S-540956, a CpG Oligonucleotide Annealed to a Complementary Strand With an Amphiphilic Chain Unit, Acts as a Potent Cancer Vaccine Adjuvant by Targeting Draining Lymph Nodes.

Robust induction of cancer-antigen-specific CD8+ T cells is essential for the success of cancer peptide vaccines, which are composed of a peptide derived from a cancer-specific antigen and an immune-potentiating adjuvant, such as a Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist. Efficient delivery of a vaccine antigen and an adjuvant to antigen-presenting cells in the draining lymph nodes (LNs) holds key to maximize vaccine efficacy. Here, we developed S-540956, a novel TLR9-agonistic adjuvant consisting of B-type CpG ODN2006 (also known as CpG7909), annealed to its complementary sequence oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) conjugated to a lipid; it could target both a cancer peptide antigen and a CpG-adjuvant in the draining LNs. S-540956 accumulation in the draining LNs and activation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) were significantly higher than that of ODN2006. Mechanistic analysis revealed that S-540956 enhanced the induction of MHC class I peptide-specific CD8+ T cell responses via TLR9 in a CD4+ T cell-independent manner. In mice, the therapeutic effect of S-540956-adjuvanted with a human papillomavirus (HPV)-E7 peptide vaccine against HPV-E7-expressing TC-1 tumors was significantly better than that of an ODN2006-adjuvanted vaccine. Our findings demonstrate a novel adjuvant discovery with the complementary strand conjugated to a lipid, which enabled draining LN targeting and increased ODN2006 accumulation in draining LNs, thereby enhancing the adjuvant effect. Our findings imply that S-540956 is a promising adjuvant for cancer peptide vaccines and has a high potential for applications in various vaccines, including recombinant protein vaccines.

Soluble HLA-associated peptide from PSF1 has a cancer vaccine potency.

Partner of sld five 1 (PSF1) is an evolutionary conserved DNA replication factor involved in DNA replication in lower species, which is strongly expressed in normal stem cell populations and progenitor cell populations. Recently, we have investigated PSF1 functions in cancer cells and found that PSF1 plays a significant role in tumour growth. These findings provide initial evidence for the potential of PSF1 as a therapeutic target. Here, we reveal that PSF1 contains an immunogenic epitope suitable for an antitumour vaccine. We analysed PSF1 peptides eluted from affinity-purified human leukocyte antigen (HLA) by mass spectrometry and identified PSF179-87 peptide (YLYDRLLRI) that has the highest prediction score using an in silico algorithm. PSF179-87 peptide induced PSF1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses such as the production of interferon-γ and cytotoxicity. Because PSF1 is expressed in cancer cell populations and highly expressed in cancer stem cell populations, these data suggest that vaccination with PSF179-87 peptide may be a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.

A unique hinge binder of extremely selective aminopyridine-based Mps1 (TTK) kinase inhibitors with cellular activity.

Mps1, also known as TTK, is a dual-specificity kinase that regulates the spindle assembly check point. Increased expression levels of Mps1 are observed in cancer cells, and the expression levels correlate well with tumor grade. Such evidence points to selective inhibition of Mps1 as an attractive strategy for cancer therapeutics. Starting from an aminopyridine-based lead 3a that binds to a flipped-peptide conformation at the hinge region in Mps1, elaboration of the aminopyridine scaffold at the 2- and 6-positions led to the discovery of 19c that exhibited no significant inhibition for 287 kinases as well as improved cellular Mps1 and antiproliferative activities in A549 lung carcinoma cells (cellular Mps1 IC50=5.3 nM, A549 IC50=26 nM). A clear correlation between cellular Mps1 and antiproliferative IC50 values indicated that the antiproliferative activity observed in A549 cells would be responsible for the cellular inhibition of Mps1. The X-ray structure of 19c in complex with Mps1 revealed that this compound retains the ability to bind to the peptide flip conformation. Finally, comparative analysis of the X-ray structures of 19c, a deamino analogue 33, and a known Mps1 inhibitor bound to Mps1 provided insights into the unique binding mode at the hinge region.

Discovery of imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine derivatives: selective and orally available Mps1 (TTK) kinase inhibitors exhibiting remarkable antiproliferative activity.

Monopolar spindle 1 (Mps1) is an attractive oncology target due to its high expression level in cancer cells as well as the correlation of its expression levels with histological grades of cancers. An imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine 10a was identified during an HTS campaign. Although 10a exhibited good biochemical activity, its moderate cellular as well as antiproliferative activities needed to be improved. The cocrystal structure of an analogue of 10a guided our lead optimization to introduce substituents at the 6-position of the scaffold, giving the 6-aryl substituted 21b which had improved cellular activity but no oral bioavailability in rat. Property-based optimization at the 6-position and a scaffold change led to the discovery of the imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine-based 27f, an extremely potent (cellular Mps1 IC50 = 0.70 nM, A549 IC50 = 6.0 nM), selective Mps1 inhibitor over 192 kinases, which could be orally administered and was active in vivo. This 27f demonstrated remarkable antiproliferative activity in the nanomolar range against various tissue cancer cell lines.

