MIA PaCa-2 Cell Lines Research Articles

Development of bifunctional CRBN-SOS1 degraders for treatment of mutant KRAS cancers.

3151 Background: KRAS, a GTPase that regulates cellular growth, is the most frequently mutated oncogene in non-small cell lung, pancreatic and colorectal cancers. Hyperactivation of KRAS in mutant alleles result in upregulated signaling within the MAPK pathway leading to aberrant cell proliferation. In addition to the pan- and mutant-specific KRAS inhibitors, its upstream GEF activator, SOS1, has emerged as an attractive therapeutic target given its ability to regulate the active, GTP-loaded state of KRAS and mitigate MAPK pathway feedback. Methods: Utilizing our PRODEGY platform, we developed bifunctional CRBN-SOS1 degraders for the treatment of patients with KRAS-mutated cancers, independent of mutation type. Results: Our degraders display CRBN- and proteasome-mediated SOS1 degradation with DC50s < 15nM in high-throughput (HiBiT) and traditional Western Blot assays in multiple mutant KRAS cell lines. SOS1 degradation resulted in the reduction of active KRAS, HRAS and MRAS levels when assayed by RAF-RBD pulldowns in MIA PaCa-2 (KRAS G12C) cells. Other downstream signaling markers (pERK and pS6) were also decreased upon SOS1 degradation in KRAS G12C, G12V, G12S and G13D cell lines in 3D Western Blot assays. Notably, the observed pERK and pS6 inhibition was driven by SOS1 degradation and not inhibition as decreases in signaling was no longer observed when SOS1 degraders were outcompeted with CRBN competitors. To assess the antiproliferative effects of our SOS1 degraders, we developed 3D proliferation assays in various KRAS mutant (G12A, G12C, G12D, G12V, G12S, G13C and G13D) as well as KRAS amplified cell lines and observed IC50s ranging from 0.5 - 70nM. Treatment of CRBN KO and SOS1 KO H358 and MIA PaCa-2 cell lines with our SOS1 degraders resulted in 100- to 400-fold IC50 values, validating that the functional activity observed is dependent on its targets. Consistent with our in vitro data, treatment of SOS1 degraders in MIA PaCa-2 xenografts resulted in > 90% degradation and led to significant tumor growth inhibition. Given the diversity of mutations and tumors as well as acquired drug resistance to allele-specific KRAS inhibitors, we sought to determine if coupling SOS1 degradation with other EGFR-RAS-MAPK inhibitors could produce more potent responses to maximize patient benefit. Strong synergistic antiproliferative effects were observed when SOS1 degraders were co-treated with KRAS inhibitors AMG510 (G12C) and MRTX1133 (G12D) in respective KRAS-mutant cell lines as well as with MEK inhibition and EGFR inhibition. Lastly, combination of AMG510 or Trametinib with SOS1 degraders yielded strong synergy and a greater anti-tumor response in MIA PaCa-2 xenografts relative to the individual agents themselves. Conclusions: Together, these results highlight the potential of SOS1 degraders alone and in combination as therapeutic options for a variety of KRAS-driven cancers.

Novel Chlorin e6-Curcumin Derivatives as a Potential Photosensitizer: Synthesis, Characterization, and Anticancer Activity.

Novel series of chlorin e6-curcumin derivatives were designed and synthesized. All the synthesized compounds 16, 17, 18, and 19 were tested for their photodynamic treatment (PDT) efficacy against human pancreatic cancer cell lines: AsPC-1, MIA-PaCa-2, and PANC-1. The cellular uptake study was performed in the aforementioned cell lines using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). 17, among the synthesized compounds with IC50 values of 0.27, 0.42, and 0.21 µM against AsPC-1, MIA PaCa-2, and PANC-1 cell lines, respectively, demonstrated excellent cellular internalization capability and exhibited higher phototoxicity relative to the parent Ce6. The quantitative analyses using Annexin V-PI staining revealed that the 17-PDT-induced apoptosis was dose-dependent. In pancreatic cell lines, 17 reduced the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, and increased the pro-apoptotic protein, cytochrome C, which indicates the activation of intrinsic apoptosis, the primary cause of cancer cell death. Structure-activity relationship studies have shown that the incorporation of additional methyl ester moiety and conjugation to the enone moiety of curcumin enhances cellular uptake and PDT efficacy. Moreover, in vivo PDT testing in melanoma mouse models revealed that 17-PDT greatly reduced tumor growth. Therefore, 17 might be an effective photosensitizer for PDT anticancer therapy.

