1
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Chang X, Qu F, Li C, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Xie Y, Fan Z, Bian J, Wang J, Li Z, Xu X. Development and therapeutic potential of GSPT1 molecular glue degraders: A medicinal chemistry perspective. Med Res Rev 2024; 44:1727-1767. [PMID: 38314926 DOI: 10.1002/med.22024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Unprecedented therapeutic targeting of previously undruggable proteins has now been achieved by molecular-glue-mediated proximity-induced degradation. As a small GTPase, G1 to S phase transition 1 (GSPT1) interacts with eRF1, the translation termination factor, to facilitate the process of translation termination. Studied demonstrated that GSPT1 plays a vital role in the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and MYC-driven lung cancer. Thus, molecular glue (MG) degraders targeting GSPT1 is a novel and promising approach for treating AML and MYC-driven cancers. In this Perspective, we briefly summarize the structural and functional aspects of GSPT1, highlighting the latest advances and challenges in MG degraders, as well as some representative patents. The structure-activity relationships, mechanism of action and pharmacokinetic features of MG degraders are emphasized to provide a comprehensive compendium on the rational design of GSPT1 MG degraders. We hope to provide an updated overview, and design guide for strategies targeting GSPT1 for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujin Chang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fangui Qu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunxiao Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingtian Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanqing Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xie
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhongpeng Fan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinlei Bian
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jubo Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhiyu Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xi Xu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
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2
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Martino EA, Palmieri S, Galli M, Derudas D, Mina R, Della Pepa R, Zambello R, Vigna E, Bruzzese A, Mangiacavalli S, Zamagni E, Califano C, Musso M, Conticello C, Cerchione C, Mele G, Di Renzo N, Offidani M, Tarantini G, Casaluci GM, Rago A, Ria R, Uccello G, Barilà G, Palumbo G, Pettine L, Vincelli ID, Brunori M, Accardi F, Amico V, Amendola A, Fontana R, Bongarzoni V, Rossini B, Cotzia E, Gozzetti A, Rizzi R, Sgherza N, Reddiconto G, Maroccia A, Franceschini L, Bertuglia G, Nappi D, Barbieri E, Gamberi B, Petrucci MT, Di Raimondo F, Neri A, Morabito F, Musto P, Gentile M. Elotuzumab plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: Extended follow-up of a multicenter, retrospective real-world experience with 321 cases outside of controlled clinical trials. Hematol Oncol 2024; 42:e3290. [PMID: 38818978 DOI: 10.1002/hon.3290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The ELOQUENT-3 trial demonstrated the superiority of the combination of elotuzumab, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone (EloPd) in terms of efficacy and safety, compared to Pd in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), who had received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor. The present study is an 18-month follow-up update of a previously published Italian real-life RRMM cohort of patients treated with EloPd. This revised analysis entered 319 RRMM patients accrued in 41 Italian centers. After a median follow-up of 17.7 months, 213 patients (66.4%) experienced disease progression or died. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 7.5 and 19.2 months, respectively. The updated multivariate analysis showed a significant reduction of PFS benefit magnitude both in advanced International Staging System (ISS) (II and III) stages and previous exposure to daratumumab cases. Instead, advanced ISS (II and III) stages and more than 2 previous lines of therapy maintained an independent prognostic impact on OS. Major adverse events included grade three-fourths neutropenia (24.9%), anemia (13.4%), lymphocytopenia (15.5%), and thrombocytopenia (10.7%), while infection rates and pneumonia were 19.3% and 8.7%, respectively. A slight increase in the incidence of neutropenia and lymphocytopenia was registered with longer follow-up. In conclusion, our real-world study still confirms that EloPd is a safe and possible therapeutic choice for RRMM. Nevertheless, novel strategies are desirable for those patients exposed to daratumumab.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Multiple Myeloma/drug therapy
- Multiple Myeloma/mortality
- Multiple Myeloma/pathology
- Male
- Female
- Dexamethasone/administration & dosage
- Dexamethasone/adverse effects
- Dexamethasone/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/administration & dosage
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/adverse effects
- Aged
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects
- Middle Aged
- Thalidomide/analogs & derivatives
- Thalidomide/administration & dosage
- Thalidomide/adverse effects
- Thalidomide/therapeutic use
- Retrospective Studies
- Follow-Up Studies
- Aged, 80 and over
- Adult
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
- Survival Rate
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrica Antonia Martino
- Department of Onco-hematology, Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Annunziata, Cosenza, Italy
| | | | - Monica Galli
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST Papa Giovanni, Bergamo, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Mina
- Division of Hematology, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Roberta Della Pepa
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Hematology Unit, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Renato Zambello
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Hematology Unit, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
| | - Ernesto Vigna
- Department of Onco-hematology, Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Annunziata, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Antonella Bruzzese
- Department of Onco-hematology, Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Annunziata, Cosenza, Italy
| | | | - Elena Zamagni
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Musso
- Department of Oncology, Onco-Hematology Unit and TMO U.O.C., Palermo, Italy
| | - Concetta Conticello
- Division of Hematology, Azienda Policlinico-S. Marco, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Claudio Cerchione
- Hematology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mele
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Perrino, Brindisi, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Gloria Margiotta Casaluci
- Division of Hematology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Ria
- Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari Aldo Moro Medical School, Internal Medicine "G. Baccelli"; CITEL, Bari, Italy
- Interdepartmental Centre for Research in Telemedicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | | | | | - Gaetano Palumbo
- Department of Hematology, Hospital University Riuniti, Foggia, Italy
| | - Loredana Pettine
- Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Iolanda Donatella Vincelli
- Department of Hemato-Oncology and Radiotherapy, Hematology Unit, Great Metropolitan Hospital "Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli", Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | | | - Fabrizio Accardi
- Department of Hematology I, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Villa Sofia-Cervello, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Angela Amendola
- Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Regionale "San Carlo", Potenza, Italy
| | - Raffaele Fontana
- Hematology and Transplant Center, University Hospital "San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona", Salerno, Italy
| | - Velia Bongarzoni
- Department of Hematology, San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Bernardo Rossini
- Hematology and Cell Therapy Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II" Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Emilia Cotzia
- Section of Hematology- Ospedale E. Muscatello-Augusta, Siracusa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gozzetti
- Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Rita Rizzi
- Unit of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, AOUC Policlinico Bari, Bari, Italy
- Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, "Aldo Moro" University School of Medicine, Bari, Italy
| | - Nicola Sgherza
- Unit of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, AOUC Policlinico Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Maroccia
- Hematology Unit - Ospedale dell'Angelo Azienda ULSS n.3 Serenissima, Venezia Mestre, Italy
| | - Luca Franceschini
- Lymphoproliferative Diseases Unit, Tor Vergata University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Bertuglia
- Dipartimento di Oncologia ed Ematologia SC Ematologia 1 A.O. Citta' della Salute e della Scienza di Torino P.O. Molinette, Torino, Italy
| | - Davide Nappi
- Hematology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Emiliano Barbieri
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Barbara Gamberi
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Petrucci
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Hematology Azienda Policlinico Umberto I Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Di Raimondo
- Division of Hematology, Azienda Policlinico-S. Marco, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonino Neri
- Scientific Directorate, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | | | - Pellegrino Musto
- Unit of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, AOUC Policlinico Bari, Bari, Italy
- Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, "Aldo Moro" University School of Medicine, Bari, Italy
| | - Massimo Gentile
- Department of Onco-hematology, Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Annunziata, Cosenza, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Science, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
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3
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Koldenhof P, Bemelmans MP, Ghosh B, Damm-Ganamet KL, van Vlijmen HWT, Pande V. Application of AlphaFold models in evaluating ligandable cysteines across E3 ligases. Proteins 2024; 92:819-829. [PMID: 38337153 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) are an emerging therapeutic modality and chemical biology tools for Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD). PROTACs contain a ligand targeting the protein of interest, a ligand recruiting an E3 ligase and a linker connecting these two ligands. There are over 600 E3 ligases known so far, but only a handful have been exploited for TPD applications. A key reason for this is the scarcity of ligands binding various E3 ligases and the paucity of structural data available, which complicates ligand design across the family. In this study, we aim to progress PROTAC discovery by proposing a shortlist of E3 ligases that can be prioritized for covalent targeting by performing systematic structural ligandability analysis on a chemoproteomic dataset of potentially reactive cysteines across hundreds of E3 ligases. One of the goals of this study is to apply AlphaFold (AF) models for ligandability evaluations, as for a vast majority of these ligases an experimental structure is not available in the protein data bank (PDB). Using a combination of pocket features, AF model quality and additional aspects, we propose a shortlist of E3 ligases and corresponding cysteines that can be prioritized to potentially discover covalent ligands and expand the PROTAC toolbox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Koldenhof
- Computer-Aided Drug Design, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Beerse, Belgium
| | | | - Brahma Ghosh
- Discovery Chemistry, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Vineet Pande
- Computer-Aided Drug Design, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Beerse, Belgium
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4
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Nutt MJ, Stewart SG. Strengthening Molecular Glues: Design Strategies for Improving Thalidomide Analogs as Cereblon Effectors and Anticancer Agents. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:104010. [PMID: 38704021 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.104010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
In the two decades since a novel thalidomide analog was last approved, many promising drug candidates have emerged with remarkable potency as targeted protein degraders. Likewise, the advent of PROTACs for suppressing 'undruggable' protein targets reinforces the need for new analogs with improved cereblon affinity, target selectivity and drug-like properties. However, thalidomide and its approved derivatives remain plagued by several shortcomings, such as structural instability and poor solubility. Herein, we present a review of strategies for mitigating these shortcomings and highlight contemporary drug discovery approaches that have generated novel thalidomide analogs with enhanced efficacy as cereblon effectors and/or anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Nutt
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley 6009, Australia.
| | - Scott G Stewart
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley 6009, Australia.
