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Dou D, Diao Y, Sha W, Su R, Tong L, Li W, Leng L, Xie L, Yu Z, Song H, Shen Z, Zhu L, Zhao Z, Xie H, Chen Z, Li H, Xu Y. Discovery of Pteridine-7(8 H)-one Derivatives as Potent and Selective Inhibitors of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK). J Med Chem 2022; 65:2694-2709. [PMID: 35099969 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c02208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is an attractive therapeutic target in the treatment of cancer, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases. Covalent and noncovalent BTK inhibitors have been developed, among which covalent BTK inhibitors have shown great clinical efficacy. However, some of them could produce adverse effects, such as diarrhea, rash, and platelet dysfunction, which are associated with the off-target inhibition of ITK and EGFR. In this study, we disclosed a series of pteridine-7(8H)-one derivatives as potent and selective covalent BTK inhibitors, which were optimized from 3z, an EGFR inhibitor previously reported by our group. Among them, compound 24a exhibited great BTK inhibition activity (IC50 = 4.0 nM) and high selectivity in both enzymatic (ITK >250-fold, EGFR >2500-fold) and cellular levels (ITK >227-fold, EGFR 27-fold). In U-937 xenograft models, 24a significantly inhibited tumor growth (TGI = 57.85%) at a 50 mg/kg dosage. Accordingly, 24a is a new BTK inhibitor worthy of further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dou Dou
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yanyan Diao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wenjie Sha
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Rongrong Su
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Linjiang Tong
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wenjie Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Limin Leng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Lijuan Xie
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Zhixiao Yu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Haoming Song
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Zihao Shen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Lili Zhu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Zhenjiang Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Hua Xie
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Honglin Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yufang Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
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Sajiki Y, Konnai S, Okagawa T, Maekawa N, Nakamura H, Kato Y, Suzuki Y, Murata S, Ohashi K. A TLR7 agonist activates bovine Th1 response and exerts antiviral activity against bovine leukemia virus. Dev Comp Immunol 2021; 114:103847. [PMID: 32888966 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2020.103847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection is a bovine chronic infection caused by BLV, a member of the genus Deltaretrovirus. In this study, we examined the immunomodulatory effects of GS-9620, a toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 agonist, in cattle (Bos taurus) and its therapeutic potential for treating BLV infection. GS-9620 induced cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as well as CD80 expression in CD11c+ cells and increased CD69 and interferon (IFN)-γ expressions in T cells. Removing CD11c+ cells from PBMCs decreased CD69 expression in T cells in the presence of GS-9620. These results suggest that TLR7 agonism promotes T-cell activation via CD11c+ cells. Analyses using PBMCs from BLV-infected cattle revealed that TLR7 expression in CD11c+ cells was upregulated during late-stage BLV infection. Furthermore, GS-9620 increased IFN-γ and TNF-α production and inhibited syncytium formation in vitro, suggesting that GS-9620 may be used to treat BLV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamato Sajiki
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan.
| | - Satoru Konnai
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan; Department of Advanced Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan.
| | - Tomohiro Okagawa
- Department of Advanced Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan.
| | - Naoya Maekawa
- Department of Advanced Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan.
| | - Hayato Nakamura
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan.
| | - Yukinari Kato
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan; New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.
| | - Yasuhiko Suzuki
- Department of Advanced Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan; Division of Bioresources, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-0019, Japan.
| | - Shiro Murata
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan; Department of Advanced Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan.
| | - Kazuhiko Ohashi
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan; Department of Advanced Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan.
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Montaudon E, Nikitorowicz-Buniak J, Sourd L, Morisset L, El Botty R, Huguet L, Dahmani A, Painsec P, Nemati F, Vacher S, Chemlali W, Masliah-Planchon J, Château-Joubert S, Rega C, Leal MF, Simigdala N, Pancholi S, Ribas R, Nicolas A, Meseure D, Vincent-Salomon A, Reyes C, Rapinat A, Gentien D, Larcher T, Bohec M, Baulande S, Bernard V, Decaudin D, Coussy F, Le Romancer M, Dutertre G, Tariq Z, Cottu P, Driouch K, Bièche I, Martin LA, Marangoni E. PLK1 inhibition exhibits strong anti-tumoral activity in CCND1-driven breast cancer metastases with acquired palbociclib resistance. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4053. [PMID: 32792481 PMCID: PMC7426966 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17697-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A significant proportion of patients with oestrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancers (BC) develop resistance to endocrine treatments (ET) and relapse with metastatic disease. Here we perform whole exome sequencing and gene expression analysis of matched primary breast tumours and bone metastasis-derived patient-derived xenografts (PDX). Transcriptomic analyses reveal enrichment of the G2/M checkpoint and up-regulation of Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) in PDX. PLK1 inhibition results in tumour shrinkage in highly proliferating CCND1-driven PDX, including different RB-positive PDX with acquired palbociclib resistance. Mechanistic studies in endocrine resistant cell lines, suggest an ER-independent function of PLK1 in regulating cell proliferation. Finally, in two independent clinical cohorts of ER positive BC, we find a strong association between high expression of PLK1 and a shorter metastases-free survival and poor response to anastrozole. In conclusion, our findings support clinical development of PLK1 inhibitors in patients with advanced CCND1-driven BC, including patients progressing on palbociclib treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Montaudon
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | | | - Laura Sourd
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Ludivine Morisset
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Rania El Botty
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Léa Huguet
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Ahmed Dahmani
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Painsec
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Fariba Nemati
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Vacher
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | - Camilla Rega
- Institute of Cancer Research, 123 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3RP, London, UK
| | | | - Nikiana Simigdala
- Institute of Cancer Research, 123 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3RP, London, UK
| | - Sunil Pancholi
- Institute of Cancer Research, 123 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3RP, London, UK
| | - Ricardo Ribas
- Institute of Cancer Research, 123 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3RP, London, UK
| | - André Nicolas
- Department of Pathology, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Cécile Reyes
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Audrey Rapinat
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - David Gentien
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Thibaut Larcher
- INRA, APEX-PAnTher, Oniris, Rue De La Géraudière Cedex 3, 44322, Nantes, France
| | - Mylène Bohec
- Genomics of Excellence (ICGex) Platform, Institut Curie Research Center, Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Baulande
- Genomics of Excellence (ICGex) Platform, Institut Curie Research Center, Paris, France
| | | | - Didier Decaudin
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Florence Coussy
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Muriel Le Romancer
- Inserm U1052, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, 28 Rue Laennec, 69000, Lyon, France
| | | | - Zakia Tariq
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Paul Cottu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | | | - Ivan Bièche
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Lesley-Ann Martin
- Institute of Cancer Research, 123 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3RP, London, UK
| | - Elisabetta Marangoni
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, 75005, Paris, France.
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Yu J, Xu H, Cui J, Chen S, Zhang H, Zou Y, Zhao J, Le S, Jiang L, Chen Z, Liu H, Zhang D, Xia J, Wu J. PLK1 Inhibition alleviates transplant-associated obliterative bronchiolitis by suppressing myofibroblast differentiation. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:11636-11652. [PMID: 32541091 PMCID: PMC7343459 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Chronic allograft dysfunction (CAD) resulting from fibrosis is the major limiting factor for long-term survival of lung transplant patients. Myofibroblasts promote fibrosis in multiple organs, including the lungs. In this study, we identified PLK1 as a promoter of myofibroblast differentiation and investigated the mechanism by which its inhibition alleviates transplant-associated obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) during CAD. High-throughput bioinformatic analyses and experiments using the murine heterotopic tracheal transplantation model revealed that PLK1 is upregulated in grafts undergoing CAD as compared with controls, and that inhibiting PLK1 alleviates OB in vivo. Inhibition of PLK1 in vitro reduced expression of the specific myofibroblast differentiation marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and decreased phosphorylation of both MEK and ERK. Importantly, we observed a similar phenomenon in human primary fibroblasts. Our results thus highlight PLK1 as a promising therapeutic target for alleviating transplant-associated OB through suppression of TGF-β1-mediated myofibroblast differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jizhang Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Heng Xu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Jikai Cui
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Shanshan Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Yanqiang Zou
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Sheng Le
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Lang Jiang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Zhang Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Jiahong Xia
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE BI6727, an ATP-competitive PLK1 inhibitor, has been shown to cause cell death in multi-tumors. This study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor effect and potential molecular mechanism of BI6727 in human Burkitt lymphoma (BL) cell lines. METHODS We assessed polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) expression in BL patient tissues and cells, also investigated the cytotoxic effect using CCK8 assay and flow cytometry. In addition, western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were used to explore the molecular mechanisms of BI6727 in human BL cell lines. RESULTS PLK1 was overexpressed in BL cells compared with normal cells. The PLK1 inhibitor BI6727 reduced activated PLK1 expression and caused mitotic arrest in BL cells. Additionally, BI6727 suppressed cellular proliferation and induced apoptosis in BL cell lines. BI6727 treatment also decreased C-MYC protein and mRNA expression, blocked the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, and stabilized the FBXW7 protein. CONCLUSIONS Our findings explained a potential molecular mechanism of BI6727 in BL cells and suggested that BI6727 might be a new therapeutic agent for BL in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Er Chen
- The First Clinical Medical College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
- Department of Hematology, Yinzhou People’s Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Renzhi Pei
- The First Clinical Medical College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
- Department of Hematology, Yinzhou People’s Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, P.R. China
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Tian L, Yao K, Liu K, Han B, Dong H, Zhao W, Jiang W, Qiu F, Qu L, Wu Z, Zhou B, Zhong M, Zhao J, Qiu X, Zhong L, Guo X, Shi T, Hong X, Lu S. PLK1/NF-κB feedforward circuit antagonizes the mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of PARP10 and facilitates HCC progression. Oncogene 2020; 39:3145-3162. [PMID: 32060423 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1205-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of PARP10 has been implicated in various tumor types and plays a vital role in delaying hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, the mechanisms controlling the expression and activity of PARP10 in HCC remain mostly unknown. The crosstalk between PLK1, PARP10, and NF-κB pathway in HCC was determined by performing different in vitro and in vivo assays, including mass spectrometry, kinase, MARylation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter measurements. Functional examination was performed by using small chemical drug, cell culture, and mice HCC models. Correlation between PLK1, NF-κB, and PARP10 expression was determined by analyzing clinical samples of HCC patients with using immunohistochemistry. PLK1, an important regulator for cell mitosis, directly interacts with and phosphorylates PARP10 at T601. PARP10 phosphorylation at T601 significantly decreases its binding to NEMO and disrupts its inhibition to NEMO ubiquitination, thereby enhancing the transcription activity of NF-κB toward multiple target genes and promoting HCC development. In turn, NF-κB transcriptionally inhibits the PARP10 promoter activity and leads to its downregulation in HCC. Interestingly, PLK1 is mono-ADP-ribosylated by PARP10 and the MARylation of PLK1 significantly inhibits its kinase activity and oncogenic function in HCC. Clinically, the expression levels of PLK1 and phosphor-p65 show an inverse correlation with PARP10 expression in human HCC tissues. These findings are the first to uncover a PLK1/PARP10/NF-κB signaling circuit that underlies tumorigenesis and validate PLK1 inhibitors, alone or with NF-κB antagonists, as potential effective therapeutics for PARP10-expressing HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lantian Tian
