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Xu J, Qi H, Wang Z, Wang L, Steurer B, Cai X, Liu J, Aliper A, Zhang M, Ren F, Zhavoronkov A, Ding X. Discovery of a Novel and Potent Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 8/19 (CDK8/19) Inhibitor for the Treatment of Cancer. J Med Chem 2024; 67:8161-8171. [PMID: 38690856 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The mediator kinases CDK8 and CDK19 control the dynamic transcription of selected genes in response to various signals and have been shown to be hijacked to sustain hyperproliferation by various solid and liquid tumors. CDK8/19 is emerging as a promising anticancer therapeutic target. Here, we report the discovery of compound 12, a novel small molecule CDK8/19 inhibitor. This molecule demonstrated not only decent enzymatic and cellular activities but also remarkable selectivity in CDK and kinome panels. Besides, compound 12 also displayed favorable ADME profiles including low CYP1A2 inhibition, acceptable clearance, and high oral bioavailability in multiple preclinical species. Robust in vivo PD and efficacy studies in mice models further demonstrated its potential use as mono- and combination therapy for the treatment of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyu Xu
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 902, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hongyun Qi
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 902, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 902, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 902, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Barbara Steurer
- Insilico Medicine Hong Kong Ltd., Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Xin Cai
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 902, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jinxin Liu
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 902, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Alex Aliper
- Insilico Medicine AI Limited, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi 145748, UAE
| | - Man Zhang
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 902, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Feng Ren
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 902, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Alex Zhavoronkov
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 902, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
- Insilico Medicine AI Limited, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi 145748, UAE
| | - Xiao Ding
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 902, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
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Fuentes‐Antrás J, Bedard PL, Cescon DW. Seize the engine: Emerging cell cycle targets in breast cancer. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1544. [PMID: 38264947 PMCID: PMC10807317 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1544] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer arises from a series of molecular alterations that disrupt cell cycle checkpoints, leading to aberrant cell proliferation and genomic instability. Targeted pharmacological inhibition of cell cycle regulators has long been considered a promising anti-cancer strategy. Initial attempts to drug critical cell cycle drivers were hampered by poor selectivity, modest efficacy and haematological toxicity. Advances in our understanding of the molecular basis of cell cycle disruption and the mechanisms of resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors have reignited interest in blocking specific components of the cell cycle machinery, such as CDK2, CDK4, CDK7, PLK4, WEE1, PKMYT1, AURKA and TTK. These targets play critical roles in regulating quiescence, DNA replication and chromosome segregation. Extensive preclinical data support their potential to overcome CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance, induce synthetic lethality or sensitise tumours to immune checkpoint inhibitors. This review provides a biological and drug development perspective on emerging cell cycle targets and novel inhibitors, many of which exhibit favourable safety profiles and promising activity in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Fuentes‐Antrás
- Division of Medical Oncology and HematologyDepartment of MedicinePrincess Margaret Cancer CentreUniversity Health NetworkUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- NEXT OncologyHospital Universitario QuironSalud MadridMadridSpain
| | - Philippe L. Bedard
- Division of Medical Oncology and HematologyDepartment of MedicinePrincess Margaret Cancer CentreUniversity Health NetworkUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - David W. Cescon
- Division of Medical Oncology and HematologyDepartment of MedicinePrincess Margaret Cancer CentreUniversity Health NetworkUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
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Ding X, Sharko AC, McDermott MSJ, Schools GP, Chumanevich A, Ji H, Li J, Zhang L, Mack ZT, Sikirzhytski V, Shtutman M, Ivers L, O’Donovan N, Crown J, Győrffy B, Chen M, Roninson IB, Broude EV. Inhibition of CDK8/19 Mediator kinase potentiates HER2-targeting drugs and bypasses resistance to these agents in vitro and in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2201073119. [PMID: 35914167 PMCID: PMC9371674 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201073119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancers (BrCas) that overexpress oncogenic tyrosine kinase receptor HER2 are treated with HER2-targeting antibodies (such as trastuzumab) or small-molecule kinase inhibitors (such as lapatinib). However, most patients with metastatic HER2+ BrCa have intrinsic resistance and nearly all eventually become resistant to HER2-targeting therapy. Resistance to HER2-targeting drugs frequently involves transcriptional reprogramming associated with constitutive activation of different signaling pathways. We have investigated the role of CDK8/19 Mediator kinase, a regulator of transcriptional reprogramming, in the response of HER2+ BrCa to HER2-targeting drugs. CDK8 was in the top 1% of all genes ranked by correlation with shorter relapse-free survival among treated HER2+ BrCa patients. Selective CDK8/19 inhibitors (senexin B and SNX631) showed synergistic interactions with lapatinib and trastuzumab in a panel of HER2+ BrCa cell lines, overcoming and preventing resistance to HER2-targeting drugs. The synergistic effects were mediated in part through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and reduced by PI3K inhibition. Combination of HER2- and CDK8/19-targeting agents inhibited STAT1 and STAT3 phosphorylation at S727 and up-regulated tumor suppressor BTG2. The growth of xenograft tumors formed by lapatinib-sensitive or -resistant HER2+ breast cancer cells was partially inhibited by SNX631 alone and strongly suppressed by the combination of SNX631 and lapatinib, overcoming lapatinib resistance. These effects were associated with decreased tumor cell proliferation and altered recruitment of stromal components to the xenograft tumors. These results suggest potential clinical benefit of combining HER2- and CDK8/19-targeting drugs in the treatment of metastatic HER2+ BrCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaokai Ding
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
| | - Amanda C. Sharko
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
| | - Martina S. J. McDermott
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
