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Luo D, Qiu X, Zheng Q, Ming Y, Pu W, Ai M, He J, Peng Y. Discovery of Novel Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-like Orphan Receptor 1 (ROR1) Inhibitors for Cancer Treatment. J Med Chem 2024; 67:10655-10686. [PMID: 38913699 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00175] [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: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is an oncogenic membrane protein in several malignancies and has been considered an attractive target for the treatment of human cancers. In this study, structure-based virtual screening and structure optimization were conducted to identify novel ROR1 inhibitors. Based on hit compound 2, 45 novel ROR1 inhibitors were designed and synthesized, and the detailed structure-activity relationship was investigated. Representative compound 19h potently binds ROR1 with a KD value of 0.10 μM, exhibiting antitumor activity in lung cancer and breast cancer cell lines (IC50: 0.36-1.37 μM). Additionally, a mechanism investigation demonstrated that compound 19h induces the apoptosis of tumor cells. Importantly, compound 19h significantly suppressed tumor growth in a mouse model without obvious toxicity. Overall, this work identified compound 19h as a new ROR1 inhibitor, providing a novel lead compound for the treatment of lung cancer and breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongdong Luo
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Xingyang Qiu
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Qingquan Zheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Yue Ming
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Wencheng Pu
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Ming Ai
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Jianhua He
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Yong Peng
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- Frontier Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610212, China
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2
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D’Alò F, Bellesi S, Maiolo E, Alma E, Bellisario F, Malafronte R, Viscovo M, Campana F, Hohaus S. Novel Targets and Advanced Therapies in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphomas. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2243. [PMID: 38927948 PMCID: PMC11201587 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122243] [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: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the introduction of rituximab in the late 1990s, significant progress has been made in advancing targeted therapies for B cell lymphomas, improving patients' chance of being cured and clinicians' therapeutic armamentarium. A better understanding of disease biology and pathogenic pathways, coupled with refinements in immunophenotypic and molecular diagnostics, have been instrumental in these achievements. While traditional chemotherapy remains fundamental in most cases, concerns surrounding chemorefractoriness and cumulative toxicities, particularly the depletion of the hemopoietic reserve, underscore the imperative for personalized treatment approaches. Integrating targeted agents, notably monoclonal antibodies, alongside chemotherapy has yielded heightened response rates and prolonged survival. A notable paradigm shift is underway with innovative-targeted therapies replacing cytotoxic drugs, challenging conventional salvage strategies like stem cell transplantation. This review examines the landscape of emerging targets for lymphoma cells and explores innovative therapies for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). From Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T cells to more potent monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, and small molecules targeting intracellular pathways, each modality offers promising avenues for therapeutic advancement. This review aims to furnish insights into their potential implications for the future of DLBCL treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco D’Alò
- Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche ed Ematologiche, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.B.); (R.M.); (M.V.); (F.C.); (S.H.)
- UOSD Malattie Linfoproliferative Extramidollari, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Silvia Bellesi
- UOC Servizio e DH di Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.B.); (E.M.)
| | - Elena Maiolo
- UOC Servizio e DH di Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (S.B.); (E.M.)
| | - Eleonora Alma
- UOSD Malattie Linfoproliferative Extramidollari, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Flaminia Bellisario
- Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche ed Ematologiche, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.B.); (R.M.); (M.V.); (F.C.); (S.H.)
- UOSD Malattie Linfoproliferative Extramidollari, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Rosalia Malafronte
- Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche ed Ematologiche, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.B.); (R.M.); (M.V.); (F.C.); (S.H.)
- UOSD Malattie Linfoproliferative Extramidollari, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Marcello Viscovo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche ed Ematologiche, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.B.); (R.M.); (M.V.); (F.C.); (S.H.)
- UOSD Malattie Linfoproliferative Extramidollari, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Fabrizia Campana
- Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche ed Ematologiche, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.B.); (R.M.); (M.V.); (F.C.); (S.H.)
- UOSD Malattie Linfoproliferative Extramidollari, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Stefan Hohaus
- Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche ed Ematologiche, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.B.); (R.M.); (M.V.); (F.C.); (S.H.)