- The Department of hepatopancreatobiliary surgery of the Affiliated Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Clinical Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ke Yao
- The Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of the Affiliated Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Kun Liu
- The General Surgery Department, The 971st Hospital of the PLA Navy, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Bing Han
- The Department of hepatopancreatobiliary surgery of the Affiliated Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Hanguang Dong
- The Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- The Department of hepatopancreatobiliary surgery of the Affiliated Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Weibo Jiang
- The Department of hepatopancreatobiliary surgery of the Affiliated Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Fabo Qiu
- The Department of hepatopancreatobiliary surgery of the Affiliated Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Linlin Qu
- The Department of hepatopancreatobiliary surgery of the Affiliated Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Zehua Wu
- The Department of hepatopancreatobiliary surgery of the Affiliated Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Bin Zhou
- The Department of hepatopancreatobiliary surgery of the Affiliated Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Mengya Zhong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Institute of Gastrointestinal Oncology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jiabao Zhao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Institute of Gastrointestinal Oncology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xingfeng Qiu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Institute of Gastrointestinal Oncology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Lifeng Zhong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Institute of Gastrointestinal Oncology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaofeng Guo
- The Department of hepatopancreatobiliary surgery of the Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tianlu Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Xuehui Hong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
- Institute of Gastrointestinal Oncology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
| | - Shichun Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Clinical Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
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Wu M, Wang Y, Yang D, Gong Y, Rao F, Liu R, Danna Y, Li J, Fan J, Chen J, Zhang W, Zhan Q. A PLK1 kinase inhibitor enhances the chemosensitivity of cisplatin by inducing pyroptosis in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. EBioMedicine 2019; 41:244-255. [PMID: 30876762 PMCID: PMC6442225 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Targeting PLK1 has recently been proven as a viable therapeutic strategy against oesophageal squamous cell carcinom (ESCC). Therefore, this study aimed to explore whether the PLK1 inhibitor BI2536 is able to sensitize ESCC cells to cisplatin (DDP) and determine the underlying mechanisms. METHODS Viability, clonogenicity, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were assessed in ESCC cells treated with BI2536 or DDP alone or in combination. Checkpoint activation was examined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Xenograft model was used to assess the efficacy of the co-treatment. The expression level of GSDME in tissue samples were examined by immunohistochemistry. FINDINGS We found that the combination of BI2536 and DDP was synergistic in ESCC cells, which induced pyroptosis in ESCC cells at low doses. Mechanistic studies revealed that BI2536 significantly induced DNA damage and impaired the DNA damage repair pathway in DDP-treated cells both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, we found that co-treatment with BI2536 and DDP induced pyroptosis in ESCC cells depending on the caspase-3/GSDME pathway. Importantly, our study found that GSDME was more highly expressed in tumour tissue than that in normal adjacent tissues, and could serve as a prognostic factor. INTERPRETATION BI2536 sensitizes ESCC cells to DDP by inhibiting the DNA damage repair pathway and inducing pyroptosis, which provides new information for understanding pyroptosis. Our study also reveals that the PLK1 inhibitor BI2536 may be an attractive candidate for ESCC targeted therapy, especially when combined with DDP for treating the GSDME overexpression subtype. FUND: National 973 Program and National Natural Science Fundation of China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjiao Wu
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Di Yang
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Ying Gong
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Feng Rao
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Yeerken Danna
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jinting Li
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jiawen Fan
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Weimin Zhang
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Qimin Zhan
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
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8
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Moison C, Lavallée VP, Thiollier C, Lehnertz B, Boivin I, Mayotte N, Gareau Y, Fréchette M, Blouin-Chagnon V, Corneau S, Lavallée S, Lemieux S, Marinier A, Hébert J, Sauvageau G. Complex karyotype AML displays G2/M signature and hypersensitivity to PLK1 inhibition. Blood Adv 2019; 3:552-563. [PMID: 30782614 PMCID: PMC6391664 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2018028480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia with complex karyotype (CK AML) have an adverse prognosis using current therapies, especially when accompanied by TP53 alterations. We hereby report the RNA-sequencing analysis of the 68 CK AML samples included in the Leucegene 415 patient cohort. We confirm the frequent occurrence of TP53 alterations in this subgroup and further characterize the allele expression profile and transcript alterations of this gene. We also document that the RAS pathway (N/KRAS, NF1, PTPN11, BRAF) is frequently altered in this disease. Targeted chemical interrogation of genetically characterized primary CK AML samples identifies polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitors as the most selective agents for this disease subgroup. TP53 status did not alter sensitivity to PLK1 inhibitors. Interestingly, CK AML specimens display a G2/M transcriptomic signature that includes higher expression levels of PLK1 and correlates with PLK1 inhibition sensitivity. Together, our results highlight vulnerability in CK AML. In line with these in vitro data, volasertib shows a strong anti-AML activity in xenotransplantation mouse models of human adverse AML. Considering that PLK1 inhibitors are currently being investigated clinically in AML and myelodysplastic syndromes, our results provide a new rationale for PLK1-directed therapy in patients with adverse cytogenetic AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Moison
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Vincent-Philippe Lavallée
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Division of Hematology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Clarisse Thiollier
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Bernhard Lehnertz
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Isabel Boivin
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Nadine Mayotte
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Yves Gareau
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Fréchette
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Valérie Blouin-Chagnon
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sophie Corneau
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvie Lavallée
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Quebec Leukemia Cell Bank, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada; and
| | - Sébastien Lemieux
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Computer Science and Operations Research and
| | - Anne Marinier
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Josée Hébert
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Division of Hematology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Quebec Leukemia Cell Bank, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada; and
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Guy Sauvageau
- The Leucegene Project at Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Division of Hematology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Quebec Leukemia Cell Bank, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada; and
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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9
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Macedo AB, Novis CL, De Assis CM, Sorensen ES, Moszczynski P, Huang SH, Ren Y, Spivak AM, Jones RB, Planelles V, Bosque A. Dual TLR2 and TLR7 agonists as HIV latency-reversing agents. JCI Insight 2018; 3:122673. [PMID: 30282829 PMCID: PMC6237480 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.122673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [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] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of a reservoir of latently infected cells in HIV-infected patients is a major barrier towards finding a cure. One active cure strategy is to find latency-reversing agents that induce viral reactivation, thus leading to immune cell recognition and elimination of latently infected cells, known as the shock-and-kill strategy. Therefore, the identification of molecules that reactivate latent HIV and increase immune activation has the potential to further these strategies into the clinic. Here, we characterized synthetic molecules composed of a TLR2 and a TLR7 agonist (dual TLR2/7 agonists) as latency-reversing agents and compared their activity with that of the TLR2 agonist Pam2CSK4 and the TLR7 agonist GS-9620. We found that these dual TLR2/7 agonists reactivate latency by 2 complementary mechanisms. The TLR2 component reactivates HIV by inducing NF-κB activation in memory CD4+ T cells, while the TLR7 component induces the secretion of TNF-α by monocytes and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, promoting viral reactivation in CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, the TLR2 component induces the secretion of IL-22, which promotes an antiviral state and blocks HIV infection in CD4+ T cells. Our study provides insight into the use of these agonists as a multipronged approach targeting eradication of latent HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda B. Macedo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Camille L. Novis
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, and Department of Pathology, Department of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Caroline M. De Assis
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Eric S. Sorensen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Paula Moszczynski
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Szu-han Huang
- Infectious Disease Division, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yanqin Ren
- Infectious Disease Division, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Adam M. Spivak
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - R. Brad Jones
- Infectious Disease Division, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Vicente Planelles
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, and Department of Pathology, Department of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Alberto Bosque
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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10
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Lian G, Li L, Shi Y, Jing C, Liu J, Guo X, Zhang Q, Dai T, Ye F, Wang Y, Chen M. BI2536, a potent and selective inhibitor of polo-like kinase 1, in combination with cisplatin exerts synergistic effects on gastric cancer cells. Int J Oncol 2018; 52:804-814. [PMID: 29393385 PMCID: PMC5807034 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2018.4255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BI2536 is a highly selective and potent inhibitor of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1). In this study, we aimed to determine whether BI2536 and cisplatin can synergistically inhibit the malignant behavior of gastric cancer cells. For this purpose, the expression of PLK1 in gastric cancer cells was determined. The effects of BI2536, cisplatin, and the combination of BI2536 and cisplatin on gastric cancer cell viability, invasion, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were assessed. Furthermore, the expression of cell cycle-regulated proteins was examined. Moreover, the differentially expressed proteins between the SGC-7901 and SGC-7901/DDP (cisplatin-resistant) cells, and the enriched signaling pathways were analyzed by protein pathway array following treatment with BI2536 (IC50) for 48 h. Our results revealed that PLK1 was upregulated in the SGC-7901/DDP (cisplatin-resistant) gastric cancer cells compared with the SGC-7901 cells. BI2536 enhanced the inhibitory effect of cisplatin on SGC-7901 cell viability and invasion. BI2536 induced G2/M arrest in SGC-7901 and SGC-7901/DDP cells. BI2536 promoted cisplatin-induced gastric cancer SGC-7901/DDP cell apoptosis. It also induced the differential expression of 68 proteins between the SGC-7901 and SGC-7901/DDP cells, and these differentially expressed proteins were involved in a number of cellular functions and signaling pathways, such as cell death, cell development, tumorigenesis, the cell cycle, DNA duplication/recombination/repair, cellular movement, and the Wnt/β-catenin and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (RSK1) signaling pathways. On the whole, our findings suggest that BI2536 and cisplatin synergistically inhibit the malignant behavior of SGC-7901/DDP (cisplatin‑resistant) gastric cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leping Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery