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5
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Colley A, Brauns T, Sluder AE, Poznansky MC, Gemechu Y. Immunomodulatory drugs: a promising clinical ally for cancer immunotherapy. Trends Mol Med 2024:S1471-4914(24)00123-0. [PMID: 38821771 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
While immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs) have been authorised for treatment of haematological cancers for over two decades, the appreciation of their ability to stimulate antitumour T cell and natural killer (NK) cell responses is relatively recent. Clinical trial data increasingly show that targeted immunotherapies, such as antibodies, T cells, and vaccines, improve outcomes when delivered in combination with the IMiD derivatives lenalidomide or pomalidomide. Here, we review these clinical data to highlight the relevance of IMiDs in combinatorial immunotherapy for both haematological and solid tumours. Further research into the molecular mechanisms of IMiDs and an increased understanding of their immunomodulatory effects may refine the specific applications of IMiDs and improve the design of future clinical trials, moving IMiDs to the forefront of combinatorial cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Colley
- Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Timothy Brauns
- Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ann E Sluder
- Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark C Poznansky
- Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yohannes Gemechu
- Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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6
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Ye T, Mishra AK, Banday S, Li R, Hu K, Coleman MM, Shan Y, Chowdhury SR, Zhou L, Pak ML, Simone TM, Malonia SK, Zhu LJ, Kelliher MA, Green MR. Identification of WNK1 as a therapeutic target to suppress IgH/MYC expression in multiple myeloma. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114211. [PMID: 38722741 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable hematological malignancy demanding innovative therapeutic strategies. Targeting MYC, the notorious yet traditionally undruggable oncogene, presents an appealing avenue. Here, using a genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screen, we identify the WNK lysine-deficient protein kinase 1 (WNK1) as a regulator of MYC expression in MM cells. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of WNK1 reduces MYC expression and, further, disrupts the MYC-dependent transcriptional program. Mechanistically, WNK1 inhibition attenuates the activity of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) enhancer, thus reducing MYC transcription when this locus is translocated near the MYC locus. WNK1 inhibition profoundly impacts MM cell behaviors, leading to growth inhibition, cell-cycle arrest, senescence, and apoptosis. Importantly, the WNK inhibitor WNK463 inhibits MM growth in primary patient samples as well as xenograft mouse models and exhibits synergistic effects with various anti-MM compounds. Collectively, our study uncovers WNK1 as a potential therapeutic target in MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Ye
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | - Alok K Mishra
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Shahid Banday
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Kai Hu
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Madison M Coleman
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Yi Shan
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Shreya Roy Chowdhury
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lin Zhou
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Magnolia L Pak
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Tessa M Simone
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Sunil K Malonia
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lihua Julie Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Michelle A Kelliher
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Michael R Green
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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7
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Yong D, Ahmad S, Mabanglo MF, Halabelian L, Schapira M, Ackloo S, Perveen S, Ghiabi P, Vedadi M. Development of Peptide Displacement Assays to Screen for Antagonists of DDB1 Interactions. Biochemistry 2024; 63:1297-1306. [PMID: 38729622 PMCID: PMC11112733 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.4c00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
The DNA damage binding protein 1 (DDB1) is an essential component of protein complexes involved in DNA damage repair and the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) for protein degradation. As an adaptor protein specific to Cullin-RING E3 ligases, DDB1 binds different receptors that poise protein substrates for ubiquitination and subsequent degradation by the 26S proteasome. Examples of DDB1-binding protein receptors are Cereblon (CRBN) and the WD-repeat containing DDB1- and CUL4-associated factors (DCAFs). Cognate substrates of CRBN and DCAFs are involved in cancer-related cellular processes or are mimicked by viruses to reprogram E3 ligases for the ubiquitination of antiviral host factors. Thus, disrupting interactions of DDB1 with receptor proteins might be an effective strategy for anticancer and antiviral drug discovery. Here, we developed fluorescence polarization (FP)-based peptide displacement assays that utilize full-length DDB1 and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled peptide probes derived from the specific binding motifs of DDB1 interactors. A general FP-based assay condition applicable to diverse peptide probes was determined and optimized. Mutagenesis and biophysical analyses were then employed to identify the most suitable peptide probe. The FITC-DCAF15 L49A peptide binds DDB1 with a dissociation constant of 68 nM and can be displaced competitively by unlabeled peptides at sub-μM to low nM concentrations. These peptide displacement assays can be used to screen small molecule libraries to identify novel modulators that could specifically antagonize DDB1 interactions toward development of antiviral and cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Yong
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Shabbir Ahmad
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Mark F. Mabanglo
- Drug
Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for
Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Levon Halabelian
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University
of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Matthieu Schapira
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University
of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Suzanne Ackloo
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Sumera Perveen
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Pegah Ghiabi
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Masoud Vedadi
- Drug
Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for
Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A3, Canada
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University
of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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8
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Van Oekelen O, Amatangelo M, Guo M, Upadhyaya B, Cribbs AP, Kelly G, Patel M, Kim-Schulze S, Flynt E, Lagana A, Gooding S, Merad M, Jagganath S, Pierceall WE, Oppermann U, Thakurta A, Parekh S. Iberdomide increases innate and adaptive immune cell subsets in the bone marrow of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Cell Rep Med 2024:101584. [PMID: 38776911 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Iberdomide is a potent cereblon E3 ligase modulator (CELMoD agent) with promising efficacy and safety as a monotherapy or in combination with other therapies in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Using a custom mass cytometry panel designed for large-scale immunophenotyping of the bone marrow tumor microenvironment (TME), we demonstrate significant increases of effector T and natural killer (NK) cells in a cohort of 93 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) treated with iberdomide, correlating findings to disease characteristics, prior therapy, and a peripheral blood immune phenotype. Notably, changes are dose dependent, associated with objective response, and independent of prior refractoriness to MM therapies. This suggests that iberdomide broadly induces innate and adaptive immune activation in the TME, contributing to its antitumor efficacy. Our approach establishes a strategy to study treatment-induced changes in the TME of patients with MM and, more broadly, patients with cancer and establishes rational combination strategies for iberdomide with immune-enhancing therapies to treat MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Van Oekelen
- Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Manman Guo
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Bhaskar Upadhyaya
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam P Cribbs
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Geoffrey Kelly
- Human Immune Monitoring Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Manishkumar Patel
- Human Immune Monitoring Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seunghee Kim-Schulze
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Human Immune Monitoring Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erin Flynt
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, USA
| | - Alessandro Lagana
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Gooding
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Miriam Merad
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Human Immune Monitoring Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sundar Jagganath
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Udo Oppermann
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK; Oxford Translational Myeloma Centre (OTMC), Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Anjan Thakurta
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, USA; Oxford Translational Myeloma Centre (OTMC), Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Samir Parekh
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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9
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Amatangelo M, Flynt E, Stong N, Ray P, Van Oekelen O, Wang M, Ortiz M, Maciag P, Peluso T, Parekh S, van de Donk NWCJ, Lonial S, Thakurta A. Pharmacodynamic changes in tumor and immune cells drive iberdomide's clinical mechanisms of activity in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Cell Rep Med 2024:101571. [PMID: 38776914 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Iberdomide is a next-generation cereblon (CRBN)-modulating agent in the clinical development in multiple myeloma (MM). The analysis of biomarker samples from relapsed/refractory patients enrolled in CC-220-MM-001 (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02773030), a phase 1/2 study, shows that iberdomide treatment induces significant target substrate degradation in tumors, including in immunomodulatory agent (IMiD)-refractory patients or those with low CRBN levels. Additionally, some patients with CRBN genetic dysregulation who responded to iberdomide have a similar median progression-free survival (PFS) (10.9 months) and duration of response (DOR) (9.5 months) to those without CRBN dysregulation (11.2 month PFS, 9.4 month DOR). Iberdomide treatment promotes a cyclical pattern of immune stimulation without causing exhaustion, inducing a functional shift in T cells toward an activated/effector memory phenotype, including in triple-class refractory patients and those receiving IMiDs as a last line of therapy. This analysis demonstrates that iberdomide's clinical mechanisms of action are driven by both its cell-autonomous effects overcoming CRBN dysregulation in MM cells, and potent immune stimulation that augments anti-tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erin Flynt
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, USA
| | - Nicholas Stong
- Predictive Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, USA
| | - Pradipta Ray
- Data Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - Oliver Van Oekelen
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria Wang
- Translational Research, Bristol Myers Squibb, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Maria Ortiz
- Predictive Sciences, BMS Center for Innovation and Translational Research Europe (CITRE), A Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Paulo Maciag
- Clinical Development, Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, USA
| | - Teresa Peluso
- Clinical Development, Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, USA
| | - Samir Parekh
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Niels W C J van de Donk
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Hematology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sagar Lonial
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anjan Thakurta
- Translational Medicine, Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, USA; Oxford Translational Myeloma Centre (OTMC), Nuffield Department of Orthopedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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10
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Akizuki Y, Kaypee S, Ohtake F, Ikeda F. The emerging roles of non-canonical ubiquitination in proteostasis and beyond. J Cell Biol 2024; 223:e202311171. [PMID: 38517379 PMCID: PMC10959754 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202311171] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin regulates various cellular functions by posttranslationally modifying substrates with diverse ubiquitin codes. Recent discoveries of new ubiquitin chain topologies, types of bonds, and non-protein substrates have substantially expanded the complexity of the ubiquitin code. Here, we describe the ubiquitin system covering the basic principles and recent discoveries related to mechanisms, technologies, and biological importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshino Akizuki
- Institute for Advanced Life Sciences, Hoshi University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Stephanie Kaypee
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Ohtake
- Institute for Advanced Life Sciences, Hoshi University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumiyo Ikeda
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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11
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Chen Y, Xue H, Jin J. Applications of protein ubiquitylation and deubiquitylation in drug discovery. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107264. [PMID: 38582446 PMCID: PMC11087986 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome system (UPS) is the major machinery mediating specific protein turnover in eukaryotic cells. By ubiquitylating unwanted, damaged, or harmful proteins and driving their degradation, UPS is involved in many important cellular processes. Several new UPS-based technologies, including molecular glue degraders and PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) to promote protein degradation, and DUBTACs (deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras) to increase protein stability, have been developed. By specifically inducing the interactions between different Ub ligases and targeted proteins that are not otherwise related, molecular glue degraders and PROTACs degrade targeted proteins via the UPS; in contrast, by inducing the proximity of targeted proteins to deubiquitinases, DUBTACs are created to clear degradable poly-Ub chains to stabilize targeted proteins. In this review, we summarize the recent research progress in molecular glue degraders, PROTACs, and DUBTACs and their applications. We discuss immunomodulatory drugs, sulfonamides, cyclin-dependent kinase-targeting molecular glue degraders, and new development of PROTACs. We also introduce the principle of DUBTAC and its applications. Finally, we propose a few future directions of these three technologies related to targeted protein homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Chen
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haoan Xue
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Center for Life Sciences, Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Jianping Jin
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Center for Life Sciences, Shaoxing Institute, Zhejiang University, Shaoxing, China; Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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12
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Ito T. Protein degraders - from thalidomide to new PROTACs. J Biochem 2024; 175:507-519. [PMID: 38140952 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvad113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, the development of protein degraders (protein-degrading compounds) has prominently progressed. There are two remarkable classes of protein degraders: proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and molecular glue degraders (MGDs). Almost 70 years have passed since thalidomide was initially developed as a sedative-hypnotic drug, which is currently recognized as one of the most well-known MGDs. During the last two decades, a myriad of PROTACs and MGDs have been developed, and the molecular mechanism of action (MOA) of thalidomide was basically elucidated, including identifying its molecular target cereblon (CRBN). CRBN forms a Cullin Ring Ligase 4 with Cul4 and DDB1, whose substrate specificity is controlled by its binding ligands. Thalidomide, lenalidomide and pomalidomide, three CRBN-binding MGDs, were clinically approved to treat several intractable diseases (including multiple myeloma). Several other MGDs and CRBN-based PROTACs (ARV-110 and AVR-471) are undergoing clinical trials. In addition, several new related technologies regarding PROTACs and MGDs have also been developed, and achievements of protein degraders impact not only therapeutic fields but also basic biological science. In this article, I introduce the history of protein degraders, from the development of thalidomide to the latest PROTACs and related technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Ito
- Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
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13
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Alugubelli Y, Xiao J, Khatua K, Kumar S, Sun L, Ma Y, Ma XR, Vulupala VR, Atla S, Blankenship LR, Coleman D, Xie X, Neuman BW, Liu WR, Xu S. Discovery of First-in-Class PROTAC Degraders of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. J Med Chem 2024; 67:6495-6507. [PMID: 38608245 PMCID: PMC11056980 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02416] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
