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Begovich K, Schoolmeesters A, Rajapakse N, Martinez-Terroba E, Kumar M, Shakya A, Lai C, Greene S, Whitefield B, Okano A, Mali V, Huang S, Chourasia AH, Fung L. Cereblon-based Bifunctional Degrader of SOS1, BTX-6654, Targets Multiple KRAS Mutations and Inhibits Tumor Growth. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:407-420. [PMID: 38224565 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Mutations within the oncogene KRAS drive an estimated 25% of all cancers. Only allele-specific KRAS G12C inhibitors are currently available and are associated with the emergence of acquired resistance, partly due to upstream pathway reactivation. Given its upstream role in the activation of KRAS, son of sevenless homolog 1 (SOS1), has emerged as an attractive therapeutic target. Agents that target SOS1 for degradation could represent a potential pan-KRAS modality that may be capable of circumventing certain acquired resistance mechanisms. Here, we report the development of two SOS1 cereblon-based bifunctional degraders, BTX-6654 and BTX-7312, cereblon-based bifunctional SOS1 degraders. Both compounds exhibited potent target-dependent and -specific SOS1 degradation. BTX-6654 and BTX-7312 reduced downstream signaling markers, pERK and pS6, and displayed antiproliferative activity in cells harboring various KRAS mutations. In two KRAS G12C xenograft models, BTX-6654 degraded SOS1 in a dose-dependent manner correlating with tumor growth inhibition, additionally exhibiting synergy with KRAS and MEK inhibitors. Altogether, BTX-6654 provided preclinical proof of concept for single-agent and combination use of bifunctional SOS1 degraders in KRAS-driven cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Chon Lai
- BioTheryx, Inc., San Diego, California
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Leah Fung
- BioTheryx, Inc., San Diego, California
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Pang X, Cui D, Lv B, Wang CY. Discovery of Potent SOS1 PROTACs with Effective Antitumor Activities against NCI-H358 Tumor Cells In Vitro/In Vivo. J Med Chem 2024; 67:1563-1579. [PMID: 38206836 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02135] [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: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Directly targeted KRAS inhibitors are now facing resistance problems, which might be partially solved by the combination of SOS1 inhibitors with KRAS inhibitors. However, this combination may still have some resistance mitigation potential. Comparatively, SOS1 PROTAC may have promising applications in addressing the drug resistance problem by degrading the SOS1 protein. Herein, we report the discovery of novel SOS1 PROTACs and their antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies demonstrated that degrader 4 had strong inhibitory effects on the proliferation of NCI-H358 cells with IC50 of 5 nM, together with significant degradation of SOS1 protein with DC50 of 13 nM. In the NCI-H358 xenograft model, degrader 4 exhibited significant antitumor activities with TGITV values of 58.8% at 30 mg/kg bid. The PK and safety profiles also supported degrader 4 for further studies as an effective tool compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Pang
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Institute of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Zelgen Pharma-Tech Co., Ltd., Building 3, No. 999, Cailun Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Dawei Cui
- Shanghai Zelgen Pharma-Tech Co., Ltd., Building 3, No. 999, Cailun Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Binhua Lv
- Shanghai Zelgen Pharma-Tech Co., Ltd., Building 3, No. 999, Cailun Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Cheng-Yun Wang
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Institute of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
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Baltanás FC, García-Navas R, Rodríguez-Ramos P, Calzada N, Cuesta C, Borrajo J, Fuentes-Mateos R, Olarte-San Juan A, Vidaña N, Castellano E, Santos E. Critical requirement of SOS1 for tumor development and microenvironment modulation in KRAS G12D-driven lung adenocarcinoma. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5856. [PMID: 37730692 PMCID: PMC10511506 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41583-1] [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: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of genetic ablation of SOS1 or SOS2 is evaluated in a murine model of KRASG12D-driven lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). SOS2 ablation shows some protection during early stages but only SOS1 ablation causes significant, specific long term increase of survival/lifespan of the KRASG12D mice associated to markedly reduced tumor burden and reduced populations of cancer-associated fibroblasts, macrophages and T-lymphocytes in the lung tumor microenvironment (TME). SOS1 ablation also causes specific shrinkage and regression of LUAD tumoral masses and components of the TME in pre-established KRASG12D LUAD tumors. The critical requirement of SOS1 for KRASG12D-driven LUAD is further confirmed by means of intravenous tail injection of KRASG12D tumor cells into SOS1KO/KRASWT mice, or of SOS1-less, KRASG12D tumor cells into wildtype mice. In silico analyses of human lung cancer databases support also the dominant role of SOS1 regarding tumor development and survival in LUAD patients. Our data indicate that SOS1 is critically required for development of KRASG12D-driven LUAD and confirm the validity of this RAS-GEF activator as an actionable therapeutic target in KRAS mutant LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando C Baltanás
- Lab 1. Cancer Research Center, Institute of Cancer Molecular and Cellular Biology, CSIC-University of Salamanca and CIBERONC, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/"Virgen del Rocío" University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville and Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
| | - Rósula García-Navas
- Lab 1. Cancer Research Center, Institute of Cancer Molecular and Cellular Biology, CSIC-University of Salamanca and CIBERONC, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Pablo Rodríguez-Ramos
- Lab 1. Cancer Research Center, Institute of Cancer Molecular and Cellular Biology, CSIC-University of Salamanca and CIBERONC, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Nuria Calzada
- Lab 1. Cancer Research Center, Institute of Cancer Molecular and Cellular Biology, CSIC-University of Salamanca and CIBERONC, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Cristina Cuesta
- Lab 5. Cancer Research Center, Institute of Cancer Molecular and Cellular Biology, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Javier Borrajo
- Departament of Biomedical Sciences and Diagnostic, University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rocío Fuentes-Mateos
- Lab 1. Cancer Research Center, Institute of Cancer Molecular and Cellular Biology, CSIC-University of Salamanca and CIBERONC, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Andrea Olarte-San Juan
- Lab 1. Cancer Research Center, Institute of Cancer Molecular and Cellular Biology, CSIC-University of Salamanca and CIBERONC, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Nerea Vidaña
- Lab 1. Cancer Research Center, Institute of Cancer Molecular and Cellular Biology, CSIC-University of Salamanca and CIBERONC, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Esther Castellano
- Lab 5. Cancer Research Center, Institute of Cancer Molecular and Cellular Biology, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Eugenio Santos
- Lab 1. Cancer Research Center, Institute of Cancer Molecular and Cellular Biology, CSIC-University of Salamanca and CIBERONC, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
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4
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Luo G, Wang B, Hou Q, Wu X. Development of Son of Sevenless Homologue 1 (SOS1) Modulators To Treat Cancers by Regulating RAS Signaling. J Med Chem 2023; 66:4324-4341. [PMID: 36987571 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Son of sevenless homologue 1 (SOS1) protein is universally expressed in cells and plays an important role in the RAS signaling pathway. Specifically, this protein interacts with RAS in response to upstream stimuli to promote guanine nucleotide exchange in RAS and activates the downstream signaling pathways. Thus, targeting SOS1 is a new approach for treating RAS-driven cancers. In this Perspective, we briefly summarize the structural and functional aspects of SOS1 and focus on recent advances in the discovery of activators, inhibitors, and PROTACs that target SOS1. This review aims to provide a timely and updated overview on the strategies for targeting SOS1 in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangmei Luo
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Bingrui Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Qiangqiang Hou
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Xiaoxing Wu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery and Development, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
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