Raloxifene and bazedoxifene as selective ALDH1A1 inhibitors to ameliorate cyclophosphamide resistance: A drug repurposing approach

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is one of the most widely used anticancer drugs for various malignancies. However, its long-term use leads to ALDH1A1-mediated inactivation and subsequent resistance which necessitates the development of potential ALDH1A1 inhibitors. Currently, ALDH1A1 inhibitors from different chemical classes have been reported, but these failed to reach the market due to safety and efficacy problems. Developing a new treatment from the ground requires a huge amount of time, effort, and money, therefore it is worthwhile to improve CP efficacy by proposing better adjuvants as ALDH1A1 inhibitors. Herein, the database constituting the FDA-approved drugs with well-established safety and toxicity profiles was screened through already reported machine learning models by our research group. This model is validated for discriminating the ALDH1A1 inhibitors and non-inhibitors. Virtual screening protocol (VS) from this model identified four FDA-approved drugs, raloxifene, bazedoxifene, avanafil, and betrixaban as selective ALDH1A1 inhibitors. The molecular docking, dynamics, and water swap analysis also suggested these drugs to be promising ALDH1A1 inhibitors which were further validated for their CP resistance reversal potential by in-vitro analysis. The in-vitro enzymatic assay results indicated that raloxifene and bazedoxifene selectively inhibited the ALDH1A1 enzyme with IC50 values of 2.35 and 4.41 μM respectively, whereas IC50 values of both the drugs against ALDH2 and ALDH3A1 was >100 μM. Additional in-vitro studies with well-reported ALDH1A1 overexpressing A549 and MIA paCa-2 cell lines suggested that mafosfamide sensitivity was further ameliorated by the combination of both raloxifene and bazedoxifene. Collectively, in-silico and in-vitro studies indicate raloxifene and bazedoxifene act as promising adjuvants with CP that may improve the quality of treatment for cancer patients with minimal toxicities.

Abstract B002: Development of bifunctional CRBN-SOS1 degraders for treatment of mutant KRAS cancers

Abstract Although oncogenic Kirsten rat sarcoma virus (KRAS) was once deemed undruggable, recent advances have revealed promising anti-tumor effects with pan-KRAS and KRAS-mutant specific inhibitors in both preclinical and clinical settings. Despite the success of these inhibitors, the diversity of tumors as well as tumor sensitivity results in acquired drug resistance suggesting that combinational therapeutic approaches would be necessary to avoid this problem. An attractive combination strategy would be to couple KRAS inhibition with a blockade of its guanine exchange factor, Son of Sevenless (SOS1). This would keep KRAS in its inactive state as well as mitigate upstream MAPK pathway reactivation notoriously associated with inhibition in this pathway. Utilizing our PRODEGY platform, we developed bifunctional SOS1 degraders for the treatment of patients with KRAS mutant cancers. These degraders have shown rapid and potent CRBN-mediated degradation which exhibit DC50s <10nM in a H358 SOS1-HiBiT cell line. Our high-throughput HiBiT data translated into effective SOS1 degradation in KRAS mutant cells harboring G12C, G12D, G12V, G12S, or G13D mutations. SOS1 degradation was validated to be dependent on the proteasome and CRBN as cotreatment with proteasomal inhibitors (MG132 or MLN4924) or treatment in a CRBN KO cells abolished degradation. Treatment of our SOS1 degraders resulted in the suppression of multiple signaling markers downstream of SOS1. Given its role in RAS activation, we observed a reduction in active KRAS, HRAS and MRAS protein upon treatment of SOS1 degraders in KRAS G12C MIA PaCa-2 cells. Furthermore, pERK and pS6 levels were decreased in a more potent or comparable manner compared to the SOS1 inhibitor, BI3406, in multiple KRAS mutant cell lines. Out competing SOS1 degraders with other CRBN binders highlighted that inhibition of pERK and pS6 was due to CRBN-mediated degradation. To determine functional activity of our SOS1 degraders, we developed and optimized 3D proliferation assays in multiple KRAS mutant (G12C, G12V, G12S, G13D) cell lines which yielded IC50s ranging from 0.5 – 70nM. Similarly, 100- to 300-fold IC50 value shifts were observed in SOS1 KO and CRBN KO H358 cell lines validating that the anti-proliferative activity of SOS1 degraders is specific to its targets. Treatment of SOS1 degraders in KRAS-mutant xenograft models resulted in >90% degradation of SOS1 in tumors and subsequently led to significant tumor growth inhibition as a single agent. Combination treatment of the KRAS G12C inhibitor AMG510 and SOS1 degraders produced strong synergistic antiproliferative effects in H358 and MIA PaCa-2 cell lines. Additionally, synergy was observed with SOS1 degraders and the EGFR inhibitor, Erlotinib, as well as the MEK inhibitor, Trametinib, in KRAS G13D mutant LoVo cells. The ability of our SOS1 degraders to have potency alone as well as in combination with multiple types of different RTK/RAS/MAPK pathway inhibitor highlights the value of SOS1 degraders as a potential therapeutic option for a range of KRAS mutant cancers. Citation Format: Kyle Begovich, Angela Schoolmeesters, Navin Rajapakse, Maneesh Kumar, Elena Martinez-Terroba, Arvind Shakya, Brandon Whitefield, Nataraj Pagadala, Aparajita Chourasia, Leah Fung. Development of bifunctional CRBN-SOS1 degraders for treatment of mutant KRAS cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Targeting RAS; 2023 Mar 5-8; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2023;21(5_Suppl):Abstract nr B002.