We have witnessed three coronavirus (CoV) outbreaks in the past two decades, including the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Main protease (MPro), a highly conserved protease among various CoVs, is essential for viral replication and pathogenesis, making it a prime target for antiviral drug development. Here, we leverage proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology to develop a new class of small-molecule antivirals that induce the degradation of SARS-CoV-2 MPro. Among them, MPD2 was demonstrated to effectively reduce MPro protein levels in 293T cells, relying on a time-dependent, CRBN-mediated, and proteasome-driven mechanism. Furthermore, MPD2 exhibited remarkable efficacy in diminishing MPro protein levels in SARS-CoV-2-infected A549-ACE2 cells. MPD2 also displayed potent antiviral activity against various SARS-CoV-2 strains and exhibited enhanced potency against nirmatrelvir-resistant viruses. Overall, this proof-of-concept study highlights the potential of targeted protein degradation of MPro as an innovative approach for developing antivirals that could fight against drug-resistant viral variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yugendar
R. Alugubelli
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Jing Xiao
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Kaustav Khatua
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Sathish Kumar
- Department
of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Long Sun
- Department
of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Yuying Ma
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Xinyu R. Ma
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Veerabhadra R. Vulupala
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Sandeep Atla
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Lauren R. Blankenship
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Demonta Coleman
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Xuping Xie
- Department
of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Benjamin W. Neuman
- Department
of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Texas
A&M Global Health Research Complex, Texas A&M University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Wenshe Ray Liu
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Institute
of Biosciences and Technology and Department of Translational Medical
Sciences, College of Medicine, Texas A&M
University, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Shiqing Xu
- Texas
A&M Drug Discovery Center, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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14
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An J, Zhang X. Crbn-based molecular Glues: Breakthroughs and perspectives. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 104:117683. [PMID: 38552596 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
CRBN is a substrate receptor for the Cullin Ring E3 ubiquitin ligase 4 (CRL4) complex. It has been observed that CRBN can be exploited by small molecules to facilitate the recruitment and ubiquitination of non-natural CRL4 substrates, resulting in the degradation of neosubstrate through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This phenomenon, known as molecular glue-induced protein degradation, has emerged as an innovative therapeutic approach in contrast to traditional small-molecule drugs. One key advantage of molecular glues, in comparison to conventional small-molecule drugs adhering to Lipinski's Rule of Five, is their ability to operate without the necessity for specific binding pockets on target proteins. This unique characteristic empowers molecular glues to interact with conventionally intractable protein targets, such as transcription factors and scaffold proteins. The ability to induce the degradation of these previously elusive targets by hijacking the ubiquitin-proteasome system presents a promising avenue for the treatment of recalcitrant diseases. Nevertheless, the rational design of molecular glues remains a formidable challenge due to the limited understanding of their mechanisms and actions. This review offers an overview of recent advances and breakthroughs in the field of CRBN-based molecular glues, while also exploring the prospects for a systematic approach to designing these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juzeng An
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
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15
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Carter TR, Milosevich N, Dada L, Shaum JB, Barry Sharpless K, Kitamura S, Erb MA. SuFEx-based chemical diversification for the systematic discovery of CRBN molecular glues. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 104:117699. [PMID: 38608634 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Molecular glues are small molecules that stabilize protein-protein interactions, enabling new molecular pharmacologies, such as targeted protein degradation. They offer advantages over proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which present challenges associated with the size and properties of heterobifunctional constructions, but glues lack the rational design principles analogous to PROTACs. One notable exception is the ability to alter the structure of Cereblon (CRBN)-based molecular glues and redirect their activity toward new neo-substrate proteins. We took a focused approach toward modifying the CRBN ligand, 5'-amino lenalidomide, to alter its neo-substrate specificity using high-throughput chemical diversification by parallelized sulfur(VI)-fluoride exchange (SuFEx) transformations. We synthesized over 3,000 analogs of 5'-amino lenalidomide using this approach and screened the crude products using a phenotypic screen for cell viability, identifying dozens of analogs with differentiated activity. We characterized four compounds that degrade G-to-S phase transition 1 (GSPT1) protein, providing a proof-of-concept model for SuFEx-based discovery of CRBN molecular glues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trever R Carter
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, United States
| | | | - Lucas Dada
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, United States
| | - James B Shaum
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, United States
| | - K Barry Sharpless
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, United States
| | - Seiya Kitamura
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, United States; Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, United States
| | - Michael A Erb
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, United States
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16
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Abdallah N, Kumar SK. New Therapies on the Horizon for Relapsed Refractory Multiple Myeloma. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2024; 38:511-532. [PMID: 38216384 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2023.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Despite improved treatments, most patients with multiple myeloma (MM) will experience relapse. Several novel agents have demonstrated activity and tolerability in early phase clinical trials. Venetoclax is a B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) inhibitor with activity in patients with t(11;14) and/or Bcl-2 expression. Iberdomide and mezigdomide are cereblon E3 ligase modulators with higher potency, immunomodulatory, and antiproliferative activity compared with lenalidomide and pomalidomide. They have shown promising activity in heavily pretreated patients. Modakafusp alfa is an immunocytokine that targets interferons to CD38+ cells. It has demonstrated single agent activity in relapsed/refractory MM in the phase 1 setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Abdallah
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Shaji K Kumar
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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17
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Gahvari Z, Brunner M, Schmidt T, Callander NS. Update on the current and future use of CAR-T to treat multiple myeloma. Eur J Haematol 2024; 112:493-503. [PMID: 38099401 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.14145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has become an important intervention in the management of relapsed and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Currently, B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is the most targeted surface protein due to its ubiquitous expression on plasma cells, with increasing expression of this essential transmembrane protein on malignant plasma cells as patients develop more advanced disease. This review will explore the earliest CAR-T trials in myeloma, discuss important issues involved in CAR-T manufacturing and processing, as well as review current clinical trials that led to the approval of the two commercially available CAR-T products, Idecabtagene vicleucel and ciltacabtagene autoleucel. The most recent data from trials investigating the use of CAR-T as an earlier line of therapy will be presented. Finally, the problem of relapses after CAR-T will be presented, including several theories as to why CAR-T therapies fail and possible clinical caveats. The next generation of MM-specific CAR-T will likely include new targets such as G-protein-coupled receptor class C, Group 5, member D (GPRC5D) and signaling lymphocyte activation molecular Family 7 (SLAMF7). The role of CAR-T in the treatment of MM will undoubtedly increase exponentially in the next decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhubin Gahvari
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Matthew Brunner
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Timothy Schmidt
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Natalie S Callander
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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18
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Lee H, Neri P, Bahlis NJ. Cereblon-Targeting Ligase Degraders in Myeloma: Mechanisms of Action and Resistance. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2024; 38:305-319. [PMID: 38302306 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Cereblon-targeting degraders, including immunomodulatory imide drugs lenalidomide and pomalidomide alongside cereblon E3 ligase modulators like iberdomide and mezigdomide, have demonstrated significant anti-myeloma effects. These drugs play a crucial role in diverse therapeutic approaches for multiple myeloma (MM), emphasizing their therapeutic importance across various disease stages. Despite their evident efficacy, approximately 5% to 10% of MM patients exhibit primary resistance to lenalidomide, and resistance commonly develops over time. Understanding the intricate mechanisms of action and resistance to this drug class becomes imperative for refining and advancing novel therapeutic combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Lee
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3330 Hospital Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Paola Neri
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3330 Hospital Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Nizar J Bahlis
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3330 Hospital Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
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19
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Chowdhury B, Garg S, Ni W, Sattler M, Sanchez D, Meng C, Akatsu T, Stone R, Forrester W, Harrington E, Buhrlage SJ, Griffin JD, Weisberg E. Synergy between BRD9- and IKZF3-Targeting as a Therapeutic Strategy for Multiple Myeloma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1319. [PMID: 38610997 PMCID: PMC11010819 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Progress in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) has resulted in improvement in the survival rate. However, there is still a need for more efficacious and tolerated therapies. We and others have shown that bromodomain-containing protein 9 (BRD9), a member of the non-canonical SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, plays a role in MM cell survival, and targeting BRD9 selectively blocks MM cell proliferation and synergizes with IMiDs. We found that synergy in vitro is associated with the downregulation of MYC and Ikaros proteins, including IKZF3, and overexpression of IKZF3 or MYC could partially reverse synergy. RNA-seq analysis revealed synergy to be associated with the suppression of pathways associated with MYC and E2F target genes and pathways, including cell cycle, cell division, and DNA replication. Stimulated pathways included cell adhesion and immune and inflammatory response. Importantly, combining IMiD treatment and BRD9 targeting, which leads to the downregulation of MYC protein and upregulation of CRBN protein, was able to override IMiD resistance of cells exposed to iberdomide in long-term culture. Taken together, our results support the notion that combination therapy based on agents targeting BRD9 and IKZF3, two established dependencies in MM, represents a promising novel therapeutic strategy for MM and IMiD-resistant disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basudev Chowdhury
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (B.C.); (S.G.); (W.N.); (M.S.); (D.S.); (T.A.); (R.S.)
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Swati Garg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (B.C.); (S.G.); (W.N.); (M.S.); (D.S.); (T.A.); (R.S.)
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Wei Ni
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (B.C.); (S.G.); (W.N.); (M.S.); (D.S.); (T.A.); (R.S.)
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Martin Sattler
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (B.C.); (S.G.); (W.N.); (M.S.); (D.S.); (T.A.); (R.S.)
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dana Sanchez
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (B.C.); (S.G.); (W.N.); (M.S.); (D.S.); (T.A.); (R.S.)
| | - Chengcheng Meng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (B.C.); (S.G.); (W.N.); (M.S.); (D.S.); (T.A.); (R.S.)
| | - Taisei Akatsu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (B.C.); (S.G.); (W.N.); (M.S.); (D.S.); (T.A.); (R.S.)
| | - Richard Stone
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (B.C.); (S.G.); (W.N.); (M.S.); (D.S.); (T.A.); (R.S.)
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | | | - Sara J. Buhrlage
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA;
| | - James D. Griffin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (B.C.); (S.G.); (W.N.); (M.S.); (D.S.); (T.A.); (R.S.)
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ellen Weisberg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (B.C.); (S.G.); (W.N.); (M.S.); (D.S.); (T.A.); (R.S.)
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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20
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Bouvier C, Lawrence R, Cavallo F, Xolalpa W, Jordan A, Hjerpe R, Rodriguez MS. Breaking Bad Proteins-Discovery Approaches and the Road to Clinic for Degraders. Cells 2024; 13:578. [PMID: 38607017 PMCID: PMC11011670 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) describe compounds that bind to and induce degradation of a target by simultaneously binding to a ubiquitin ligase. More generally referred to as bifunctional degraders, PROTACs have led the way in the field of targeted protein degradation (TPD), with several compounds currently undergoing clinical testing. Alongside bifunctional degraders, single-moiety compounds, or molecular glue degraders (MGDs), are increasingly being considered as a viable approach for development of therapeutics, driven by advances in rational discovery approaches. This review focuses on drug discovery with respect to bifunctional and molecular glue degraders within the ubiquitin proteasome system, including analysis of mechanistic concepts and discovery approaches, with an overview of current clinical and pre-clinical degrader status in oncology, neurodegenerative and inflammatory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corentin Bouvier
- Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination LCC-UPR 8241-CNRS, 31077 Toulouse, France; (C.B.); (M.S.R.)
| | - Rachel Lawrence
- Sygnature Discovery, Bio City, Pennyfoot St., Nottingham NG1 1GR, UK (F.C.); (A.J.)
| | - Francesca Cavallo
- Sygnature Discovery, Bio City, Pennyfoot St., Nottingham NG1 1GR, UK (F.C.); (A.J.)
| | - Wendy Xolalpa
- Departamento de Ingeniería Celular y Biocatálisis, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico;
| | - Allan Jordan
- Sygnature Discovery, Bio City, Pennyfoot St., Nottingham NG1 1GR, UK (F.C.); (A.J.)
| | - Roland Hjerpe
- Sygnature Discovery, Bio City, Pennyfoot St., Nottingham NG1 1GR, UK (F.C.); (A.J.)
| | - Manuel S. Rodriguez
- Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination LCC-UPR 8241-CNRS, 31077 Toulouse, France; (C.B.); (M.S.R.)
- Pharmadev, UMR 152, Université de Toulouse, IRD, UT3, 31400 Toulouse, France
- B Molecular, Centre Pierre Potier, Canceropôle, 31106 Toulouse, France
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21
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Saluja S, Bansal I, Bhardwaj R, Beg MS, Palanichamy JK. Inflammation as a driver of hematological malignancies. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1347402. [PMID: 38571491 PMCID: PMC10987768 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1347402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Hematopoiesis is a tightly regulated process that produces all adult blood cells and immune cells from multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). HSCs usually remain quiescent, and in the presence of external stimuli like infection or inflammation, they undergo division and differentiation as a compensatory mechanism. Normal hematopoiesis is impacted by systemic inflammation, which causes HSCs to transition from quiescence to emergency myelopoiesis. At the molecular level, inflammatory cytokine signaling molecules such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferons, interleukins, and toll-like receptors can all cause HSCs to multiply directly. These cytokines actively encourage HSC activation, proliferation, and differentiation during inflammation, which results in the generation and activation of immune cells required to combat acute injury. The bone marrow niche provides numerous soluble and stromal cell signals, which are essential for maintaining normal homeostasis and output of the bone marrow cells. Inflammatory signals also impact this bone marrow microenvironment called the HSC niche to regulate the inflammatory-induced hematopoiesis. Continuous pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine activation can have detrimental effects on the hematopoietic system, which can lead to cancer development, HSC depletion, and bone marrow failure. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage DNA and ultimately lead to the transformation of HSCs into cancerous cells, are produced due to chronic inflammation. The biological elements of the HSC niche produce pro-inflammatory cytokines that cause clonal growth and the development of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) in hematological malignancies. The processes underlying how inflammation affects hematological malignancies are still not fully understood. In this review, we emphasize the effects of inflammation on normal hematopoiesis, the part it plays in the development and progression of hematological malignancies, and potential therapeutic applications for targeting these pathways for therapy in hematological malignancies.
