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Wang W, Albadari N, Du Y, Fowler JF, Sang HT, Xian W, McKeon F, Li W, Zhou J, Zhang R. MDM2 Inhibitors for Cancer Therapy: The Past, Present, and Future. Pharmacol Rev 2024; 76:414-453. [PMID: 38697854 PMCID: PMC11068841 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.123.001026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Since its discovery over 35 years ago, MDM2 has emerged as an attractive target for the development of cancer therapy. MDM2's activities extend from carcinogenesis to immunity to the response to various cancer therapies. Since the report of the first MDM2 inhibitor more than 30 years ago, various approaches to inhibit MDM2 have been attempted, with hundreds of small-molecule inhibitors evaluated in preclinical studies and numerous molecules tested in clinical trials. Although many MDM2 inhibitors and degraders have been evaluated in clinical trials, there is currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved MDM2 inhibitor on the market. Nevertheless, there are several current clinical trials of promising agents that may overcome the past failures, including agents granted FDA orphan drug or fast-track status. We herein summarize the research efforts to discover and develop MDM2 inhibitors, focusing on those that induce MDM2 degradation and exert anticancer activity, regardless of the p53 status of the cancer. We also describe how preclinical and clinical investigations have moved toward combining MDM2 inhibitors with other agents, including immune checkpoint inhibitors. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future directions to accelerate the clinical application of MDM2 inhibitors. In conclusion, targeting MDM2 remains a promising treatment approach, and targeting MDM2 for protein degradation represents a novel strategy to downregulate MDM2 without the side effects of the existing agents blocking p53-MDM2 binding. Additional preclinical and clinical investigations are needed to finally realize the full potential of MDM2 inhibition in treating cancer and other chronic diseases where MDM2 has been implicated. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Overexpression/amplification of the MDM2 oncogene has been detected in various human cancers and is associated with disease progression, treatment resistance, and poor patient outcomes. This article reviews the previous, current, and emerging MDM2-targeted therapies and summarizes the preclinical and clinical studies combining MDM2 inhibitors with chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimens. The findings of these contemporary studies may lead to safer and more effective treatments for patients with cancers overexpressing MDM2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Najah Albadari
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Yi Du
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Josef F Fowler
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Hannah T Sang
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Wa Xian
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Frank McKeon
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Jia Zhou
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
| | - Ruiwen Zhang
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy (W.W., Y.D., J.F.F., H.T.S., R.Z.), Drug Discovery Institute (W.W., R.Z.), Stem Cell Center, Department of Biology and Biochemistry (W.X., F.M.), University of Houston, Houston, Texas; College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee (N.A., W.L.); and Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas (J.Z.)
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Ma Y, North BJ, Shu J. Regulation of topoisomerase II stability and activity by ubiquitination and SUMOylation: clinical implications for cancer chemotherapy. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:6589-6601. [PMID: 34476738 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06665-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
DNA topoisomerases II (TOP2) are peculiar enzymes (TOP2α and TOP2β) that modulate the conformation of DNA by momentarily breaking double-stranded DNA to allow another strand to pass through, and then rejoins the DNA phosphodiester backbone. TOP2α and TOP2β play vital roles in nearly all events involving DNA metabolism, including DNA transcription, replication, repair, and chromatin remodeling. Beyond these vital functions, TOP2 enzymes are therapeutic targets for various anticancer drugs, termed TOP2 poisons, such as teniposide, etoposide, and doxorubicin. These drugs exert their antitumor activity by inhibiting the activity of TOP2-DNA cleavage complexes (TOP2ccs) containing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), subsequently leading to the degradation of TOP2 by the 26S proteasome, thereby exposing the DSBs and eliciting a DNA damage response. Failure of the DSBs to be appropriately repaired leads to genomic instability. Due to this mechanism, patients treated with TOP2-based drugs have a high incidence of secondary malignancies and cardiotoxicity. While the cytotoxicity associated with TOP2 poisons appears to be TOP2α-dependent, the DNA sequence rearrangements and formation of DSBs appear to be mediated primarily through TOP2β inhibition, likely due to the differential degradation patterns of TOP2α and TOP2β. Research over the past few decades has shown that under various conditions, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and the SUMOylation pathway are primarily responsible for regulating the stability and activity of TOP2 and are therefore critical regulators of the therapeutic effect of TOP2-targeting drugs. In this review, we summarize the current progress on the regulation of TOP2α and TOP2β by ubiquitination and SUMOylation. By fully elucidating the basic biology of these essential and complex molecular mechanisms, better strategies may be developed to improve the therapeutic efficacy of TOP2 poisons and minimize the risks of therapy-related secondary malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, China
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310029, China
| | - Brian J North
- Biomedical Sciences Department, Creighton University School of Medicine, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA.
| | - Jianfeng Shu
- HwaMei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315010, China.
- Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315020, China.
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Venkatesh D, O'Brien NA, Zandkarimi F, Tong DR, Stokes ME, Dunn DE, Kengmana ES, Aron AT, Klein AM, Csuka JM, Moon SH, Conrad M, Chang CJ, Lo DC, D'Alessandro A, Prives C, Stockwell BR. MDM2 and MDMX promote ferroptosis by PPARα-mediated lipid remodeling. Genes Dev 2020; 34:526-543. [PMID: 32079652 PMCID: PMC7111265 DOI: 10.1101/gad.334219.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Here, Venkatesh et al. investigated the p53-independent roles of MDMX and the MDM2–MDMX complex. They found that MDM2 and MDMX facilitate ferroptosis in cells with or without p53, and that PPARα activity is essential for MDM2 and MDMX to promote ferroptosis, suggesting that the MDM2–MDMX complex regulates lipids through altering PPARα activity. MDM2 and MDMX, negative regulators of the tumor suppressor p53, can work separately and as a heteromeric complex to restrain p53's functions. MDM2 also has pro-oncogenic roles in cells, tissues, and animals that are independent of p53. There is less information available about p53-independent roles of MDMX or the MDM2–MDMX complex. We found that MDM2 and MDMX facilitate ferroptosis in cells with or without p53. Using small molecules, RNA interference reagents, and mutant forms of MDMX, we found that MDM2 and MDMX, likely working in part as a complex, normally facilitate ferroptotic death. We observed that MDM2 and MDMX alter the lipid profile of cells to favor ferroptosis. Inhibition of MDM2 or MDMX leads to increased levels of FSP1 protein and a consequent increase in the levels of coenzyme Q10, an endogenous lipophilic antioxidant. This suggests that MDM2 and MDMX normally prevent cells from mounting an adequate defense against lipid peroxidation and thereby promote ferroptosis. Moreover, we found that PPARα activity is essential for MDM2 and MDMX to promote ferroptosis, suggesting that the MDM2–MDMX complex regulates lipids through altering PPARα activity. These findings reveal the complexity of cellular responses to MDM2 and MDMX and suggest that MDM2–MDMX inhibition might be useful for preventing degenerative diseases involving ferroptosis. Furthermore, they suggest that MDM2/MDMX amplification may predict sensitivity of some cancers to ferroptosis inducers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Venkatesh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Nicholas A O'Brien
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Fereshteh Zandkarimi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - David R Tong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Michael E Stokes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Denise E Dunn
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Everett S Kengmana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Allegra T Aron
- Department of Chemistry, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Alyssa M Klein
- Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Joleen M Csuka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Sung-Hwan Moon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Marcus Conrad
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Metabolism and Cell Death, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - Christopher J Chang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Donald C Lo
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Angelo D'Alessandro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| | - Carol Prives
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - Brent R Stockwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
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