Abstract B026: Overcoming KRAS G12C inhibitor resistance with chaperone-mediated protein degrader in NSCLC

Abstract KRAS-G12C targeting inhibitors (G12Cis), such adagrasib and sotorasib, have shown specificity and promising anti-tumor potential in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). However, acquired resistance to these inhibitors has recently been observed in the clinic. Mechanisms of resistance to G12Cis are associated with genetic alterations of several pro-growth signaling pathways. A strategy to overcome the multifarious resistance mechanisms to G12Cis that does not require further molecular characterization is needed. To develop an all-round strategy to overcome G12Ci resistance mechanisms, we exposed NCI-H358, NCI-H1373, and MIAPaCa2 cell lines harboring KRAS-G12C mutations to increasing concentrations of sotorasib or adagrasib over 6 months. The resulting resistant cells proliferate normally in the presence of 10 μM sotorasib or adagrasib. Sotorasib-resistant cells designated as NCI-H358S-R, NCI-H1373S-R, and MIAPaCa2S-R remarkably remain sensitive to adagrasib, suggesting but not proving that the resistant cells remain dependent on mutant KRAS for survival. Adagrasib-resistant cells designated as NCI-H358A-R, NCI-H1373A-R, and MIAPaCa2A-R in contrast remain resistant to both sotorasib and adagrasib. Treatment of adagrasib-resistant cells with 500 nM adagrasib attenuated KRAS activity, however, this was compensated by activation of varied receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) to restore phospho-ERK levels, a surrogate marker of RAS activity. Moreover, treatment of de novo resistant NSCLC cells lines NCI-H2030, NCI-H1792, and NCI-H23 or NSCLC patient derived organoids (PDOs) with 500 nM adagrasib resulted in sustained phospho-ERK levels through activation of RTKs. These results indicate the need to simultaneously reduce both KRAS G12C and compensating RTK activity to effectively treat NSCLC. The majority of oncogenic RTKs are dependent on the molecular chaperone HSP90 to maintain stability. Therefore, a heterobifunctional chaperone mediated protein (CHAMP) degrader, RNK07421, was designed to specifically target both KRAS G12C and HSP90. RNK07421 induces an artificial ternary complex between KRAS G12C and HSP90, while also inhibiting the activity of both proteins. The RNK07421 coordinated KRAS G12C-HSP90 interaction promotes the proteasome degradation of KRAS G12C likely via HSP90 associated E3-ligases. Treatment of adagrasib resistant NSCLC cells and PDOs with RNK07421 resulted in reduced levels of KRAS G12C and phospho-ERK along with resistance enabling RTKs: EGFR, BRAF and FGFR2. Furthermore, in vivo treatment of resistant NSCLC cells with RNK07421 demonstrated dramatic tumor reduction as compared to G12Ci. Together these observations indicate that the novel mechanisms of action of RNK07421 may provide several advantages to G12Cis and possibly other targeted protein degradation agents to effectively treat KRAS G12C dependent NSCLC. Citation Format: Ines Pulido, Jennifer M. Graeber, Brianna C. Borger, Kevin P. Foley, Weiwen Ying, Chenghao Ying, Jinhua Li, Yaya Wang, Yuetong Sun, Yan Dai, Guoqiang Wang, Thomas L. Prince, Takeshi Shimamura. Overcoming KRAS G12C inhibitor resistance with chaperone-mediated protein degrader in NSCLC [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Targeting RAS; 2023 Mar 5-8; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2023;21(5_Suppl):Abstract nr B026.