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22
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Oriol A, Dimopoulos M, Schjesvold F, Beksac M, Facon T, Dhanasiri S, Guo S, Mu Y, Hong K, Gentili C, Galli M, Yagci M, Larocca A, Richardson P, Weisel K. Pomalidomide, Bortezomib, and Dexamethasone in Lenalidomide-Pretreated Multiple Myeloma: A Subanalysis of OPTIMISMM by Frailty and Bortezomib Dose Adjustment. CLINICAL LYMPHOMA, MYELOMA & LEUKEMIA 2024; 24:165-176.e4. [PMID: 38072743 DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2023.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A proportion of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are older and/or have comorbidities, requiring dose adjustments. Data from OPTIMISMM (NCT01734928) supported the use of pomalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (PVd) for treating relapsed/refractory MM. This subanalysis of OPTIMISMM assessed outcome by frailty and/or bortezomib dose adjustment. METHODS Patient frailty (nonfrail vs. frail) was classified using age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status. Data from patients requiring a bortezomib dose reduction, interruption, and/or withdrawal during PVd treatment were assessed. RESULTS Among 559 patients, 93 of 281 (33.1%) and 93 of 278 (33.5%) patients who received PVd and bortezomib and dexamethasone (Vd), respectively, were frail. Overall response rate (ORR) and median progression-free survival (PFS) were higher in nonfrail vs. frail with PVd treatment (ORR, 82.8% vs. 79.6%; PFS, 14.7 vs. 9.7 months); significantly higher than with Vd regardless of frailty. Grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were higher with PVd vs. Vd, regardless of frailty. Discontinuations of PVd were lower in nonfrail vs. frail patients (19.2% vs. 30.1%); the median duration of treatment was similar (DoT; 8.8 vs. 8.9 months, respectively). Patients who received PVd with a bortezomib dose adjustment (n = 240) had a longer median DoT (9.3 vs. 4.5 months) and PFS (12.1 vs. 8.4 months) vs. those without. CONCLUSION Frail patients treated with PVd demonstrated a higher ORR and a longer PFS and DoT vs. Vd, despite a higher frequency of grade ≥ 3 TEAEs leading to pomalidomide, bortezomib, and/or dexamethasone discontinuation. Therefore, PVd treatment may improve patient outcomes, regardless of frailty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Oriol
- Institut Català d'Oncologia and Institut Josep Carreras, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain.
| | | | - Fredrik Schjesvold
- Oslo Myeloma Center, Department of Hematology, Oslo University Hospital and KG Jebsen Center for B Cell Malignancies, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Meral Beksac
- Ankara Üniversitesi Tip Fakültes, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Sujith Dhanasiri
- Celgene International Sàrl, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Boudry, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Munci Yagci
- Gazi University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | | | - Katja Weisel
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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23
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Nadeem O, Ailawadhi S, Khouri J, Williams L, Catamero D, Maples K, Berdeja J. Management of Adverse Events Associated with Pomalidomide-Based Combinations in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1023. [PMID: 38473381 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16051023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Multi-agent regimens incorporating immunomodulatory (IMiD®) agents such as thalidomide, lenalidomide, and pomalidomide have become the preferred standard of care for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma (MM), resulting in improved survival outcomes. Currently, there are three IMiD agents approved for the treatment of MM: thalidomide, lenalidomide, and pomalidomide. Lenalidomide is commonly used to treat patients with newly diagnosed MM and as maintenance therapy following stem cell transplant or after disease relapse. Pomalidomide, the focus of this review, is approved in patients with relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM). Despite survival benefits, IMiD agents each have different safety profiles requiring consideration both prior to starting therapy and during treatment. Adverse event (AE) management is essential, not only to ensure treatment adherence and thus ensure optimal efficacy but also to maintain patient quality of life. Here, we discuss AEs associated with pomalidomide and present five clinically relevant hypothetical case studies in patients with RRMM to provide scenario-driven guidance regarding treatment selection and AE prevention and management in the clinical setting. Lastly, as new treatment approaches continue to be explored in MM, we also discuss novel cereblon E3 ligase modulator (CELMoD™) agents including iberdomide (CC-220) and mezigdomide (CC-92480).
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Nadeem
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sikander Ailawadhi
- Department of Hematology & Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Jack Khouri
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Louis Williams
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | | | - Kathryn Maples
- Department of Pharmacy, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jesús Berdeja
- Greco-Hainsworth Centers for Cancer Research, Tennessee Oncology, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
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24
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Nie X, Zhao Y, Tang H, Zhang Z, Liao J, Almodovar-Rivera CM, Sundaresan R, Xie H, Guo L, Wang B, Guan H, Xing Y, Tang W. Development of Phenyl-substituted Isoindolinone- and Benzimidazole-type Cereblon Ligands for Targeted Protein Degradation. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300685. [PMID: 38116854 PMCID: PMC10922875 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Thalidomide, pomalidomide and lenalidomide, collectively referred to as immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs), are frequently employed in proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) as cereblon (CRBN) E3 ligase-recruiting ligands. However, their molecular glue properties that co-opt the CRL4CRBN to degrade its non-natural substrates may lead to undesired off-target effects for the IMiD-based PROTAC degraders. Herein, we reported a small library of potent and cell-permeable CRBN ligands, which exert high selectivity over the well-known CRBN neo-substrates of IMiDs by structure-based design. They were further utilized to construct bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) degraders, which successfully depleted BRD4 in the tested cells. Overall, we reported a series of functionalized CRBN recruiters that circumvent the promiscuity from traditional IMiDs, and this study is informative to the development of selective CRBN-recruiting PROTACs for many other therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqing Nie
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Yu Zhao
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Hua Tang
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Zhongrui Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Junzhuo Liao
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Chelsi M Almodovar-Rivera
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Ramya Sundaresan
- Department of Oncology, UW Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Haibo Xie
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Le Guo
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Bo Wang
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Hongqing Guan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Yongna Xing
- Department of Oncology, UW Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Weiping Tang
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
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25
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Janero DR. Current strategic trends in drug discovery: the present as prologue. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:147-159. [PMID: 37936504 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2275640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Escalating costs and inherent uncertainties associated with drug discovery invite initiatives to improve its efficiency and de-risk campaigns for inventing better therapeutics. One such initiative involves recognizing and exploiting current approaches in therapeutics invention with molecular mechanisms of action that hold promise for designing and targeting new chemical entities as drugs. AREAS COVERED This perspective considers the current contextual framework around three drug-discovery approaches and evaluates their potential to help identify new targets/modalities in small-molecule molecular pharmacology: diversifying ligand-directed phenotypes for G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) pharmacotherapeutic signaling; developing therapeutic-protein degraders and stabilizers for proximity-inducing pharmacology; and mining organelle biology for druggable therapeutic targets. EXPERT OPINION The contemporary drug-discovery approaches examined appear generalizable and versatile to have applications in therapeutics invention beyond those case studies discussed herein. Accordingly, they may be considered strategic trends worthy of note in advancing the field toward novel ways of addressing pharmacotherapeutically unmet medical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Janero
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Health Sciences Entrepreneurs, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
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26
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Kajitani N, Okada-Tsuchioka M, Inoue A, Miyano K, Masuda T, Boku S, Iwamoto K, Ohtsuki S, Uezono Y, Aoki J, Takebayashi M. G protein-biased LPAR1 agonism of prototypic antidepressants: Implication in the identification of novel therapeutic target for depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:561-572. [PMID: 37673966 PMCID: PMC10789764 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01727-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Prototypic antidepressants, such as tricyclic/tetracyclic antidepressants (TCAs), have multiple pharmacological properties and have been considered to be more effective than newer antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, in treating severe depression. However, the clinical contribution of non-monoaminergic effects of TCAs remains elusive. In this study, we discovered that amitriptyline, a typical TCA, directly binds to the lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1), a G protein-coupled receptor, and activates downstream G protein signaling, while exerting a little effect on β-arrestin recruitment. This suggests that amitriptyline acts as a G protein-biased agonist of LPAR1. This biased agonism was specific to TCAs and was not observed with other antidepressants. LPAR1 was found to be involved in the behavioral effects of amitriptyline. Notably, long-term infusion of mouse hippocampus with the potent G protein-biased LPAR agonist OMPT, but not the non-biased agonist LPA, induced antidepressant-like behavior, indicating that G protein-biased agonism might be necessary for the antidepressant-like effects. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis revealed that LPA and OMPT have opposite patterns of gene expression changes in the hippocampus. Pathway analysis indicated that long-term treatment with OMPT activated LPAR1 downstream signaling (Rho and MAPK), whereas LPA suppressed LPAR1 signaling. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the non-monoaminergic antidepressant effects of TCAs and identify the G protein-biased agonism of LPAR1 as a promising target for the development of novel antidepressants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoto Kajitani
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
- Center for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
- Division of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Institute for Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, 737-0023, Japan
| | - Mami Okada-Tsuchioka
- Division of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Institute for Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, 737-0023, Japan
| | - Asuka Inoue
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Kanako Miyano
- Department of Pain Control Research, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, 105-8461, Japan
- Division of Cancer Pathophysiology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan
| | - Takeshi Masuda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan
| | - Shuken Boku
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Kazuya Iwamoto
- Department of Molecular Brain Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Sumio Ohtsuki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 862-0973, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Uezono
- Department of Pain Control Research, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, 105-8461, Japan
| | - Junken Aoki
- Department of Health Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Minoru Takebayashi
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.
- Division of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Institute for Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, 737-0023, Japan.
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27
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Zhan X, Liu X, Rang L, Shen M, Zhang J, Tang R, Fan S, Zhao F, Li X, Zhang X, Huang Z, Zhang S. Detection of lenalidomide metabolites in urine to discover drug-resistant compounds. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 553:117707. [PMID: 38103853 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2023.117707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Lenalidomide is the first-line drug for the clinical treatment of multiple myeloma. However, its efficacy differs significantly among patients. Clinically, after lenalidomide treatment, few patients' conditions worsened, whereas others remained stable or improved. To clarify the reasons for this difference in efficacy, 20 patients with multiple myeloma who received maintenance treatment with lenalidomide were retrospectively included in this study. Lenalidomide metabolic compounds were detected in patient urine using mass spectrometry. A rapid and accurate ultra-performance liquid chromatography-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF-MS/MS) method was used to characterize metabolites in the urine of different patients. Eleven metabolites, including four new compounds, were identified and characterized in all the samples. Among these, two metabolites were found to have obvious discrepancies in different groups of patients. One metabolite named Denitrified-2 glutarimide, a new potential compound, was only detected in the urine of ineffective and stable patients, whereas the other metabolite named 5-Hydroxy-lenalidomide was found only in the urine of effective patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaokai Zhan
- Division of Oncology and hematology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gongren Tiyuchang Nanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, PR China
| | - Xikun Liu
- State key laboratory of bioactive substances and functions of natural medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union medical college, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, PR China
| | - Li Rang
- Pathology Department, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gongren Tiyuchang Nanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, PR China
| | - Man Shen
- Division of Oncology and hematology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gongren Tiyuchang Nanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, PR China
| | - Jiajia Zhang
- Division of Oncology and hematology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gongren Tiyuchang Nanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, PR China
| | - Ran Tang
- Division of Oncology and hematology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gongren Tiyuchang Nanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, PR China
| | - Sibin Fan
- Division of Oncology and hematology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gongren Tiyuchang Nanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, PR China
| | - Fengyi Zhao
- Division of Oncology and hematology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gongren Tiyuchang Nanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, PR China
| | - Xin Li
- Division of Oncology and hematology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gongren Tiyuchang Nanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, PR China
| | - Xiaoying Zhang
- State key laboratory of bioactive substances and functions of natural medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union medical college, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, PR China.
| | - Zhongxia Huang
- Division of Oncology and hematology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 8 Gongren Tiyuchang Nanlu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, PR China.
| | - Sen Zhang
- State key laboratory of bioactive substances and functions of natural medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union medical college, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, PR China.
