1 antibody durvalumab demonstrated encouraging clinical benefit in melanoma and lung cancer patients who progressed on immunotherapy. Here we show that modelling of intermittent ceralasertib treatment in mouse tumor models reveals CD8+ T-cell dependent antitumor activity, which is separate from the effects on tumor cells. Ceralasertib suppresses proliferating CD8+ T-cells on treatment which is rapidly reversed off-treatment. Ceralasertib causes up-regulation of type I interferon (IFNI) pathway in cancer patients and in tumor-bearing mice. IFNI is experimentally found to be a major mediator of antitumor activity of ceralasertib in combination with PD-L1 antibody. Improvement of T-cell function after ceralasertib treatment is linked to changes in myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment. IFNI also promotes anti-proliferative effects of ceralasertib on tumor cells. Here, we report that broad immunomodulatory changes following intermittent ATR inhibition underpins the clinical therapeutic benefit and indicates its wider impact on antitumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Devon Taylor
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Marta Milo
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Mimi Mai
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Gozde Kar
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nathan Standifer
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
- Tempest Therapeutics, Brisbane, CA, USA
| | | | - Shaan Gill
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Ali Mostafa
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Kathy Mulgrew
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | | | | | - Daniel Sutton
- Imaging and Data Analytics, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | - Andrew J Pierce
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
- Crescendo Biologics Limited, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Abdel Bidar
- CPSS, Imaging, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Benjamin Phillips
- Data Sciences & Quantitative Biology, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Joseph Boland
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Sonia Iyer
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Serge Y Fuchs
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Umamaheswar Duvvuri
- UPMC Department of Otolaryngology and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, 200 Lothrop St. Suite 500, Pittsburg, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Pei-Jen Lou
- National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung Shan S. Rd. (Zhongshan S. Rd.), Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City, 10002, Taiwan
| | - Melonie A Nance
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive C, Pittsburg, PA, 15240, USA
| | - Carlos Alberto Gomez Roca
- Institut Claudius Regaud-Cancer Comprehensive Center, 1 Avenue Irene Joliot-Curie, IUCT-O, Toulouse, 31059 Cedex 9, France
| | | | | | | | - Mark Cobbold
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Emma Dean
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Alan Lau
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
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Borenäs M, Umapathy G, Lind DE, Lai WY, Guan J, Johansson J, Jennische E, Schmidt A, Kurhe Y, Gabre JL, Aniszewska A, Strömberg A, Bemark M, Hall MN, den Eynden JV, Hallberg B, Palmer RH. ALK signaling primes the DNA damage response sensitizing ALK-driven neuroblastoma to therapeutic ATR inhibition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315242121. [PMID: 38154064 PMCID: PMC10769851 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315242121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
High-risk neuroblastoma (NB) is a significant clinical challenge. MYCN and Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK), which are often involved in high-risk NB, lead to increased replication stress in cancer cells, suggesting therapeutic strategies. We previously identified an ATR (ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related)/ALK inhibitor (ATRi/ALKi) combination as such a strategy in two independent genetically modified mouse NB models. Here, we identify an underlying molecular mechanism, in which ALK signaling leads to phosphorylation of ATR and CHK1, supporting an effective DNA damage response. The importance of ALK inhibition is supported by mouse data, in which ATRi monotreatment resulted in a robust initial response, but subsequent relapse, in contrast to a 14-d ALKi/ATRi combination treatment that resulted in a robust and sustained response. Finally, we show that the remarkable response to the 14-d combined ATR/ALK inhibition protocol reflects a robust differentiation response, reprogramming tumor cells to a neuronal/Schwann cell lineage identity. Our results identify an ability of ATR inhibition to promote NB differentiation and underscore the importance of further exploring combined ALK/ATR inhibition in NB, particularly in high-risk patient groups with oncogene-induced replication stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Borenäs
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, GothenburgSE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Ganesh Umapathy
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, GothenburgSE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Dan E. Lind
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, GothenburgSE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Wei-Yun Lai
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, GothenburgSE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Jikui Guan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, GothenburgSE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Joel Johansson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, GothenburgSE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Eva Jennische
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, GothenburgSE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Alexander Schmidt
- Proteomics Core Facility, Biozentrum, Basel University, Basel4056, Switzerland
| | - Yeshwant Kurhe
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, GothenburgSE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Jonatan L. Gabre
