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Katerji M, Bergman KL, Lindberg E, Rubin MR, Afifi M, Funk AL, Woodroofe CC, Nyswaner K, Karpińska K, Serwa R, Cappell SD, Marusiak A, Swenson RE, Brognard JF. Discovery of potent and selective PROTACs for the protein kinase LZK for the treatment of head and neck cancer. J Biol Chem 2025; 301:108452. [PMID: 40157536 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108452] [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: 01/28/2025] [Revised: 02/28/2025] [Accepted: 03/12/2025] [Indexed: 04/01/2025] Open
Abstract
Leucine zipper-bearing kinase (LZK) is overexpressed in 20% of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cases and has emerged as a promising therapeutic target in this cancer subtype. LZK promotes HNSCC survival and proliferation by stabilizing c-MYC and GOF-p53 in kinase-dependent and -independent manners, respectively. Herein, we developed a new series of LZK degraders utilizing proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology by modulating the linker region or LZK warhead of LZK-targeting PROTAC-21A, previously developed by our laboratory. Among the 27 PROTACs synthesized and tested, PROTAC 17 was found to be the most potent, degrading LZK at 250 nM and suppressing HNSCC viability at 500 nM. In summary, our lead PROTAC effectively targeted LZK for proteasomal degradation and inhibited oncogenic activity in HNSCC cell lines with amplified LZK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghri Katerji
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Knickole L Bergman
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Eric Lindberg
- Chemistry and Synthesis Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Maxine R Rubin
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Marwa Afifi
- Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Amy L Funk
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Carolyn C Woodroofe
- Chemistry and Synthesis Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Katherine Nyswaner
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Kamila Karpińska
- Laboratory of Molecular OncoSignalling, IMol Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Remigiusz Serwa
- Proteomic Core Facility, IMol Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Steven D Cappell
- Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Anna Marusiak
- Laboratory of Molecular OncoSignalling, IMol Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rolf E Swenson
- Chemistry and Synthesis Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
| | - John F Brognard
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA.
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Mordzińska-Rak A, Telejko I, Adamczuk G, Trombik T, Stepulak A, Błaszczak E. Advancing Head and Neck Cancer Therapies: From Conventional Treatments to Emerging Strategies. Biomedicines 2025; 13:1046. [PMID: 40426875 PMCID: PMC12108569 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13051046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2025] [Revised: 04/16/2025] [Accepted: 04/22/2025] [Indexed: 05/29/2025] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancers (HNCs), particularly head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), are among the most aggressive and prevalent malignancies of the upper aerodigestive tract. As the incidence of HNCs continues to rise, this cancer type presents a significant public health challenge. Despite conventional treatment options, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the five-year survival rates remain relatively low due to resistance to these therapies, local recurrence, local lymph node metastasis, and in some advanced cases also distant metastasis. Consequently, patients with HNCs face a high mortality risk and have reduced quality of life due to the side effects of chemo- and radiotherapy. Furthermore, targeted therapies and immunotherapies have also shown limited effectiveness in many cases, with issues related to resistance and the accessibility of these treatments. Therefore, new strategies, such as those based on combination therapies and nanotechnology, are being explored to improve the treatment of HNC patients. The proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) also emerged as a promising therapeutic approach, though research is still ongoing to bring this technology into clinical practice. Here, we aim to highlight the current knowledge of HNC therapies, with a focus on recent advancements, including nanomedicine and PROTAC-based strategies. The development and advancement of novel emerging therapies hold promise for the improvement of patients' survival and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Mordzińska-Rak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodzki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Ilona Telejko
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodzki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Adamczuk
- Independent Medical Biology Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 8b Jaczewski Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Tomasz Trombik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodzki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Andrzej Stepulak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodzki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Ewa Błaszczak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodzki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
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Torres-Ayuso P, Brognard J. Defeating kinases that promote tumorigenesis through non-catalytic functions with PROTACs - PIM kinase as an example. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2025; 29:189-191. [PMID: 40304362 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2025.2500418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2025] [Revised: 03/24/2025] [Accepted: 04/17/2025] [Indexed: 05/02/2025]
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Torres-Ayuso
- Department of Cancer and Cellular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John Brognard
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
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