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Long L, Fei X, Chen L, Yao L, Lei X. Potential therapeutic targets of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in triple-negative breast cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1381251. [PMID: 38699644 PMCID: PMC11063389 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1381251] [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: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) poses a significant clinical challenge due to its propensity for metastasis and poor prognosis. TNBC evades the body's immune system recognition and attack through various mechanisms, including the Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. This pathway, characterized by heightened activity in numerous solid tumors, exhibits pronounced activation in specific TNBC subtypes. Consequently, targeting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway emerges as a promising and precise therapeutic strategy for TNBC. The signal transduction cascade of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway predominantly involves receptor tyrosine kinases, the tyrosine kinase JAK2, and the transcription factor STAT3. Ongoing preclinical studies and clinical research are actively investigating this pathway as a potential therapeutic target for TNBC treatment. This article comprehensively reviews preclinical and clinical investigations into TNBC treatment by targeting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway using small molecule compounds. The review explores the role of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in TNBC therapeutics, evaluating the benefits and limitations of active inhibitors and proteolysis-targeting chimeras in TNBC treatment. The aim is to facilitate the development of novel small-molecule compounds that target TNBC effectively. Ultimately, this work seeks to contribute to enhancing therapeutic efficacy for patients with TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Long
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Xiangyu Fei
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Liucui Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Liang Yao
- Department of Pharmacy, Central Hospital of Hengyang, Hengyang, China
| | - Xiaoyong Lei
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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Prout-Holm RA, van Walstijn CC, Hitsman A, Rowley MJ, Olsen JE, Page BDG, Frankel A. Investigating Protein Binding with the Isothermal Ligand-induced Resolubilization Assay. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300773. [PMID: 38266114 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300773] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Target engagement assays typically detect and quantify the direct physical interaction of a protein of interest and its ligand through stability changes upon ligand binding. Commonly used target engagement methods detect ligand-induced stability by subjecting samples to thermal or proteolytic stress. Here we describe a new variation to these approaches called Isothermal Ligand-induced Resolubilization Assay (ILIRA), which utilizes lyotropic solubility stress to measure ligand binding through changes in target protein solubility. We identified distinct buffer systems and salt concentrations that compromised protein solubility for four diverse proteins: dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X motif 5 (NUDT5), poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP1), and protein arginine N-methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1). Ligand-induced solubility rescue was demonstrated for these proteins, suggesting that ILIRA can be used as an additional target engagement technique. Differences in ligand-induced protein solubility were assessed by Coomassie blue staining for SDS-PAGE and dot blot, as well as by NanoOrange, Thioflavin T, and Proteostat fluorescence, thus offering flexibility for readout and assay throughput.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley A Prout-Holm
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Cerissa C van Walstijn
- Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alana Hitsman
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Michael J Rowley
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jonas E Olsen
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Brent D G Page
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Adam Frankel
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
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Brown JI, Persaud R, Iliev P, Karmacharya U, Attarha S, Sahile H, Olsen JE, Hanke D, Idowu T, Frank DA, Frankel A, Williams KC, Page BDG. Investigating the anti-cancer potential of pyrimethamine analogues through a modern chemical biology lens. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 264:115971. [PMID: 38071795 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115971] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Pharmacological inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an established approach for treating a variety of human diseases, including foreign infections and cancer. However, treatment with classic DHFR inhibitors, such as methotrexate (MTX), are associated with negative side-effects and resistance mechanisms that have prompted the search for alternatives. The DHFR inhibitor pyrimethamine (Pyr) has compelling anti-cancer activity in in vivo models, but lacks potency compared to MTX, thereby requiring higher concentrations to induce therapeutic responses. The purpose of this work was to investigate structural analogues of Pyr to improve its in vitro and cellular activity. A series of 36 Pyr analogues were synthesized and tested in a sequence of in vitro and cell-based assays to monitor their DHFR inhibitory activity, cellular target engagement, and impact on breast cancer cell viability. Ten top compounds were identified, two of which stood out as potential lead candidates, 32 and 34. These functionalized Pyr analogues potently engaged DHFR in cells, at concentrations as low as 1 nM and represent promising DHFR inhibitors that could be further explored as potential anti-cancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer I Brown
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Rosanne Persaud
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Petar Iliev
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Ujjwala Karmacharya
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Sanaz Attarha
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Henok Sahile
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jonas E Olsen
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Danielle Hanke
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Temilolu Idowu
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - David A Frank
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Adam Frankel
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Karla C Williams
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Brent D G Page
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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van der Krift F, Zijlmans DW, Shukla R, Javed A, Koukos PI, Schwarz LLE, Timmermans-Sprang EP, Maas PE, Gahtory D, van den Nieuwboer M, Mol JA, Strous GJ, Bonvin AM, van der Stelt M, Veldhuizen EJ, Weingarth M, Vermeulen M, Klumperman J, Maurice MM. A novel antifolate suppresses growth of FPGS-deficient cells and overcomes methotrexate resistance. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202302058. [PMID: 37591722 PMCID: PMC10435995 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302058] [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: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells make extensive use of the folate cycle to sustain increased anabolic metabolism. Multiple chemotherapeutic drugs interfere with the folate cycle, including methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil that are commonly applied for the treatment of leukemia and colorectal cancer (CRC), respectively. Despite high success rates, therapy-induced resistance causes relapse at later disease stages. Depletion of folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS), which normally promotes intracellular accumulation and activity of natural folates and methotrexate, is linked to methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil resistance and its association with relapse illustrates the need for improved intervention strategies. Here, we describe a novel antifolate (C1) that, like methotrexate, potently inhibits dihydrofolate reductase and downstream one-carbon metabolism. Contrary to methotrexate, C1 displays optimal efficacy in FPGS-deficient contexts, due to decreased competition with intracellular folates for interaction with dihydrofolate reductase. We show that FPGS-deficient patient-derived CRC organoids display enhanced sensitivity to C1, whereas FPGS-high CRC organoids are more sensitive to methotrexate. Our results argue that polyglutamylation-independent antifolates can be applied to exert selective pressure on FPGS-deficient cells during chemotherapy, using a vulnerability created by polyglutamylation deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix van der Krift
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Oncode Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dick W Zijlmans
- Department of Molecular Biology and Oncode Institute, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rhythm Shukla
- NMR Spectroscopy, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ali Javed
- NMR Spectroscopy, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Panagiotis I Koukos
- Computational Structural Biology, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Laura LE Schwarz
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Oncode Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Peter Em Maas
- Specs Compound Handling B.V., Zoetermeer, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Jan A Mol
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ger J Strous
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Cell Biology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alexandre Mjj Bonvin
- Computational Structural Biology, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mario van der Stelt
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Oncode Institute, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Edwin Ja Veldhuizen
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Markus Weingarth
- NMR Spectroscopy, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel Vermeulen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Oncode Institute, Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith Klumperman
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Cell Biology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Madelon M Maurice
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Oncode Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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