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28
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Lee H, Lee JY, Jang H, Cho HY, Kang M, Bae SH, Kim S, Kim E, Jang J, Kim JY, Jeon YH. Discovery of proteolysis-targeting chimera targeting undruggable proteins using a covalent ligand screening approach. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 263:115929. [PMID: 37956552 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) technology, such as proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC), has become a new therapeutic modality. However, the degradation of undruggable proteins, such as those involved in protein-protein interactions (PPIs), using PROTAC is still limited owing to the difficulties in finding small-molecule binders of these proteins. To identify new chemical moieties that bind to the target sites of the protein of interest (POI), we conducted a site-specific and fragment-based covalent ligand screening using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). To apply the selected hits to the PROTAC approach, two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments were performed to evaluate the reversible binding of their analogs without covalent warheads. To proof the proposed approach, human mouse double minute (MDM)2 was selected as a model system since it is involved in PPIs and is known to be a degradable target protein. Western blot analysis showed that newly synthesized PROTACs, incorporated reversible analogs of screening hits, affected degradation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This methodology makes it possible to use PROTAC technology to exploit previously undruggable proteins for TPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeonjun Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Korea University, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong, 30019, South Korea
| | - Ju Yeon Lee
- Research Center for Bioconvergence Analysis, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju, 28119, South Korea
| | - Hyunsoo Jang
- College of Pharmacy, Korea University, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong, 30019, South Korea
| | - Hye Young Cho
- College of Pharmacy, Korea University, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong, 30019, South Korea
| | - Minhee Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Korea University, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong, 30019, South Korea
| | - Sang Hyun Bae
- Research Center for Bioconvergence Analysis, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju, 28119, South Korea
| | - Suin Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Korea University, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong, 30019, South Korea
| | - Eunji Kim
- Azcuris, Co., Ltd., 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong, 30019, South Korea
| | - Jaebong Jang
- College of Pharmacy, Korea University, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong, 30019, South Korea.
| | - Jin Young Kim
- Research Center for Bioconvergence Analysis, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju, 28119, South Korea.
| | - Young Ho Jeon
- College of Pharmacy, Korea University, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong, 30019, South Korea; Azcuris, Co., Ltd., 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong, 30019, South Korea.
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Gentile M, Vigna E, Palmieri S, Galli M, Derudas D, Mina R, Della Pepa R, Zambello R, Martino EA, Bruzzese A, Mangiacavalli S, Zamagni E, Califano C, Musso M, Conticello C, Cerchione C, Mele G, Di Renzo N, Offidani M, Tarantini G, Casaluci GM, Rago A, Ria R, Uccello G, Barilà G, Palumbo G, Pompa A, Vincelli D, Brunori M, Accardi F, Amico V, Amendola A, Fontana R, Bongarzoni V, Rossini B, Cotzia E, Gozzetti A, Rizzi R, Sgherza N, Ferretti E, Bertuglia G, Nappi D, Petrucci MT, Di Raimondo F, Neri A, Morabito F, Musto P. Elotuzumab plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: a multicenter, retrospective, real-world experience with 200 cases outside of controlled clinical trials. Haematologica 2024; 109:245-255. [PMID: 37439329 PMCID: PMC10772491 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2023.283251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In the ELOQUENT-3 trial, the combination of elotuzumab, pomalidomide and dexamethasone (EloPd) proved to have a superior clinical benefit over pomalidomide and dexamethasone with a manageable toxicity profile, leading to its approval for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor. We report here a real-world experience of 200 cases of RRMM treated with EloPd in 35 Italian centers outside of clinical trials. In our dataset, the median number of prior lines of therapy was two, with 51% of cases undergoing autologous stem cell transplant and 73% having been exposed to daratumumab. After a median follow-up of 9 months, 126 patients had stopped EloPd, most of them (88.9%) because of disease progression. The overall response rate was 55.4%, a finding in line with the pivotal trial results. Regarding adverse events, the toxicity profile in our cohort was similar to that in the ELOQUENT-3 trial, with no significant differences between younger (<70 years) and older patients. The median progression-free survival was 7 months, which was shorter than that observed in ELOQUENT-3, probably because of the different clinical characteristics of the two cohorts. Interestingly, International Staging System stage III disease was associated with worse progression-free survival (hazard ratio=2.55). Finally, the median overall survival of our series was shorter than that observed in the ELOQUENT-3 trial (17.5 vs. 29.8 months). In conclusion, our real-world study confirms that EloPd is a safe and possible therapeutic choice for patients with RRMM who have received at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Gentile
- Department of Onco-hematology, Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Annunziata, Cosenza, Italy; Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Science, University of Calabria, Rende.
| | - Ernesto Vigna
- Department of Onco-hematology, Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Annunziata, Cosenza
| | | | - Monica Galli
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale-Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo
| | | | - Roberto Mina
- Division of Hematology, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Torino, Torino
| | - Roberta Della Pepa
- Hematology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples
| | - Renato Zambello
- University of Padova, Department of Medicine, Hematology Unit, Italy; Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova
| | | | - Antonella Bruzzese
- Department of Onco-hematology, Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Annunziata, Cosenza
| | - Silvia Mangiacavalli
- Hematology Division, Department of Hematology-Oncology, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia
| | - Elena Zamagni
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Università di Bologna, Bologna
| | | | - Maurizio Musso
- Onco-Hematology Unit and TMO U.O.C., Departiment of Oncology, Palermo
| | - Concetta Conticello
- Division of Hematology, Azienda Policlinico-S. Marco, University of Catania, Catania
| | - Claudio Cerchione
- Hematology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori"
| | - Giuseppe Mele
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Perrino, Brindisi
| | | | | | | | - Gloria Margiotta Casaluci
- Division of Hematology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara
| | - Angela Rago
- Haematology Unit, ASL ROMA 1 Santo Spirito Hospital of Rome Rome Italy
| | - Roberto Ria
- Department of Biomedical Science, Internal Medicine "G. Baccelli", Policlinico, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" Medical School, Bari
| | | | - Gregorio Barilà
- University of Padova, Department of Medicine, Hematology Unit, Italy; Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova
| | - Gaetano Palumbo
- Department of Hematology, Hospital University Riuniti, Foggia
| | - Alessandra Pompa
- Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano
| | - Donatella Vincelli
- Department of Hemato-Oncology and Radiotherapy, Hematology Unit, Great Metropolitan Hospital "Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli", Reggio Calabria
| | - Marino Brunori
- Internal Medicine, Ospedale S. Croce, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord, Fano
| | - Fabrizio Accardi
- Department of Hematology I, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Villa Sofia- Cervello, Palermo
| | | | - Angela Amendola
- Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Regionale "San Carlo", Potenza
| | - Raffaele Fontana
- Hematology and Transplant Center, University Hospital "San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona", Salerno
| | - Velia Bongarzoni
- Department of Hematology San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital Rome Italy
| | | | - Emilia Cotzia
- Section of Hematology- Ospedale E. Muscatello-Augusta, Siracusa
| | - Alessandro Gozzetti
- Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, University of Siena, Siena
| | - Rita Rizzi
- Hematology Section, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Bari
| | - Nicola Sgherza
- Hematology Section, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Bari
| | - Eleonora Ferretti
- Scientific Directorate, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia
| | - Giuseppe Bertuglia
- Division of Hematology, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Torino, Torino
| | - Davide Nappi
- Hematology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori"
| | - Maria Teresa Petrucci
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Hematology Azienda Policlinico Umberto I Sapienza University of Rome, Rome
| | - Francesco Di Raimondo
- Division of Hematology, Azienda Policlinico-S. Marco, University of Catania, Catania
| | - Antonino Neri
- Scientific Directorate, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia.
| | | | - Pellegrino Musto
- Hematology Section, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Bari
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Arndt CM, Bitai J, Brunner J, Opatz T, Martinelli P, Gollner A, Sokol KR, Krumb M. One-Pot Synthesis of Cereblon Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras via Photoinduced C(sp 2)-C(sp 3) Cross Coupling and Amide Formation for Proteolysis Targeting Chimera Library Synthesis. J Med Chem 2023; 66:16939-16952. [PMID: 38096359 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a one-pot synthesis via photoinduced C(sp2)-C(sp3) coupling followed by amide formation to access proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) was developed. The described protocol was studied on cereblon (CRBN)-based E3-ligase binders and (+)-JQ-1, a bromodomain inhibitor, to generate BET (bromodomain and extra terminal domain) targeting protein degraders. The generated PROTACs were profiled in vitro and tested for their degradation ability with several potent candidates identified. Upfront, the individual reactions of the one-pot transformation were carefully optimized for CRBN binder functionalization and multiple heterobifunctional linker moieties were designed and synthesized. Separate scopes detailing the C(sp2)-C(sp3) coupling and one-pot PROTAC synthesis are described in this report as well as a library miniaturization study showing the high-throughput compatibility. Overall, the developed protocol provides rapid access to PROTACs in a single process, thereby allowing efficient generation of CRBN-based PROTAC libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M Arndt
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Dr. Boehringer-Gasse 5-11, Vienna 1121, Austria
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Duesbergweg 10-14, Mainz 55128, Germany
| | - Jacqueline Bitai
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Dr. Boehringer-Gasse 5-11, Vienna 1121, Austria
| | - Jessica Brunner
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Dr. Boehringer-Gasse 5-11, Vienna 1121, Austria
| | - Till Opatz
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Duesbergweg 10-14, Mainz 55128, Germany
| | - Paola Martinelli
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Dr. Boehringer-Gasse 5-11, Vienna 1121, Austria
| | - Andreas Gollner
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Dr. Boehringer-Gasse 5-11, Vienna 1121, Austria
| | - Kevin R Sokol
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Dr. Boehringer-Gasse 5-11, Vienna 1121, Austria
| | - Matthias Krumb
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Dr. Boehringer-Gasse 5-11, Vienna 1121, Austria
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Norris S, Ba X, Rhodes J, Huang D, Khambatta G, Buenviaje J, Nayak S, Meiring J, Reiss S, Xu S, Shi L, Whitefield B, Alexander M, Horn EJ, Correa M, Tehrani L, Hansen JD, Papa P, Mortensen DS. Design and Synthesis of Novel Cereblon Binders for Use in Targeted Protein Degradation. J Med Chem 2023; 66:16388-16409. [PMID: 37991844 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Modulating the chemical composition of cereblon (CRBN) binders is a critical step in the optimization process of protein degraders that seek to hijack the function of this E3 ligase. Small structural changes can have profound impacts on the overall profile of these compounds, including depth of on-target degradation, neosubstrate degradation selectivity, as well as other drug-like properties. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a series of novel CRBN binding moieties. These CRBN binders were evaluated for CRBN binding and degradation of common neosubstrates Aiolos and GSPT1. A selection of these binders was employed for an exploratory matrix of heterobifunctional molecules, targeting CRBN-mediated degradation of the androgen receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Norris
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Xiaochu Ba
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Jayce Rhodes
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Dehua Huang
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Gody Khambatta
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Jennifer Buenviaje
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Surendra Nayak
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Joseph Meiring
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Samantha Reiss
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Shuichan Xu
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Lihong Shi
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Brandon Whitefield
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Matt Alexander
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Evan J Horn
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Matthew Correa
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Lida Tehrani
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Joshua D Hansen
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Patrick Papa
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Deborah S Mortensen
- Bristol Myers Squibb, 10300 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92121, United States
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32
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Lee IK, Sharma N, Noguera-Ortega E, Liousia M, Baroja ML, Etersque JM, Pham J, Sarkar S, Carreno BM, Linette GP, Puré E, Albelda SM, Sellmyer MA. A genetically encoded protein tag for control and quantitative imaging of CAR T cell therapy. Mol Ther 2023; 31:3564-3578. [PMID: 37919903 PMCID: PMC10727978 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has been successful for hematological malignancies. Still, a lack of efficacy and potential toxicities have slowed its application for other indications. Furthermore, CAR T cells undergo dynamic expansion and contraction in vivo that cannot be easily predicted or controlled. Therefore, the safety and utility of such therapies could be enhanced by engineered mechanisms that engender reversible control and quantitative monitoring. Here, we use a genetic tag based on the enzyme Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase (eDHFR), and derivatives of trimethoprim (TMP) to modulate and monitor CAR expression and T cell activity. We fused eDHFR to the CAR C terminus, allowing regulation with TMP-based proteolysis-targeting chimeric small molecules (PROTACs). Fusion of eDHFR to the CAR does not interfere with cell signaling or its cytotoxic function, and the addition of TMP-based PROTACs results in a reversible and dose-dependent inhibition of CAR activity via the proteosome. We show the regulation of CAR expression in vivo and demonstrate imaging of the cells with TMP radiotracers. In vitro immunogenicity assays using primary human immune cells and overlapping peptide fragments of eDHFR showed no memory immune repertoire for eDHFR. Overall, this translationally-orientied approach allows for temporal monitoring and image-guided control of cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris K Lee
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nitika Sharma
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Estela Noguera-Ortega
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Maria Liousia
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Miren L Baroja
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jean M Etersque
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jonathan Pham
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Swarbhanu Sarkar
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Beatriz M Carreno
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Gerald P Linette
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ellen Puré
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Steven M Albelda
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mark A Sellmyer
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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33
