SF3B1 mutations provide genetic vulnerability to copper ionophores in human acute myeloid leukemia.

In a phenotypical screen of 56 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient samples and using a library of 10,000 compounds, we identified a hit with increased sensitivity toward SF3B1-mutated and adverse risk AMLs. Through structure-activity relationship studies, this hit was optimized into a potent, specific, and nongenotoxic molecule called UM4118. We demonstrated that UM4118 acts as a copper ionophore that initiates a mitochondrial-based noncanonical form of cell death known as cuproptosis. CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function screen further revealed that iron-sulfur cluster (ISC) deficiency enhances copper-mediated cell death. Specifically, we found that loss of the mitochondrial ISC transporter ABCB7 is synthetic lethal to UM4118. ABCB7 is misspliced and down-regulated in SF3B1-mutated leukemia, creating a vulnerability to copper ionophores. Accordingly, ABCB7 overexpression partially rescued SF3B1-mutated cells to copper overload. Together, our work provides mechanistic insights that link ISC deficiency to cuproptosis, as exemplified by the high sensitivity of SF3B1-mutated AMLs. We thus propose SF3B1 mutations as a biomarker for future copper ionophore-based therapies.

Molecular Analysis of the Superior Efficacy of a Dual Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-DNA-Targeting Combi-Molecule in Comparison with Its Putative Prodrugs 6-Mono-Alkylamino- and 6,6-Dialkylaminoquinazoline in a Human Osteosarcoma Xenograft Model.

Background: ZR2002 is a dual EGFR-DNA-targeting combi-molecule that carries a chloroethyl group at the six-position of the quinazoline ring designed to alkylate DNA. Despite its good pharmacokinetics, ZR2002 is metabolized in vivo into dechlorinated metabolites, losing the DNA-alkylating function required to damage DNA. To increase the DNA damage activity in tumor cells in vivo, we compared ZR2002 with two of its 6-N,N-disubstituted analogs: "JS61", with a nitrogen mustard function at the six-position of the quinazoline ring, and "JS84", with an N-methyl group. Methods: Tumor xenografts were performed with the human Saos-2 osteosarcoma cell line expressing EGFR. Mice were treated with ZR2002, JS84 or JS61, and the tumor burden was measured with a caliper and CT/PET imaging. Drug metabolism was analyzed with LC-MS. EGFR and ɣ-H2AX phosphorylation were quantified via Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Results: In vivo analysis showed that significant tumor growth inhibition was only achieved when ZR2002 was administered in its naked form. The metabolic dealkylation of JS61 and JS84 did not release sufficient concentrations of ZR2002 for the intratumoral inhibition of P-EGFR or enhanced levels of P-H2AX. Conclusions: The results in toto suggest that intratumoral concentrations of intact ZR2002 are correlated with the highest inhibition of P-EGFR and induction of DNA damage in vivo. ZR2002 may well represent a good drug candidate for the treatment of EGFR-expressing osteosarcoma.

Design and Synthesis of a Trifunctional Molecular System "Programmed" to Block Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase, Induce High Levels of DNA Damage, and Inhibit the DNA Repair Enzyme (Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase) in Prostate Cancer Cells.

Resistance to chemotherapy in advanced cancers can be mediated by different factors such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression and DNA repair enzymes. Therefore, current standards of care usually involve combinations of multiple treatments. Here, to reduce the adverse effects of multiple drug combinations and improve outcome, we proposed a single drug approach to block multiple overlapping effects that characterize chemoresistance. Thus, we designed a new linker that allows assembly of multiple functions (e.g., inhibition of EGFR phosphorylation, induction of DNA lesions, and blockade of their repair) into a single molecule. This led to the successful synthesis of a novel and potent combi-molecule JS230. Here, we demonstrated that in resistant prostate cancer cells overexpressing EGFR, it was capable of (a) inhibiting EGFR in a dose-dependent manner, (b) damaging DNA, and (c) sustaining the damage by inhibiting the DNA repair protein poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). The triple mechanism of action of JS230 cumulated into growth inhibitory potency superior to that of classical two- or three-drug combinations.

