ABSTRACT
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) target cytotoxic drugs to antigen-positive cells for treating cancer. After internalization, ADCs with noncleavable linkers are catabolized to amino acid-linker-warheads within the lysosome, which then enter the cytoplasm by an unknown mechanism. We hypothesized that a lysosomal transporter was responsible for delivering noncleavable ADC catabolites into the cytoplasm. To identify candidate transporters, we performed a phenotypic shRNA screen with an anti-CD70 maytansine-based ADC. This screen revealed the lysosomal membrane protein SLC46A3, the genetic attenuation of which inhibited the potency of multiple noncleavable antibody-maytansine ADCs, including ado-trastuzumab emtansine. In contrast, the potencies of noncleavable ADCs carrying the structurally distinct monomethyl auristatin F were unaffected by SLC46A3 attenuation. Structure-activity experiments suggested that maytansine is a substrate for SLC46A3. Notably, SLC46A3 silencing led to relative increases in catabolite concentrations in the lysosome. Taken together, our results establish SLC46A3 as a direct transporter of maytansine-based catabolites from the lysosome to the cytoplasm, prompting further investigation of SLC46A3 as a predictive response marker in breast cancer specimens.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/metabolism , Immunoconjugates/metabolism , Maytansine/metabolism , Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/administration & dosage , Cell Line, Tumor , Cytoplasm/metabolism , Drug Delivery Systems , Humans , Immunoconjugates/administration & dosage , Lysosomes/metabolism , Maytansine/administration & dosageABSTRACT
The Cell division cycle 7 (Cdc7) protein kinase is essential for DNA replication and maintenance of genome stability. We systematically explored thiazole-based compounds as inhibitors of Cdc7 kinase activity in cancer cells. Our studies resulted in the identification of a potent, selective Cdc7 inhibitor that decreased phosphorylation of the direct substrate MCM2 in vitro and in vivo, and inhibited DNA synthesis and cell viability in vitro.
Subject(s)
Cell Cycle Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors , Thiazoles/chemical synthesis , Thiazoles/pharmacology , Animals , Catalytic Domain , Cell Cycle Proteins/chemistry , Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic , Female , HCT116 Cells , Humans , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Male , Mice , Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 2/metabolism , Molecular Docking Simulation , Phosphorylation/drug effects , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/metabolism , Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/chemistry , Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism , Rats , Structure-Activity Relationship , Thiazoles/chemistry , Thiazoles/metabolism , Xenograft Model Antitumor AssaysABSTRACT
We describe the structural optimization of a lead compound 1 that exhibits dual inhibitory activities against FLT3 and CDK4. A series of pyrido[4',3':4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives was synthesized, and SAR analysis, using cell-based assays, led to the discovery of 28 (AMG 925), a potent and orally bioavailable dual inhibitor of CDK4 and FLT3, including many FLT3 mutants reported to date. Compound 28 inhibits the proliferation of a panel of human tumor cell lines including Colo205 (Rb(+)) and U937 (FLT3(WT)) and induced cell death in MOLM13 (FLT3(ITD)) and even in MOLM13 (FLT3(ITD, D835Y)), which exhibits resistance to a number of FLT3 inhibitors currently under clinical development. At well-tolerated doses, compound 28 leads to significant growth inhibition of MOLM13 xenografts in nude mice, and the activity correlates with inhibition of STAT5 and Rb phosphorylation.