Aspergillus niger CJ6 extract with antimicrobial potential promotes in-vitro cytotoxicity and induced apoptosis against MIA PaCa-2 cell line

Nowadays, the increased number of multidrug-resistant strains among pathogens is a severe public health concern and cancer is posing a great threat for humans. These problems should be tackled with the development of novel and broad-spectrum antimicrobials from microbial origin. During the present study, the bioactive secondary metabolites from Aspergillus niger CJ6 were extracted, characterized; their biological properties were evaluated by subjecting them for antimicrobial, antifungal and anticancer activities. The potent isolate Aspergillus niger CJ6 with nucleotide sequence of 959 base pairs showed antagonistic activity against fungal pathogens in dual culture. The chemical profiling of crude ethyl acetate extract indicated the presence of various bioactive molecules belonging to phenolic, hydrocarbons, and phthalate derivative classes. In antimicrobial activity, the crude extract displayed increasing activity with increased concentration; the highest activity observed against Shigella flexneri with 15 ± 1.0, 19 ± 0.5, 20 ± 1.0 and 24 ± 1.0 mm zones of inhibition at 25, 50, 75 and 100 μl concentrations. The MTT assay illustrated deformed cells of MIA PaCa-2 cell line in in-vitro cytotoxic activity; outflow of cell matrix and membrane rupture; the IC50 of 90.78 μg/ml suggested moderate potential of extract to prevent cancer cell growth. The apoptosis/necrosis study by flow cytometer exhibited 8.98 ± 0.85% early and 73 ± 0.7% of late apoptotic population with 3.8 ± 1.1% necrotic cells; only 14.22 ± 0.6% of healthy cells suggested the increased apoptosis inducing capacity of Aspergillus niger CJ6 crude extract. The outcomes of this study persuade further exploration on the identification, purification and development of novel bioactive agents that could help battle fatal diseases in humans.

Abstract 4561: 3D Reconstructed Pancreas: A model capturing the unique tumor microenvironment and stromal architecture of pancreatic cancer

Abstract As it is rarely discovered early, the prognosis for people with pancreatic cancer is poor, with an average 5-year survival rate of 10% and only 3% for those with metastatic illness. Pancreatic cancer patients have few therapeutic options and innovative therapies are sorely needed to improve treatment of the disease. This is mainly due to the late diagnosis and partially due to the biology of the disease. Capturing the components of the tumor microenvironment, which serve as both a physical barrier and a source of stromal-driven resistance to therapeutics, is one of the issues faced by drug developers searching for agents to combat pancreatic cancer. We have created a 3D model of the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, the Reconstructed Pancreas (r-Pancreas), using Mia PaCa-2, PANC-1, and BxPC-3 pancreatic tumor cell lines embedded in an extracellular matrix (ECM) that was formulated to recapitulate the typical ECM of pancreatic tumors. We have shown that gemcitabine was effective against pancreatic tumor cells cultured in r-Pancreas (IC50=0.4-0.8µM), while 5-fluorouracil was ineffective (IC50 not reached), mimicking clinical response. In nude mice, subcutaneous PANC-1 tumors exhibited similar responses to gemcitabine and 5-fluorocurcil. Treatment with gemcitabine resulted in a Day 63 median ΔT/ΔC of 37% while 5-fluorouracil resulted in a Day 63 median delta ΔT/ΔC of 102%. Incorporating a collagen-rich capsule increases the physiological relevance of the r-Pancreas model because it has been shown that human pancreatic tumors have an outer layer of stiff ECM that functions as a physical barrier and prevents drugs from penetrating the tumor. Recently, we showed that, at least in the Mia PaCa-2 and BxPC-3 tumor cell lines, introducing such a collagen capsule dramatically reduced sensitivity to gemcitabine. Disrupting the collagen capsule with MMP-9 restored the sensitivity of the tumor cells to gemcitabine demonstrating that the capsule provides a physical barrier to drug entry. Additionally, creating a co-culture of primary activated pancreatic stromal cells and pancreatic tumor cell lines produces a more complete 3D model that permits the testing of potential therapeutic agents inside the pancreatic tumor microenvironment. Hence, we have created a 3D model where pancreatic tumor cells were co-cultured with human pancreatic fibroblasts. According to our results, the IC50 values for pancreatic tumor cell lines treated with gemcitabine increased by twofold when co-cultured with activated pancreatic fibroblasts compared to control sets of tumor cells alone (IC50=1-3µM). Together, these data imply that, to be clinically relevant, in vitro models of pancreatic cancer must integrate tumor-specific components of the microenvironment, including the collagen capsule and activated fibroblasts. Citation Format: Arnat Balabyev, Justin D. Phillips, Michael Steffey, Eleanore J. Kirshner, Aayushi Ahlawat, Arlette H. Uihlein, Daniel Saims, Scott Wise, Julia Kirshner. 3D Reconstructed Pancreas: A model capturing the unique tumor microenvironment and stromal architecture of pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4561.

