Inhibitors of Rho kinases (ROCK) induce multiple mitotic defects and synthetic lethality in BRCA2-deficient cells.

The trapping of Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) on DNA caused by PARP inhibitors (PARPi) triggers acute DNA replication stress and synthetic lethality (SL) in BRCA2-deficient cells. Hence, DNA damage is accepted as a prerequisite for SL in BRCA2-deficient cells. In contrast, here we show that inhibiting ROCK in BRCA2-deficient cells triggers SL independently from acute replication stress. Such SL is preceded by polyploidy and binucleation resulting from cytokinesis failure. Such initial mitosis abnormalities are followed by other M phase defects, including anaphase bridges and abnormal mitotic figures associated with multipolar spindles, supernumerary centrosomes and multinucleation. SL was also triggered by inhibiting Citron Rho-interacting kinase, another enzyme that, similarly to ROCK, regulates cytokinesis. Together, these observations demonstrate that cytokinesis failure triggers mitotic abnormalities and SL in BRCA2-deficient cells. Furthermore, the prevention of mitotic entry by depletion of Early mitotic inhibitor 1 (EMI1) augmented the survival of BRCA2-deficient cells treated with ROCK inhibitors, thus reinforcing the association between M phase and cell death in BRCA2-deficient cells. This novel SL differs from the one triggered by PARPi and uncovers mitosis as an Achilles heel of BRCA2-deficient cells.

Deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) inhibition is synthetic lethal with BRCA2 deficiency.

BRCA2 is a well-established cancer driver in several human malignancies. While the remarkable success of PARP inhibitors proved the clinical potential of targeting BRCA deficiencies, the emergence of resistance mechanisms underscores the importance of seeking novel Synthetic Lethal (SL) targets for future drug development efforts. In this work, we performed a BRCA2-centric SL screen with a collection of plant-derived compounds from South America. We identified the steroidal alkaloid Solanocapsine as a selective SL inducer, and we were able to substantially increase its potency by deriving multiple analogs. The use of two complementary chemoproteomic approaches led to the identification of the nucleotide salvage pathway enzyme deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) as Solanocapsine's target responsible for its BRCA2-linked SL induction. Additional confirmatory evidence was obtained by using the highly specific dCK inhibitor (DI-87), which induces SL in multiple BRCA2-deficient and KO contexts. Interestingly, dCK-induced SL is mechanistically different from the one induced by PARP inhibitors. dCK inhibition generates substantially lower levels of DNA damage, and cytotoxic phenotypes are associated exclusively with mitosis, thus suggesting that the fine-tuning of nucleotide supply in mitosis is critical for the survival of BRCA2-deficient cells. Moreover, by using a xenograft model of contralateral tumors, we show that dCK impairment suffices to trigger SL in-vivo. Taken together, our findings unveil dCK as a promising new target for BRCA2-deficient cancers, thus setting the ground for future therapeutic alternatives to PARP inhibitors.

NK cells with decreased expression of multiple activating receptors is a dominant phenotype in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

NK cells have unique attributes to react towards cells undergoing malignant transformation or viral infection. This reactivity is regulated by activating or inhibitory germline encoded receptors. An impaired NK cell function may result from an aberrant expression of such receptors, a condition often seen in patients with hematological cancers. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer worldwide and NK cells have emerged as crucial targets for developing immunotherapies. However, there are important gaps concerning the phenotype and behavior of NK cells during emergence of ALL. In this study we analyze the phenotype and function of NK cells from peripheral blood in pediatric patients with ALL at diagnosis. Our results showed that NK cells exhibited an altered phenotype highlighted by a significant reduction in the overall expression and percent representation of activating receptors compared to age-matched controls. No significant differences were found for the expression of inhibitory receptors. Moreover, NK cells with a concurrent reduced expression in various activating receptors, was the dominant phenotype among patients. An alteration in the relative frequencies of NK cells expressing NKG2A and CD57 within the mature NK cell pool was also observed. In addition, NK cells from patients displayed a significant reduction in the ability to sustain antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Finally, an aberrant expression of activating receptors is associated with the phenomenon of leukemia during childhood.

Restoration of antitumor immunity through anti-MICA antibodies elicited with a chimeric protein.