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Prabhala R, Pierceall WE, Samur M, Potluri LB, Hong K, Peluso T, Talluri S, Wang A, Katiki A, Vangala SD, Buonopane M, Bade V, Seah H, Krogman A, Derebail S, Fulciniti M, Lazo SB, Richardson P, Anderson K, Corre J, Avet-Loiseau H, Thakurta A, Munshi N. Immunomodulation of NK, NKT and B/T cell subtypes in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients treated with pomalidomide along with velcade and dexamethasone and its association with improved progression-free survival. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1271807. [PMID: 38111533 PMCID: PMC10726115 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1271807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Multiple Myeloma (MM) patients exhibit dysregulated immune system, which is further weakened by chemotherapeutic agents. While cereblon-modulating agents, such as pomalidomide and lenalidomide, have been found to improve the immune profile, the efficacy of their impact in combination with other treatments is yet unknown. Methods We conducted an immune-profiling of a longitudinal cohort of 366 peripheral blood samples from the CC4047-MM-007 (OPTIMISMM, NCT01734928) study. This study followed relapsed/refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM) patients who were treated with Velcade + dexamethasone (Vd), or Vd with pomalidomide (PVd). 366 blood samples from 186 patients were evaluated using multi-color flow cytometry at 3 timepoints: screening, day 8 of cycle 1, and cycle 3. Results Among NK and NKT cell populations, adding pomalidomide showed no inhibition in the frequency of NK cells. When expression of double positivity for activation markers like, p46/NKG2D, on NK cells was higher than the median, PVd treated patients showed significantly better (p=0.05) progression-free survival (PFS) (additional 15 months) than patients with lower than the median expression of p46/NKG2D on NK cells. PVd treated patients who expressed CD158a/b below the median at cycle 1 demonstrated a significantly better PFS (more than 18months). Among B cell subtypes, PVd treatment significantly increased the abundance of B1b cells (p<0.05) and decreased Bregs (p<0.05) at day 8 of both cycle 1 and cycle 3 when compared to screening samples. Of all the B cell-markers evaluated among paired samples, a higher expression of MZB cells at day 8 of cycle 1 has resulted in enhanced PFS in PVd treated patients. Within T cells, pomalidomide treatment did not decrease the frequency of CD8 T cells when compared with screening samples. The higher the surface expression of OX-40 on CD8 T cells and the lower the expression of PD-1 and CD25 on CD4 T cells by PVd treatment resulted in improved PFS. Conclusion The prognostic significance for the number of immune markers is only seen in the PVd arm and none of these immune markers exhibit prognostic values in the Vd arm. This study demonstrates the importance of the immunomodulatory effects and the therapeutic benefit of adding pomalidomide to Vd treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rao Prabhala
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Mehmet Samur
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lakshmi B. Potluri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kevin Hong
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, United States
| | | | - Srikanth Talluri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Angela Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Aishwarya Katiki
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sahan D. Vangala
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Michael Buonopane
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Vaishnavi Bade
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Hannah Seah
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Arthur Krogman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sanika Derebail
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mariateresa Fulciniti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Suzan B. Lazo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Paul Richardson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kenneth Anderson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jill Corre
- Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse-Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Anjan Thakurta
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, NJ, United States
- Oxford Centre for Translational Myeloma Research, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nikhil Munshi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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34
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Borsi E, Mazzocchetti G, Dico AF, Vigliotta I, Martello M, Poletti A, Solli V, Armuzzi S, Taurisano B, Kanapari A, Pistis I, Zamagni E, Tacchetti P, Pantani L, Mancuso K, Rocchi S, Rizzello I, Cavo M, Terragna C. High levels of CRBN isoform lacking IMiDs binding domain predicts for a worse response to IMiDs-based upfront therapy in newly diagnosed myeloma patients. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:5227-5239. [PMID: 37815734 PMCID: PMC10725394 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-01205-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the immunoderivative (IMiD) agents have been extensively used for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). IMiDs and their newer derivatives CRBN E3 ligase modulator bind the E3 ligase substrate recognition adapter protein cereblon (CRBN), which has been recognized as one of the IMiDs' direct target proteins, and it is essential for the therapeutic effect of these agents.High expression of CRBN was associated with improved clinical response in patients with MM treated with IMiDs, further confirming that the expression of IMiDs' direct target protein CRBN is required for the anti-MM activity. CRBN's central role as a target of IMiDs suggests potential utility as a predictive biomarker of response or resistance to IMiDs therapy. Additionally, the presence of alternatively spliced variants of CRBN in MM cells, especially those lacking the drug-binding domain for IMiDs, raise questions concerning their potential biological function, making difficult the transcript measurement, which leads to inaccurate overestimation of full-length CRBN transcripts. In sight of this, in the present study, we evaluated the CRBN expression, both full-length and spliced isoforms, by using real-time assay data from 87 patients and RNA sequencing data from 50 patients (n = 137 newly diagnosed MM patients), aiming at defining CRBN's role as a predictive biomarker for response to IMiDs-based induction therapy. We found that the expression level of the spliced isoform tends to be higher in not-responding patients, confirming that the presence of a more CRBN spliced transcript predicts for lack of IMiDs response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrica Borsi
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy.
| | - Gaia Mazzocchetti
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
- DIMEC-Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Ilaria Vigliotta
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
| | - Marina Martello
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
- DIMEC-Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Poletti
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
- DIMEC-Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Vincenza Solli
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
- DIMEC-Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Armuzzi
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
- DIMEC-Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Barbara Taurisano
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
- DIMEC-Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Ajsi Kanapari
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
- DIMEC-Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Ignazia Pistis
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Zamagni
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
- DIMEC-Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paola Tacchetti
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucia Pantani
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
| | - Katia Mancuso
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
| | - Serena Rocchi
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
| | - Ilaria Rizzello
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
| | - Michele Cavo
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
- DIMEC-Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Carolina Terragna
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna-Istituto di Ematologia "Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy.
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Majeed J, Sabbagh MN, Kang MH, Lawrence JJ, Pruitt K, Bacus S, Reyna E, Brown M, Decourt B. Cancer drugs with high repositioning potential for Alzheimer's disease. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2023; 28:311-332. [PMID: 38100555 PMCID: PMC10877737 DOI: 10.1080/14728214.2023.2296079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite the recent full FDA approval of lecanemab, there is currently no disease modifying therapy (DMT) that can efficiently slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the general population. This statement emphasizes the need to identify novel DMTs in the shortest time possible to prevent a global epidemic of AD cases as the world population experiences an increase in lifespan. AREAS COVERED Here, we review several classes of anti-cancer drugs that have been or are being investigated in Phase II/III clinical trials for AD, including immunomodulatory drugs, RXR agonists, sex hormone therapies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies. EXPERT OPINION Given the overall course of brain pathologies during the progression of AD, we express a great enthusiasm for the repositioning of anti-cancer drugs as possible AD DMTs. We anticipate an increasing number of combinatorial therapy strategies to tackle AD symptoms and their underlying pathologies. However, we strongly encourage improvements in clinical trial study designs to better assess target engagement and possible efficacy over sufficient periods of drug exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jad Majeed
- University of Arizona Honors College, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Marwan N. Sabbagh
- Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders Division, Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Min H. Kang
- Department of Pediatrics, Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - J. Josh Lawrence
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Kevin Pruitt
- Department of Pharmacology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Ellie Reyna
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Maddy Brown
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Boris Decourt
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA
- Roseman University of Health Sciences, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
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Pichlak M, Sobierajski T, Błażewska KM, Gendaszewska-Darmach E. Targeting reversible post-translational modifications with PROTACs: a focus on enzymes modifying protein lysine and arginine residues. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:2254012. [PMID: 37667522 PMCID: PMC10481767 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2023.2254012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PROTACs represent an emerging field in medicinal chemistry, which has already led to the development of compounds that reached clinical studies. Posttranslational modifications contribute to the complexity of proteomes, with 2846 disease-associated sites. PROTAC field is very advanced in targeting kinases, while its use for enzymes mediating posttranslational modifications of the basic amino acid residues, started to be developed recently. Therefore, we bring together this less popular class of PROTACs, targeting lysine acetyltransferases/deacetylases, lysine and arginine methyltransferases, ADP-ribosyltransferases, E3 ligases, and ubiquitin-specific proteases. We put special emphasis on structural aspects of PROTAC elements to facilitate the lengthy experimental endeavours directed towards developing PROTACs. We will cover the period from the inception of the field, 2017, to April 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Pichlak
- Institute of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, Łódź, Poland
| | - Tomasz Sobierajski
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Łódź, Poland
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Kim KJ, Park JB, Lee SP, Kim HK, Kim YJ. Thalidomide and a Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitor in a Rat Model of Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis. Korean Circ J 2023; 53:795-810. [PMID: 37880871 PMCID: PMC10751183 DOI: 10.4070/kcj.2023.0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Myocarditis is a potentially fatal disease, but curative treatments have not yet been established. Myocardial inflammation is an important pathogenesis of this disease, and immunosuppressants such as methylprednisolone and immunoglobulin have been used for treatment; however, the effectiveness needs to be improved. Thalidomide and dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) 4 inhibitors were recently investigated regarding their immunomodulatory properties. This study aimed to test whether thalidomide or a DPP4 inhibitor (evogliptin) can improve the effectiveness of myocarditis treatment using a rat model of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). METHODS Rats with or without myocarditis were administered thalidomide at 100 mg/kg/day and DPP4 inhibitor at 10 mg/kg/day orally. Measurement of echocardiography, serum inflammatory cytokines, myocardial histopathological examination, and immunohistochemical staining for leukocytes, macrophages, CD4+ T cells, and cytoskeleton were performed after 3 weeks, and the fibrosis area was measured after 3 and 6 weeks. RESULTS Thalidomide and DPP4 inhibitor did not reduce the severity of myocarditis compared with the EAM without treatment rats by comparing the echocardiographic data, myocardial CD4+, macrophages, neutrophil infiltrations, and the heart weight/body weight ratio in 3 weeks. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were not lower in the thalidomide and DPP4 inhibitor-treated group than in the untreated group in 3 weeks. In 6 weeks, thalidomide and DPP4 inhibitors did not reduce the fibrosis area compared to untreated groups. CONCLUSIONS Although thalidomide and the DPP4 inhibitor had an immunomodulatory effect and are used against inflammatory diseases, they did not ameliorate myocardial inflammation and fibrosis in this rat model of EAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Jin Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University Medical Center, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jun-Bean Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung-Pyo Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyung-Kwan Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong-Jin Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Suzuki K, Yano S. IMiD-Free Interval and IMiDs Sequence: Which Strategy Is Better Suited for Lenalidomide-Refractory Myeloma? Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2229. [PMID: 38004369 PMCID: PMC10672235 DOI: 10.3390/life13112229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This review discusses immunomodulatory drug (IMiDs) sequencing and IMiD-free interval strategies for lenalidomide-refractory myeloma. IMiDs and proteasome inhibitors (PIs) improve clinical outcomes in patients with myeloma; however, refractoriness to lenalidomide, a category of IMiD, predicts poor outcomes. Next-generation IMiDs, such as pomalidomide, are effective even for lenalidomide-refractory myeloma. Therefore, an IMiD-sequencing strategy from lenalidomide to pomalidomide would be desirable. PIs are an antimyeloma therapeutic agent with another mode of action that might restore cereblon, a target of IMiDs; therefore, an IMiD-free interval via class switching from lenalidomide to PIs may be a promising alternative for lenalidomide-refractory myeloma. Additionally, the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody is a key drug for salvage therapy in anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody-naïve patients. In clinical practice, safety profiles and social convenience can play important roles in the choice of combination therapy. In the future, the selection of optimal treatments should be based on the status of the immunological environment and genetic alterations. This review aims to discuss IMiDs sequencing and IMiD-free interval strategies for lenalidomide- refractory myeloma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhito Suzuki
- Division of Clinical Oncology and Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan;
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He Q, Zhao X, Wu D, Jia S, Liu C, Cheng Z, Huang F, Chen Y, Lu T, Lu S. Hydrophobic tag-based protein degradation: Development, opportunity and challenge. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 260:115741. [PMID: 37607438 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) has emerged as a promising approach for drug development, particularly for undruggable targets. TPD technology has also been instrumental in overcoming drug resistance. While some TPD molecules utilizing proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTACs) or molecular glue strategies have been approved or evaluated in clinical trials, hydrophobic tag-based protein degradation (HyT-PD) has also gained significant attention as a tool for medicinal chemists. The increasing number of reported HyT-PD molecules possessing high efficiency in degrading protein and good pharmacokinetic (PK) properties, has further fueled interest in this approach. This review aims to present the design rationale, hydrophobic tags in use, and diverse mechanisms of action of HyT-PD. Additionally, the advantages and disadvantages of HyT-PD in protein degradation are discussed. This review may help inspire the development of more HyT-PDs with superior drug-like properties for clinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qindi He
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Xiaofei Zhao
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Donglin Wu
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Siming Jia
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Canlin Liu
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Zitian Cheng
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Fei Huang
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Yadong Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China.
| | - Tao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China.
| | - Shuai Lu
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China.