Abstract 839: Characterization and evaluation of modified 5-fluorouracil loaded liposomal nanoparticle on pancreatic and colorectal cancer cell lines

Abstract The purpose of the study is to characterize modified 5-FU (MFU) and investigate its anticancer activity in liposomal nanoparticles (MFU-Lnps) against colorectal and pancreatic cancer cell lines. Methods: The synthesized MFU was characterized by NMR and elemental analysis and formulated as MFU-Lnps. The particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential were determined using a particle size analyzer. The in-vitro studies were performed on 2D and 3D models of HCT-116 and MiaPaCa-2 cell lines. Cellular uptake of rhodamine (Rho) (cationic dye) alone or Rho-linked-Lnps (Rho-Lnp) was determined by confocal fluorescence microscopy. In-vitro release of MFU from MFU-Lnps was performed using PBS and methanol (3:1) at 37° C under sink conditions. To evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK) parameters and tissue biodistribution behavior of Lnp, Lnp was loaded with gadolinium-hexanoate (Gad-Hex-Lnps), and the quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: The 1H NMR peaks at 1.02 ppm (-C-N on 2') and 1.04 ppm (-C-N on 2''), represent the amine bond between 4-NH2 group of 5-FU and tetrahydrofuran acetate. This confirmed that the MFU was successfully synthesized. The elemental analysis of MFU showed 99.5% purity by comparing observed and theoretical values (Observed: carbon (C) = 53.57 %, hydrogen (H)= 5.64 %, and nitrogen (N) =10.44 % and, theoretical: C=53.33%, H=5.59%, and N=10.37 %). The MFU-Lnps hydrodynamic diameter was 124.9 ± 3.2 nm, polydispersity was found to be 0.16 ± 0.005, while entrapment efficiency and zeta potential values were 97.2% and -30.3 ± 12 mV, respectively. The MFU treated-2D and 3D MiaPaCa-2 cultures (IC50 values: 3.9 ± 0.9 µM2D and 6.7±1.1µM3D) was more effective than 5-FU-treated 2D and 3D MiaPaCa-2 cultures (IC50 values: 5.4 ± 0.8 µM2D and 8.5 ± 1.0 µM3D). However, MFU-Lnps treated-MiaPaCa-2 3D-organoid was 4-fold more effective compared with MFU (IC50 values: 9.8 ± 1.4 µMMFU-Lnps versus 42.3 ± 2.9 µMMFU). A similar high cytotoxicity effect of MFU-Lnp was observed when MFU-Lnp (IC50 values: 2.0 ± 0.7 µM2D and 3.4 ±0.8 µM3D) was exposed to HCT-116 2D and 3D cultures compared to MFU (3.1± 0.8µM2D and 6.8 ± 0.9 µM3D). For cellular uptake, we observed an increase in the uptake of Rho-linked-Lnps compared with Rho alone. The MFU release MFU-Lnps exhibited Higuchi release kinetics model based on the coefficient of determination (R2). For PK results, the half-life of Gad-Hex-Lnps (32.5 ± 2.6 min) was significantly high compared to that of Gad-Hex (21.5 ± 0.7 min) and, AUC of Gad-Hex-Lnps (1641 ± 499 µg/L*min) was higher than Gad-Hex (932 ± 256 µg/L*min). The accumulation of Gad-Hex-Lnps in the pancreas was remarkably higher than Gad-Hex. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that MFU-Lnps improves the anticancer efficacy of 5-FU and Lnps delivery system may improve PK parameters and increases the biodistribution of 5-FU. Citation Format: Raviteja Bulusu, Nkafu B. Ndemazie, Esther K. Frimpong, Andriana Inkoom, Joy C. Okoro, Xue Y. Zhu. Characterization and evaluation of modified 5-fluorouracil loaded liposomal nanoparticle on pancreatic and colorectal cancer cell lines [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 839.

Abstract 3448: Discovery of HYP-2A,a 2nd- generation KRASG12C inhibitor exhibits potent in vivo efficacy in drug resistant tumor models