- UOSD Malattie Linfoproliferative Extramidollari, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
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3
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Wu ZL, Wang Y, Jia XY, Wang YG, Wang H. Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1: A novel antitumor target in gastrointestinal cancers. World J Clin Oncol 2024; 15:603-613. [PMID: 38835843 PMCID: PMC11145958 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i5.603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is a member of the type I receptor tyrosine kinase family. ROR1 is pivotal in embryonic development and cancer, and serves as a biomarker and therapeutic target. It has soluble and membrane-bound subtypes, with the latter highly expressed in tumors. ROR1 is conserved throughout evolution and may play a role in the development of gastrointestinal cancer through multiple signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms. Studies suggest that overexpression of ROR1 may increase tumor invasiveness and metastasis. Additionally, ROR1 may regulate the cell cycle, stem cell characteristics, and interact with other signaling pathways to affect cancer progression. This review explores the structure, expression and role of ROR1 in the development of gastrointestinal cancers. It discusses current antitumor strategies, outlining challenges and prospects for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Long Wu
- Xinyuan Institute of Medicine and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Oncology, Zhejiang Xiaoshan Hospital, Hangzhou 311201, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Xinyuan Institute of Medicine and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiao-Yuan Jia
- Xinyuan Institute of Medicine and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yi-Gang Wang
- Xinyuan Institute of Medicine and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Oncology, Zhejiang Xiaoshan Hospital, Hangzhou 311201, Zhejiang Province, China
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4
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Zhang T, Tai Z, Miao F, Zhang X, Li J, Zhu Q, Wei H, Chen Z. Adoptive cell therapy for solid tumors beyond CAR-T: Current challenges and emerging therapeutic advances. J Control Release 2024; 368:372-396. [PMID: 38408567 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.02.033] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Adoptive cellular immunotherapy using immune cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) is a highly specific anti-tumor immunotherapy that has shown promise in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, there has been a slow progress toward the treatment of solid tumors owing to the complex tumor microenvironment that affects the localization and killing ability of the CAR cells. Solid tumors with a strong immunosuppressive microenvironment and complex vascular system are unaffected by CAR cell infiltration and attack. To improve their efficacy toward solid tumors, CAR cells have been modified and upgraded by "decorating" and "pruning". This review focuses on the structure and function of CARs, the immune cells that can be engineered by CARs and the transformation strategies to overcome solid tumors, with a view to broadening ideas for the better application of CAR cell therapy for the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingrui Zhang
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200443, China; Medical Guarantee Center, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China; School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Topical Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China
| | - Zongguang Tai
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200443, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Topical Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China; Department of Pharmacy, First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Fengze Miao
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200443, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Topical Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200443, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Topical Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China
| | - Jiadong Li
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Quangang Zhu
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200443, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Topical Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China
| | - Hua Wei
- Medical Guarantee Center, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China.
| | - Zhongjian Chen
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200443, China; School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Topical Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China.
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5
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Mouawad N, Ruggeri E, Capasso G, Martinello L, Visentin A, Frezzato F, Trentin L. How receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 meets its partners in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Hematol Oncol 2024; 42:e3250. [PMID: 38949887 DOI: 10.1002/hon.3250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in western societies, recognized by clinical and molecular heterogeneity. Despite the success of targeted therapies, acquired resistance remains a challenge for relapsed and refractory CLL, as a consequence of mutations in the target or the upregulation of other survival pathways leading to the progression of the disease. Research on proteins that can trigger such pathways may define novel therapies for a successful outcome in CLL such as the receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1). ROR1 is a signaling receptor for Wnt5a, with an important role during embryogenesis. The aberrant expression on CLL cells and several types of tumors, is involved in cell proliferation, survival, migration as well as drug resistance. Antibody-based immunotherapies and small-molecule compounds emerged to target ROR1 in preclinical and clinical studies. Efforts have been made to identify new prognostic markers having predictive value to refine and increase the detection and management of CLL. ROR1 can be considered as an attractive target for CLL diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. It can be clinically effective alone and/or in combination with current approved agents. In this review, we summarize the scientific achievements in targeting ROR1 for CLL diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
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MESH Headings
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Humans
- Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-like Orphan Receptors/metabolism
- Prognosis
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Animals
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayla Mouawad
- Hematology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Edoardo Ruggeri
- Hematology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Guido Capasso
- Hematology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Leonardo Martinello
- Hematology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Visentin
- Hematology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Federica Frezzato
- Hematology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Livio Trentin
- Hematology Unit, Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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6