| | | | | | | | | | - Qingqing Zhang
- Statistics and Medical Record Management Section, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021
| | - Tianyu Dai
- Clinical Medical College of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong 272067, P.R. China
| | - Fei Ye
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Yanyan Wang
- Biological Engineering School of Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, Liaoning 116034
| | - Man Chen
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China
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11
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Diab A, Foca A, Fusil F, Lahlali T, Jalaguier P, Amirache F, N'Guyen L, Isorce N, Cosset FL, Zoulim F, Andrisani O, Durantel D. Polo-like-kinase 1 is a proviral host factor for hepatitis B virus replication. Hepatology 2017; 66:1750-1765. [PMID: 28445592 PMCID: PMC5658273 DOI: 10.1002/hep.29236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and current treatments for chronic hepatitis B and HCC are suboptimal. Herein, we identified cellular serine/threonine Polo-like-kinase 1 (PLK1) as a positive effector of HBV replication. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the proviral role of PLK1 in HBV biosynthesis and validate PLK1 inhibition a potential antiviral strategy. To this end, we employed physiologically relevant HBV infection models of primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) and differentiated HepaRG cells in conjunction with pharmacologic PLK1 inhibitors, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown, and overexpression of constitutively active PLK1 (PLK1CA ). In addition, a humanized liver Fah-/- /Rag2-/- /Il2rg-/- (FRG) mouse model was used to determine the antiviral effect of PLK1 inhibitor BI-2536 on HBV infection in vivo. Finally, in vitro PLK1 kinase assays and site-directed mutagenesis were employed to demonstrate that HBV core protein (HBc) is a PLK1 substrate. We demonstrated that HBV infection activated cellular PLK1 in PHHs and differentiated HepaRG cells. PLK1 inhibition by BI-2536 or siRNA-mediated knockdown suppressed HBV DNA biosynthesis, whereas overexpression of PLK1CA increased it, suggesting that the PLK1 effects on viral biosynthesis are specific and that PLK1 is a proviral cellular factor. Significantly, BI-2536 administration to HBV-infected humanized liver FRG mice strongly inhibited HBV infection, validating PLK1 as an antiviral target in vivo. The proviral action of PLK1 is associated with the biogenesis of the nucleocapsid, as BI-2536 leads to its decreased intracellular formation/accumulation. In this respect, our studies identified HBc as a PLK1 substrate in vitro, and mapped PLK1 phosphorylation sites on this protein. CONCLUSION PLK1 is a proviral host factor that could be envisaged as a target for combined antiviral and antitumoral strategies against HBV infection and HBV-mediated carcinogenesis. (Hepatology 2017;66:1750-1765).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Diab
- INSERM U1052, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard, UMR_S1052, UCBL, Lyon, France
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences and Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
| | - Adrien Foca
- INSERM U1052, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard, UMR_S1052, UCBL, Lyon, France
| | - Floriane Fusil
- University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard, UMR_S1052, UCBL, Lyon, France
- CIRI-International Center for Infectiology Research, Team EVIR, INSERM, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Univirsity of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Thomas Lahlali
- INSERM U1052, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard, UMR_S1052, UCBL, Lyon, France
| | - Pascal Jalaguier
- INSERM U1052, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard, UMR_S1052, UCBL, Lyon, France
| | - Fouzia Amirache
- CIRI-International Center for Infectiology Research, Team EVIR, INSERM, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Univirsity of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Lia N'Guyen
- INSERM U1052, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard, UMR_S1052, UCBL, Lyon, France
| | - Nathalie Isorce
- INSERM U1052, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard, UMR_S1052, UCBL, Lyon, France
| | - François-Loïc Cosset
- University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard, UMR_S1052, UCBL, Lyon, France
- CIRI-International Center for Infectiology Research, Team EVIR, INSERM, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Univirsity of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Fabien Zoulim
- INSERM U1052, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard, UMR_S1052, UCBL, Lyon, France
- Hepato-Gastroenterogy Unit, Croix-Rousse Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Labex DEVweCAN, Lyon, France
| | - Ourania Andrisani
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences and Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
| | - David Durantel
- INSERM U1052, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, France
- University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard, UMR_S1052, UCBL, Lyon, France
- Labex DEVweCAN, Lyon, France
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12
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Breitenbuecher F, von Pawel J, Sebastian M, Kortsik C, Ting S, Kasper S, Wohlschläger J, Worm K, Morresi-Hauf A, Schad A, Westerwick D, Wehler B, Werner M, Munzert G, Gaschler-Markefski B, Schmid KW, Schuler M. Comprehensive Biomarker Analyses in Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Prospectively Treated with the Polo-Like Kinase 1 Inhibitor BI2536. Oncol Res Treat 2017. [PMID: 28628916 DOI: 10.1159/000475503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polo like kinase 1 (PLK1) is frequently upregulated in tumors and is thus viewed as a promising therapeutic target in various cancers. Several PLK1 inhibitors have recently been developed and clinically tested in solid cancers, albeit with limited success. So far, no predictive biomarkers for PLK1 inhibitors have been established. To this end, we conducted a post-hoc biomarker analysis of tumor samples from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with the PLK1 inhibitor BI2536 in a phase II study. METHODS We analyzed formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded surplus tumor tissue from 47 study patients using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and DNA sequencing of KRAS, EGFR, BRAF, and PIK3CA. RESULTS KRAS-mutated patients showed numerically prolonged progression-free survival, but statistical significance was not established. Interestingly, when pathways rather than single genes were analyzed, a positive correlation between IHC staining of activated ERK (p-ERK) and mutated KRAS was detected, whereas KRAS mutation status was found to be negatively correlated with activated AKT (p-AKT). CONCLUSION With this hypothesis-generating study in BI2531-treated patients, we could not establish a correlation between KRAS mutations and relevant clinical endpoints. Future clinical trials with concomitant systematic biosampling and comprehensive molecular analyses are required to identify biomarkers predictive for response to PLK1 inhibitors.
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13
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Schnerch D, Schüler J, Follo M, Felthaus J, Wider D, Klingner K, Greil C, Duyster J, Engelhardt M, Wäsch R. Proteasome inhibition enhances the efficacy of volasertib-induced mitotic arrest in AML in vitro and prolongs survival in vivo. Oncotarget 2017; 8:21153-21166. [PMID: 28416751 PMCID: PMC5400573 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Elderly and frail patients, diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and ineligible to undergo intensive treatment, have a dismal prognosis. The small molecule inhibitor volasertib induces a mitotic block via inhibition of polo-like kinase 1 and has shown remarkable anti-leukemic activity when combined with low-dose cytarabine. We have demonstrated that AML cells are highly vulnerable to cell death in mitosis yet manage to escape a mitotic block through mitotic slippage by sustained proteasome-dependent slow degradation of cyclin B. Therefore, we tested whether interfering with mitotic slippage through proteasome inhibition arrests and kills AML cells more efficiently during mitosis. We show that therapeutic doses of bortezomib block the slow degradation of cyclin B during a volasertib-induced mitotic arrest in AML cell lines and patient-derived primary AML cells. In a xenotransplant mouse model of human AML, mice receiving volasertib in combination with bortezomib showed superior disease control compared to mice receiving volasertib alone, highlighting the potential therapeutic impact of this drug combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Schnerch
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Marie Follo
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Julia Felthaus
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dagmar Wider
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Christine Greil
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Justus Duyster
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Monika Engelhardt
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ralph Wäsch
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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14
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Van den Bossche J, Lardon F, Deschoolmeester V, De Pauw I, Vermorken JB, Specenier P, Pauwels P, Peeters M, Wouters A. Spotlight on Volasertib: Preclinical and Clinical Evaluation of a Promising Plk1 Inhibitor. Med Res Rev 2016; 36:749-86. [PMID: 27140825 DOI: 10.1002/med.21392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [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: 11/04/2015] [Revised: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Considering the important side effects of conventional microtubule targeting agents, more and more research focuses on regulatory proteins for the development of mitosis-specific agents. Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), a master regulator of several cell cycle events, has arisen as an intriguing target in this research field. The observed overexpression of Plk1 in a broad range of human malignancies has given rise to the development of several potent and specific small molecule inhibitors targeting the kinase. In this review, we focus on volasertib (BI6727), the lead agent in category of Plk1 inhibitors at the moment. Numerous preclinical experiments have demonstrated that BI6727 is highly active across a variety of carcinoma cell lines, and the inhibitor has been reported to induce tumor regression in several xenograft models. Moreover, volasertib has shown clinical efficacy in multiple tumor types. As a result, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently awarded volasertib the Breakthrough Therapy status after significant benefit was observed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients treated with the Plk1 inhibitor. Here, we discuss both preclinical and clinical data available for volasertib administered as monotherapy or in combination with other anticancer therapies in a broad range of tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Van den Bossche
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE) Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - F Lardon
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE) Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - V Deschoolmeester
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE) Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - I De Pauw
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE) Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - J B Vermorken
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE) Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - P Specenier
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE) Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - P Pauwels
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE) Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - M Peeters
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE) Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - A Wouters
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE) Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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15
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Talati C, Griffiths EA, Wetzler M, Wang ES. Polo-like kinase inhibitors in hematologic malignancies. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2016; 98:200-10. [PMID: 26597019 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 12/11/2014] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Polo-like kinases (Plk) are key regulators of the cell cycle and multiple aspects of mitosis. Two agents that inhibit the Plk signaling pathway have shown promising activity in patients with hematologic malignancies and are currently in phase III trials. Volasertib is a Plk inhibitor under evaluation combined with low-dose cytarabine in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) ineligible for intensive induction therapy. Rigosertib, a dual inhibitor of the Plk and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways, is under investigation in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who have failed azacitidine or decitabine treatment. The prognosis for patients with AML, who are ineligible for intensive induction therapy, and for those with MDS refractory/relapsed after a hypomethylating agent, remains poor. Novel approaches, such as Plk inhibitors, are urgently needed for these patients. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of development of Plk inhibitors for the treatment of hematologic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chetasi Talati
