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Velázquez-Vega LE, Rivera-Robles M, Sánchez-Álvarez AO, Vivas-Mejía PE, Aponte-Reyes M, Cruz-Collazo AM, Grafals-Ruiz N, Dorta-Estremera S, Hernández-O'Farrill E, Vlaar CP, Dharmawardhane S. Efficacy and delivery strategies of the dual Rac/Cdc42 inhibitor MBQ-167 in HER2 overexpressing breast cancer. Transl Oncol 2024; 44:101928. [PMID: 38489873 PMCID: PMC10956050 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.101928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Trastuzumab and trastuzumab-based treatments are the standard of care for breast cancer patients who overexpress the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). However, patients often develop resistance to trastuzumab via signaling from alternative growth factor receptors that converge to activate guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that in turn activate the Rho GTPases Rac and Cdc42. Since Rac and Cdc42 have been implicated in high tumor grade and therapy resistance, inhibiting the activity of Rac and Cdc42 is a rational strategy to overcome HER2-targeted therapy resistance. Therefore, our group developed MBQ-167, a dual Rac/Cdc42 inhibitor with IC50s of 103 nM and 78 nM for Rac and Cdc42, respectively, which is highly effective in reducing cell and tumor growth and metastasis in breast cancer cell and mouse models. Herein, we created a trastuzumab resistant variant of the SKBR3 HER2 positive breast cancer cell line and show that Rac activation is a central mechanism in trastuzumab resistance. Next, we tested the potential of targeting MBQ-167 to HER2 overexpressing trastuzumab-resistant cell lines in vitro, and show that MBQ-167, but not trastuzumab, reduces cell viability and induces apoptosis. When MBQ-167 was targeted to mammary fatpad tumors established from HER2 overexpressing cells via immunoliposomes functionalized with trastuzumab, MBQ-167 and MBQ-167-loaded liposomes show equal efficacy in reducing the viability of trastuzumab-resistant cells, inhibiting tumor growth in mouse xenografts, and reducing metastasis to lungs and liver. This study demonstrates the efficacy of MBQ-167 as an alternative therapeutic in HER2 overexpressing cancers, delivered either in free form or in liposomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis E Velázquez-Vega
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Michael Rivera-Robles
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | | | - Pablo E Vivas-Mejía
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico; University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | | | - Ailed M Cruz-Collazo
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Nilmary Grafals-Ruiz
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Stephanie Dorta-Estremera
- University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Eliud Hernández-O'Farrill
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Cornelis P Vlaar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Suranganie Dharmawardhane
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico; University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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Bailly C, Degand C, Laine W, Sauzeau V, Kluza J. Implication of Rac1 GTPase in molecular and cellular mitochondrial functions. Life Sci 2024; 342:122510. [PMID: 38387701 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Rac1 is a member of the Rho GTPase family which plays major roles in cell mobility, polarity and migration, as a fundamental regulator of actin cytoskeleton. Signal transduction by Rac1 occurs through interaction with multiple effector proteins, and its activity is regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). The small protein is mainly anchored to the inner side of the plasma membrane but it can be found in endocellular compartments, notably endosomes and cell nuclei. The protein localizes also into mitochondria where it contributes to the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics, including both mitobiogenesis and mitophagy, in addition to signaling processes via different protein partners, such as the proapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and chaperone sigma-1 receptor (σ-1R). The mitochondrial form of Rac1 (mtRac1) has been understudied thus far, but it is as essential as the nuclear or plasma membrane forms, via its implication in regulation of oxidative stress and DNA damages. Rac1 is subject to diverse post-translational modifications, notably to a geranylgeranylation which contributes importantly to its mitochondrial import and its anchorage to mitochondrial membranes. In addition, Rac1 contributes to the mitochondrial translocation of other proteins, such as p53. The mitochondrial localization and functions of Rac1 are discussed here, notably in the context of human diseases such as cancers. Inhibitors of Rac1 have been identified (NSC-23766, EHT-1864) and some are being developed for the treatment of cancer (MBQ-167) or central nervous system diseases (JK-50561). Their effects on mtRac1 warrant further investigations. An overview of mtRac1 is provided here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Bailly
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - UMR1277 - Canther - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000 Lille, France; University of Lille, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institut de Chimie Pharmaceutique Albert Lespagnol (ICPAL), 3 rue du Professeur Laguesse, 59000 Lille, France; OncoWitan, Consulting Scientific Office, Lille (Wasquehal) 59290, France.
