1
|
Aragó M, Moreno-Felici J, Abás S, Rodríguez-Arévalo S, Hyroššová P, Figueras A, Viñals F, Pérez B, Loza MI, Brea J, Latorre P, Carrodeguas JA, García-Rovés PM, Galdeano C, Ginex T, Luque FJ, Escolano C, Perales JC. Pharmacology and preclinical validation of a novel anticancer compound targeting PEPCK-M. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 121:109601. [PMID: 31739159 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) catalyzes the decarboxylation of oxaloacetate to phosphoenolpyruvate. The mitochondrial isozyme, PEPCK-M is highly expressed in cancer cells, where it plays a role in nutrient stress response. To date, pharmacological strategies to target this pathway have not been pursued. METHODS A compound embodying a 3-alkyl-1,8-dibenzylxanthine nucleus (iPEPCK-2), was synthesized and successfully probed in silico on a PEPCK-M structural model. Potency and target engagement in vitro and in vivo were evaluated by kinetic and cellular thermal shift assays (CETSA). The compound and its target were validated in tumor growth models in vitro and in murine xenografts. RESULTS Cross-inhibitory capacity and increased potency as compared to 3-MPA were confirmed in vitro and in vivo. Treatment with iPEPCK-2 inhibited cell growth and survival, especially in poor-nutrient environment, consistent with an impact on colony formation in soft agar. Finally, daily administration of the PEPCK-M inhibitor successfully inhibited tumor growth in two murine xenograft models as compared to vehicle, without weight loss, or any sign of apparent toxicity. CONCLUSION We conclude that iPEPCK-2 is a compelling anticancer drug targeting PEPCK-M, a hallmark gene product involved in metabolic adaptations of the tumor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Aragó
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain
| | - Juan Moreno-Felici
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain
| | - Sonia Abás
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (Associated Unit to CSIC), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergio Rodríguez-Arévalo
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (Associated Unit to CSIC), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Petra Hyroššová
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain
| | - Agnes Figueras
- Programs of Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapeutics in Oncology (ONCOBell), and Cancer Therapeutics Resistance (ProCURE), Catalan Institute of Oncology, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain
| | - Francesc Viñals
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain; Programs of Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapeutics in Oncology (ONCOBell), and Cancer Therapeutics Resistance (ProCURE), Catalan Institute of Oncology, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain
| | - Belén Pérez
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutic and Toxicology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Maria I Loza
- Innopharma Screening Platform, BioFarma Research Group, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jose Brea
- Innopharma Screening Platform, BioFarma Research Group, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Pedro Latorre
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI), BIFI-IQFR (CSIC), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jose A Carrodeguas
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI), BIFI-IQFR (CSIC), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pablo M García-Rovés
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain
| | - Carlos Galdeano
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tiziana Ginex
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), and Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTCUB), University of Barcelona, Santa Coloma de Gramanet, Spain
| | - Francisco J Luque
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), and Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTCUB), University of Barcelona, Santa Coloma de Gramanet, Spain
| | - Carmen Escolano
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (Associated Unit to CSIC), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose C Perales
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|