- Leukemia Section, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
| | - Elizabeth A Griffiths
- Leukemia Section, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
| | - Meir Wetzler
- Leukemia Section, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Eunice S Wang
- Leukemia Section, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
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16
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Pontiki E, Hadjipavlou-Litina D, Patsilinakos A, Tran TM, Marson CM. Pteridine-2,4-diamine derivatives as radical scavengers and inhibitors of lipoxygenase that can possess anti-inflammatory properties. Future Med Chem 2015; 7:1937-51. [PMID: 26423719 PMCID: PMC5462101 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.15.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reactive oxygen species are associated with inflammation implicated in cancer, atherosclerosis and autoimmune diseases. The complex nature of inflammation and of oxidative stress suggests that dual-target agents may be effective in combating diseases involving reactive oxygen species. RESULTS A novel series of N-substituted 2,4-diaminopteridines has been synthesized and evaluated as antioxidants in several assays. Many exhibited potent lipid antioxidant properties, and some are inhibitors of soybean lipoxygenase, IC50 values extending down to 100 nM for both targets. Several pteridine derivatives showed efficacy at 0.01 mmol/kg with little tissue damage in a rat model of colitis. 2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)pteridin-4-amine (18f) at 0.01 mmol/kg exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity (reduction by 41%). CONCLUSION The 2,4-diaminopteridine core represents a new scaffold for lipoxygenase inhibition as well as sustaining anti-inflammatory properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Pontiki
- Christopher Ingold Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H OAJ, UK
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece
| | - Dimitra Hadjipavlou-Litina
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece
| | - Alexandros Patsilinakos
- Rome Center for Molecular Design, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Trang M Tran
- Christopher Ingold Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H OAJ, UK
| | - Charles M Marson
- Christopher Ingold Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H OAJ, UK
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Awada A, Dumez H, Aftimos PG, Costermans J, Bartholomeus S, Forceville K, Berghmans T, Meeus MA, Cescutti J, Munzert G, Pilz K, Liu D, Schöffski P. Phase I trial of volasertib, a Polo-like kinase inhibitor, plus platinum agents in solid tumors: safety, pharmacokinetics and activity. Invest New Drugs 2015; 33:611-20. [PMID: 25794535 PMCID: PMC4435638 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-015-0223-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This trial evaluated the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, pharmacokinetics, and activity of volasertib, a selective Polo-like kinase 1 inhibitor that induces mitotic arrest and apoptosis, combined with cisplatin or carboplatin in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors (NCT00969761; 1230.6). METHODS Sequential patient cohorts (3 + 3 dose-escalation design) received a single infusion of volasertib (100-350 mg) with cisplatin (60-100 mg/m(2)) or carboplatin (area under the concentration versus time curve [AUC]4-AUC6) on day 1 every 3 weeks for up to six cycles. Sixty-one patients received volasertib/cisplatin (n = 30) or volasertib/carboplatin (n = 31) for a median of 3.5 (range, 1-6) and 2.0 (range, 1-6) treatment cycles, respectively. RESULTS The most common cycle 1 dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and fatigue. MTDs (based on cycle 1 DLTs) were determined to be volasertib 300 mg plus cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) and volasertib 300 mg plus carboplatin AUC6. Co-administration did not affect the pharmacokinetics of each drug. Partial responses were observed in two patients in each arm. Stable disease was achieved in 11 and six patients treated with volasertib/cisplatin and volasertib/carboplatin, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Volasertib plus cisplatin or carboplatin at full single-agent doses was generally manageable and demonstrated activity in heavily pretreated patients with advanced solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Awada
- Medical Oncology Clinic, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Boulevard de Waterloo 121, B-1000, Brussels, Belgium,
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18
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Menne S, Tumas DB, Liu KH, Thampi L, AlDeghaither D, Baldwin BH, Bellezza CA, Cote PJ, Zheng J, Halcomb R, Fosdick A, Fletcher SP, Daffis S, Li L, Yue P, Wolfgang GHI, Tennant BC. Sustained efficacy and seroconversion with the Toll-like receptor 7 agonist GS-9620 in the Woodchuck model of chronic hepatitis B. J Hepatol 2015; 62:1237-45. [PMID: 25559326 PMCID: PMC4439359 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2014.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Revised: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS New therapies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are urgently needed since current treatments rarely lead to cure. We evaluated whether the oral small molecule toll-like receptor (TLR7) agonist GS-9620 could induce durable antiviral efficacy in woodchucks chronically infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV), a hepadnavirus closely related to human hepatitis B virus (HBV). METHODS After evaluating the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and tolerability of oral GS-9620 in uninfected woodchucks, adult woodchucks chronically infected with WHV (n = 7 per group) were dosed with GS-9620 or placebo for 4 or 8 weeks with different treatment schedules. RESULTS GS-9620 treatment induced rapid, marked and sustained reduction in serum viral DNA (mean maximal 6.2log10 reduction), and hepatic WHV DNA replicative intermediates, WHV cccDNA and WHV RNA, as well as loss of detectable serum WHV surface antigen (WHsAg). GS-9620 treatment also induced a sustained antibody response against WHsAg in a subset of animals. Strikingly, treatment reduced the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from 71% in the placebo group to 8% in GS-9620-treated woodchucks with sustained viral load reduction. GS-9620 treatment was associated with reversible increases in serum liver enzymes and thrombocytopenia, and induced intrahepatic CD8(+) T cell, NK cell, B cell and interferon response transcriptional signatures. CONCLUSIONS The data demonstrate that short duration, finite treatment with the oral TLR7 agonist GS-9620 can induce a sustained antiviral response in the woodchuck model of CHB, and support investigation of this compound as a therapeutic approach to attain a functional cure in CHB patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Menne
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, United States.
| | - Daniel B Tumas
- Department of Biology, Gilead Sciences, Inc., 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, CA 94404, United States
| | - Katherine H Liu
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Gastrointestinal Unit, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Linta Thampi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, United States
| | - Dalal AlDeghaither
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, United States
| | - Betty H Baldwin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Gastrointestinal Unit, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Christine A Bellezza
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Gastrointestinal Unit, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Paul J Cote
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, United States
| | - Jim Zheng
- Department of Drug Metabolism, Gilead Sciences, Inc., 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, CA 94404, United States
| | - Randall Halcomb
- Department of Chemistry, Gilead Sciences, Inc., 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, CA 94404, United States
| | - Abigail Fosdick
- Department of Drug Safety Evaluation, Gilead Sciences, Inc., 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, CA 94404, United States
| | - Simon P Fletcher
- Department of Biology, Gilead Sciences, Inc., 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, CA 94404, United States
| | - Stephane Daffis
- Department of Biology, Gilead Sciences, Inc., 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, CA 94404, United States
| | - Li Li
- Department of Biomarkers, Gilead Sciences, Inc., 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, CA 94404, United States
| | - Peng Yue
- Department of Biomarkers, Gilead Sciences, Inc., 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, CA 94404, United States
| | - Grushenka H I Wolfgang
- Department of Drug Safety Evaluation, Gilead Sciences, Inc., 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, CA 94404, United States
| | - Bud C Tennant
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Gastrointestinal Unit, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
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20
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Rudolph D, Impagnatiello MA, Blaukopf C, Sommer C, Gerlich DW, Roth M, Tontsch-Grunt U, Wernitznig A, Savarese F, Hofmann MH, Albrecht C, Geiselmann L, Reschke M, Garin-Chesa P, Zuber J, Moll J, Adolf GR, Kraut N. Efficacy and mechanism of action of volasertib, a potent and selective inhibitor of Polo-like kinases, in preclinical models of acute myeloid leukemia. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2015; 352:579-89. [PMID: 25576074 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.114.221150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), a member of the Polo-like kinase family of serine/threonine kinases, is a key regulator of multiple steps in mitosis. Here we report on the pharmacological profile of volasertib, a potent and selective Plk inhibitor, in multiple preclinical models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) including established cell lines, bone marrow samples from AML patients in short-term culture, and subcutaneous as well as disseminated in vivo models in immune-deficient mice. Our results indicate that volasertib is highly efficacious as a single agent and in combination with established and emerging AML drugs, including the antimetabolite cytarabine, hypomethylating agents (decitabine, azacitidine), and quizartinib, a signal transduction inhibitor targeting FLT3. Collectively, these preclinical data support the use of volasertib as a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of AML patients, and provide a foundation for combination approaches that may further improve and prolong clinical responses.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Cycle Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism
- Cells, Cultured
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods
- Female
- HeLa Cells
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/enzymology
- Mice
- Mice, Nude
- Mice, SCID
- Mice, Transgenic
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism
- Pteridines/pharmacology
- Pteridines/therapeutic use
- Treatment Outcome
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays/methods
- Polo-Like Kinase 1
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Rudolph
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Maria Antonietta Impagnatiello
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Claudia Blaukopf
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Christoph Sommer
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Daniel W Gerlich
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Mareike Roth
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Ulrike Tontsch-Grunt
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Andreas Wernitznig
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Fabio Savarese
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Marco H Hofmann
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Christoph Albrecht
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Lena Geiselmann
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Markus Reschke
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Pilar Garin-Chesa
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Johannes Zuber
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Jürgen Moll
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Günther R Adolf
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Norbert Kraut
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
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Gjertsen BT, Schöffski P. Discovery and development of the Polo-like kinase inhibitor volasertib in cancer therapy. Leukemia 2015; 29:11-9. [PMID: 25027517 PMCID: PMC4335352 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2014.222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Revised: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Owing to their integral involvement in cell cycle regulation, the Polo-like kinase (Plk) family, particularly Plk1, has emerged as an attractive therapeutic target in oncology. In recent years, several Plk1 inhibitors have been developed, with some agents showing encouraging results in early-phase clinical trials. This review focuses on volasertib (BI 6727; an investigational agent), a potent and selective Plk inhibitor. Volasertib has shown promising activity in various cancer cell lines and xenograft models of human cancer. Trials performed to date suggest that volasertib has clinical efficacy in a range of malignancies, with the most promising results seen in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Encouragingly, recent phase II data have demonstrated that volasertib combined with low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) was associated with higher response rates and improved event-free survival than LDAC alone in patients with previously untreated AML. Based on these observations, and its presumably manageable safety profile, volasertib is currently in phase III development as a potential treatment for patients with AML who are ineligible for intensive remission induction therapy. Given that many patients with AML are of an older age and frail, this constitutes an area of major unmet need. In this review, we discuss the biologic rationale for Plk1 inhibitors in cancer, the clinical development of volasertib to date in solid tumors and AML, and the future identification of biomarkers that might predict response to volasertib and help determine the role of this agent in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- B T Gjertsen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers (CCBIO), Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Internal Medicine, Haematology Section, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - P Schöffski