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Davies FE, Leleu X, Vogel P, Dhanasiri S, Le Nouveau P, Weisel K. A Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Pomalidomide-Based Regimens for the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma After Lenalidomide Exposure. CLINICAL LYMPHOMA, MYELOMA & LEUKEMIA 2023; 23:829-837.e1. [PMID: 37684184 DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2023.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The objective was to assess the benefit of pomalidomide-based combination regimens in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) previously treated with lenalidomide. A pooled estimate was obtained for efficacy outcomes including overall response rate (ORR), complete response (CR) rate, and progression-free survival (PFS) based on multiple trials conducted in this patient population. PATIENTS AND METHODS A literature search was conducted on March 22, 2022 for relevant trials published between January 1, 2016 and the search date. The search identified 12 eligible trials with publications dated between 2016 and 2021. The meta-analyses were conducted among the intention-to-treat (ITT) population (patients treated in all lines of therapy) and 2 subpopulations: 2L (only patients treated in the second line [2L]) and ≥2L (patients treated in the 2L and beyond). RESULTS From the meta-analyses, ORR was 69.9% for ITT, 74.4% for ≥2L, and 87.2% for 2L. CR rate was 12.1% for ITT, 17.6% for ≥2L, and 29.7% for 2L. One-year PFS rates were 55.1% for ITT, 59.1% for ≥2L, and 74.0% for 2L. Two-year PFS rates were 29.3% for ITT, 36.0% for ≥2L, and 41.9% for 2L. CONCLUSION Pomalidomide-based combination regimens were effective in patients with RRMM previously treated with lenalidomide and tended to be associated with better outcomes when used earlier in the treatment pathway. A drug class switch may not always be necessary when making treatment decisions for patients with RRMM for whom the benefits of lenalidomide have been exhausted, although this must be supported by comparative studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xavier Leleu
- Service d'Hématologie et Thérapie Cellulaire, Hôpital La Milétrie, CHU, Poitiers, France
| | - Prisca Vogel
- Celgene, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Boudry, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Katja Weisel
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Cho J, Horikawa Y, Oiwa Y, Hosomichi K, Yabe D, Imai T. Glucokinase Variant Proteins Are Resistant to Fasting-Induced Uridine Diphosphate Glucose-Dependent Degradation in Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young Type 2 Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15842. [PMID: 37958824 PMCID: PMC10649437 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that glucokinase undergoes ubiquitination and subsequent degradation, a process mediated by cereblon, particularly in the presence of uridine diphosphate glucose (UDP-glucose). In this context, we hereby present evidence showcasing the resilience of variant glucokinase proteins of maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 2 (MODY2) against degradation and, concomitantly, their influence on insulin secretion, both in cell lines and in the afflicted MODY2 patient. Hence, glucose-1-phodphate promotes UDP-glucose production by UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase 2; consequently, UDP-glucose-dependent glucokinase degradation may occur during fasting. Next, we analyzed glucokinase variant proteins from MODY2 or persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in infancy (PHHI). Among the eleven MODY2 glucokinase-mutated proteins tested, those with a lower glucose-binding affinity exhibited resistance to UDP-glucose-dependent degradation. Conversely, the glucokinaseA456V-mutated protein from PHHI had a higher glucose affinity and was sensitive to UDP-glucose-dependent degradation. Furthermore, in vitro studies involving UDP-glucose-dependent glucokinase variant proteins and insulin secretion during fasting in Japanese MODY2 patients revealed a strong correlation and a higher coefficient of determination. This suggests that UDP-glucose-dependent glucokinase degradation plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of glucose-homeostasis-related hereditary diseases, such as MODY2 and PHHI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeyong Cho
- Department of Chemical Biology, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu 474-8511, Japan; (J.C.); (Y.O.)
| | - Yukio Horikawa
- Departments of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu 501-1194, Japan; (Y.H.); (D.Y.)
| | - Yuki Oiwa
- Department of Chemical Biology, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu 474-8511, Japan; (J.C.); (Y.O.)
| | - Kazuyoshi Hosomichi
- Laboratory of Computational Genomics, School of Life Science, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan;
| | - Daisuke Yabe
- Departments of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu 501-1194, Japan; (Y.H.); (D.Y.)
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Takeshi Imai
- Department of Chemical Biology, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu 474-8511, Japan; (J.C.); (Y.O.)
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Li J, Li C, Zhang Z, Zhang Z, Wu Z, Liao J, Wang Z, McReynolds M, Xie H, Guo L, Fan Q, Peng J, Tang W. A platform for the rapid synthesis of molecular glues (Rapid-Glue) under miniaturized conditions for direct biological screening. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 258:115567. [PMID: 37390512 PMCID: PMC10529953 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Molecular glues, functioning via inducing degradation of the target protein while having similar molecular weight as traditional small molecule drugs, are emerging as a promising modality for the development of therapeutic agents. However, the development of molecular glues is limited by the lack of general principles and systematic methods. Not surprisingly, most molecular glues have been identified serendipitously or through phenotypic screening of large libraries. However, the preparation of large and diverse molecular glue libraries is not an easy task and requires extensive resources. We previously developed platforms for rapid synthesis of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) that can be used directly for biological screening with minimal resources. Herein, we report a platform of rapid synthesis of molecular glues (Rapid-Glue) via a micromolar scale coupling reaction between hydrazide motif on the E3 ligase ligands and commercially available aldehydes with diverse structures. A pilot library of 1520 compounds is generated under miniaturized conditions in a high throughput manner without any further manipulation including purification after the synthesis. Through this platform, we identified two highly selective GSPT1 molecular glues through direct screening in cell-based assays. Three additional analogues were prepared from readily available starting materials by replacing the hydrolytic labile acylhydrazone linker with a more stable amide linker based on the two hits. All three analogues showed significant GSPT1 degradation activity and two of them possess comparable activity to the corresponding hit. The feasibility of our strategy is thus verified. Further studies by increasing the diversity and size of the library followed by appropriate assays will likely yield distinct molecular glues targeting novel neo-substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyao Li
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Chunrong Li
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Zhongrui Zhang
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Zhiping Wu
- Department of Structural Biology, Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Junzhuo Liao
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Zhen Wang
- Department of Structural Biology, Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Meghan McReynolds
- Department of Structural Biology, Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Haibo Xie
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Le Guo
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Qiuhua Fan
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Junmin Peng
- Department of Structural Biology, Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Weiping Tang
- Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Development, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
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Alugubelli YR, Xiao J, Khatua K, Kumar S, Ma Y, Ma XR, Vulupala VR, Atla SR, Blankenship L, Coleman D, Neuman BW, Liu WR, Xu S. Discovery of First-in-Class PROTAC Degraders of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.29.560163. [PMID: 37808777 PMCID: PMC10557696 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.29.560163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
We have witnessed three coronavirus (CoV) outbreaks in the past two decades, including the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Main protease (M Pro ) is a highly conserved and essential protease that plays key roles in viral replication and pathogenesis among various CoVs, representing one of the most attractive drug targets for antiviral drug development. Traditional antiviral drug development strategies focus on the pursuit of high-affinity binding inhibitors against M Pro . However, this approach often suffers from issues such as toxicity, drug resistance, and a lack of broad-spectrum efficacy. Targeted protein degradation represents a promising strategy for developing next-generation antiviral drugs to combat infectious diseases. Here we leverage the proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology to develop a new class of small-molecule antivirals that induce the degradation of SARS-CoV-2 M Pro . Our previously developed M Pro inhibitors MPI8 and MPI29 were used as M Pro ligands to conjugate a CRBN E3 ligand, leading to compounds that can both inhibit and degrade SARS-CoV-2 M Pro . Among them, MDP2 was demonstrated to effectively reduce M Pro protein levels in 293T cells (DC 50 = 296 nM), relying on a time-dependent, CRBN-mediated, and proteasome-driven mechanism. Furthermore, MPD2 exhibited remarkable efficacy in diminishing M Pro protein levels in SARS-CoV-2-infected A549-ACE2 cells, concurrently demonstrating potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity (EC 50 = 492 nM). This proof-of-concept study highlights the potential of PROTAC-mediated targeted protein degradation of M Pro as an innovative and promising approach for COVID-19 drug discovery.
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Chang HR. RNF126, 168 and CUL1: The Potential Utilization of Multi-Functional E3 Ubiquitin Ligases in Genome Maintenance for Cancer Therapy. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2527. [PMID: 37760968 PMCID: PMC10526535 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification (PTM) that is involved in proteolysis, protein-protein interaction, and signal transduction. Accumulation of mutations and genomic instability are characteristic of cancer cells, and dysfunction of the ubiquitin pathway can contribute to abnormal cell physiology. Because mutations can be critical for cells, DNA damage repair, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis are pathways that are in close communication to maintain genomic integrity. Uncontrolled cell proliferation due to abnormal processes is a hallmark of cancer, and mutations, changes in expression levels, and other alterations of ubiquitination factors are often involved. Here, three E3 ubiquitin ligases will be reviewed in detail. RNF126, RNF168 and CUL1 are involved in DNA damage response (DDR), DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, cell cycle regulation, and ultimately, cancer cell proliferation control. Their involvement in multiple cellular pathways makes them an attractive candidate for cancer-targeting therapy. Functional studies of these E3 ligases have increased over the years, and their significance in cancer is well reported. There are continuous efforts to develop drugs targeting the ubiquitin pathway for anticancer therapy, which opens up the possibility for these E3 ligases to be evaluated for their potential as a target protein for anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hae Ryung Chang
- Department of Life Science, Handong Global University, Pohang 37554, Republic of Korea
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Chen CJJ, Choi MY, Heyman BM. Targeted Therapy in Follicular Lymphoma: Towards a Chemotherapy-Free Approach. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4483. [PMID: 37760453 PMCID: PMC10526830 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The treatment of follicular lymphoma (FL) has previously centered on chemoimmunotherapy, which can be disadvantageous due to patient intolerance, cumulative toxicities, and disease refractoriness. Targeted therapies can produce deep responses and improve progression-free and overall survival with more tolerable adverse event profiles. METHODS We summarize the current literature and key clinical trials regarding targeted therapies in follicular lymphoma both in the front-line and in the relapsed-refractory setting. RESULTS Targeted therapies studied in FL include immune modulators, anti-CD20 antibodies, Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, enhancers of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) inhibitors, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) inhibitors. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) therapy and bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) therapies also show promise in monotherapy and in combination with targeted therapies. These therapies exhibit high overall response rates and substantial progression-free survival and overall survival, even in high-risk patients or patients previously refractory to chemotherapy or rituximab. Adverse events vary substantially but are generally manageable and compare favorably to the cumulative toxicities of chemotherapy. CONCLUSION Targeted therapies represent a paradigm shift in the treatment of FL. Further studies are needed to directly compare these targeted therapies and their combinations, as well as to investigate biomarkers predictive of response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Jiah J. Chen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UC San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (C.-J.J.C.); (M.Y.C.)
| | - Michael Y. Choi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UC San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (C.-J.J.C.); (M.Y.C.)