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Gupta SRR, Ta TM, Khan M, Singh A, Singh IK, Peethambaran B. Identification and validation of a small molecule targeting ROR1 for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1243763. [PMID: 37779899 PMCID: PMC10534069 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1243763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with roughly 10-15% of new cases classified as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Traditional chemotherapies are often toxic to normal cells. Therefore, it is important to discover new anticancer compounds that target TNBC while causing minimal damage to normal cells. Receptor tyrosine kinase-like Orphan Receptor 1 (ROR1) is an oncofetal protein overexpressed in numerous human malignancies, including TNBC. This study investigated potential small molecules targeting ROR1. Methodology: Using AutoDock Vina and Glide, we screened 70,000 chemicals for our investigation. We obtained 10 representative compounds via consensus voting, deleting structural alerts, and clustering. After manual assessment, compounds 2 and 4 were chosen for MD simulation and cell viability experiment. Compound 4 showed promising results in the viability assay, which led us to move further with the apoptosis assay and immunoblotting. Results: Compound 4 (CID1261330) had docking scores of -6.635 and -10.8. It fits into the pocket and shows interactions with GLU64, ASP174, and PHE93. Its RMSD fluctuates around 0.20 nm and forms two stable H-bonds indicating compound 4 stability. It inhibits cell proliferation in MDA-MB-231, HCC1937, and HCC1395 cell lines, with IC50 values of approximately 2 μM to 10 μM, respectively. Compound 4 did not kill non-malignant epithelial breast cells MCF-10A (IC50 > 27 μM). These results were confirmed by the significant number of apoptotic cells in MDA-MB-231 cells (47.6%) but not in MCF-10A cells (7.3%). Immunoblot analysis provided additional support in the same direction. Discussion: These findings collectively suggest that compound 4 has the potential to effectively eliminate TNBC cells while causing minimal harm to normal breast cells. The promising outcomes of this study lay the groundwork for further testing of compound 4 in other malignancies characterized by ROR1 upregulation, serving as a proof-of-concept for its broader applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shradheya R. R. Gupta
- Molecular Biology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Tram M. Ta
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Maryam Khan
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Archana Singh
- Department of Botany, Hans Raj College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Indrakant K. Singh
- Molecular Biology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
- Delhi School of Public Health, Institute of Eminence, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Bela Peethambaran
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Lee KJ, Kim NH, Kim HS, Kim Y, Lee JJ, Kim JH, Cho HY, Jeong SY, Park ST. The Role of ROR1 in Chemoresistance and EMT in Endometrial Cancer Cells. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:medicina59050994. [PMID: 37241228 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59050994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor type 1 (ROR1) plays a critical role in embryogenesis and is overexpressed in many malignant cells. These characteristics allow ROR1 to be a potential new target for cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ROR1 through in vitro experiments in endometrial cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: ROR1 expression was identified in endometrial cancer cell lines using Western blot and RT-qPCR. The effects of ROR1 on cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were analyzed in two endometrial cancer cell lines (HEC-1 and SNU-539) using either ROR1 silencing or overexpression. Additionally, chemoresistance was examined by identifying MDR1 expression and IC50 level of paclitaxel. Results: The ROR1 protein and mRNA were highly expressed in SNU-539 and HEC-1 cells. High ROR1 expression resulted in a significant increase in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. It also resulted in a change of EMT markers expression, a decrease in E-cadherin expression, and an increase in Snail expression. Moreover, cells with ROR1 overexpression had a higher IC50 of paclitaxel and significantly increased MDR1 expression. Conclusions: These in vitro experiments showed that ROR1 is responsible for EMT and chemoresistance in endometrial cancer cell lines. Targeting ROR1 can inhibit cancer metastasis and may be a potential treatment method for patients with endometrial cancer who exhibit chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Jun Lee
- Institute of New Frontier Research Team, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Nam-Hyeok Kim
- Institute of New Frontier Research Team, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeong Su Kim
- Institute of New Frontier Research Team, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
- Division of Hemato-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam Sacred-Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 07441, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngmi Kim
- Institute of New Frontier Research Team, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Jun Lee
- Institute of New Frontier Research Team, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chuncheon Sacred-Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon 24253, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Han Kim
- Division of Hemato-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam Sacred-Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 07441, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Yon Cho
- Institute of New Frontier Research Team, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dongtan Sacred-Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Hwaseong 18450, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Young Jeong
- Institute of New Frontier Research Team, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangnam Sacred-Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 07441, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Taek Park
- Institute of New Frontier Research Team, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangnam Sacred-Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 07441, Republic of Korea
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Ghaderi A, Okhovat MA, Lehto J, De Petris L, Manouchehri Doulabi E, Kokhaei P, Zhong W, Rassidakis GZ, Drakos E, Moshfegh A, Schultz J, Olin T, Österborg A, Mellstedt H, Hojjat-Farsangi M. A Small Molecule Targeting the Intracellular Tyrosine Kinase Domain of ROR1 (KAN0441571C) Induced Significant Apoptosis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Cells. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041148. [PMID: 37111634 PMCID: PMC10145660 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The ROR1 receptor tyrosine kinase is expressed in embryonic tissues but is absent in normal adult tissues. ROR1 is of importance in oncogenesis and is overexpressed in several cancers, such as NSCLC. In this study, we evaluated ROR1 expression in NSCLC patients (N = 287) and the cytotoxic effects of a small molecule ROR1 inhibitor (KAN0441571C) in NSCLC cell lines. ROR1 expression in tumor cells was more frequent in non-squamous (87%) than in squamous (57%) carcinomas patients, while 21% of neuroendocrine tumors expressed ROR1 (p = 0.0001). A significantly higher proportion of p53 negative patients in the ROR1+ group than in the p53 positive non-squamous NSCLC patients (p = 0.03) was noted. KAN0441571C dephosphorylated ROR1 and induced apoptosis (Annexin V/PI) in a time- and dose-dependent manner in five ROR1+ NSCLC cell lines and was superior compared to erlotinib (EGFR inhibitor). Apoptosis was confirmed by the downregulation of MCL-1 and BCL-2, as well as PARP and caspase 3 cleavage. The non-canonical Wnt pathway was involved. The combination of KAN0441571C and erlotinib showed a synergistic apoptotic effect. KAN0441571C also inhibited proliferative (cell cycle analyses, colony formation assay) and migratory (scratch wound healing assay) functions. Targeting NSCLC cells by a combination of ROR1 and EGFR inhibitors may represent a novel promising approach for the treatment of NSCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amineh Ghaderi
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mohammad-Ali Okhovat
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jemina Lehto
- Kancera AB, Nanna Svartz Väg 4, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Luigi De Petris