- Department of General Medical Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, University Hospitals Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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22
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Lin CC, Su WC, Yen CJ, Hsu CH, Su WP, Yeh KH, Lu YS, Cheng AL, Huang DCL, Fritsch H, Voss F, Taube T, Yang JCH. A phase I study of two dosing schedules of volasertib (BI 6727), an intravenous polo-like kinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced solid malignancies. Br J Cancer 2014; 110:2434-40. [PMID: 24755882 PMCID: PMC4021529 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2014.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Revised: 03/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) has an important role in mitosis. Volasertib (BI 6727), a potent and selective cell cycle kinase inhibitor, induces mitotic arrest and apoptosis by targeting Plk; this phase I study sought to determine its maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in Asian patients with advanced solid tumours. METHODS Patients were enrolled simultaneously into two 3-week schedules of volasertib: a 2-h infusion on day 1 (schedule A) or days 1 and 8 (schedule B). Dose escalation followed a 3+3 design. The MTD was determined based on dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) in the first treatment course. RESULTS Among 59 treated patients, the most common first course DLTs were reversible thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and febrile neutropenia; MTDs were 300 mg for schedule A and 150 mg for schedule B. Volasertib exhibited multi-exponential pharmacokinetics (PK), a long terminal half-life of ∼135 h, a large volume of distribution (>3000 l), and a moderate clearance. Partial responses were observed in two pre-treated patients (ureteral cancer; melanoma). Volasertib was generally well tolerated, with an adverse event profile consistent with its antimitotic mode of action and a favourable PK profile. CONCLUSIONS These data support further development of volasertib and a harmonised dosing for Asian and Caucasian patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- C-C Lin
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung Shan S Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - W-C Su
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Medical College and Hospital, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan 704, Taiwan
| | - C-J Yen
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Medical College and Hospital, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan 704, Taiwan
| | - C-H Hsu
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung Shan S Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Oncology and Cancer Research Centre, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 2 Xuzhou Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - W-P Su
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Medical College and Hospital, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan 704, Taiwan
| | - K-H Yeh
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung Shan S Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Oncology and Cancer Research Centre, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 2 Xuzhou Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Y-S Lu
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung Shan S Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - A-L Cheng
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung Shan S Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Oncology and Cancer Research Centre, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 2 Xuzhou Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - D C-L Huang
- Boehringer Ingelheim Taiwan Limited, 12F, 49/51 Min Sheng East Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - H Fritsch
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Strasse 65, 88397 Biberach, Germany
| | - F Voss
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG., Binger Strasse 173, Ingelheim, Germany 55216
| | - T Taube
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Strasse 65, 88397 Biberach, Germany
| | - J C-H Yang
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung Shan S Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Oncology and Cancer Research Centre, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 2 Xuzhou Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
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23
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Triscott J, Lee C, Foster C, Manoranjan B, Pambid MR, Berns R, Fotovati A, Venugopal C, O'Halloran K, Narendran A, Hawkins C, Ramaswamy V, Bouffet E, Taylor MD, Singhal A, Hukin J, Rassekh R, Yip S, Northcott P, Singh SK, Dunham C, Dunn SE. Personalizing the treatment of pediatric medulloblastoma: Polo-like kinase 1 as a molecular target in high-risk children. Cancer Res 2013; 73:6734-44. [PMID: 24019381 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-4331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. This disease is heterogeneous and is composed of four subtypes of medulloblastoma [WNT, Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), Group 3, and Group 4]. An immediate goal is to identify novel molecular targets for the most aggressive forms of medulloblastoma. Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is an oncogenic kinase that controls cell cycle and proliferation, making it a strong candidate for medulloblastoma treatment. In this study, pediatric medulloblastomas were subtyped in two patient cohorts (discovery cohort, n = 63 patients; validation cohort, n = 57 patients) using NanoString nCounter analysis and PLK1 mRNA was assessed. We determined that the SHH and Group 3 subtypes were independently associated with poor outcomes in children as was PLK1 using Cox regression analyses. Furthermore, we screened a library of 129 compounds in clinical trials using a model of pediatric medulloblastoma and determined that PLK1 inhibitors were the most promising class of agents against the growth of medulloblastoma. In patient-derived primary medulloblastoma isolates, the PLK1 small-molecule inhibitor BI2536 suppressed the self-renewal of cells with high PLK1 but not low PLK1 expression. PLK1 inhibition prevented medulloblastoma cell proliferation, self-renewal, cell-cycle progression, and induced apoptosis. In contrast, the growth of normal neural stem cells was unaffected by BI2536. Finally, BI2536 extended survival in medulloblastoma-bearing mice with efficacy comparable with Headstart, a standard-of-care chemotherapy regimen. We conclude that patients with medulloblastoma expressing high levels of PLK1 are at elevated risk. These preclinical studies pave the way for improving the treatment of medulloblastoma through PLK1 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Triscott
- Authors' Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics; Division of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Centre for Applied Genomics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia; Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton; The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario; Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators Consortium (POETIC) Laboratory for Pre-Clinical and Drug Discovery Studies, Division of Pediatric Oncology, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and Division of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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24
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Abstract
Significant advances in cancer treatment have resulted from the targeted cancer therapy by understanding the process of malignant transformation. Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) has been investigated as a target for cancer therapy for several years. Recently, anticancer drug candidates targeting PLK1 have been developed. To investigate the significance of PLK1 inhibitors in cancer patients, the current clinical statuses of PLK1 inhibitors including BI 2536, volasertib, and GSK461364A were analyzed. Monotherapy with BI 2536, the first human study of PLK1 inhibitors, has been terminated now, but its combinational study is still available in several solid tumors. The second-generation PLK1 inhibitor volasertib has an improved pharmacokinetic profile, safety, and efficacy, which is currently being developed under phase I/II. GSK461364 has shown a greater sensitive antitumor effect in p53-mutated cancer compared with that of p53-wild type cancer cells in a preclinical study. However, it has to be coadministered with an anticoagulator because of the high incidence of venous thrombotic emboli in clinical studies. PLK1 inhibitors showed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile, safety, and efficacy in patients with solid tumors. Further investigation with the use of PLK1 inhibitors in cancer patients who have mutated p53 or Ras and a high level of PLK1 as biomarkers is needed to consider the context and evaluation criteria of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyungshin Yim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
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Müller-Tidow C, Bug G, Lübbert M, Krämer A, Krauter J, Valent P, Nachbaur D, Berdel WE, Ottmann OG, Fritsch H, Munzert G, Garin-Chesa P, Fleischer F, Taube T, Döhner H. A randomized, open-label, phase I/II trial to investigate the maximum tolerated dose of the Polo-like kinase inhibitor BI 2536 in elderly patients with refractory/relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia. Br J Haematol 2013; 163:214-22. [PMID: 24033250 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.12518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 07/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Polo-like kinases (Plks) play an important role in cell cycle checkpoint controls and are over-expressed in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). BI 2536, a novel Plk inhibitor, induces mitotic arrest and apoptosis. In this phase I/II trial of BI 2536 in 68 elderly patients with relapsed/refractory AML, three schedules were investigated (day 1, days 1-3, and days 1 + 8). Maximum tolerated dose was 350 and 200 mg in the day 1 and days 1 + 8 schedules, respectively. The day 1-3 schedule appeared equivalent to the day 1 schedule and was discontinued early. BI 2536 exhibited multi-compartmental pharmacokinetic behaviour. The majority of patients showed an increase of bone marrow cells in G2/M with a characteristic pattern of mitotic catastrophe. The overall response rate in the day 1 and day 1 + 8 schedules was 9% (5/54) with 2 complete and 3 partial responses. The majority of drug-related adverse events grade ≥3 were haematological. Taken together, Plk inhibition induced cell cycle arrest in AML blasts in vivo and BI 2536 monotherapy showed modest clinical activity in this poor prognosis patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Müller-Tidow
- Department of Medicine, Haematology and Oncology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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26
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Larocca C, Cohen JR, Fernando RI, Huang B, Hamilton DH, Palena C. An autocrine loop between TGF-β1 and the transcription factor brachyury controls the transition of human carcinoma cells into a mesenchymal phenotype. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:1805-15. [PMID: 23783250 PMCID: PMC3815539 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-12-1007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [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: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process associated with the metastasis of solid tumors as well as with the acquisition of resistance to standard anticancer modalities. A major initiator of EMT in carcinoma cells is TGF-β, which has been shown to induce the expression of several transcription factors ultimately responsible for initiating and maintaining the EMT program. We have previously identified Brachyury, a T-box transcription factor, as an inducer of mesenchymal features in human carcinoma cells. In this study, a potential link between Brachyury and TGF-β signaling has been investigated. The results show for the first time that Brachyury expression is enhanced during TGF-β1-induced EMT in various human cancer cell lines, and that a positive feedback loop is established between Brachyury and TGF-β1 in mesenchymal-like tumor cells. In this context, Brachyury overexpression is shown to promote upregulation of TGF-β1 at the mRNA and protein levels, an effect mediated by activation of the TGF-β1 promoter in the presence of high levels of Brachyury. Furthermore, inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling by a small-molecule inhibitor of TGF-β receptor type I decreases Brachyury expression, induces a mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition, and renders cancer cells more susceptible to chemotherapy. This study thus has implications for the future development of clinical trials using TGF-β inhibitors in combination with other anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Larocca
- Corresponding Author: Claudia Palena, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH; 10 Center Drive, Room 8B14, MSC 1750, Bethesda, MD 20892.