Comparative analysis of the dual EGFR-DNA targeting and growth inhibitory properties of 6-mono-alkylamino- and 6,6-dialkylaminoquinazoline-based type II combi-molecules.

Over the past decade, we described a novel tumour targeted approach that sought to design "combi-molecules" to hit two distinct targets in tumour cells. Here, to generate small combi-molecules with strong DNA damaging potential while retaining EGFR inhibitory potency, we developed the first synthetic strategy to access the 6-N, N-disubstituted quinazoline scaffold and designed JS61 to possess a nitrogen mustard function directly attached to the 6-position of the quinazoline ring. We compared its biological activity with that of structures containing either a hemi mustard or a non-alkylating substituent. Surprisingly, the results showed that JS61, while capable of inducing strong DNA damage, exhibited moderate EGFR inhibitory potency. In contrast, "combi-molecules" with no bulky substituent at the N-6 position (e.g. ZR2002 and JS84) showed stronger EGFR and growth inhibitory potency than JS61 in a panel of lung cancer cells. To rationalize these results, X-ray crystallography and molecular modeling studies were undertaken, and the data obtained indicated that bulkiness of the 6-N,N-disubstituted moieties hinder its binding to the ATP site and affects binding reversibility.

Mechanisms and Antitumor Activity of a Binary EGFR/DNA-Targeting Strategy Overcomes Resistance of Glioblastoma Stem Cells to Temozolomide.

PURPOSE: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a fatal primary malignant brain tumor. GBM stem cells (GSC) contribute to resistance to the DNA-damaging chemotherapy, temozolomide. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) displays genomic alterations enabling DNA repair mechanisms in half of GBMs. We aimed to investigate EGFR/DNA combi-targeting in GBM. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: ZR2002 is a "combi-molecule" designed to inflict DNA damage through its chlorethyl moiety and induce irreversible EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibition. We assessed its in vitro efficacy in temozolomide-resistant patient-derived GSCs, mesenchymal temozolomide-sensitive and resistant in vivo-derived GSC sublines, and U87/EGFR isogenic cell lines stably expressing EGFR/wild-type or variant III (EGFRvIII). We evaluated its antitumor activity in mice harboring orthotopic EGFRvIII or mesenchymal TMZ-resistant GSC tumors. RESULTS: ZR2002 induced submicromolar antiproliferative effects and inhibited neurosphere formation of all GSCs with marginal effects on normal human astrocytes. ZR2002 inhibited EGF-induced autophosphorylation of EGFR, downstream Erk1/2 phosphorylation, increased DNA strand breaks, and induced activation of wild-type p53; the latter was required for its cytotoxicity through p53-dependent mechanism. ZR2002 induced similar effects on U87/EGFR cell lines and its oral administration significantly increased survival in an orthotopic EGFRvIII mouse model. ZR2002 improved survival of mice harboring intracranial mesenchymal temozolomide-resistant GSC line, decreased EGFR, Erk1/2, and AKT phosphorylation and was detected in tumor brain tissue by MALDI imaging mass spectrometry. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide the molecular basis of binary EGFR/DNA targeting and uncover the oral bioavailability, blood-brain barrier permeability, and antitumor activity of ZR2002 supporting potential evaluation of this first-in-class drug in recurrent GBM.

A Porphyrin Dimer-GdDOTA Conjugate as a Theranostic Agent for One- and Two-Photon Photodynamic Therapy and MRI.

