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Khawaja H, Briggs R, Latimer CH, Rassel M, Griffin D, Hanson L, Bardelli A, Di Nicolantonio F, McDade SS, Scott CJ, Lambe S, Maurya M, Lindner AU, Prehn JH, Sousa J, Winnington C, LaBonte MJ, Ross S, Van Schaeybroeck S. Bcl-xL Is a Key Mediator of Apoptosis Following KRASG12C Inhibition in KRASG12C-mutant Colorectal Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:135-149. [PMID: 36279564 PMCID: PMC9808374 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-22-0301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Novel covalent inhibitors of KRASG12C have shown limited response rates in patients with KRASG12C-mutant (MT) colorectal cancer. Thus, novel KRASG12C inhibitor combination strategies that can achieve deep and durable responses are needed. Small-molecule KRASG12C inhibitors AZ'1569 and AZ'8037 were used. To identify novel candidate combination strategies for AZ'1569, we performed RNA sequencing, siRNA, and high-throughput drug screening. Top hits were validated in a panel of KRASG12CMT colorectal cancer cells and in vivo. AZ'1569-resistant colorectal cancer cells were generated and characterized. We found that response to AZ'1569 was heterogeneous across the KRASG12CMT models. AZ'1569 was ineffective at inducing apoptosis when used as a single agent or combined with chemotherapy or agents targeting the EGFR/KRAS/AKT axis. Using a systems biology approach, we identified the antiapoptotic BH3-family member BCL2L1/Bcl-xL as a top hit mediating resistance to AZ'1569. Further analyses identified acute increases in the proapoptotic protein BIM following AZ'1569 treatment. ABT-263 (navitoclax), a pharmacologic Bcl-2 family inhibitor that blocks the ability of Bcl-xL to bind and inhibit BIM, led to dramatic and universal apoptosis when combined with AZ'1569. Furthermore, this combination also resulted in dramatically attenuated tumor growth in KRASG12CMT xenografts. Finally, AZ'1569-resistant cells showed amplification of KRASG12C, EphA2/c-MET activation, increased proinflammatory chemokine profile and cross-resistance to several targeted agents. Importantly, KRAS amplification and AZ'1569 resistance were reversible upon drug withdrawal, arguing strongly for the use of drug holidays in the case of KRAS amplification. Taken together, combinatorial targeting of Bcl-xL and KRASG12C is highly effective, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with KRASG12CMT colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajrah Khawaja
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Briggs
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Cheryl H. Latimer
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Mustasin Rassel
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Daryl Griffin
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | | | - Alberto Bardelli
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Torino, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Frederica Di Nicolantonio
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Torino, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Simon S. McDade
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. Scott
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Shauna Lambe
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Manisha Maurya
- Precision Medicine Centre of Excellence, Health Sciences Building, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas U. Lindner
- Centre of Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Jochen H.M. Prehn
- Centre of Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Jose Sousa
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.,Personal Health Data Science Group, Sano. Centre for Computational Personalised Medicine, Krakow, Poland
| | - Chris Winnington
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Melissa J. LaBonte
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sandra Van Schaeybroeck
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.,Corresponding Author: Sandra Van Schaeybroeck, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Lisburn Road 97, Belfast BT9 7AE, United Kingdom. Phone: 4428-9097-2954; Fax: 4428-9097-2776; E-mail:
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