BACKGROUND: Natural killer and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells are major players during antitumor immunity. They express NKG2D, an activating receptor that promotes tumor elimination through recognition of the MHC class I chain-related proteins A and B (MICA and MICB). Both molecules are overexpressed on a great variety of tumors from different tissues, making them attractive targets for immunotherapy. However, tumors shed MICA and MICB, and the soluble forms of both (sMICA and sMICB) mediate tumor-immune escape. Some reports indicate that anti-MICA antibodies (Ab) can promote the restoration of antitumor immunity through the induction of direct antitumor effects (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, ADCC) and scavenging of sMICA. Therefore, we reasoned that an active induction of anti-MICA Ab with an immunogenic protein might represent a novel therapeutic and prophylactic alternative to restore antitumor immunity. METHODS: We generated a highly immunogenic chimeric protein (BLS-MICA) consisting of human MICA fused to the lumazine synthase from Brucella spp (BLS) and used it to generate anti-MICA polyclonal Ab (pAb) and to investigate if these anti-MICA Ab can reinstate antitumor immunity in mice using two different mouse tumors engineered to express MICA. We also explored the underlying mechanisms of this expected therapeutic effect. RESULTS: Immunization with BLS-MICA and administration of anti-MICA pAb elicited by BLS-MICA significantly delayed the growth of MICA-expressing mouse tumors but not of control tumors. The therapeutic effect of immunization with BLS-MICA included scavenging of sMICA and the anti-MICA Ab-mediated ADCC, promoting heightened intratumoral M1/proinflammatory macrophage and antigen-experienced CD8+ T cell recruitment. CONCLUSIONS: Immunization with the chimeric protein BLS-MICA constitutes a useful way to actively induce therapeutic anti-MICA pAb that resulted in a reprogramming of the antitumor immune response towards an antitumoral/proinflammatory phenotype. Hence, the BLS-MICA chimeric protein constitutes a novel antitumor vaccine of potential application in patients with MICA-expressing tumors.

Polo-like Kinase 1 Inhibition as a Therapeutic Approach to Selectively Target BRCA1-Deficient Cancer Cells by Synthetic Lethality Induction.

PURPOSE: BRCA1 and BRCA2 deficiencies are widespread drivers of human cancers that await the development of targeted therapies. We aimed to identify novel synthetic lethal relationships with therapeutic potential using BRCA-deficient isogenic backgrounds. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We developed a phenotypic screening technology to simultaneously search for synthetic lethal (SL) interactions in BRCA1- and BRCA2-deficient contexts. For validation, we developed chimeric spheroids and a dual-tumor xenograft model that allowed the confirmation of SL induction with the concomitant evaluation of undesired cytotoxicity on BRCA-proficient cells. To extend our results using clinical data, we performed retrospective analysis on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) breast cancer database. RESULTS: The screening of a kinase inhibitors library revealed that Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibition triggers strong SL induction in BRCA1-deficient cells. Mechanistically, we found no connection between the SL induced by PLK1 inhibition and PARP inhibitors. Instead, we uncovered that BRCA1 downregulation and PLK1 inhibition lead to aberrant mitotic phenotypes with altered centrosomal duplication and cytokinesis, which severely reduced the clonogenic potential of these cells. The penetrance of PLK1/BRCA1 SL interaction was validated using several isogenic and nonisogenic cellular models, chimeric spheroids, and mice xenografts. Moreover, bioinformatic analysis revealed high-PLK1 expression in BRCA1-deficient tumors, a phenotype that was consistently recapitulated by inducing BRCA1 deficiency in multiple cell lines as well as in BRCA1-mutant cells. CONCLUSIONS: We uncovered an unforeseen addiction of BRCA1-deficient cancer cells to PLK1 expression, which provides a new means to exploit the therapeutic potential of PLK1 inhibitors in clinical trials, by generating stratification schemes that consider this molecular trait in patient cohorts.

AKT inhibition impairs PCNA ubiquitylation and triggers synthetic lethality in homologous recombination-deficient cells submitted to replication stress.

Translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) and homologous recombination (HR) cooperate during S-phase to safeguard replication forks integrity. Thus, the inhibition of TLS becomes a promising point of therapeutic intervention in HR-deficient cancers, where TLS impairment might trigger synthetic lethality (SL). The main limitation to test this hypothesis is the current lack of selective pharmacological inhibitors of TLS. Herein, we developed a miniaturized screening assay to identify inhibitors of PCNA ubiquitylation, a key post-translational modification required for efficient TLS activation. After screening a library of 627 kinase inhibitors, we found that targeting the pro-survival kinase AKT leads to strong impairment of PCNA ubiquitylation. Mechanistically, we found that AKT-mediated modulation of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) ubiquitylation after UV requires the upstream activity of DNA PKcs, without affecting PCNA ubiquitylation levels in unperturbed cells. Moreover, we confirmed that persistent AKT inhibition blocks the recruitment of TLS polymerases to sites of DNA damage and impairs DNA replication forks processivity after UV irradiation, leading to increased DNA replication stress and cell death. Remarkably, when we compared the differential survival of HR-proficient vs HR-deficient cells, we found that the combination of UV irradiation and AKT inhibition leads to robust SL induction in HR-deficient cells. We link this phenotype to AKT ability to inhibit PCNA ubiquitylation, since the targeted knockdown of PCNA E3-ligase (RAD18) and a non-ubiquitylable (PCNA K164R) knock-in model recapitulate the observed SL induction. Collectively, this work identifies AKT as a novel regulator of PCNA ubiquitylation and provides the proof-of-concept of inhibiting TLS as a therapeutic approach to selectively kill HR-deficient cells submitted to replication stress.

Aberrant O-glycosylation modulates aggressiveness in neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common pediatric malignancy diagnosed before the first birthday in which MYCN oncogene amplification is associated with poor prognosis. Although aberrant glycosylation is an important actor in cell biology, little is known about its role in pediatric cancers such as NB. In this work we characterized the glycophenotype and the enzyme expression involved in glycans biosynthesis in five established human NB cell lines and in patient-derived primary tumors with different MYCN status. Our results show a high expression of Lewis glycan family both in MYCN-amplified cell lines and patient samples. Additionally, we report that MYCN-amplified cells overexpressed Core 2-initiating glycosyltransferase C2GNT1 in association with specific ST3Gals and FUTs, and showed increased binding to E- and P- selectins. Silencing of C2GNT1 expression in NB cells diminished expression of Lewis glycans, decreased the E- and P-selectin binding, and reduced cell adhesion, migration and proliferation in vitro. Treatment of MYCN-non-amplified cells with Trichostatin A (TSA), an histone deacetylase inhibitor, increased the expression of Lewis glycans and the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis. Our results demonstrate that MYCN-amplified NB cells overexpress Lewis family glycans, which belong to the Core 2 O-glycans group. Their expression plays a key role in the malignant behaviour of the NB cells and it is modulated by epigenetic mechanisms.

Author Correction: Novel scaffolds for inhibition of Cruzipain identified from high-throughput screening of anti-kinetoplastid chemical boxes.

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Novel scaffolds for inhibition of Cruzipain identified from high-throughput screening of anti-kinetoplastid chemical boxes.

American Trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease is a prevalent, neglected and serious debilitating illness caused by the kinetoplastid protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The current chemotherapy is limited only to nifurtimox and benznidazole, two drugs that have poor efficacy in the chronic phase and are rather toxic. In this scenario, more efficacious and safer drugs, preferentially acting through a different mechanism of action and directed against novel targets, are particularly welcome. Cruzipain, the main papain-like cysteine peptidase of T. cruzi, is an important virulence factor and a chemotherapeutic target with excellent pre-clinical validation evidence. Here, we present the identification of new Cruzipain inhibitory scaffolds within the GlaxoSmithKline HAT (Human African Trypanosomiasis) and Chagas chemical boxes, two collections grouping 404 non-cytotoxic compounds with high antiparasitic potency, drug-likeness, structural diversity and scientific novelty. We have adapted a continuous enzymatic assay to a medium-throughput format and carried out a primary screening of both collections, followed by construction and analysis of dose-response curves of the most promising hits. Using the identified compounds as a starting point a substructure directed search against CHEMBL Database revealed plausible common scaffolds while docking experiments predicted binding poses and specific interactions between Cruzipain and the novel inhibitors.

Selective class IIa histone deacetylase inhibition via a nonchelating zinc-binding group.

In contrast to studies on class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of class IIa HDACs (HDAC4, HDAC5, HDAC7 and HDAC9) is impaired by the lack of potent and selective chemical probes. Here we report the discovery of inhibitors that fill this void with an unprecedented metal-binding group, trifluoromethyloxadiazole (TFMO), which circumvents the selectivity and pharmacologic liabilities of hydroxamates. We confirm direct metal binding of the TFMO through crystallographic approaches and use chemoproteomics to demonstrate the superior selectivity of the TFMO series relative to a hydroxamate-substituted analog. We further apply these tool compounds to reveal gene regulation dependent on the catalytic active site of class IIa HDACs. The discovery of these inhibitors challenges the design process for targeting metalloenzymes through a chelating metal-binding group and suggests therapeutic potential for class IIa HDAC enzyme blockers distinct in mechanism and application compared to current HDAC inhibitors.