| | - Benjamin M. Heyman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Regenerative Medicine, UC San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Donarska B, Sławińska-Brych A, Mizerska-Kowalska M, Zdzisińska B, Płaziński W, Łączkowski KZ. Thalidomide derivatives as nanomolar human neutrophil elastase inhibitors: Rational design, synthesis, antiproliferative activity and mechanism of action. Bioorg Chem 2023; 138:106608. [PMID: 37207596 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Here, we rationally designed a human neutrophil elastase (HNE) inhibitors 4a-4f derived from thalidomide. The HNE inhibition assay showed that synthesized compounds 4a, 4b, 4e and 4f demonstrated strong HNE inhibiton properties with IC50 values of 21.78-42.30 nM. Compounds 4a, 4c, 4d and 4f showed a competitive mode of action. The most potent compound 4f shows almost the same HNE inhibition as sivelestat. The molecular docking analysis revealed that the strongest interactions occur between the azetidine-2,4-dione group and the following three aminoacids: Ser195, Arg217 and His57. A high correlation between the binding energies and the experimentally determined IC50 values was also demonstrated. The study of antiproliferative activity against human T47D (breast carcinoma), RPMI 8226 (multiple myeloma), and A549 (non-small-cell lung carcinoma) revealed that designed compounds were more active compared to thalidomide, pomalidomide and lenalidomide used as the standard drugs. Additionally, the most active compound 4f derived from lenalidomide induces cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and apoptosis in T47D cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Donarska
- Department of Chemical Technology and Pharmaceuticals, Faculty of Pharmacy, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Jurasza 2, 85-089 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
| | - Adrianna Sławińska-Brych
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19 Street, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
| | - Magdalena Mizerska-Kowalska
- Department of Virology and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19 Street, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
| | - Barbara Zdzisińska
- Department of Virology and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19 Street, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
| | - Wojciech Płaziński
- Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 8, 30-239, Cracow, Poland; Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Z Łączkowski
- Department of Chemical Technology and Pharmaceuticals, Faculty of Pharmacy, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Jurasza 2, 85-089 Bydgoszcz, Poland
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47
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Lurain K, Polizzotto MN, Krug LT, Shoemaker G, Singh A, Jensen SMR, Wyvill KM, Ramaswami R, Uldrick TS, Yarchoan R, Sereti I. Immunophenotypic analysis in participants with Kaposi sarcoma following pomalidomide administration. AIDS 2023; 37:1693-1703. [PMID: 37352498 PMCID: PMC10527758 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate baseline differences by HIV status and the impact of pomalidomide on lymphocyte counts and T-cell subsets in patients with Kaposi sarcoma. DESIGN We prospectively evaluated CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell phenotypes in 19 participants with Kaposi sarcoma enrolled on a phase 1/2 study of pomalidomide (NCT01495598), seven without HIV and 12 with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. METHODS Trial participants received pomalidomide 5 mg orally for 21 days of 28-day cycles for up to 1 year. Flow cytometry was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells at baseline, after three cycles, and at end-of-treatment. Lymphocyte count and T-cell subset comparisons were evaluated by Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann--Whitney tests. RESULTS At baseline, HIV + participants had lower CD4 + cell counts (median 416 vs. 742 CD4 + T cells/μl, P = 0.006), and a decreased proportion of CD57 + (senescent) CD8 + T cells ( P = 0.007) compared with HIV - participants. After three cycles, pomalidomide led to an increased proportion of CD45RO + CD27 + (central memory) CD4 + ( P = 0.002) and CD8 + ( P = 0.002) T cells, a decrease in CD45RO - CD27 - (effector) CD4 + cells ( P = 0.0002), and expansion of CD38 + /HLADR + (activated) CD4 + ( P = 0.002) and CD8 + ( P ≤ 0.0001) T cells. Increased numbers of activated CD8 + T cells persisted at end-of-treatment ( P = 0.002). After three cycles and at end-of-treatment, there was reduction in the proportion of CD57 + (senescent) CD4 + ( P = 0.001, 0.0006), and CD8 + ( P = < 0.0001, 0.0004) T cells. CONCLUSION Administration of pomalidomide decreased T-cell senescence and increased T-cell activation in patients with Kaposi sarcoma, suggesting pomalidomide activity in Kaposi sarcoma stems in part from its immunomodulatory effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Lurain
- HIV & AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), NCI
| | | | - Laurie T Krug
- HIV & AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), NCI
| | | | - Amrit Singh
- HIV Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Stig M R Jensen
- HIV Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Ramya Ramaswami
- HIV & AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), NCI
| | - Thomas S Uldrick
- HIV & AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), NCI
| | - Robert Yarchoan
- HIV & AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), NCI
| | - Irini Sereti
- HIV Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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48
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Wu HY, Zhou X, Chu XX, Deng XZ, Yuan CL, Ran XH, Liu GQ, Fan CB, Hao HY, Zhong YP. [Bendamustine combined with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed multiple myeloma with extramedullary disease: a multicenter study]. ZHONGHUA XUE YE XUE ZA ZHI = ZHONGHUA XUEYEXUE ZAZHI 2023; 44:667-671. [PMID: 37803841 PMCID: PMC10520229 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2023.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bendamustine combined with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (BPD regimen) in the treatment of relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) with extramedullary disease. Methods: This open, single-arm, multicenter prospective cohort study included 30 relapsed MM patients with extramedullary disease diagnosed in seven hospitals including Qingdao Municipal Hospital. The patients were treated with BPD regimen from February 2021 to November 2022. This study analyzed the efficacy and adverse reactions of the BPD regimen. Results: The median age of the 30 patients was 62 (47-72) years, of which 18 (60% ) had first-time recurrence. The overall response rate (ORR) of the 18 patients with first-time recurrence was 100%, of which three (16.7% ) achieved complete remission, 10 (55.5% ) achieved very good partial remission (VGPR), and five (27.8% ) achieved partial remission (PR). The ORR of 12 patients with recurrence after second-line or above treatment was 50%, including zero patients with ≥VGPR and six patients (50% ) with PR. Three cases (25% ) had stable disease, and three cases (25% ) had disease progression. The one-year progression free survival rate of all patients was 65.2% (95% CI 37.2% -83.1% ), and the 1-year overall survival rate was 90.0% (95% CI 76.2% -95.4% ). The common grade 3-4 hematology adverse reactions included two cases (6.7% ) of neutropenia and one case (3.3% ) of thrombocytopenia. The overall adverse reactions are controllable. Conclusions: The BPD regimen has good efficacy and tolerance in relapsed MM patients with extramedullary disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Y Wu
- Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - X Zhou
- Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - X X Chu
- Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai 264099, China
| | - X Z Deng
- Weihai Municipal Hospital, Weihai 264299, China
| | - C L Yuan
- Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Qingdao 266035, China
| | - X H Ran
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang 261044, China
| | - G Q Liu
- Shengli Oilfield Center Hospital, Dongying 257099, China
| | - C B Fan
- Qingdao Haici Medical Group, Qingdao 266033, China
| | - H Y Hao
- Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Qingdao 266035, China
| | - Y P Zhong
- Qingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao 266071, China
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49
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Mabrouk RR, Abdallah AE, Mahdy HA, El-Kalyoubi SA, Kamal OJ, Abdelghany TM, Zayed MF, Alshaeri HK, Alasmari MM, El-Zahabi MA. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of New Potential Unusual Modified Anticancer Immunomodulators for Possible Non-Teratogenic Quinazoline-Based Thalidomide Analogs. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12416. [PMID: 37569792 PMCID: PMC10418715 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Sixteen new thalidomide analogs were synthesized. The new candidates showed potent in vitro antiproliferative activities against three human cancer cell lines, namely hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG-2), prostate cancer (PC3), and breast cancer (MCF-7). It was found that compounds XII, XIIIa, XIIIb, XIIIc, XIIId, XIVa, XIVb, and XIVc showed IC50 values ranging from 2.03 to 13.39 µg/mL, exhibiting higher activities than thalidomide against all tested cancer cell lines. Compound XIIIa was the most potent candidate, with an IC50 of 2.03 ± 0.11, 2.51 ± 0.2, and 0.82 ± 0.02 µg/mL compared to 11.26 ± 0.54, 14.58 ± 0.57, and 16.87 ± 0.7 µg/mL for thalidomide against HepG-2, PC3, and MCF-7 cells, respectively. Furthermore, compound XIVc reduced the expression of NFκB P65 levels in HepG-2 cells from 278.1 pg/mL to 63.1 pg/mL compared to 110.5 pg/mL for thalidomide. Moreover, compound XIVc induced an eightfold increase in caspase-8 levels with a simultaneous decrease in TNF-α and VEGF levels in HepG-2 cells. Additionally, compound XIVc induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Our results reveal that the new candidates are potential anticancer candidates, particularly XIIIa and XIVc. Consequently, they should be considered for further evaluation for the development of new anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reda R. Mabrouk
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt; (R.R.M.); (A.E.A.); (H.A.M.)
- Directorate of Health Affairs in Buhaira-Clinical Research Department, Ministry of Health and Population, Damanhour 22511, Egypt
| | - Abdallah E. Abdallah
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt; (R.R.M.); (A.E.A.); (H.A.M.)
| | - Hazem A. Mahdy
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt; (R.R.M.); (A.E.A.); (H.A.M.)
| | - Samar A. El-Kalyoubi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Port Said University, Port Said 42511, Egypt;
| | - Omar Jamal Kamal
- King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21461, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Tamer M. Abdelghany
- Pharmacology & Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt;
- Pharmacology & Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development, Cairo 11785, Egypt
| | - Mohamed F. Zayed
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt; (R.R.M.); (A.E.A.); (H.A.M.)
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences, Jeddah 21461, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Heba K. Alshaeri
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences, Jeddah 21461, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Moudi M. Alasmari
- College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Jeddah 21461, Saudi Arabia;
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Jeddah 21423, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Ayman El-Zahabi
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt; (R.R.M.); (A.E.A.); (H.A.M.)
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50
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Huth SW, Oakley JV, Seath CP, Geri JB, Trowbridge AD, Parker DL, Rodriguez-Rivera FP, Schwaid AG, Ramil C, Ryu KA, White CH, Fadeyi OO, Oslund RC, MacMillan DWC. μMap Photoproximity Labeling Enables Small Molecule Binding Site Mapping. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:16289-16296. [PMID: 37471577 PMCID: PMC10809032 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c03325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
The characterization of ligand binding modes is a crucial step in the drug discovery process and is especially important in campaigns arising from phenotypic screening, where the protein target and binding mode are unknown at the outset. Elucidation of target binding regions is typically achieved by X-ray crystallography or photoaffinity labeling (PAL) approaches; yet, these methods present significant challenges. X-ray crystallography is a mainstay technique that has revolutionized drug discovery, but in many cases structural characterization is challenging or impossible. PAL has also enabled binding site mapping with peptide- and amino-acid-level resolution; however, the stoichiometric activation mode can lead to poor signal and coverage of the resident binding pocket. Additionally, each PAL probe can have its own fragmentation pattern, complicating the analysis by mass spectrometry. Here, we establish a robust and general photocatalytic approach toward the mapping of protein binding sites, which we define as identification of residues proximal to the ligand binding pocket. By utilizing a catalytic mode of activation, we obtain sets of labeled amino acids in the proximity of the target protein binding site. We use this methodology to map, in vitro, the binding sites of six protein targets, including several kinases and molecular glue targets, and furthermore to investigate the binding site of the STAT3 inhibitor MM-206, a ligand with no known crystal structure. Finally, we demonstrate the successful mapping of drug binding sites in live cells. These results establish μMap as a powerful method for the generation of amino-acid- and peptide-level target engagement data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean W. Huth
- Merck Center for Catalysis at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - James V. Oakley
- Merck Center for Catalysis at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Ciaran P. Seath
- Merck Center for Catalysis at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Jacob B. Geri
- Merck Center for Catalysis at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Aaron D. Trowbridge
- Merck Center for Catalysis at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Dann L. Parker
- Discovery Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033, United States
| | | | - Adam G. Schwaid
- Discovery Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - Carlo Ramil
- Discovery Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - Keun Ah Ryu
- Merck Exploratory Science Center, Merck & Co., Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - Cory H. White
- Merck Exploratory Science Center, Merck & Co., Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - Olugbeminiyi O. Fadeyi
- Merck Exploratory Science Center, Merck & Co., Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - Rob C. Oslund
- Merck Exploratory Science Center, Merck & Co., Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02141, United States
| | - David W. C. MacMillan
- Merck Center for Catalysis at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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