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
- Thoracic Oncology Center, Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Center, 171 76 Solna, Sweden
| | - Ehsan Manouchehri Doulabi
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Parviz Kokhaei
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Immunology, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak 3848170001, Iran
| | - Wen Zhong
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Georgios Z. Rassidakis
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elias Drakos
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Crete, 700 13 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ali Moshfegh
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
- Kancera AB, Nanna Svartz Väg 4, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Johan Schultz
- Kancera AB, Nanna Svartz Väg 4, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Thomas Olin
- Kancera AB, Nanna Svartz Väg 4, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Anders Österborg
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, 171 64 Solna, Sweden
| | - Håkan Mellstedt
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Hojjat-Farsangi
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
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9
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Quezada MJ, Lopez-Bergami P. The signaling pathways activated by ROR1 in cancer. Cell Signal 2023; 104:110588. [PMID: 36621728 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is a receptor for WNT5A and related Wnt proteins, that play an important role during embryonic development by regulating cell migration, cell polarity, neural patterning, and organogenesis. ROR1 exerts these functions by transducing signals from the Wnt secreted glycoproteins to the intracellular Wnt/PCP and Wnt/Ca++ pathways. Investigations in adult human cells, particularly cancer cells, have demonstrated that besides these two pathways, the WNT5A/ROR1 axis can activate a number of signaling pathways, including the PI3K/AKT, MAPK, NF-κB, STAT3, and Hippo pathways. Moreover, ROR1 is aberrantly expressed in cancer and was associated with tumor progression and poor survival by promoting cell proliferation, survival, invasion, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and metastasis. Consequently, numerous therapeutic tools to target ROR1 are currently being evaluated in cancer patients. In this review, we will provide a detailed description of the signaling pathways regulated by ROR1 in cancer and their impact in tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Josefina Quezada
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Buenos Aires 1405, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires 1425, Argentina
| | - Pablo Lopez-Bergami
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Buenos Aires 1405, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires 1425, Argentina.
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10
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Immunological Aspects of Richter Syndrome: From Immune Dysfunction to Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041015. [PMID: 36831361 PMCID: PMC9954516 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Richter Syndrome (RS) is defined as the development of an aggressive lymphoma in patients with a previous or simultaneous diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Two pathological variants of RS are recognized: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)-type and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)-type RS. Different molecular mechanisms may explain the pathogenesis of DLBCL-type RS, including genetic lesions, modifications of immune regulators, and B cell receptor (BCR) pathway hyperactivation. Limited data are available for HL-type RS, and its development has been reported to be similar to de novo HL. In this review, we focus on the immune-related pathogenesis and immune system dysfunction of RS, which are linked to BCR over-reactivity, altered function of the immune system due to the underlying CLL, and specific features of the RS tumor microenvironment. The standard of care of this disease consists in chemoimmunotherapy, eventually followed by stem cell transplantation, but limited possibilities are offered to chemo-resistant patients, who represent the majority of RS cases. In order to address this unmet clinical need, several immunotherapeutic approaches have been developed, namely T cell engagement obtained with bispecific antibodies, PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade by the use of monoclonal antibodies, selective drug delivery with antibody-drug conjugates, and targeting malignant cells with anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor-T cells.
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11
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Osorio-Rodríguez DA, Camacho BA, Ramírez-Segura C. Anti-ROR1 CAR-T cells: Architecture and performance. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1121020. [PMID: 36873868 PMCID: PMC9981679 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1121020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is a membrane receptor that plays a key role in development. It is highly expressed during the embryonic stage and relatively low in some normal adult tissues. Malignancies such as leukemia, lymphoma, and some solid tumors overexpress ROR1, making it a promising target for cancer treatment. Moreover, immunotherapy with autologous T-cells engineered to express a ROR1-specific chimeric antigen receptor (ROR1 CAR-T cells) has emerged as a personalized therapeutic option for patients with tumor recurrence after conventional treatments. However, tumor cell heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment (TME) hinder successful clinical outcomes. This review briefly describes the biological functions of ROR1 and its relevance as a tumor therapeutic target, as well as the architecture, activity, evaluation, and safety of some ROR1 CAR-T cells used in basic research and clinical trials. Finally, the feasibility of applying the ROR1 CAR-T cell strategy in combination with therapies targeting other tumor antigens or with inhibitors that prevent tumor antigenic escape is also discussed. Clinical trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT02706392.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Andrés Osorio-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Ingeniería Celular y Molecular, Instituto Distrital de Ciencia, Biotecnología e Innovación en Salud (IDCBIS), Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - César Ramírez-Segura
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Ingeniería Celular y Molecular, Instituto Distrital de Ciencia, Biotecnología e Innovación en Salud (IDCBIS), Bogotá, Colombia.,Instituto Distrital de Ciencia, Biotecnología e Innovación en Salud (IDCBIS), Bogotá, Colombia
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12