A molecular theranostic agent designed for photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment in the near-infrared and for imaging tissue tumors with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is reported. It consists of a linear π-conjugated Zn(II) porphyrin dimer linked at each extremity to a GdDOTA-type complex. This agent has shown very promising potential for PDT applications with good singlet oxygen generation in DMSO and high linear absorption in the near-infrared (λmax = 746 nm, ε ≈ 105 M-1 cm-1). Moreover, this molecule has a propensity for two-photon excited PDT with high two-photon cross sections (∼8000 GM in 880-930 nm range), which should allow for deeper tumor treatments and higher spatial precision as compared to conventional one-photon PDT. Regarding the MRI contrast agent properties, the molecule has shown superior relaxivity (14.4 mM-1 s-1 at 40 MHz, 298 K) in comparison to clinical contrast agents and the ability to be internalized in cells, thanks to its amphiphilic character. Irradiation of HeLa cells using either one-photon (740 nm) or two-photon excitation (910 nm) has led in both cases to important cell death.

Four Gadolinium(III) Complexes Appended to a Porphyrin: A Water-Soluble Molecular Theranostic Agent with Remarkable Relaxivity Suited for MRI Tracking of the Photosensitizer.

A molecular theranostic agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) consisting of four [GdDTTA](-) complexes (DTTA(4-) = diethylenetriamine-N,N,N″,N″-tetraacetate) linked to a meso-tetraphenylporphyrin core, as well as its yttrium(III) analogue, was synthesized. A variety of physicochemical methods were used to characterize the gadolinium(III) conjugate 1 both as an MRI contrast agent and as a photosensitizer. The proton relaxivity measured in H2O at 20 MHz and 25 °C, r1 = 43.7 mmol(-1) s(-1) per gadolinium center, is the highest reported for a bishydrated gadolinium(III)-based contrast agent of medium size and can be related to the rigidity of the molecule. The complex displays also a remarkable singlet oxygen quantum yield of Ï•Δ = 0.45 in H2O, similar to that of a meso-tetrasulfonated porphyrin. We also evidenced the ability of the gadolinium(III) conjugate to penetrate in cancer cells with low cytotoxicity. Its phototoxicity on Hela cells was evaluated following incubation at low micromolar concentration and moderate light irradiation (21 J cm(-2)) induced 50% of cell death. Altogether, these results demonstrate the high potential of this conjugate as a theranostic agent for MRI and PDT.

A Theranostic Agent Combining a Two-Photon-Absorbing Photosensitizer for Photodynamic Therapy and a Gadolinium(III) Complex for MRI Detection.

The convergent synthesis and characterization of a potential theranostic agent, [DPP-ZnP-GdDOTA](-), which combines a diketopyrrolopyrrole-porphyrin component DPP-ZnP as a two-photon photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) with a gadolinium(III) DOTA complex as a magnetic resonance imaging probe, is presented. [DPP-ZnP-GdDOTA](-) has a remarkably high longitudinal water proton relaxivity (19.94 mm(-1) s(-1) at 20 MHz and 25 °C) for a monohydrated molecular system of this size. The Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation Dispersion (NMRD) profile is characteristic of slow rotation, related to the extended and rigid aromatic units integrated in the molecule and to self-aggregation occurring in aqueous solution. The two-photon properties were examined and large two-photon absorption cross-sections around 1000 GM were determined between 910 and 940 nm in DCM with 1 % pyridine and in DMSO. Furthermore, the new conjugate was able to generate singlet oxygen, with quantum yield of 0.42 and 0.68 in DCM with 1 % pyridine and DMSO, respectively. Cellular studies were also performed. The [DPP-ZnP-GdDOTA](-) conjugate demonstrated low dark toxicity and was able to induce high one-photon and moderate two-photon phototoxicity on cancer cells.

Diketopyrrolopyrrole-porphyrin conjugates with high two-photon absorption and singlet oxygen generation for two-photon photodynamic therapy.

Two-photon photodynamic therapy is a promising therapeutic method which requires the development of sensitizers with efficient two-photon absorption and singlet-oxygen generation. Reported here are two new diketopyrrolopyrrole-porphyrin conjugates as robust two-photon absorbing dyes with high two-photon absorption cross-sections within the therapeutic window. Furthermore, for the first time the singlet-oxygen generation efficiency of diketopyrrolopyrrole-containing systems is investigated. A preliminary study on cell culture showed efficient two-photon induced phototoxicity.