| | - Claire Degand
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - UMR1277 - Canther - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000 Lille, France
| | - William Laine
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - UMR1277 - Canther - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Vincent Sauzeau
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, Institut du thorax, Nantes, France
| | - Jérôme Kluza
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - UMR1277 - Canther - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000 Lille, France
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Torres-Sanchez A, Rivera-Robles M, Castillo-Pichardo L, Martínez-Ferrer M, Dorta-Estremera SM, Dharmawardhane S. Rac and Cdc42 inhibitors reduce macrophage function in breast cancer preclinical models. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1152458. [PMID: 37397366 PMCID: PMC10313121 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1152458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Metastatic disease lacks effective treatments and remains the primary cause of mortality from epithelial cancers, especially breast cancer. The metastatic cascade involves cancer cell migration and invasion and modulation of the tumor microenvironment (TME). A viable anti-metastasis strategy is to simultaneously target the migration of cancer cells and the tumor-infiltrating immunosuppressive inflammatory cells such as activated macrophages, neutrophils, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). The Rho GTPases Rac and Cdc42 are ideal molecular targets that regulate both cancer cell and immune cell migration, as well as their crosstalk signaling at the TME. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that Rac and Cdc42 inhibitors target immunosuppressive immune cells, in addition to cancer cells. Our published data demonstrate that the Vav/Rac inhibitor EHop-016 and the Rac/Cdc42 guanine nucleotide association inhibitor MBQ-167 reduce mammary tumor growth and prevent breast cancer metastasis from pre-clinical mouse models without toxic effects. Methods The potential of Rac/Cdc42 inhibitors EHop-016 and MBQ-167 to target macrophages was tested in human and mouse macrophage cell lines via activity assays, MTT assays, wound healing, ELISA assays, and phagocytosis assays. Immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry were used to identify myeloid cell subsets from tumors and spleens of mice following EHop-016 or MBQ-167 treatment. Results EHop-016 and MBQ-167 inhibited Rac and Cdc42 activation, actin cytoskeletal extensions, migration, and phagocytosis without affecting macrophage cell viability. Rac/Cdc42 inhibitors also reduced tumor- infiltrating macrophages and neutrophils in tumors of mice treated with EHop-016, and macrophages and MDSCs from spleens and tumors of mice with breast cancer, including activated macrophages and monocytes, following MBQ-167 treatment. Mice with breast tumors treated with EHop-016 significantly decreased the proinflammatory cytokine Interleukin-6 (IL-6) from plasma and the TME. This was confirmed from splenocytes treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) where EHop-016 or MBQ-167 reduced IL-6 secretion in response to LPS. Conclusion Rac/Cdc42 inhibition induces an antitumor environment via inhibition of both metastatic cancer cells and immunosuppressive myeloid cells in the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamaris Torres-Sanchez
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Michael Rivera-Robles
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | | | - Magaly Martínez-Ferrer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Division of Cancer Biology, University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Stephanie M. Dorta-Estremera
- Division of Cancer Biology, University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Suranganie Dharmawardhane
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Division of Cancer Biology, University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Borrero-García LD, Del Mar Maldonado M, Medina-Velázquez J, Troche-Torres AL, Velazquez L, Grafals-Ruiz N, Dharmawardhane S. Rac inhibition as a novel therapeutic strategy for EGFR/HER2 targeted therapy resistant breast cancer. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:652. [PMID: 34074257 PMCID: PMC8170972 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08366-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Even though targeted therapies are available for cancers expressing oncogenic epidermal growth receptor (EGFR) and (or) human EGFR2 (HER2), acquired or intrinsic resistance often confounds therapy success. Common mechanisms of therapy resistance involve activating receptor point mutations and (or) upregulation of signaling downstream of EGFR/HER2 to Akt and (or) mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. However, additional pathways of resistance may exist thus, confounding successful therapy. Methods To determine novel mechanisms of EGFR/HER2 therapy resistance in breast cancer, gefitinib or lapatinib resistant variants were created from SKBR3 breast cancer cells. Syngenic therapy sensitive and resistant SKBR3 variants were characterized for mechanisms of resistance by mammosphere assays, viability assays, and western blotting for total and phospho proteins. Results Gefitinib and lapatinib treatments reduced mammosphere formation in the sensitive cells, but not in the therapy resistant variants, indicating enhanced mesenchymal and cancer stem cell-like characteristics in therapy resistant cells. The therapy resistant variants did not show significant changes in known therapy resistant pathways of AKT and MAPK activities downstream of EGFR/HER2. However, these cells exhibited elevated expression and activation of the small GTPase Rac, which is a pivotal intermediate of GFR signaling in EMT and metastasis. Therefore, the potential of the Rac inhibitors EHop-016 and MBQ-167 to overcome therapy resistance was tested, and found to inhibit viability and induce apoptosis of therapy resistant cells. Conclusions Rac inhibition may represent a viable strategy for treatment of EGFR/HER2 targeted therapy resistant breast cancer. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08366-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis D Borrero-García