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Jeong SY, Lee KJ, Cha J, Park SY, Kim HS, Kim JH, Lee JJ, Kim N, Park ST. Meta-Analysis of Survival Effects of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-like Orphan Receptor 1 (ROR1). MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2022; 58:medicina58121867. [PMID: 36557069 PMCID: PMC9784027 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58121867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Identification and targeting of membrane proteins in tumor cells is one of the key steps in the development of cancer drugs. The receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor (ROR) type 1 is a type-I transmembrane protein expressed in various cancer tissues, which is in contrast to its limited expression in normal tissues. These characteristics make ROR1 a candidate target for cancer treatment. This study aimed to identify the prognostic value of ROR1 expression in cancers. Materials and Methods: We conducted a comprehensive systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed) from their inception to September 2021. The included studies assessed the effect of ROR1 on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Hazard ratios (HR) from collected data were pooled in a meta-analysis using Revman version 5.4 with generic inverse-variance and random effects modeling. Results: A total of fourteen studies were included in the final analysis. ROR1 was associated with worse OS (HR 1.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.50−2.54; p < 0.001) with heterogeneity. The association between poor OS and ROR1 expression was high in endometrial cancer, followed by ovarian cancer, and diffuse large B cell lymphoma. In addition, ROR1 was associated with poor PFS (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.60−2.10; p < 0.001), but heterogeneity was not statistically significant. In subgroup analysis, high ROR1 expression showed a significantly higher rate of advanced stage or lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides evidence that ROR1 expression is associated with adverse outcome in cancer survival. This result highlights ROR1 as a target for developmental therapeutics in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Young Jeong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangnam Sacred-Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 07441, Republic of Korea
- Institute of New Frontier Research Team, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-jun Lee
- Institute of New Frontier Research Team, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Jieum Cha
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangnam Sacred-Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 07441, Republic of Korea
| | - So Yoon Park
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangnam Sacred-Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 07441, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeong Su Kim
- Institute of New Frontier Research Team, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
- Division of Hemato-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam Sacred-Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 07441, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Han Kim
- Division of Hemato-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam Sacred-Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 07441, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Jun Lee
- Institute of New Frontier Research Team, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chuncheon Sacred-Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon 24253, Republic of Korea
| | - Namhyeok Kim
- Institute of New Frontier Research Team, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Taek Park
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangnam Sacred-Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 07441, Republic of Korea
- Institute of New Frontier Research Team, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-829-5151; Fax: +82-2-833-5323
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13
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Ghaderi A, Zhong W, Okhovat MA, Aschan J, Svensson A, Sander B, Schultz J, Olin T, Österborg A, Hojjat-Farsangi M, Mellstedt H. A ROR1 Small Molecule Inhibitor (KAN0441571C) Induced Significant Apoptosis of Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) Cells. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14102238. [PMID: 36297673 PMCID: PMC9607197 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14102238] [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: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is absent in most normal adult tissues but overexpressed in various malignancies and is of importance for tumor cell survival, proliferation, and metastasis. In this study, we evaluated the apoptotic effects of a novel small molecule inhibitor of ROR1 (KAN0441571C) as well as venetoclax (BCL-2 inhibitor), bendamustine, idelalisib (PI3Kδ inhibitor), everolimus (mTOR inhibitor), and ibrutinib (BTK inhibitor) alone or in combination in human MCL primary cells and cell lines. ROR1 expression was evaluated by flow cytometry and Western blot (WB). Cytotoxicity was analyzed by MTT and apoptosis by Annexin V/PI staining as well as signaling and apoptotic proteins (WB). ROR1 was expressed both in patient-derived MCL cells and human MCL cell lines. KAN0441571C alone induced significant time- and dose-dependent apoptosis of MCL cells. Apoptosis was accompanied by decreased expression of MCL-1 and BCL-2 and cleavage of PARP and caspase 3. ROR1 was dephosphorylated as well as ROR1-associated signaling pathway molecules, including the non-canonical WNT signaling pathway (PI3Kδ/AKT/mTOR). The combination of KAN0441571C and ibrutinib, venetoclax, idelalisib, everolimus, or bendamustine had a synergistic apoptotic effect and significantly prevented phosphorylation of ROR1-associated signaling molecules as compared to KAN0441571C alone. Our results suggest that targeting ROR1 by a small molecule inhibitor, KAN0441571C, should be further evaluated particularly in combination with other targeting drugs as a new therapeutic approach for MCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amineh Ghaderi
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna and Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wen Zhong
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna and Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Ali Okhovat
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna and Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johanna Aschan
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna and Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ann Svensson
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna and Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Birgitta Sander
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Schultz
- Kancera AB, Nanna Svartz Väg 4, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Thomas Olin
- Kancera AB, Nanna Svartz Väg 4, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Anders Österborg
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna and Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Hojjat-Farsangi
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna and Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +46-735-234-706
| | - Håkan Mellstedt
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital Solna and Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
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14
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Richter Syndrome: From Molecular Pathogenesis to Druggable Targets. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194644. [PMID: 36230566 PMCID: PMC9563287 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Richter syndrome (RS) represents the occurrence of an aggressive lymphoma, most commonly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Most cases of RS originate from the direct transformation of CLL, whereas 20% are de novo DLBCL arising as secondary malignancies. Multiple molecular mechanisms contribute to RS pathogenesis. B-cell receptor (BCR) overreactivity to multiple autoantigens is due to frequent stereotyped BCR configuration. Genetic lesions of TP53, CDKN2A, NOTCH1 and c-MYC deregulate DNA damage response, tumor suppression, apoptosis, cell cycle and proliferation. Hyperactivation of Akt and NOTCH1 signaling also plays a role. Altered expression of PD-1/PD-L1 and of other immune checkpoints leads to RS resistance to cytotoxicity exerted by T-cells. The molecular features of RS provide vulnerabilities for therapy. Targeting BCR signaling with noncovalent BTK inhibitors shows encouraging results, as does the combination of BCL2 inhibitors with chemoimmunotherapy. The association of immune checkpoint inhibitors with BCL2 inhibitors and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies is explored in early phase clinical trials with promising results. The development of patient-derived xenograft mice models reveals new molecular targets for RS, exemplified by ROR1. Although RS still represents an unmet medical need, understanding its biology is opening new avenues for precision medicine therapy.