| | - Gary P. Schools
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
| | - Alexander Chumanevich
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
| | - Hao Ji
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
| | - Zachary T. Mack
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
| | - Vitali Sikirzhytski
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
| | - Michael Shtutman
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
| | - Laura Ivers
- National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Norma O’Donovan
- National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - John Crown
- National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Balázs Győrffy
- Department of Bioinformatics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, H-1085, Hungary
- Oncology Biomarker Research Group, Research Center for Natural Sciences, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Mengqian Chen
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
- Senex Biotechnology, Inc., 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
| | - Igor B. Roninson
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
| | - Eugenia V. Broude
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, 715 Sumter St., Columbia, SC, 29208
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Mahabady MK, Mirzaei S, Saebfar H, Gholami MH, Zabolian A, Hushmandi K, Hashemi F, Tajik F, Hashemi M, Kumar AP, Aref AR, Zarrabi A, Khan H, Hamblin MR, Nuri Ertas Y, Samarghandian S. Noncoding RNAs and their therapeutics in paclitaxel chemotherapy: Mechanisms of initiation, progression, and drug sensitivity. J Cell Physiol 2022; 237:2309-2344. [PMID: 35437787 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30751] [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: 07/10/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The identification of agents that can reverse drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy, and enhance the overall efficacy is of great interest. Paclitaxel (PTX) belongs to taxane family that exerts an antitumor effect by stabilizing microtubules and inhibiting cell cycle progression. However, PTX resistance often develops in tumors due to the overexpression of drug transporters and tumor-promoting pathways. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are modulators of many processes in cancer cells, such as apoptosis, migration, differentiation, and angiogenesis. In the present study, we summarize the effects of ncRNAs on PTX chemotherapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can have opposite effects on PTX resistance (stimulation or inhibition) via influencing YES1, SK2, MRP1, and STAT3. Moreover, miRNAs modulate the growth and migration rates of tumor cells in regulating PTX efficacy. PIWI-interacting RNAs, small interfering RNAs, and short-hairpin RNAs are other members of ncRNAs regulating PTX sensitivity of cancer cells. Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are similar to miRNAs and can modulate PTX resistance/sensitivity by their influence on miRNAs and drug efflux transport. The cytotoxicity of PTX against tumor cells can also be affected by circular RNAs (circRNAs) and limitation is that oncogenic circRNAs have been emphasized and experiments should also focus on onco-suppressor circRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood K Mahabady
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Sepideh Mirzaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Saebfar
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad H Gholami
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Zabolian
- Resident of Orthopedics, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, 5th Azar Hospital, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan, Iran
| | - Kiavash Hushmandi
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farid Hashemi
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Tajik
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alan P Kumar
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Pharmacology, Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Amir R Aref
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Xsphera Biosciences Inc, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, Sariyer, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Haroon Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa
| | - Yavuz Nuri Ertas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.,ERNAM-Nanotechnology Research and Application Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
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Discovery of a potent, highly selective, and orally bioavailable inhibitor of CDK8 through a structure-based optimisation. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 218:113391. [PMID: 33823391 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
CDK8 is deregulated in multiple types of human cancer and is viewed as a therapeutic target for the treatment of the disease. Accordingly, the search for small-molecule inhibitors of CDK8 is being intensified. Capitalising on our initial discovery of AU1-100, a potent CDK8 inhibitor yet with a limited degree of kinase selectivity, a structure-based optimisation was carried out, with a series of new multi-substituted pyridines rationally designed, chemically prepared and biologically evaluated. Such endeavour has culminated in the identification of 42, a more potent CDK8 inhibitor with superior kinomic selectivity and oral bioavailability. The mechanism underlying the anti-proliferative effect of 42 on MV4-11 cells was studied, revealing that the compound arrested the G1 cell cycle and triggered apoptosis. The low risk of hepato- and cardio-toxicity of 42 was estimated. These findings merit further investigation of 42 as a targeted cancer therapeutic.
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Small in Size, but Large in Action: microRNAs as Potential Modulators of PTEN in Breast and Lung Cancers. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11020304. [PMID: 33670518 PMCID: PMC7922700 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are well-known regulators of biological mechanisms with a small size of 19–24 nucleotides and a single-stranded structure. miRNA dysregulation occurs in cancer progression. miRNAs can function as tumor-suppressing or tumor-promoting factors in cancer via regulating molecular pathways. Breast and lung cancers are two malignant thoracic tumors in which the abnormal expression of miRNAs plays a significant role in their development. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a tumor-suppressor factor that is capable of suppressing the growth, viability, and metastasis of cancer cells via downregulating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling. PTEN downregulation occurs in lung and breast cancers to promote PI3K/Akt expression, leading to uncontrolled proliferation, metastasis, and their resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. miRNAs as upstream mediators of PTEN can dually induce/inhibit PTEN signaling in affecting the malignant behavior of lung and breast cancer cells. Furthermore, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs can regulate the miRNA/PTEN axis in lung and breast cancer cells. It seems that anti-tumor compounds such as baicalein, propofol, and curcumin can induce PTEN upregulation by affecting miRNAs in suppressing breast and lung cancer progression. These topics are discussed in the current review with a focus on molecular pathways.
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