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, GothenburgSE-405 30, Sweden
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Ghent University, Ghent9000, Belgium
| | - Agata Aniszewska
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, GothenburgSE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Anneli Strömberg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, GothenburgSE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Mats Bemark
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, GothenburgSE-405 30, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg SE-405 30, Sweden
| | | | - Jimmy Van den Eynden
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Ghent University, Ghent9000, Belgium
| | - Bengt Hallberg
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, GothenburgSE-405 30, Sweden
| | - Ruth H. Palmer
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, GothenburgSE-405 30, Sweden
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8
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Sugitani N, Mason HR, Campfield BT, Piganelli JD. An orally available cancer drug AZD6738 prevents type 1 diabetes. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1290058. [PMID: 38164129 PMCID: PMC10757955 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1290058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) affects three million Americans, with 80 new people diagnosed each day. T1D is currently uncurable and there is an urgent need to develop additional drug candidates to achieve the prevention of T1D. We propose AZD6738 (ATRi), an orally available drug currently in phases I and II of clinical trials for various cancers, as a novel candidate to prevent T1D. Based on previously reported findings of ATRi inducing cell death in rapidly proliferating T cells, we hypothesized that this drug would specifically affect self-antigen activated diabetogenic T cells. These cells, if left unchecked, could otherwise lead to the destruction of pancreatic β cells, contributing to the development of T1D. This work demonstrates that increasing the duration of ATRi treatment provides extended protection against T1D onset. Remarkably, 5-week ATRi treatment prevented T1D in a robust adoptive transfer mouse model. Furthermore, the splenocytes of animals that received 5-week ATRi treatment did not transfer immune-mediated diabetes, while the splenocytes from control animal transferred the disease in 10 days. This work shows that ATRi prevents T1D by specifically inducing cell death in self-antigen activated, highly proliferative diabetogenic T cells through the induction of DNA damage, resulting in the inhibition of IFNγ production and proliferation. These findings support the consideration of repurposing ATRi for T1D prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norie Sugitani
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Hannah R. Mason
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Brian T. Campfield
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Jon D. Piganelli
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Endocrinology, Indiana University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Eek Mariampillai A, Hauge S, Kongsrud K, Syljuåsen RG. Immunogenic cell death after combined treatment with radiation and ATR inhibitors is dually regulated by apoptotic caspases. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1138920. [PMID: 37346039 PMCID: PMC10279842 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1138920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Inhibitors of the ATR kinase act as radiosensitizers through abrogating the G2 checkpoint and reducing DNA repair. Recent studies suggest that ATR inhibitors can also increase radiation-induced antitumor immunity, but the underlying immunomodulating mechanisms remain poorly understood. Moreover, it is poorly known how such immune effects relate to different death pathways such as caspase-dependent apoptosis. Here we address whether ATR inhibition in combination with irradiation may increase the presentation of hallmark factors of immunogenic cell death (ICD), and to what extent caspase activation regulates this response. Methods Human lung cancer and osteosarcoma cell lines (SW900, H1975, H460, U2OS) were treated with X-rays and ATR inhibitors (VE822; AZD6738) in the absence and presence of a pan-caspase inhibitor. The ICD hallmarks HMGB1 release, ATP secretion and calreticulin surface-presentation were assessed by immunoblotting of growth medium, the CellTiter-Glo assay and an optimized live-cell flow cytometry assay, respectively. To obtain accurate measurement of small differences in the calreticulin signal by flow cytometry, we included normalization to a barcoded control sample. Results Extracellular release of HMGB1 was increased in all the cell lines at 72 hours after the combined treatment with radiation and ATR inhibitors, relative to mock treatment or cells treated with radiation alone. The HMGB1 release correlated largely - but not strictly - with loss of plasma membrane integrity, and was suppressed by addition of the caspase inhibitor. However, one cell line showed HMGB1 release despite caspase inhibition, and in this cell line caspase inhibition induced pMLKL, a marker for necroptosis. ATP secretion occurred already at 48 hours after the co-treatment and did clearly not correlate with loss of plasma membrane integrity. Addition of pan-caspase inhibition further increased the ATP secretion. Surface-presentation of calreticulin was increased at 24-72 hours after irradiation, but not further increased by either ATR or caspase inhibition. Conclusion These results show that ATR inhibition can increase the presentation of two out of three ICD hallmark factors from irradiated human cancer cells. Moreover, caspase activation distinctly affects each of the hallmark factors, and therefore likely plays a dual role in tumor immunogenicity by promoting both immunostimulatory and -suppressive effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Eek Mariampillai
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sissel Hauge
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Karoline Kongsrud
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Randi G. Syljuåsen
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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