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27
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Vose JM, Friedberg JW, Waller EK, Cheson BD, Juvvigunta V, Fritsch H, Petit C, Munzert G, Younes A. The Plk1 inhibitor BI 2536 in patients with refractory or relapsed non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a phase I, open-label, single dose-escalation study. Leuk Lymphoma 2013; 54:708-13. [PMID: 22978685 DOI: 10.3109/10428194.2012.729833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is expressed during mitosis and overexpressed in multiple cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). This phase I study determined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of BI 2536, a Plk1 inhibitor, as a 1 h infusion once every 3 weeks in post-transplant relapsed (n = 17) and transplant-naive (n = 24) patients with relapsed/refractory NHL. Median treatment cycles were 2 and 1.5, respectively. MTD was 175 mg for both populations; dose-limiting toxicities were grade 4 thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. Most treatment-related adverse events were grade 1/2; drug-related grade 3/4 events included thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. Four patients achieved responses (three complete and one partial at doses ≥ 150 mg, all post-transplant relapsed patients) for an overall response rate of 9.8%. BI 2536 exhibited multi-compartmental pharmacokinetics with a high volume of distribution. The activity and safety of BI 2536 in this pretreated patient population support Plk inhibitors as a therapeutic strategy in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M Vose
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-7680, USA.
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28
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Mross K, Dittrich C, Aulitzky WE, Strumberg D, Schutte J, Schmid RM, Hollerbach S, Merger M, Munzert G, Fleischer F, Scheulen ME. A randomised phase II trial of the Polo-like kinase inhibitor BI 2536 in chemo-naïve patients with unresectable exocrine adenocarcinoma of the pancreas - a study within the Central European Society Anticancer Drug Research (CESAR) collaborative network. Br J Cancer 2012; 107:280-6. [PMID: 22699824 PMCID: PMC3394983 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2012.257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2012] [Revised: 05/11/2012] [Accepted: 05/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND BI 2536, a novel Polo-like kinase 1 inhibitor, was assessed in patients with unresectable advanced exocrine adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. METHODS The study employed a two-stage design. Randomised first-line patients received BI 2536 200 mg on day 1 (n=43) or 60 mg on days 1-3 (n=43) every 21 days. Recruitment of second-line patients was planned for a second stage dependent on an interim analysis demonstrating ≥ 2 responses in the first 18 evaluable patients following 12 weeks of treatment and/or tumour control ≥ 12 weeks in 5 patients per schedule. Primary end point was objective response rate (ORR). RESULTS By independent review, ORR was 2.3% (all partial) and 24.4% had stable disease as confirmed best response. The second stage was not initiated. Median overall and progression-free survivals were 149 (95% confidence interval (CI), 91-307) and 46 days (95% CI, 44-56). Most common drug-related adverse events were neutropenia (37.2%), leukopenia (29.1%), fatigue (29.1%) and nausea (22.1%); most common grade 3/4-related events were neutropenia (36.0%), leukopenia (27.9%) and thrombocytopenia (8.1%). CONCLUSION Given the low ORR and poor survival, further development of BI 2536 monotherapy is not warranted in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Mross
- Geschäftführender Oberarzt, Klinik für Tumorbiologie an der, Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg, Breisacherstrasse 117, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany.
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29
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Schöffski P, Awada A, Dumez H, Gil T, Bartholomeus S, Wolter P, Taton M, Fritsch H, Glomb P, Munzert G. A phase I, dose-escalation study of the novel Polo-like kinase inhibitor volasertib (BI 6727) in patients with advanced solid tumours. Eur J Cancer 2011; 48:179-86. [PMID: 22119200 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2011.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2011] [Revised: 10/31/2011] [Accepted: 11/02/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Volasertib (BI 6727) is a potent and selective cell-cycle kinase inhibitor that induces mitotic arrest and apoptosis by targeting Polo-like kinase (Plk). This phase I dose-escalation study evaluated the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of volasertib, safety and efficacy, and pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters. METHODS This trial followed an open-label, toxicity-guided dose-titration design. Patients with progressive advanced or metastatic solid tumours received a single 1-h infusion of volasertib every 3 weeks. A total of 65 patients were treated at doses of 12-450 mg. RESULTS Reversible haematological toxicity was the main side-effect; thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and febrile neutropenia constituting the main dose-limiting events. Anaemia (all grades 22%; grade 3: 8%), neutropenia (15%; grade 3/4: 14%), fatigue (15%; grade 3: 2%), and thrombocytopenia (14%; grade 3/4: 14%) were the most frequent drug-related adverse events. The MTD was 400mg; however, 300 mg was the recommended dose for further development based on overall tolerability. Three patients achieved confirmed partial response. Stable disease as best response was reported in 40% of patients. Two patients remained progression free for >1 year. PK analysis showed no indication of deviation from 'dose-linear PK' behaviour, a large volume of distribution (>4000 l), moderate clearance and a long half-life (~111 h). CONCLUSION This first-in-man trial demonstrated a favourable PK profile of volasertib, with manageable toxicities. As expected, the most common events were haematological. Encouraging preliminary antitumour activity has been observed, supporting Plk inhibition as a therapeutic approach. Clinical development of volasertib in phase II monotherapy and combination trials is ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Schöffski
- Department of General Medical Oncology and Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, University Hospitals, Leuven Cancer Institute, Leuven, Belgium
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Thrum S, Lorenz J, Mössner J, Wiedmann M. Polo-like kinase 1 inhibition as a new therapeutic modality in therapy of cholangiocarcinoma. Anticancer Res 2011; 31:3289-99. [PMID: 21965739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is highly resistant to chemotherapy and radiation, and is, therefore, difficult to cure. Polo-like kinases (Plks) are increasingly recognized as key regulators of mitosis, meiosis and cytokinesis. Alterations in PLK1- expression have been brought into relation with tumorigenesis, thus rendering PLK1 suppression an interesting target for tumor therapy. BI 2536, the first compound of the chemical class of dihydropteridinones, is a highly selective and potent inhibitor of PLK1. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retardation of cell proliferation by BI 2536 was tested in 14 CC cell lines by cell viability assay. Moreover, molecular activity of BI 2536 was investigated by Western blot, flow cytometry and real time- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Apposition of gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) retardant NVP-AEW541 was also examined. RESULTS BI 2536 subdued proliferation in all CC cell lines, however, reaction was stronger in gallbladder carcinoma. Therapy with BI 2536 did not result in a significant change in phosphorylation of histone H3, AKT, and p42/44. However, exposure of cells to this compound caused arrest at the G(2)/M-checkpoint and a surge in apoptosis. Moreover, PLK1 and FOXM1 were concurrently present in all cell lines, proposing a role for their involvement. Use of a mixture of BI 2536 with 5-FU or NVP-AEW541 resulted in synergism, while a mixture with gemcitabine resulted in additive activity. CONCLUSION These experiments indicate that BI 2536 is effective against CC and increases the potency of 5-FU and NVP-AEW541.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Thrum
- Division of Gastroenterology and Rheumatology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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31
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Ding Y, Huang D, Zhang Z, Smith J, Petillo D, Looyenga BD, Feenstra K, Mackeigan JP, Furge KA, Teh BT. Combined gene expression profiling and RNAi screening in clear cell renal cell carcinoma identify PLK1 and other therapeutic kinase targets. Cancer Res 2011; 71:5225-34. [PMID: 21642374 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-11-0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, several molecularly targeted therapies have been approved for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), a highly aggressive cancer. Although these therapies significantly extend overall survival, nearly all patients with advanced ccRCC eventually succumb to the disease. To identify other molecular targets, we profiled gene expression in 90 ccRCC patient specimens for which tumor grade information was available. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated that cell-cycle-related genes, in particular, Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), were associated with disease aggressiveness. We also carried out RNAi screening to identify kinases and phosphatases that when inhibited could prevent cell proliferation. As expected, RNAi-mediated knockdown of PLK1 and other cell-cycle kinases was sufficient to suppress ccRCC cell proliferation. The association of PLK1 in both disease aggression and in vitro growth prompted us to examine the effects of a small-molecule inhibitor of PLK1, BI 2536, in ccRCC cell lines. BI 2536 inhibited the proliferation of ccRCC cell lines at concentrations required to inhibit PLK1 kinase activity, and sustained inhibition of PLK1 by BI 2536 led to dramatic regression of ccRCC xenograft tumors in vivo. Taken together, these findings highlight PLK1 as a rational therapeutic target for ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Ding
- Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
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32
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Grinshtein N, Datti A, Fujitani M, Uehling D, Prakesch M, Isaac M, Irwin MS, Wrana JL, Al-Awar R, Kaplan DR. Small molecule kinase inhibitor screen identifies polo-like kinase 1 as a target for neuroblastoma tumor-initiating cells. Cancer Res 2011; 71:1385-95. [PMID: 21303981 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-2484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is an often fatal pediatric tumor of neural crest origin. We previously isolated NB tumor-initiating cells (NB TIC) from bone marrow metastases that resemble cancer stem cells and form metastatic NB in immunodeficient animals with as few as ten cells. To identify signaling pathways important for the survival and self-renewal of NB TICs and potential therapeutic targets, we screened a small molecule library of 143 protein kinase inhibitors, including 33 in clinical trials. Cytostatic or cytotoxic drugs were identified that targeted PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase)/Akt, PKC (protein kinase C), Aurora, ErbB2, Trk, and Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1). Treatment with PLK1 siRNA or low nanomolar concentrations of BI 2536 or BI 6727, PLK1 inhibitors in clinical trials for adult malignancies, were cytotoxic to TICs whereas only micromolar concentrations of the inhibitors were cytotoxic for normal pediatric neural stem cells. Furthermore, BI 2536 significantly inhibited TIC tumor growth in a therapeutic xenograft model, both as a single agent and in combination with irinotecan, an active agent for relapsed NB. Our findings identify candidate kinases that regulate TIC growth and survival and suggest that PLK1 inhibitors are an attractive candidate therapy for metastatic NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Grinshtein
- Cell Biology Program and James Birrell Laboratories, The Hospital for Sick Children, Ontario, Canada
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Hofheinz RD, Al-Batran SE, Hochhaus A, Jäger E, Reichardt VL, Fritsch H, Trommeshauser D, Munzert G. An open-label, phase I study of the polo-like kinase-1 inhibitor, BI 2536, in patients with advanced solid tumors. Clin Cancer Res 2010; 16:4666-74. [PMID: 20682708 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-10-0318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This phase I, open-label, dose-escalation study investigated the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of BI 2536, a small-molecule polo-like kinase (Plk)-1 inhibitor, in two treatment schedules in patients with advanced solid tumors. Secondary objectives included evaluation of safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Patients received a single i.v. dose of BI 2536 as a 1-hour infusion on days 1 and 8 or a single 24-hour infusion on day 1 of each 21-day treatment course. MTD determination was based on dose-limiting toxicities. RESULTS Forty-four and 26 patients received each treatment schedule, respectively. The MTD of BI 2536 in the day 1 and 8 schedule was 100 mg per administration (200 mg per course). The MTD for the second dosing schedule was not determined; a 225-mg dose was well tolerated. The most frequently reported treatment-related nonhematologic adverse events were gastrointestinal events and fatigue. Hematotoxicity as the most relevant side effect was similar in both schedules; neutropenia grades 3 and 4 were observed in 16 patients (36.4%) of the day 1 and 8 schedule and 13 patients (50%) of the 24-hour infusion. Fourteen patients (32%) treated in the day 1 and 8 dosing schedule had a best overall response of stable disease. Plasma concentrations of BI 2536 increased dose proportionally, with no relevant accumulation of exposure in the day 1 and 8 dosing schedule. The average terminal half-life was 50 hours. CONCLUSIONS BI 2536 administered in either treatment schedule has adequate safety in patients with advanced solid tumors, warranting further clinical investigation of polo-like kinase-1 inhibitors.
