The selective estrogen receptor downregulator GDC-0810 is efficacious in diverse models of ER+ breast cancer.

ER-targeted therapeutics provide valuable treatment options for patients with ER+ breast cancer, however, current relapse and mortality rates emphasize the need for improved therapeutic strategies. The recent discovery of prevalent ESR1 mutations in relapsed tumors underscores a sustained reliance of advanced tumors on ERα signaling, and provides a strong rationale for continued targeting of ERα. Here we describe GDC-0810, a novel, non-steroidal, orally bioavailable selective ER downregulator (SERD), which was identified by prospectively optimizing ERα degradation, antagonism and pharmacokinetic properties. GDC-0810 induces a distinct ERα conformation, relative to that induced by currently approved therapeutics, suggesting a unique mechanism of action. GDC-0810 has robust in vitro and in vivo activity against a variety of human breast cancer cell lines and patient derived xenografts, including a tamoxifen-resistant model and those that harbor ERα mutations. GDC-0810 is currently being evaluated in Phase II clinical studies in women with ER+ breast cancer.

Overexpression of a mutant CTLA4 inhibits T-cell activation and homeostasis-driven expansion.

OBJECTIVE: Interaction of B7 with CD28 and CTLA4 plays an important function in T-cell activation and homeostasis. Disruption of CD28, CTLA4, or both has shown impact on T-cell biology. This paper examined the consequences of overexpressing a tailless mutant form of CTLA4 on T-cell activation and in vivo expansion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retroviral gene transfer was used to infect bone marrow progenitor cells with either a control vector or a cytoplasmic domain-deleted mutant of CTLA-4 (deltaCTLA4). The cells were subsequently adoptively transferred to RAG-/- mice and allowed to repopulate. The T cells derived from the reconstituted RAG-/- mice were analyzed functionally in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: The T cells were defective in their ability for IL-2 secretion, survival, and proliferation in response to Ag/APC stimulation in vitro. Addition of exogenous IL-2 or normal T cells was able to rescue the survival defect and allow cell-cycle progression. In adoptive transfer studies, the naïve T cells expressing deltaCTLA4 exhibited compromised capability to expand in RAG-/- mice. Memory deltaCTLA4T cells, however, were capable of proliferating in lymphopenic hosts to a similar extent as control memory T cells, but showed reduced survival. CONCLUSION: Surface deltaCTLA4 has similar tolerogenic/regulatory activity as CTLA4-Ig. In contrast to CTLA4-Ig, the effect of deltaCTLA-4 is autonomous. The inhibition of in vivo expansion by deltaCTLA4 indicates developmental and/or activation stage dependency of costimulation in T cells.

A clinically relevant androgen receptor mutation confers resistance to second-generation antiandrogens enzalutamide and ARN-509.

UNLABELLED: Despite the impressive clinical activity of the second-generation antiandrogens enzalutamide and ARN-509 in patients with prostate cancer, acquired resistance invariably emerges. To identify the molecular mechanisms underlying acquired resistance, we developed and characterized cell lines resistant to ARN-509 and enzalutamide. In a subset of cell lines, ARN-509 and enzalutamide exhibit agonist activity due to a missense mutation (F876L) in the ligand-binding domain of the androgen receptor (AR). AR F876L is sufficient to confer resistance to ARN-509 and enzalutamide in in vitro and in vivo models of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Importantly, the AR F876L mutant is detected in plasma DNA from ARN-509-treated patients with progressive CRPC. Thus, selective outgrowth of AR F876L is a clinically relevant mechanism of second-generation antiandrogen resistance that can potentially be targeted with next-generation antiandrogens. SIGNIFICANCE: A missense mutation in the ligand-binding domain of the androgen receptor F876L confers resistance to the second-generation antiandrogens enzalutamide and ARN-509 in preclinical models of AR function and prostate cancer and is detected in plasma DNA from ARN-509-treated patients with progressive disease. These results chart a new path for the discovery and development of next-generation antiandrogens that could be coupled with a blood-based companion diagnostic to guide treatment decisions.