Chemical tools for epichaperome-mediated interactome dysfunctions of the central nervous system.

Diseases are a manifestation of how thousands of proteins interact. In several diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease, proteome-wide disturbances in protein-protein interactions are caused by alterations to chaperome scaffolds termed epichaperomes. Epichaperome-directed chemical probes may be useful for detecting and reversing defective chaperomes. Here we provide structural, biochemical, and functional insights into the discovery of epichaperome probes, with a focus on their use in central nervous system diseases. We demonstrate on-target activity and kinetic selectivity of a radiolabeled epichaperome probe in both cells and mice, together with a proof-of-principle in human patients in an exploratory single group assignment diagnostic study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03371420). The clinical study is designed to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters and the incidence of adverse events in patients receiving a single microdose of the radiolabeled probe administered by intravenous injection. In sum, we introduce a discovery platform for brain-directed chemical probes that specifically modulate epichaperomes and provide proof-of-principle applications in their use in the detection, quantification, and modulation of the target in complex biological systems.

First-in-Human Trial of Epichaperome-Targeted PET in Patients with Cancer.

PURPOSE: 124I-PU-H71 is an investigational first-in-class radiologic agent specific for imaging tumor epichaperome formations. The intracellular epichaperome forms under cellular stress and is a clinically validated oncotherapeutic target. We conducted a first-in-human study of microdose 124I-PU-H71 for PET to study in vivo biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and safety; and the feasibility of epichaperome-targeted tumor imaging. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Adult patients with cancer (n = 30) received 124I-PU-H71 tracer (201±12 MBq, <25 µg) intravenous bolus followed by PET/CT scans and blood radioassays. RESULTS: 124I-PU-H71 PET detected tumors of different cancer types (breast, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, genitourinary, gynecologic, sarcoma, and pancreas). 124I-PU-H71 was retained by tumors for several days while it cleared rapidly from bones, healthy soft tissues, and blood. Radiation dosimetry is favorable and patients suffered no adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Our first-in-human results demonstrate the safety and feasibility of noninvasive in vivo detection of tumor epichaperomes using 124I-PU-H71 PET, supporting clinical development of PU-H71 and other epichaperome-targeted therapeutics.

Radiosynthesis of the iodine-124 labeled Hsp90 inhibitor PU-H71.

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is an ATP dependent molecular chaperone protein whose function is critical for maintaining several key proteins involved in survival and proliferation of cancer cells. PU-H71 (1), is a potent purine-scaffold based ATP pocket binding Hsp90 inhibitor which has been shown to have potent activity in a broad range of in vivo cancer models and is currently in Phase I clinical trials in patients with advanced solid malignancies, lymphomas, and myeloproliferative neoplasms. In this report, we describe the radiosynthesis of [(124)I]-PU-H71(5); this was synthesized from the corresponding Boc-protected stannane precursor 3 by iododestannylation with [(124)I]-NaI using chloramine-T as an oxidant for 2 min, followed by Boc deprotection with 6 N HCl at 50 °C for 30 min to yield the final compound. The final product 5 was purified using HPLC and was isolated with an overall yield of 55 ± 6% (n = 6, isolated) from 3, and >98% purity and an average specific activity of 980 mCi/µmol. Our report sets the stage for the introduction of [(124)I]-PU-H71 as a potential non-invasive probe for understanding biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of PU-H71 in living subjects using positron emission tomography imaging.

Synthesis and evaluation of cell-permeable biotinylated PU-H71 derivatives as tumor Hsp90 probes.

The attachment of biotin to a small molecule provides a powerful tool in biology. Here, we present a systematic approach to identify biotinylated analogues of the Hsp90 inhibitor PU-H71 that are capable of permeating cell membranes so as to enable the investigation of Hsp90 complexes in live cells. The identified derivative 2g can isolate Hsp90 through affinity purification and, as we show, represents a unique and useful tool to probe tumor Hsp90 biology in live cells by affinity capture, flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. To our knowledge, 2g is the only reported biotinylated Hsp90 probe to have such combined characteristics.

Affinity-based proteomics reveal cancer-specific networks coordinated by Hsp90.

Most cancers are characterized by multiple molecular alterations, but identification of the key proteins involved in these signaling pathways is currently beyond reach. We show that the inhibitor PU-H71 preferentially targets tumor-enriched Hsp90 complexes and affinity captures Hsp90-dependent oncogenic client proteins. We have used PU-H71 affinity capture to design a proteomic approach that, when combined with bioinformatic pathway analysis, identifies dysregulated signaling networks and key oncoproteins in chronic myeloid leukemia. The identified interactome overlaps with the well-characterized altered proteome in this cancer, indicating that this method can provide global insights into the biology of individual tumors, including primary patient specimens. In addition, we show that this approach can be used to identify previously uncharacterized oncoproteins and mechanisms, potentially leading to new targeted therapies. We further show that the abundance of the PU-H71-enriched Hsp90 species, which is not dictated by Hsp90 expression alone, is predictive of the cell's sensitivity to Hsp90 inhibition.

Synthesis of purine-scaffold fluorescent probes for heat shock protein 90 with use in flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.

Fluorescent ligands for the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) were synthesized containing either fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), 4-nitrobenzo[1,2,5]oxadiazole (NBD) or the red shifted dye sulforhodamine 101 (Texas Red) conjugated to PU-H71. Two of the compounds, PU-H71-FITC2 (9) and PU-H71-NBD1 (8), were shown to be suitable for fluorescence-activated flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Thus these molecules serve as useful probes for studying Hsp90 in heterogeneous live cell populations.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of small molecule Hsp90 probes.