Abstract Although activating mutations in KRAS are well recognized as a hallmark of cancer, KRAS was considered an undruggable target for over 30 years after its discovery, due to the intrinsic characteristics of KRAS proteins. The pocket of KRAS is small and has a considerably smooth and shallow surface, resulting in difficulty for small molecule to bind to the protein. Recent accelerated approval of Sotorasib (AMG 510) by FDA marked the first marketed KRASG12C inhibitor for the treatment of 2nd line KRASG12C mutation-positive NSCLC patients. Although great clinical benefits were delivered by this breakthrough medicine, intrinsic or acquired drug resistances were developed in a large portion of patients treated. HYP-2A is a new chemical entity (NCE) being developed by Sichuan Huiyu Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of KRASG12C inhibitor resistant tumors. It is an orally bioavailable, potent KRASG12C inhibitor that shows very high anti-proliferation activities in NCI-H358 cell line and various Sotorasib and Adagrasib (MRTX 849) resistant tumor cell lines in vitro and demonstrates strong in vivo efficacy in the corresponding xenograft mouse models. It inhibits NCI-H358, H358 AMGR, Mia PaCa-2, PaCa-2 AMGR, KYSE-410, and SW1573 cell lines with IC50 values range from low double-digit to single-digit nanomolar. When dosing at 10 mpk via PO, HYP-2A demonstrates significant efficacy (TGI > 75%) in SW1573 Xenograph mouse model, whereas neither Sotorasib nor Adagrasib shows any obvious efficacy at 30 mpk with TGIs less than 20% in the same experiment. Similarly, when dosing at 10 mpk via PO, HYP-2A exhibits strong efficacy (TGI > 90%) in KYSE-410 Xenograph mouse model, while neither Sotorasib nor Adagrasib shows any significant efficacy (TGI < 50%) at 30 mpk via PO dosing in the same experiment. In an acute toxicity study in rats, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of HYP-2A is found higher than 30 mpk. In a two-week toxicity studies in rodents, rats are found well tolerated when treated with HYP-2A via PO at 3-10mpk (QD) for 14 consecutive days. The MTD of HYP-2A is determined higher than 10 mpk. In this presentation, we will highlight the research program that leads to the discovery of HYP-2A, which is currently under IND-enabling studies. Citation Format: Shoujun Chen, Xiaoming Qiang, Haibo Wang, Yong Xiong, Ke Liu, Dengming Liao, Nan Zhong, Mingdeng Liu, Xuemei Mu, Rudan Huang, Min Li, Dengwei Gui, Meilin Huang, Yuting Chen, Yuanfu Pan, Wengang Yao, Yingte Song, Zhongbo Wang, Wenbin Wang, Jun Liu, Xingchi Yu, Zhen Liang, Yike Yuan, Zhao Ding. Discovery of HYP-2A,a 2nd- generation KRASG12C inhibitor exhibits potent in vivo efficacy in drug resistant tumor models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 3448.

Abstract 4500: Enedione derivates as a potential cancer treatment through the inhibition of COPZ1

Abstract Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide; it was responsible for approximately 10 million deaths in 2020. Besides surgery for tumor removal, the most common treatments available are chemotherapy and radiation, which are not selective, resulting in side effects such as pain, hair loss, nausea, and vomiting. They are also ineffective against stem-like and dormant tumor cells, which could lead to a relapse and/or metastasis. Consequently, the development of drugs with tumor-specific targets is needed. COPI is a coatomer responsible for the retrograde transport from Golgi complex (GC) to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In this context, we developed four compounds targeting disruption of GC through inhibition of COPI and previous results showed that compounds 1-4 significantly decrease cell viability of pancreatic cancer cell lines MIA PaCa-2 and AsPC-1, compared to hTERT-HPNE normal pancreatic cell line. In the present work, RT q-PCR confirmed that the two isoforms of the COPI ζ subunit COPZ1 and COPZ2 are expressed at similar levels in normal cells while COPZ2 is downregulated in tumor cell lines. Our in vitro results demonstrated that compounds 1-4 decreased cell viability of breast cancer (HCC1143) and melanoma (A-395) cell lines. The tested compounds are able to target COPZ1-dependent tumor cells, therefore they are great candidates for further studies aiming to develop a selective treatment for cancer. Citation Format: Allana C. Martins, Barbara Mitsuyasu Barbosa, Ingridhy O. Maia Freitas da Silveira, Roberto Gomes. Enedione derivates as a potential cancer treatment through the inhibition of COPZ1. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4500.

Anticancer Activity of Sunitinib Analogues in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cell Cultures under Normoxia and Hypoxia

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancer types. It is usually characterized by high resistance to chemotherapy. However, cancer-targeted drugs, such as sunitinib, recently have shown beneficial effects in pancreatic in vitro and in vivo models. Therefore, we chose to study a series of sunitinib derivatives developed by us, that were proven to be promising compounds for cancer treatment. The aim of our research was to evaluate the anticancer activity of sunitinib derivatives in human pancreatic cancer cell lines MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 under normoxia and hypoxia. The effect on cell viability was determined by the MTT assay. The compound effect on cell colony formation and growth was established by clonogenic assay and the activity on cell migration was estimated using a 'wound healing' assay. Six out of 17 tested compounds at 1 µM after 72 h of incubation reduced cell viability by 90% and were more active than sunitinib. Compounds for more detailed experiments were chosen based on their activity and selectivity towards cancer cells compared to fibroblasts. The most promising compound EMAC4001 was 24 and 35 times more active than sunitinib against MIA PaCa-2 cells, and 36 to 47 times more active against the PANC-1 cell line in normoxia and hypoxia. It also inhibited MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cell colony formation. Four tested compounds inhibited MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cell migration under hypoxia, but none was more active than sunitinib. In conclusion, sunitinib derivatives possess anticancer activity in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cell lines, and they are promising for further research.