Preclinical antitumor activity of S-222611, an oral reversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) are validated molecular targets in cancer therapy. Dual blockade has been explored and one such agent, lapatinib, is in clinical practice but with modest activity. Through chemical screening, we discovered a novel EGFR and HER2 inhibitor, S-222611, that selectively inhibited both kinases with IC50 s below 10 nmol/L. S-222611 also inhibited intracellular kinase activity and the growth of EGFR-expressing and HER2-expressing cancer cells. In addition, S-222611 showed potent antitumor activity over lapatinib in a variety of xenograft models. In evaluations with two patient-oriented models, the intrafemoral implantation model and the intracranial implantation model, S-222611 exhibited excellent activity and could be effective against bone and brain metastasis. Compared to neratinib and afatinib, irreversible EGFR/HER2 inhibitors, S-222611 showed equivalent or slightly weaker antitumor activity but a safer profile. These results indicated that S-222611 is a potent EGFR and HER2 inhibitor with substantially better antitumor activity than lapatinib at clinically relevant doses. Considering the safer profile than for irreversible inhibitors, S-222611 could be an important option in future cancer therapy.

Indazole-based potent and cell-active Mps1 kinase inhibitors: rational design from pan-kinase inhibitor anthrapyrazolone (SP600125).

Monopolar spindle 1 (Mps1) is essential for centrosome duplication, the spindle assembly check point, and the maintenance of chromosomal instability. Mps1 is highly expressed in cancer cells, and its expression levels correlate with the histological grades of cancers. Thus, selective Mps1 inhibitors offer an attractive opportunity for the development of novel cancer therapies. To design novel Mps1 inhibitors, we utilized the pan-kinase inhibitor anthrapyrazolone (4, SP600125) and its crystal structure bound to JNK1. Our design efforts led to the identification of indazole-based lead 6 with an Mps1 IC50 value of 498 nM. Optimization of the 3- and 6-positions on the indazole core of 6 resulted in 23c with improved Mps1 activity (IC50 = 3.06 nM). Finally, application of structure-based design using the X-ray structure of 23d bound to Mps1 culminated in the discovery of 32a and 32b with improved potency for cellular Mps1 and A549 lung cancer cells. Moreover, 32a and 32b exhibited reasonable selectivities over 120 and 166 kinases, respectively.

Diaminopyridine-based potent and selective mps1 kinase inhibitors binding to an unusual flipped-Peptide conformation.

Monopolar spindle 1 (Mps1) is an attractive cancer drug target due to the important role that it plays in centrosome duplication, the spindle assembly checkpoint, and the maintenance of chromosomal stability. A design based on JNK inhibitors with an aminopyridine scaffold and subsequent modifications identified diaminopyridine 9 with an IC50 of 37 nM. The X-ray structure of 9 revealed that the Cys604 carbonyl group of the hinge region flips to form a hydrogen bond with the aniline NH group in 9. Further optimization of 9 led to 12 with improved cellular activity, suitable pharmacokinetic profiles, and good in vivo efficacy in the mouse A549 xenograft model. Moreover, 12 displayed excellent selectivity over 95 kinases, indicating the contribution of its unusual flipped-peptide conformation to its selectivity.

Group III metabotropic glutamate receptor activation suppresses self-replication of undifferentiated neocortical progenitor cells.

We evaluated the possible functional expression of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) by neural progenitors from embryonic mouse neocortex. Constitutive expression was seen with group I, II, and III mGluRs in undifferentiated cells and neurospheres formed by clustered cells during culture with epidermal growth factor. The group III mGluR agonist, L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate, drastically reduced proliferation activity at 1-100 microM without inducing cell death, with group I and group II mGluR agonists being ineffective, in these neurospheres. Both forskolin and a group III mGluR antagonist significantly increased the proliferation alone, but significantly prevented the suppression by L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate. Activation of group III mGluR significantly decreased mRNA expression of the cell cycle regulator cyclinD1, in addition to inhibiting the transactivation mediated by cAMP of cyclinD1 gene in the pluripotent P19 progenitor cells. Prior activation of group III mGluR led to a significant decrease in the number of cells immunoreactive for a neuronal marker, with an increase in that for an astroglial marker irrespective of differentiation inducers. These results suggest that group III mGluR may be functionally expressed to suppress self-renewal capacity through a mechanism related to cAMP formation with promotion of subsequent differentiation into astroglial lineage in neural progenitors.