A number of compounds from different chemical classes are known to bind competitively to the ATP-pocket of Hsp90 and inhibit its chaperone function. The natural product geldanamycin was the first reported inhibitor of Hsp90 and since then synthetic inhibitors from purine, isoxazole and indazol-4-one chemical classes have been discovered and are currently or soon to be in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. In spite of a similar binding mode to Hsp90, distinct biological profiles were demonstrated among these molecules, both in vitro and in vivo. To better understand the molecular basis for these dissimilarities, we report here the synthesis of chemical tools for three Hsp90 inhibitor classes. These agents will be useful for probing tumor-by-tumor the Hsp90 complexes isolated by specific inhibitors. Such information will lead to better understanding of tumor specific molecular markers to aid in their clinical development. It will also help to elucidate the molecular basis for the biological differences observed among Hsp90 inhibitors.

Design of a flexible cell-based assay for the evaluation of heat shock protein 70 expression modulators.

Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is a chaperone protein that helps protect against cellular stress, a function that may be co-opted to fight human diseases. In particular, the upregulation of Hsp70 can suppress the neurotoxicity of misfolded proteins, suggesting possible therapeutic strategies in neurodegenerative diseases. Alternatively, in cancer cells where high levels of Hsp70 inhibit both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways, a reduction in Hsp70 levels may induce apoptosis. To evaluate and identify, in a single assay format, small molecules that induce or inhibit endogenous Hsp70, we have designed and optimized a microtiter assay that relies on whole-cell immunodetection of Hsp70. The assay utilizes a minimal number of neuronal or cancer cells, yet is sufficiently sensitive and reproducible to permit quantitative determinations. We further validated the assay using a panel of Hsp70 modulators. In conclusion, we have developed an assay that is fast, robust, and cost efficient. As such, it can be implemented in most research laboratories. The assay should greatly improve the speed at which novel Hsp70 inducers and inhibitors of expression can be identified and evaluated.

Measuring the pharmacodynamic effects of a novel Hsp90 inhibitor on HER2/neu expression in mice using Zr-DFO-trastuzumab.

BACKGROUND: The positron-emitting radionuclide (89)Zr (t(1/2) = 3.17 days) was used to prepare (89)Zr-radiolabeled trastuzumab for use as a radiotracer for characterizing HER2/neu-positive breast tumors. In addition, pharmacodynamic studies on HER2/neu expression levels in response to therapeutic doses of PU-H71 (a specific inhibitor of heat-shock protein 90 [Hsp90]) were conducted. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Trastuzumab was functionalized with desferrioxamine B (DFO) and radiolabeled with [(89)Zr]Zr-oxalate at room temperature using modified literature methods. ImmunoPET and biodistribution experiments in female, athymic nu/nu mice bearing sub-cutaneous BT-474 (HER2/neu positive) and/or MDA-MB-468 (HER2/neu negative) tumor xenografts were conducted. The change in (89)Zr-DFO-trastuzumab tissue uptake in response to high- and low-specific-activity formulations and co-administration of PU-H71 was evaluated by biodistribution studies, Western blot analysis and immunoPET. (89)Zr-DFO-trastuzumab radiolabeling proceeded in high radiochemical yield and specific-activity 104.3+/-2.1 MBq/mg (2.82+/-0.05 mCi/mg of mAb). In vitro assays demonstrated >99% radiochemical purity with an immunoreactive fraction of 0.87+/-0.07. In vivo biodistribution experiments revealed high specific BT-474 uptake after 24, 48 and 72 h (64.68+/-13.06%ID/g; 71.71+/-10.35%ID/g and 85.18+/-11.10%ID/g, respectively) with retention of activity for over 120 h. Pre-treatment with PU-H71 was followed by biodistribution studies and immunoPET of (89)Zr-DFO-trastuzumab. Expression levels of HER2/neu were modulated during the first 24 and 48 h post-administration (29.75+/-4.43%ID/g and 41.42+/-3.64%ID/g, respectively). By 72 h radiotracer uptake (73.64+/-12.17%ID/g) and Western blot analysis demonstrated that HER2/neu expression recovered to baseline levels. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The results indicate that (89)Zr-DFO-trastuzumab provides quantitative and highly-specific delineation of HER2/neu positive tumors, and has potential to be used to measure the efficacy of long-term treatment with Hsp90 inhibitors, like PU-H71, which display extended pharmacodynamic profiles.

Identification of potent water soluble purine-scaffold inhibitors of the heat shock protein 90.

Hsp90 is a chaperone protein that allows cancer cells to tolerate the many components of dysregulated pathways. Its inactivation may result in targeting multiple molecular alterations and, thus, in reverting the transformed phenotype. The PU-class, a purine-scaffold Hsp90 inhibitor series, has been reported to be potent and selective against Hsp90 both in vitro and in vivo models of cancer. Here, a series of this class was synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of the chaperone. The structure-activity relationship and selectivity for tumor Hsp90 of compounds within the series is presented. The study identifies water soluble derivatives (>5 mM in PBS pH 7.4) of nanomolar potency (IC(50) approximately 50 nM) in cellular and animal models of cancer. Binding affinities of these compounds for Hsp90 correlate well with their biological activities. When administered in vivo to mice bearing MDA-MB-468 human breast cancer xenografted tumors, these agents result in pharmacologically relevant concentrations and, accordingly, in modulation of Hsp90-client proteins in tumors.