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Sebastian M, Reck M, Waller CF, Kortsik C, Frickhofen N, Schuler M, Fritsch H, Gaschler-Markefski B, Hanft G, Munzert G, von Pawel J. The efficacy and safety of BI 2536, a novel Plk-1 inhibitor, in patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer who had relapsed after, or failed, chemotherapy: results from an open-label, randomized phase II clinical trial. J Thorac Oncol 2010; 5:1060-7. [PMID: 20526206 DOI: 10.1097/jto.0b013e3181d95dd4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of two dosing schedules of BI 2536, a novel polo-like kinase-1 inhibitor, in patients with relapsed stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS Ninety-five patients were randomized to intravenous BI 2536 on day 1 (200 mg) or days 1 to 3 (50 or 60 mg) of a 21-day treatment course. BI 2536 doses were escalated beyond course 2 if well tolerated. The primary objective was response, and the secondary objectives were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), quality of life, safety, and pharmacokinetics. Primary statistical aim was to demonstrate the difference in objective response rate to historical placebo for both treatment groups. RESULTS Four patients (4.2%) had a partial response; two were confirmed by independent review. Median PFS was 8.3 weeks (58 days 95% confidence interval [CI]: 48-85) and 7 weeks (49 days 95% CI: 46-70) assessed by investigator and independent review, respectively. Median OS was 28.7 weeks (201 days 95% CI: 180-305). No statistically significant difference was observed between the two treatment schedules regarding clinical benefit, PFS, or OS. Grade 4 neutropenia occurred in 37% of patients; common nonhematologic adverse events were fatigue (31%) and nausea (27%). Two deaths (pulmonary hemorrhage and sepsis) were considered drug related. There was a trend in favor of the days 1 to 3 dosing schedule in quality of life. BI 2536 displayed moderate interpatient variability. CONCLUSIONS BI 2536 monotherapy has modest efficacy and favorable safety in relapsed non-small cell lung cancer. The findings support the further development of polo-like kinase-1 inhibitors within this indication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Sebastian
- Department of Medicine III, Universitaetsmedizin, Mainz, Germany
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35
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Gleixner KV, Ferenc V, Peter B, Gruze A, Meyer RA, Hadzijusufovic E, Cerny-Reiterer S, Mayerhofer M, Pickl WF, Sillaber C, Valent P. Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) as a novel drug target in chronic myeloid leukemia: overriding imatinib resistance with the Plk1 inhibitor BI 2536. Cancer Res 2010; 70:1513-23. [PMID: 20145140 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-09-2181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In most patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), the disease can be kept under control using the BCR/ABL kinase inhibitor imatinib. Nevertheless, resistance or intolerance to imatinib and other BCR/ABL inhibitors may occur during therapy. Therefore, CML research is focusing on novel targets and targeted drugs. Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays an essential role in mitosis. In this study, we examined the expression of Plk1 in CML cells and its potential role as a therapeutic target. Plk1 was found to be expressed in phosphorylated form in the CML cell line K562 as well as in primary CML cells in all patients tested. Inhibition of BCR/ABL by imatinib or nilotinib (AMN107) led to decreased expression of the Plk1 protein in CML cells, suggesting that BCR/ABL promotes Plk1 generation. Silencing of Plk1 in CML cells by a small interfering RNA approach was followed by cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, the Plk1-targeting drug BI 2536 was found to inhibit proliferation of imatinib-sensitive and imatinib-resistant CML cells, including leukemic cells, carrying the T315 mutation of BCR/ABL with reasonable IC(50) values (1-50 nmol/L). The growth-inhibitory effects of BI 2536 on CML cells were found to be associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, BI 2536 was found to synergize with imatinib and nilotinib in producing growth inhibition in CML cells. In conclusion, Plk1 is expressed in CML cells and may represent a novel, interesting target in imatinib-sensitive and imatinib-resistant CML.
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MESH Headings
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/administration & dosage
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use
- Benzamides
- Cell Cycle Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics
- Cell Cycle Proteins/physiology
- Drug Delivery Systems/methods
- Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Female
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/genetics
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/physiology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
- Humans
- Imatinib Mesylate
- K562 Cells
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/blood
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/genetics
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Piperazines/therapeutic use
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/physiology
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/physiology
- Pteridines/administration & dosage
- Pteridines/therapeutic use
- Pyrimidines/therapeutic use
- Polo-Like Kinase 1
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Affiliation(s)
- Karoline V Gleixner
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Institute of Immunology, Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
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36
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Abstract
Human Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is an essential regulator of mitotic progression. Targeted inhibition of this kinase was effective in killing tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. The Plk1 inhibitor BI_2536 was well tolerated and showed antitumor activity in the first clinical trials enrolling patients with advanced solid tumors and refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Wäsch
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Freiburg University Medical Center, Hugstetterstrasse 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
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37
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Abstract
Polo-like kinases (PLKs) are a group of highly conserved serine/threonine protein kinases that play a key role in processes such as cell division and checkpoint regulation of mitosis. About 80% of human tumors, of various origins, express high levels of PLK transcripts. However, PLK mRNA is mostly absent in surrounding healthy tissues. Overexpression of PLK is associated with a poor prognosis in several tumor types and a lower overall survival rate. The overexpression of PLKs in human tumors, but not in healthy nondividing cells, makes them an attractive, selective target for cancer drug development. PLK inhibitors interfere with different stages of mitosis, such as centrosome maturation, spindle formation, chromosome separation, and cytokinesis. They induce mitotic chaos and severely perturb cell cycle progression, eventually leading to cancer cell death. Several PLK inhibitors are in development and are undergoing evaluations as potential cancer treatments. This review includes an overview of PLK inhibitors in early clinical development (i.e., BI 2536, BI 6727, GSK461364, ON 019190.Na, and HMN-214) and in advanced preclinical development (i.e., ZK-thiazolidinone, NMS-1, CYC-800, DAP-81, and LC-445). If proof of principle is confirmed in large studies, PLK inhibitors will offer a new targeted antitumor therapy for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Schöffski
- Department of General Medical Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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38
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Ellmers LJ, Scott NJA, Medicherla S, Pilbrow AP, Bridgman PG, Yandle TG, Richards AM, Protter AA, Cameron VA. Transforming growth factor-beta blockade down-regulates the renin-angiotensin system and modifies cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction. Endocrinology 2008; 149:5828-34. [PMID: 18653707 DOI: 10.1210/en.2008-0165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
After myocardial infarction (MI), the heart may undergo progressive ventricular remodeling, resulting in a deterioration of cardiac function. TGF-beta is a key cytokine that both initiates and terminates tissue repair, and its sustained production underlies the development of tissue fibrosis, particularly after MI. We investigated the effects of a novel orally active specific inhibitor of the TGF-beta receptor 1 (SD-208) in an experimental model of MI. Mice underwent ligation of the left coronary artery to induce MI and were subsequently treated for 30 d after infarction with either SD-208 or a vehicle control. Blockade of TGF-beta signaling reduced mean arterial pressure in all groups. SD-208 treatment after MI resulted in a trend for reduced ventricular and renal gene expression of TGF-beta-activated kinase-1 (a downstream modulator of TGF-beta signaling) and a significant decrease in collagen 1, in association with a marked decrease in cardiac mass. Post-MI SD-208 treatment significantly reduced circulating levels of plasma renin activity as well as down-regulating the components of the cardiac and renal renin-angiotensin system (angiotensinogen, angiotensin converting enzyme, and angiotensin II type I receptor). Our findings indicate that blockade of the TGF-beta signaling pathway results in significant amelioration of deleterious cardiac remodeling after infarction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh J Ellmers
- Christchurch Cardioendocrine Research Group, Department of Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
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39
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Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 is an important regulator of cell cycle progression whose over-expression is often associated with oncogenesis. Polo-like kinase 1 hence represents an attractive target for cancer intervention. BI 2536 (Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim, Germany), a Polo-like kinase 1 inhibitor currently in clinical trials, exhibits nanomolar potency against Polo-like kinase isoforms and high selectivity against other kinases. We have previously published the crystal structures of the Polo-like kinase 1 domain in complex with AMPPNP and an Aurora A inhibitor. In this work, we present the co-crystal structure of Polo-like kinase 1 with BI 2536. The structure, in combination with selectivity data for BI 2536 and related compounds, illustrates important features for potency and selectivity. In particular, we show that the methoxy group of BI 2536 is an important specificity determinant against non-Polo-like kinases by taking advantage of a small pocket generated by Leu 132 in the hinge region of Polo-like kinase 1. The work presented here provides a framework for structure-based drug design of Polo-like kinase 1-specific inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kothe
- Pfizer Global Research and Development, Research Technology Center, 620 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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40
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Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) regulates mitotic progression in all eukaryotes and has been implicated in the transformation of human cells. Analysis of the cytological and anti-tumor activities of BI 2536, a novel, selective pharmacological inhibitor of Plk1, has connected chemistry and biology to the bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Plyte
- Congenia S.r.l., Genextra Group, Via Adamello 16, I-20139 Milan, Italy.