Conformationally constrained farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonists: alternative replacements of the stilbene.

To further explore the optimum placement of the acid moiety in conformationally constrained analogs of GW 4064 1a, a series of stilbene replacements were prepared. The benzothiophene 1f and the indole 1g display the optimal orientation of the carboxylate for enhanced FXR agonist potency.

Conformationally constrained farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonists: heteroaryl replacements of the naphthalene.

To improve on the drug properties of GSK8062 1b, a series of heteroaryl bicyclic naphthalene replacements were prepared. The quinoline 1c was an equipotent FXR agonist with improved drug developability parameters relative to 1b. In addition, analog 1c lowered body weight gain and serum glucose in a DIO mouse model of diabetes.

Improving the developability profile of pyrrolidine progesterone receptor partial agonists.

The previously reported pyrrolidine class of progesterone receptor partial agonists demonstrated excellent potency but suffered from serious liabilities including hERG blockade and high volume of distribution in the rat. The basic pyrrolidine amine was intentionally converted to a sulfonamide, carbamate, or amide to address these liabilities. The evaluation of the degree of partial agonism for these non-basic pyrrolidine derivatives and demonstration of their efficacy in an in vivo model of endometriosis is disclosed herein.

Design and x-ray crystal structures of high-potency nonsteroidal glucocorticoid agonists exploiting a novel binding site on the receptor.

Crystallography and computer modeling have been used to exploit a previously unexplored channel in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Highly potent, nonsteroidal indazole amides showing excellent complementarity to the channel were designed with the assistance of the computational technique AlleGrow. The accuracy of the design process was demonstrated through crystallographic structural determination of the GR ligand-binding domain-agonist complex of the D-prolinamide derivative 11. The utility of the channel was further exemplified through the design of a potent phenylindazole in which structural motifs, seen to interact with the traditional GR ligand pocket, were abandoned and replaced by interactions within the new channel. Occupation of the channel was confirmed with a second GR crystal structure of this truncated D-alaninamide derivative 13. Compound 11 displays properties compatible with development as an intranasal solution formulation, whereas oral bioavailability has been demonstrated with a related truncated exemplar 14. Data with the pyrrolidinone amide 12 demonstrate the potential for further elaboration within the "meta" channel to deliver compounds with selectivity for the desired transrepressive activity of glucocorticoids. The discovery of these interactions with this important receptor offers significant opportunities for the design of novel GR modulators.

2-Amino-9-aryl-3-cyano-4-methyl-7-oxo-6,7,8,9-tetrahydropyrido[2',3':4,5]thieno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives as selective progesterone receptor agonists.

High throughput screening of the corporate compound collection led to the identification of a novel series of 2-amino-9-aryl-3-cyano-4-methyl-7-oxo-6,7,8,9-tetrahydropyrido[2',3':4,5]thieno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives as selective PR agonists. Initial SAR exploration leading to potent and selective agonists 9 and 11, X-ray crystal structure of 9 bound to PR-LBD and preliminary developability data are described.

Discovery of orally active, pyrrolidinone-based progesterone receptor partial agonists.

We have designed and synthesized a novel series of pyrrolidinones as progesterone receptor partial agonists. Compounds from this series had improved AR selectivity, rat pharmacokinetic properties, and in vivo potency compared to the lead compound. In addition, these compounds had improved selectivity against hERG channel inhibition.

FXR agonist activity of conformationally constrained analogs of GW 4064.

Two series of conformationally constrained analogs of the FXR agonist GW 4064 1 were prepared. Replacement of the metabolically labile stilbene with either benzothiophene or naphthalene rings led to the identification of potent full agonists 2a and 2g.

Rational design of orally-active, pyrrolidine-based progesterone receptor partial agonists.

Using the X-ray crystal structure of an amide-based progesterone receptor (PR) partial agonist bound to the PR ligand binding domain, a novel PR partial agonist class containing a pyrrolidine ring was designed. Members of this class of N-alkylpyrrolidines demonstrate potent and highly selective partial agonism of the progesterone receptor, and one of these analogs was shown to be efficacious upon oral dosing in the OVX rat model of estrogen opposition.