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Neeb A, Figueiredo I, Bogdan D, Cato L, Stober J, Jiménez-Vacas JM, Gourain V, Lee II, Seeger R, Muhle-Goll C, Gurel B, Welti J, Nava Rodrigues D, Rekowski J, Qiu X, Jiang Y, Di Micco P, Mateos B, Bielskutė S, Riisnaes R, Ferreira A, Miranda S, Crespo M, Buroni L, Ning J, Carreira S, Bräse S, Jung N, Gräßle S, Swain A, Salvatella X, Plymate SR, Al-Lazikani B, Long HW, Yuan W, Brown M, Cato ACB, de Bono JS, Sharp A. Thio-2 Inhibits Key Signaling Pathways Required for the Development and Progression of Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:791-808. [PMID: 38412481 PMCID: PMC11148553 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Therapies that abrogate persistent androgen receptor (AR) signaling in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) remain an unmet clinical need. The N-terminal domain of the AR that drives transcriptional activity in CRPC remains a challenging therapeutic target. Herein we demonstrate that BCL-2-associated athanogene-1 (BAG-1) mRNA is highly expressed and associates with signaling pathways, including AR signaling, that are implicated in the development and progression of CRPC. In addition, interrogation of geometric and physiochemical properties of the BAG domain of BAG-1 isoforms identifies it to be a tractable but challenging drug target. Furthermore, through BAG-1 isoform mouse knockout studies, we confirm that BAG-1 isoforms regulate hormone physiology and that therapies targeting the BAG domain will be associated with limited "on-target" toxicity. Importantly, the postulated inhibitor of BAG-1 isoforms, Thio-2, suppressed AR signaling and other important pathways implicated in the development and progression of CRPC to reduce the growth of treatment-resistant prostate cancer cell lines and patient-derived models. However, the mechanism by which Thio-2 elicits the observed phenotype needs further elucidation as the genomic abrogation of BAG-1 isoforms was unable to recapitulate the Thio-2-mediated phenotype. Overall, these data support the interrogation of related compounds with improved drug-like properties as a novel therapeutic approach in CRPC, and further highlight the clinical potential of treatments that block persistent AR signaling which are currently undergoing clinical evaluation in CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Neeb
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Denisa Bogdan
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Cato
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jutta Stober
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Biological and Chemical Systems - Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | | | - Victor Gourain
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Biological and Chemical Systems - Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Irene I Lee
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rebecca Seeger
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Biological and Chemical Systems - Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Claudia Muhle-Goll
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Biological Interfaces 4 (IBG-4), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Bora Gurel
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Jan Rekowski
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xintao Qiu
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yija Jiang
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Patrizio Di Micco
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, Texas
| | - Borja Mateos
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stasė Bielskutė
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ruth Riisnaes
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Ferreira
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Mateus Crespo
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jian Ning
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Stefan Bräse
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Nicole Jung
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Simone Gräßle
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Amanda Swain
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xavier Salvatella
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stephen R Plymate
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, VAPSHCS, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Henry W Long
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Wei Yuan
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Myles Brown
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Andrew C B Cato
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Biological and Chemical Systems - Biological Information Processing (IBCS-BIP), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Johann S de Bono
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Sharp
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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2
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Pan M, Solozobova V, Kuznik NC, Jung N, Gräßle S, Gourain V, Heneka YM, Cramer von Clausbruch CA, Fuhr O, Munuganti RSN, Maddalo D, Blattner C, Neeb A, Sharp A, Cato L, Weiss C, Jeselsohn RM, Orian-Rousseau V, Bräse S, Cato ACB. Identification of an Imidazopyridine-based Compound as an Oral Selective Estrogen Receptor Degrader for Breast Cancer Therapy. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:1378-1396. [PMID: 37520743 PMCID: PMC10373600 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
The pro-oncogenic activities of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) drive breast cancer pathogenesis. Endocrine therapies that impair the production of estrogen or the action of the ERα are therefore used to prevent primary disease metastasis. Although recent successes with ERα degraders have been reported, there is still the need to develop further ERα antagonists with additional properties for breast cancer therapy. We have previously described a benzothiazole compound A4B17 that inhibits the proliferation of androgen receptor-positive prostate cancer cells by disrupting the interaction of the cochaperone BAG1 with the AR. A4B17 was also found to inhibit the proliferation of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer cells. Using a scaffold hopping approach, we report here a group of small molecules with imidazopyridine scaffolds that are more potent and efficacious than A4B17. The prototype molecule X15695 efficiently degraded ERα and attenuated estrogen-mediated target gene expression as well as transactivation by the AR. X15695 also disrupted key cellular protein-protein interactions such as BAG1-mortalin (GRP75) interaction as well as wild-type p53-mortalin or mutant p53-BAG2 interactions. These activities together reactivated p53 and resulted in cell-cycle block and the induction of apoptosis. When administered orally to in vivo tumor xenograft models, X15695 potently inhibited the growth of breast tumor cells but less efficiently the growth of prostate tumor cells. We therefore identify X15695 as an oral selective ER degrader and propose further development of this compound for therapy of ER+ breast cancers. Significance An imidazopyridine that selectively degrades ERα and is orally bioavailable has been identified for the development of ER+ breast cancer therapeutics. This compound also activates wild-type p53 and disrupts the gain-of-function tumorigenic activity of mutant p53, resulting in cell-cycle arrest and the induction of apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengwu Pan
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems – Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Valeria Solozobova
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems – Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Nane C. Kuznik
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems – Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Nicole Jung
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems – Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Simone Gräßle
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems – Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Victor Gourain
- Nantes Université, INSERM, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, Nantes, France
| | - Yvonne M. Heneka
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems – Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Christina A. Cramer von Clausbruch
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems – Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Olaf Fuhr
- Institute of Nanotechnology and Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility (KNMFi), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | | | - Danilo Maddalo
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems – Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Christine Blattner
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems – Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Antje Neeb
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Sharp
- Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Cato
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Carsten Weiss
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems – Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Rinath M. Jeselsohn
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Veronique Orian-Rousseau
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems – Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Stefan Bräse
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems – Functional Molecular Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Andrew C. B. Cato
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems – Biological Information Processing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
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3
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Liu Q, Liu J, Huang X. Unraveling the mystery: How bad is BAG3 in hematological malignancies? Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188781. [PMID: 35985611 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
BAG3, also known as BIS and CAIR-1, interacts with Hsp70 via its BAG domain and with other molecules through its WW domain, PXXP repeats and IPV motifs. BAG3 can participate in major cellular pathways including apoptosis, autophagy, cytoskeleton structure, and motility by regulating the expression, location, and activity of its chaperone proteins. As a multifunctional protein, BAG3 is highly expressed in skeletal muscle, cardiomyocytes and multiple tumors, and its intracellular expression can be stimulated by stress. The functions and mechanisms of BAG3 in hematological malignancies have recently been a topic of interest. BAG3 has been confirmed to be involved in the development and chemoresistance of hematological malignancies and to act as a prognostic indicator. Modulation of BAG3 and its corresponding proteins has thus emerged as a promising therapeutic and experimental target. In this review, we consider the characteristics of BAG3 in hematological malignancies as a reference for further clinical and fundamental investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghan Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| | - Jinde Liu
- Department of Respiratory, Dandong Central Hospital, Dandong, Liaoning, China
| | - Xinyue Huang
- The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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