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41
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Gaspar NJ, Li L, Kapoun AM, Medicherla S, Reddy M, Li G, O'Young G, Quon D, Henson M, Damm DL, Muiru GT, Murphy A, Higgins LS, Chakravarty S, Wong DH. Inhibition of transforming growth factor beta signaling reduces pancreatic adenocarcinoma growth and invasiveness. Mol Pharmacol 2007; 72:152-61. [PMID: 17400764 DOI: 10.1124/mol.106.029025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) is a pleiotropic factor that regulates cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and immune suppression. Dysregulation of the TGFbeta pathway in tumor cells often leads to resistance to the antiproliferative effects of TGFbeta while supporting other cellular processes that promote tumor invasiveness and growth. In the present study, SD-208, a 2,4-disubstituted pteridine, ATP-competitive inhibitor of the TGFbeta receptor I kinase (TGFbetaRI), was used to inhibit cellular activities and tumor progression of PANC-1, a human pancreatic tumor line. SD-208 blocked TGFbeta-dependent Smad2 phosphorylation and expression of TGFbeta-inducible proteins in cell culture. cDNA microarray analysis and functional gene clustering identified groups of TGFbeta-regulated genes involved in metastasis, angiogenesis, cell proliferation, survival, and apoptosis. These gene responses were inhibited by SD-208. Using a Boyden chamber motility assay, we demonstrated that SD-208 inhibited TGFbeta-stimulated invasion in vitro. An orthotopic xenograft mouse model revealed that SD-208 reduced primary tumor growth and decreased the incidence of metastasis in vivo. Our findings suggest mechanisms through which TGFbeta signaling may promote tumor progression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Moreover, they suggest that inhibition of TGFbetaRI with a small-molecule inhibitor may be effective as a therapeutic approach to treat human pancreatic cancer.
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42
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Shen C, Dillissen E, Kasran A, Lin Y, Clydesdale G, Sienaert I, Jonghe SD, Gao LJ, Geboes K, Boon L, Rutgeerts P, Ceuppens JL. Anti-inflammatory activity of a pteridine derivative (4AZA2096) alleviates TNBS-induced colitis in mice. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2006; 26:575-82. [PMID: 16881868 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2006.26.575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. Naturally occurring pteridine analogs have been reported to have potent immunomodulatory activity, especially on TNF production. The aim of this study is to identify small molecule TNF inhibitiors derived from pteridine and to prove their in vivo efficacy in an inflammatory model. A focused chemical library based on the pteridine scaffold was screened in vitro on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). One synthetic pteridine analog (4AZA2096), shown to have strong inhibitory activity, was selected and tested for its efficacy to treat trinitrobenzenesulfonate (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice, a model of Crohn's disease. Colitis was induced by rectal administration of 1 mg TNBS in 50% ethanol after presensitization via the skin. The synthetic pteridine analog 4AZA2096 was shown to potently inhibit LPS-induced TNF production in vitro. Colitic mice treated with 4AZA2096 orally (20 mg/kg/day) recovered more rapidly and, histologically, had a reduction of inflammatory lesions, less edema, a reduction of goblet cell loss, and reduced wall thickness. Cell infiltration in the colon, especially infiltration of neutrophils, as shown by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, was reduced in 4AZA2096-treated animals. Intralesional TNF production was lower in mice of the treated groups, whereas interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) mRNA were not affected. Treatment had no effect on anti-TNBS antibody production, arguing against generalized immunosuppression. In conclusion, we identified a pteridine derivative, 4AZA2096, with strong inhibitory activity on TNF production and a remission- inducing effect in TNBS colitis, supporting further preclinical and clinical development of this novel TNF inhibitor for treatment of inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Shen
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
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43
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Akhurst RJ. Large- and small-molecule inhibitors of transforming growth factor-beta signaling. Curr Opin Investig Drugs 2006; 7:513-21. [PMID: 16784021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
A variety of drugs have been developed to inhibit transforming growth factor (TGF)beta signaling. These drugs have been designed to block TGFbeta synthesis, ligand/receptor binding or receptor kinase signaling. Preclinical studies using TGFbeta inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy in reducing metastasis and have shown improvements in cytotoxic drug delivery. Results of phase I/II clinical trials of TGFbeta inhibitors in patients with glioblastoma suggest improved survival rates compared with conventional chemotherapy. The predominant cellular target, whether cancer or stromal cell, immune cell or angiogenesis, may differ between tumor types. Different individuals may show variable responses to drug therapy dependent on both germline genetic variation and the somatic mutation profile of the tumor. A deeper understanding of these issues will assist in targeting the right patients for such therapy, and in limiting unwanted side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary J Akhurst
- University of California at San Francisco, P.O. Box 0875, Cancer Research Institute, 2340 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94143-0875, USA.
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44
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Yamada H, Arai T, Endo N, Yamashita K, Nonogawa M, Makino K, Fukuda K, Sasada M, Uchiyama T. Photodynamic effects of a novel pterin derivative on a pancreatic cancer cell line. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2005; 333:763-7. [PMID: 15964552 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.05.185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2005] [Accepted: 05/18/2005] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
6-Formylpterin (6FP) has the potential to produce singlet oxygen (1O2) under UV-A radiation. In order to apply this potential to anti-cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT), we prepared a novel variant of 6FP, 2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyleneamino)-6-formyl-3-pivaloylpteridine-4-one (6FP-tBu-DMF), and examined its photodynamic effects on a pancreatic cancer cell line, Panc-1 cells. The study using laser scanning confocal microscopy showed that the drug uptake, the 1O2 generation, and cell death were observed in the 6FP-tBu-DMF-treated cells, while these phenomena were not observed in the 6FP-treated cells. The MTT assay also showed the decrease in cell viability only in the 6FP-tBu-DMF-treated cells. Since 6FP and 6FP-tBu-DMF generate 1O2 to the same extent under UV-A radiation in aqueous solutions, these results indicated that the differences in the photodynamic effects between 6FP and 6FP-tBu-DMF were entirely attributed to the differences in the cell permeability between them. The development of cell permeable pterin derivatives has the potential for application in PDT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroko Yamada
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
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45
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46
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Khamala JK, Mwarumba S, Lewa P, Lowe B. Vibrio cholerae 01 strain resistant to vibriostatic compound 0/129 isolated from cholera cases in Kilifi, Kenya. East Afr Med J 2002; 79:560. [PMID: 12635766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
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47
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White EL, Suling WJ, Ross LJ, Seitz LE, Reynolds RC. 2-Alkoxycarbonylaminopyridines: inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis FtsZ. J Antimicrob Chemother 2002; 50:111-4. [PMID: 12096015 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkf075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Compounds originally designed as putative tubulin inhibitors were tested as antitubercular agents for inhibition of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis analogue of tubulin, FtsZ. Initial screening of 200 2-alkoxycarbonylpyridines found several that inhibited M. tuberculosis growth. Two compounds, SRI-3072 and SRI-7614, inhibited FtsZ polymerization and were equipotent against susceptible and single-drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis. In addition, SRI-3072 reduced the growth of M. tuberculosis in mouse bone marrow macrophages. Our results suggest that these types of compound might be developed into antitubercular drugs effective against the current multidrug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Lucile White
- Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA.
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48
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49
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Abstract
The influence of UVB irradiation on the metabolic pathway for the production of L-tyrosine from L-phenylalanine in the human epidermis has been examined in 12 healthy volunteers with photo skin types I-VI (Fitzpatrick classification). This metabolic pathway involves the induction of GTP-cyclohydrolase 1 (GTP-CH-1), the rate-limiting enzyme for de novo synthesis of (6R)L-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (6-BH4). This essential cofactor controls the production of L-tyrosine from L-phenylalanine via phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). The de novo synthesis of 6-BH4 depends on the induction of GTP-CH-1, e.g., by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha). Epidermal suction blister tissues were taken before (0 h) and after (24 and 72 h) UVB exposure with a standardized dosage [1 minimal erythema dose (MED)]. In all cases, there was a significant increase in TNF alpha release, GTP-CH-1 activity, total 6-biopterin level, and PAH activity, indicative of enhanced L-tyrosine production. The response of this metabolic cascade over baseline activities was pronounced in fair photo skin types (I-III) compared to dark skin (IV-VI). Taken together, our results suggest that UVB can control the direct supply of L-tyrosine in the epidermis, and this process may represent an important factor in de novo melanogenesis.
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50
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