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15
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Guarino SR, Di Bello A, Palamini M, Capillo MC, Forneris F. Crystal structure of the kringle domain of human receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (hROR1). Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2022; 78:185-192. [PMID: 35506763 PMCID: PMC9067376 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x22003855] [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: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptors (RORs) are monotopic membrane proteins belonging to the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. RTKs play a role in the control of most basic cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and metabolism. New emerging roles for RORs in cancer progression have recently been proposed: RORs have been shown to be overexpressed in various malignancies but not in normal tissues, and moreover an abnormal expression level of RORs on the cellular surface is correlated with high levels of cytotoxicity in primary cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies against the extracellular part of RTKs might be of importance to prevent tumor cell growth: targeting extracellular kringle domain molecules induces the internalization of RORs and decreases cell toxicity. Here, the recombinant production and crystallization of the isolated KRD of ROR1 and its high-resolution X-ray crystal structure in a P3121 crystal form at 1.4 Å resolution are reported. The crystal structure is compared with previously solved three-dimensional structures of kringle domains of human ROR1 and ROR2, their complexes with antibody fragments and structures of other kringle domains from homologous proteins.
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16
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Ghaderi A, Okhovat M, Wikanthi LSS, Svensson A, Palma M, Schultz J, Olin T, Österborg A, Mellstedt H, Hojjat‐Farsangi M. A ROR1 small molecule inhibitor (KAN0441571C) induced significant apoptosis of ibrutinib‐resistant ROR1
+
CLL cells. EJHAEM 2021; 2:498-502. [PMID: 35844694 PMCID: PMC9176142 DOI: 10.1002/jha2.232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
ROR1 – a receptor tyrosine kinase – is overexpressed in CLL. Ibrutinib, a Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is clinically effective in CLL but patients may develop resistance. We evaluated the effect of an ROR1 inhibitor, KAN0441571C, in CLL cells from six patients obtained before and after developing resistance to ibrutinib. The ROR1 inhibitor induced apoptosis in ibrutinib‐resistant CLL cells to the same degree as in ibrutinib‐sensitive cells and dephosphorylated ROR1. This was also noted in one patient who became resistant to both ibrutinib and the Bcl‐2 inhibitor venetoclax. The combination of ROR1 inhibitor and venetoclax had a synergistic apoptotic effect on ibrutinib‐resistant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amineh Ghaderi
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyBioClinicum, Karolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Mohammad‐Ali Okhovat
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyBioClinicum, Karolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | | | - Ann Svensson
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyBioClinicum, Karolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Marzia Palma
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyBioClinicum, Karolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
- Department of HematologyKarolinska University Hospital SolnaStockholmSweden
| | - Johan Schultz
- Kancera AB, Karolinska Institute Science ParkSolnaSweden
| | - Thomas Olin
- Kancera AB, Karolinska Institute Science ParkSolnaSweden
| | - Anders Österborg
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyBioClinicum, Karolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
- Department of HematologyKarolinska University Hospital SolnaStockholmSweden
| | - Håkan Mellstedt
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyBioClinicum, Karolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
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17
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Chu Y, Zhou X, Wang X. Antibody-drug conjugates for the treatment of lymphoma: clinical advances and latest progress. J Hematol Oncol 2021; 14:88. [PMID: 34090506 PMCID: PMC8180036 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-021-01097-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a promising class of immunotherapies with the potential to specifically target tumor cells and ameliorate the therapeutic index of cytotoxic drugs. ADCs comprise monoclonal antibodies, cytotoxic payloads with inherent antitumor activity, and specialized linkers connecting the two. In recent years, three ADCs, brentuximab vedotin, polatuzumab vedotin, and loncastuximab tesirine, have been approved and are already establishing their place in lymphoma treatment. As the efficacy and safety of ADCs have moved in synchrony with advances in their design, a plethora of novel ADCs have garnered growing interest as treatments. In this review, we provide an overview of the essential elements of ADC strategies in lymphoma and elucidate the up-to-date progress, current challenges, and novel targets of ADCs in this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurou Chu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Xiangxiang Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Lymphoma, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 251006, China.