Expression of Selected miRNAs in Normal and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and in BxPc3 and MIA PaCa-2 Cell Lines of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Therapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains challenging, and the chances of a complete cure are very limited. As in other types of cancer, the expression and role of miRNAs in controlling the biological properties of this type of tumor have been extensively studied. A better insight into miRNA biology seems critical to refining diagnostics and improving their therapeutic potential. In this study, we focused on the expression of miR-21, -96, -196a, -210, and -217 in normal fibroblasts, cancer-associated fibroblasts prepared from a ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, and pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. We compared these data with miRNAs in homogenates of paraffin-embedded sections from normal pancreatic tissues. In cancer-associated fibroblasts and cancer cell lines, miRNAs differed significantly from the normal tissue. In detail, miR-21 and -210 were significantly upregulated, while miR-217 was downregulated. Similar transcription profiles were earlier reported in cancer-associated fibroblasts exposed to hypoxia. However, the cells in our study were cultured under normoxic conditions. We also noted a relation to IL-6 production. In conclusion, cultured cancer-associated fibroblasts and carcinoma cells reflect miR-21 and -210 expression similarly to the cancer tissue samples harvested from the patients.

Ingenol mebutate inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro via STING with an efficacy comparable to that of clinically used anticancer agents.

Pancreatic cancer is associated with a poor prognosis; thus, there is an urgent need to develop new and effective treatments. Ingenol mebutate (IM), which is isolated from the latex of Euphorbia peplus, was recently shown to be effective against pancreatic cancer cell lines; however, its mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we focused on the less drug-sensitive pancreatic cancer cell line Panc-1 and compared IM to commercially available anticancer drugs using cell survival assays. In addition, we aimed to identify novel biomolecules that may be involved in the mechanism of action of IM using RNA sequencing, western blotting, and inhibition assays. The IC50 values after 72h of exposure to IM and SN-38, drugs to which the Panc-1 cells are most sensitive among the tested anticancer agents, were 43.1 ± 16.8nM and 165 ± 37nM, respectively. IM showed a cytostatic effect equal to or greater than that of the clinically used pancreatic cancer therapeutic drugs. RNA sequencing and protein expression analysis revealed that expression of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) increased at low IM concentration, whereas cell viability decreased. Co-exposure of IM and STING inhibitor, H-151, to Panc-1 or MIA PaCa-2 cell lines canceled the growth-inhibitory effects of IM alone. In conclusion, IM may have an efficacy comparable to that of existing pancreatic cancer therapeutic agents on the less drug-sensitive Panc-1 cell line and the immune-related molecule STING plays a role in the mechanism of action of IM.

Antioxidant, Cytotoxicity, Apoptotic Properties of Extracts of Andricus sternlichti galls and Their Phenolic Characterisation by HPLC.

Quercus L. galls have been used in Western and Eastern cultures for various diseases in traditional medicine. Galls are also used in the East for many purposes, including consumption as food, commercial inks, leather tanning. In the current study, Andricus sternlichti Bellido, Pujade-Villar & Melika, 2003 galls were extracted in different solvents. The possible antioxidant effects of gall extracts were determined using 7 different methods (β-carotene-linoleic acid assay, Phosphomolybdenum assay, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, CUPRAC and FRAP assay, Metal Chelating activity) to support each other. Total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin amounts of extracts are calculated by using standard curves. In addition, HPLC method used to characterize the phenolic component with 15 different standards. The MIA PaCa-2 cell lines was preferred to identify possible cytotoxic activities of galls. Expression of some genes (Bax, Bcl-2, FAS, BID, caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, caspase-10, FADD, TRADD) role in the apoptosis was determined to investigate apoptotic effects of extracts. According the results, the gall extracts of A. sternlichti may be considered as a potential source of biological agents for their antioxidant capacity and rich bioactive compounds. The gall extracts exhibit antiproliferative activity via regulating expressions of apoptotic genes.

Targeting a transcription factor NF-κB by green tea catechins using in silico and in vitro studies in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer remains a lethal disease and a major public health problem globally. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) has been identified as a therapeutic target in several cancers and plays an important role in inflammatory responses. Many phytochemicals, including catechins, have been reported in the scientific literature with efficient anticancer potential and minimal side effects. This study aims to gain insights into the inhibitory mechanism of catechin derivatives epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) using in silico and in vitro studies especially considering NF-κB targeting. We explored the binding pose, interacting residues and molecular interactions for catechin derivatives with NF-κB. Docking analysis showed that the catechin derivatives acted as covalent inhibitors with the p65 subunit of NF-κB and interacted with other residues through non-bonding interactions and hydrogen bonds. Further, we validated the effect of EGCG on NF-κB activity in pancreatic cancer cell lines MIAPaCa-2 and SU 86.86. Our in vitro data showed EGCG effectively reduced cell growth and proliferation, induced apoptosis, and inhibited NF-κB activity in the studied cell lines. In addition, EGCG repressed the expression of NF-κB target genes including MMP9, MMP2, cMyc, and BCL-2. Thus, targeting NF-κB with EGCG could be a potential therapeutic alternative for pancreatic cancer treatment.

