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Bray C, Balcells C, McNeish IA, Keun HC. The potential and challenges of targeting MTAP-negative cancers beyond synthetic lethality. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1264785. [PMID: 37795443 PMCID: PMC10546069 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1264785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 15% of cancers exhibit loss of the chromosomal locus 9p21.3 - the genomic location of the tumour suppressor gene CDKN2A and the methionine salvage gene methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP). A loss of MTAP increases the pool of its substrate methylthioadenosine (MTA), which binds to and inhibits activity of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5). PRMT5 utilises the universal methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to methylate arginine residues of protein substrates and regulate their activity, notably histones to regulate transcription. Recently, targeting PRMT5, or MAT2A that impacts PRMT5 activity by producing SAM, has shown promise as a therapeutic strategy in oncology, generating synthetic lethality in MTAP-negative cancers. However, clinical development of PRMT5 and MAT2A inhibitors has been challenging and highlights the need for further understanding of the downstream mediators of drug effects. Here, we discuss the rationale and methods for targeting the MAT2A/PRMT5 axis for cancer therapy. We evaluate the current limitations in our understanding of the mechanism of MAT2A/PRMT5 inhibitors and identify the challenges that must be addressed to maximise the potential of these drugs. In addition, we review the current literature defining downstream effectors of PRMT5 activity that could determine sensitivity to MAT2A/PRMT5 inhibition and therefore present a rationale for novel combination therapies that may not rely on synthetic lethality with MTAP loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandler Bray
- Cancer Metabolism & Systems Toxicology Group, Division of Cancer, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Cristina Balcells
- Cancer Metabolism & Systems Toxicology Group, Division of Cancer, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Iain A. McNeish
- Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hector C. Keun
- Cancer Metabolism & Systems Toxicology Group, Division of Cancer, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Rong D, Zhou K, Fang W, Yang H, Zhang Y, Shi Q, Huang Y, Li J, Dong H, Li L, Ding J, Huang X, Wang Y. Structure-Aided Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Potent and Selective Non-Nucleoside Inhibitors Targeting Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5. J Med Chem 2022; 65:7854-7875. [PMID: 35612488 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PRMT5 is a major type II protein arginine methyltransferase and plays important roles in diverse cellular processes. Overexpression of PRMT5 is implicated in various types of cancer. Many efforts have been made to develop potent and selective PRMT5 inhibitors, the most potent of which is usually derived from nucleoside structures. Here, we designed a novel series of non-nucleoside PRMT5 inhibitors through the structure-aided drug design approach. SAR exploration and metabolic stability optimization led to the discovery of compound 41 as a potent PRMT5 inhibitor with good selectivity. Additionally, compound 41 exerted antiproliferative effects against A375 cells by inducing apoptosis and potently inhibited the methyltransferase activity of PRMT5 in cells. Moreover, it showed attractive pharmacokinetic properties and markedly suppressed the tumor growth in an A375 tumor xenograft model. These results clearly indicate that 41 is a highly potent and selective non-nucleoside PRMT5 inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deqin Rong
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Kaixin Zhou
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.,Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, NO.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Wei Fang
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qiongyu Shi
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
| | - Yuting Huang
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, NO.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jiayi Li
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, NO.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, P. R. China.,Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, P. R. China
| | - Hui Dong
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Lanlan Li
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China
| | - Jian Ding
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.,Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, NO.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, P. R. China.,Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, P. R. China
| | - Xun Huang
- Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, NO.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, P. R. China.,Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, P. R. China.,Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yuanxiang Wang
- Balance-Based Drug Discovery Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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