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No.324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Lymphoma, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 251006, China.
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18
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Wang WZ, Shilo K, Amann JM, Shulman A, Hojjat-Farsangi M, Mellstedt H, Schultz J, Croce CM, Carbone DP. Predicting ROR1/BCL2 combination targeted therapy of small cell carcinoma of the lung. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:577. [PMID: 34088900 PMCID: PMC8178315 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03855-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains a deadly form of cancer, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10 percent, necessitating novel therapies. Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is an oncofetal protein that is emerging as a therapeutic target and is co-expressed with BCL2 in multiple tumor types due to microRNA coregulation. We hypothesize that ROR1-targeted therapy is effective in small cell lung cancer and synergizes with therapeutic BCL2 inhibition. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) SCLC patient samples were utilized to determine the prevalence of ROR1 and BCL2 expression in SCLC. Eight SCLC-derived cell lines were used to determine the antitumor activity of a small molecule ROR1 inhibitor (KAN0441571C) alone and in combination with the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax. The Chou-Talalay method was utilized to determine synergy with the drug combination. ROR1 and BCL2 protein expression was identified in 93% (52/56) and 86% (48/56) of SCLC patient samples, respectively. Similarly, ROR1 and BCL2 were shown by qRT-PCR to have elevated expression in 79% (22/28) and 100% (28/28) of SCLC patient samples, respectively. KAN0441571C displayed efficacy in 8 SCLC cell lines, with an IC50 of 500 nM or less. Synergy as defined by a combination index of <1 via the Chou-Talalay method between KAN0441571C and venetoclax was demonstrated in 8 SCLC cell lines. We have shown that ROR1 inhibition is synergistic with BCL2 inhibition in SCLC models and shows promise as a novel therapeutic target in SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Z Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. .,The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| | - Konstantin Shilo
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Joseph M Amann
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.,The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Alyssa Shulman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.,The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | | | - Håkan Mellstedt
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Carlo M Croce
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - David P Carbone
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. .,The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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19
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Zhao Y, Zhang D, Guo Y, Lu B, Zhao ZJ, Xu X, Chen Y. Tyrosine Kinase ROR1 as a Target for Anti-Cancer Therapies. Front Oncol 2021; 11:680834. [PMID: 34123850 PMCID: PMC8193947 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.680834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinase ROR1 plays an essential role in embryogenesis and is overexpressed in many types of malignant tumors. Studies have demonstrated that it plays an important role in oncogenesis by activating cell survival signaling events, particularly the non-canonical WNT signaling pathway. Antibody-based immunotherapies targeting ROR1 have been developed and evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies with promising outcomes. However, small molecule inhibitors targeting ROR1 are underappreciated because of the initial characterization of ROR1 as a peusdokinase. The function of ROR1 as a tyrosine kinase remains poorly understood, although accumulating evidence have demonstrated its intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. In this review, we analyzed the structural and functional features of ROR1 and discussed therapeutic strategies targeting this kinase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuming Zhao
- Edmond H. Fischer Translational Medical Research Laboratory, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dengyang Zhang
- Edmond H. Fischer Translational Medical Research Laboratory, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yao Guo
- Edmond H. Fischer Translational Medical Research Laboratory, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bo Lu
- Department of Hematology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhizhuang Joe Zhao
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Xiaojun Xu
- Department of Hematology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Edmond H. Fischer Translational Medical Research Laboratory, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
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Isomura H, Taguchi A, Kajino T, Asai N, Nakatochi M, Kato S, Suzuki K, Yanagisawa K, Suzuki M, Fujishita T, Yamaguchi T, Takahashi M, Takahashi T. Conditional Ror1 knockout reveals crucial involvement in lung adenocarcinoma development and identifies novel HIF-1α regulator. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:1614-1623. [PMID: 33506575 PMCID: PMC8019194 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that ROR1 is a crucial downstream gene for the TTF‐1/NKX2‐1 lineage‐survival oncogene in lung adenocarcinoma, while others have found altered expression of ROR1 in multiple cancer types. Accumulated evidence therefore indicates ROR1 as an attractive molecular target, though it has yet to be determined whether targeting Ror1 can inhibit tumor development and growth in vivo. To this end, genetically engineered mice carrying homozygously floxed Ror1 alleles and an SP‐C promoter–driven human mutant EGFR transgene were generated. Ror1 ablation resulted in marked retardation of tumor development and progression in association with reduced malignant characteristics and significantly better survival. Interestingly, gene set enrichment analysis identified a hypoxia‐induced gene set (HALLMARK_HYPOXIA) as most significantly downregulated by Ror1 ablation in vivo, which led to findings showing that ROR1 knockdown diminished HIF‐1α expression under normoxia and clearly hampered HIF‐1α induction in response to hypoxia in human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. The present results directly demonstrate the importance of Ror1 for in vivo development and progression of lung adenocarcinoma, and also identify Ror1 as a novel regulator of Hif‐1α. Thus, a future study aimed at the development of a novel therapeutic targeting ROR1 for treatment of solid tumors such as seen in lung cancer, which are frequently accompanied with a hypoxic tumor microenvironment, is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisanori Isomura