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Maria Del Mar Maldonado
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Julia Medina-Velázquez
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Angel L Troche-Torres
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Luis Velazquez
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Nilmary Grafals-Ruiz
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Suranganie Dharmawardhane
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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Rivera-Robles MJ, Medina-Velázquez J, Asencio-Torres GM, González-Crespo S, Rymond BC, Rodríguez-Medina J, Dharmawardhane S. Targeting Cdc42 with the anticancer compound MBQ-167 inhibits cell polarity and growth in the budding yeast S. cerevisiae. Small GTPases 2020; 11:430-440. [PMID: 29969362 PMCID: PMC7549613 DOI: 10.1080/21541248.2018.1495008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The Rho GTPase Cdc42 is highly conserved in structure and function. Mechanical or chemical cues in the microenvironment stimulate the localized activation of Cdc42 to rearrange the actin cytoskeleton and establish cell polarity. A role for Cdc42 in cell polarization was first discovered in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and subsequently shown to also regulate directional motility in animal cells. Accordingly, in cancer Cdc42 promotes migration, invasion, and spread of tumor cells. Therefore, we targeted Cdc42 as a therapeutic strategy to treat metastatic breast cancer and designed the small molecule MBQ-167 as a potent inhibitor against Cdc42 and the homolog Rac. MBQ-167 inhibited cancer cell proliferation and migration in-vitro, and tumor growth and spread in-vivo in a mouse xenograft model of metastatic breast cancer. Since haploid budding yeast express a single Cdc42 gene, and do not express Rac, we used this well characterized model of polarization to define the contribution of Cdc42 inhibition to the effects of MBQ-167 in eukaryotic cells. Growth, budding pattern, and Cdc42 activity was determined in wildtype yeast or cells expressing a conditional knockdown of Cdc42 in response to vehicle or MBQ-167 treatment. As expected, growth and budding polarity were reduced by knocking-down Cdc42, with a parallel effect observed with MBQ-167. Cdc42 activity assays confirmed that MBQ-167 inhibits Cdc42 activation in yeast, and thus, bud polarity. Hence, we have validated MBQ-167 as a Cdc42 inhibitor in another biological context and present a method to screen Cdc42 inhibitors with potential as anti-metastatic cancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael John Rivera-Robles
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, USA
| | - Julia Medina-Velázquez
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, USA
| | - Gabriela M. Asencio-Torres
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, USA
| | - Sahily González-Crespo
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, USA
| | - Brian C. Rymond
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA
| | - José Rodríguez-Medina
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, USA
| | - Suranganie Dharmawardhane
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, USA
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Reig-López J, Maldonado MDM, Merino-Sanjuan M, Cruz-Collazo AM, Ruiz-Calderón JF, Mangas-Sanjuán V, Dharmawardhane S, Duconge J. Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Model of MBQ-167 to Predict Tumor Growth Inhibition in Mice. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:E975. [PMID: 33076517 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12100975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
MBQ-167 is a dual inhibitor of the Rho GTPases Rac and Cdc42 that has shown promising results as an anti-cancer therapeutic at the preclinical stage. This drug has been tested in vitro and in vivo in metastatic breast cancer mouse models. The aim of this study is to develop a physiologically based pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PBPK-PD) model of MBQ-167 to predict tumor growth inhibition following intraperitoneal (IP) administration in mice bearing Triple Negative and HER2+ mammary tumors. PBPK and Simeoni tumor growth inhibition (TGI) models were developed using the Simcyp V19 Animal Simulator. Our developed PBPK framework adequately describes the time course of MBQ-167 in each of the mouse tissues (e.g., lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, plasma) and tumor, since the predicted results were consistent with the experimental data. The developed PBPK-PD model successfully predicts tumor shrinkage in HER2+ and triple-negative breast tumors after the intraperitoneal administration of 1 and 10 mg/kg body weight (BW) dose level of MBQ-167 three times a week. The findings from this study suggest that MBQ-167 has a higher net effect and potency inhibiting Triple Negative mammary tumor growth compared to HER2+ and that liver metabolism is the major route of elimination of this drug.
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