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Division of Molecular Diagnostics, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ayumu Taguchi
- Division of Molecular Diagnostics, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya, Japan.,Division of Advanced Cancer Diagnostics, Department of Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Taisuke Kajino
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Division of Molecular Diagnostics, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Naoya Asai
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Department of Pathology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Masahiro Nakatochi
- Public Health Informatics Unit, Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Seiichi Kato
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Keiko Suzuki
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Yanagisawa
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Motoshi Suzuki
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Department of Molecular Oncology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Teruaki Fujishita
- Division of Pathophysiology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomoya Yamaguchi
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Department of Cancer Biology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.,Center for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Masahide Takahashi
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takashi Takahashi
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Aichi Cancer Center, Nagoya, Japan
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21
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Menck K, Heinrichs S, Baden C, Bleckmann A. The WNT/ROR Pathway in Cancer: From Signaling to Therapeutic Intervention. Cells 2021; 10:cells10010142. [PMID: 33445713 PMCID: PMC7828172 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The WNT pathway is one of the major signaling cascades frequently deregulated in human cancer. While research had initially focused on signal transduction centered on β-catenin as a key effector activating a pro-tumorigenic transcriptional response, nowadays it is known that WNT ligands can also induce a multitude of β-catenin-independent cellular pathways. Traditionally, these comprise WNT/planar cell polarity (PCP) and WNT/Ca2+ signaling. In addition, signaling via the receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptors (RORs) has gained increasing attention in cancer research due to their overexpression in a multitude of tumor entities. Active WNT/ROR signaling has been linked to processes driving tumor development and progression, such as cell proliferation, survival, invasion, or therapy resistance. In adult tissue, the RORs are largely absent, which has spiked the interest in them for targeted cancer therapy. Promising results in preclinical and initial clinical studies are beginning to unravel the great potential of such treatment approaches. In this review, we summarize seminal findings on the structure and expression of the RORs in cancer, their downstream signaling, and its output in regard to tumor cell function. Furthermore, we present the current clinical anti-ROR treatment strategies and discuss the state-of-the-art, as well as the challenges of the different approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Menck
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany; (K.M.); (S.H.); (C.B.)
- West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Saskia Heinrichs
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany; (K.M.); (S.H.); (C.B.)
- West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Cornelia Baden
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany; (K.M.); (S.H.); (C.B.)
- West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Annalen Bleckmann
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany; (K.M.); (S.H.); (C.B.)
- West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Department of Hematology/Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37099 Göttingen, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-0251-8352712
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22
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Hojjat-Farsangi M, Moshfegh A, Schultz J, Norin M, Olin T, Österborg A, Mellstedt H. Targeting the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase ROR1 by Small Molecules. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 269:75-99. [PMID: 34490515 DOI: 10.1007/164_2021_535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are frequently dysregulated in malignancies and important for the malignant characteristics of tumor cells. RTKs are attractive structures for drug targeting of cancer. The RTK ROR1 is of significance during embryogenesis but downregulated in post-partum tissues. However, ROR1 is overexpressed in several hematological and solid tumors and important for tumor cell proliferation, survival, migration, and metastasis. WNT5a is a main ligand for ROR1. Several clinical trials are ongoing using anti-ROR1 antibody based drugs directed against the external domain (monoclonal antibodies, BiTE, CAR-T). We have produced small molecules (KAN834/1571c) fitting to the ATP pocket of the intracellular tyrosine kinase (TK) domain of ROR1 (TK inhibitor, TKI). These inhibitors of ROR1 prevented ROR1 phosphorylation and inactivated the WNT/β-catenin independent as well as WNT/β-catenin dependent pathways. ROR1-TKI induced apoptosis of ROR1 positive fresh patient derived tumor cells and appropriate cell lines and a dose and time dependent tumor reduction in animal models. In combination with other clinically relevant targeting drugs as venetoclax a synergistic apoptotic effect was seen. Two other small molecules (ARI-1 and strictinin) bound also to ROR1 and inhibited tumor growth. Development of small molecule ROR1 inhibitors is warranted to include this novel therapeutic approach for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali Moshfegh
- BioClinicum, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Schultz
- Kancera AB, Karolinska Institutet Science Park, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Norin
- Kancera AB, Karolinska Institutet Science Park, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Olin
- Kancera AB, Karolinska Institutet Science Park, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders Österborg
- BioClinicum, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Håkan Mellstedt
- BioClinicum, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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