IN VITRO ANTI-PROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY OF NOVEL ANALOGUES OF(E)-2-BENZYLIDENE-N-(3-(3-OXO-2,3- DIHYDRO-4H-BENZO[B][1,4]OXAZIN-4-YL)PROPYL) HYDRAZINE-1-CARBOTHIOAMIDE

A novel analog of substituted-(E)-2-benzylidene-N-(3-(3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-4H-benzo[b] [1,4] oxazin-4-yl)propyl) hydrazine-1-carbothioamides (9a-j) appeared to be assess being anti-proliferative activity in vitro environment some of the newly derived derivatives have shown sufficiently great to modest suppression in the number of cells in cancer among GrowthInhibition50 was (0.180-4.20 µM). Compounds 9a, 9b, 9d, 9g, 9i, and 9j showed promising acts contrarily 4 human being tumor cell lines. Out of 9a and 9g displayed heartening cancer act in opposition to IMR-32 (Human being neuroblastoma cells) at 0.23 M and MIAPACA(human pancreatic carcinoma cells) at 0.18 M respectively. Notably, compound 9g showed significant activity at 0.18 M against the MIAPACA cell line respectively.

Activating transcription factor 4 regulates hypoxia inducible factor 1α in chronic hypoxia in pancreatic cancer cells

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat cancers with tumors typically exhibiting high levels of chronic hypoxia. Hypoxia activates hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) that mediate cellular responses to adapt to low oxygen environments. Hypoxia also causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, increasing activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), a master regulator of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway that mediates cellular response to ER stress. ATF4 is overexpressed in PDAC and is associated with poor prognoses. While ATF4 promotes cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, most studies have been conducted under normoxia or acute hypoxia. The functions of ATF4 in chronic hypoxia remain largely unexplored. Using siRNA knockdown experiments of healthy skin fibroblast cells WS1 and PDAC cell lines PANC-1 and Mia-PaCa2 to analyze mRNA and protein expression levels, a novel ATF4 function was identified, in which it decreases HIF2α mRNA and increases HIF1α mRNA in chronic hypoxia while having no effect in acute hypoxia. A scratch assay was used to show that ATF4 decreases cell migration in chronic hypoxia as opposed to the increase in cell migration ATF4 imparts in acute hypoxia. Colony formation assay and cell viability assay showed that ATF4 promotes colony formation and cell viability in both chronic and acute hypoxia. In addition to the differential response of ATF4 in chronic hypoxia compared with acute hypoxia, this is the first time ATF4 has been implicated in regulation of response to hypoxia via interaction with HIF proteins in PDAC.

Abstract B051: Design, synthesis, and in vitro evaluation of enedione derivatives as promising selective COPZ1 inhibitor

Abstract Pancreatic cancer is a disease with a rising incidence and low survival rate. Anticancer drugs are effective, but are not selective, leading to serious side effects, as pain, loss of taste bud, and hair loss. The available treatments are involved in target cell proliferation, but are ineffective against nonproliferating tumor cells, which could lead to a relapse. COPZ1 and its paralogous COPZ2 are involved in intracellular trafficking and autophagy. They were identified as essential for healthy and tumor cell survival. Both COPZ1 and COPZ2 are expressed in almost the same level in normal cells. Interestingly, in tumor cells, COPZ2 is downregulated. In normal cells, the simultaneous depletion of both COPZ1 and COPZ2 leads normal cells to apoptosis, but the depletion of only one of the proteins does not affect cell cycle. This fact led us to the hypothesis that tumor cells are COPZ1 dependent, and the inhibition of this protein could lead tumor cells to apoptosis selectively once COPZ2 is naturally downregulated. Once these proteins are involved in intracellular trafficking, the inhibition of COPZ1 in COPZ2-defficient tumor cells could cause Golgi apparatus collapse, block autophagy, and induce apoptosis in both proliferating and dormant cells. This suggests that the COPZ1 knockdown may suppress tumor growth selectively, making it a promising cancer therapy target. We used molecular docking, synthesis and cell biology to prove our hypothesis. To obtain the 3D structure of COPZ2 for in silico studies purpose, a homology modeling was performed using the amino acids sequence. A set of 84 molecules were submitted to molecular docking, and 4 compounds containing the active metabolite 4-aminoantipyrine and enedione fragment were selected for synthesis and in vitro evaluation. The selection was based on the interactions between the inhibitor and the amino acids within the binding site of the enzyme. Interestingly, the selected 1-4 compounds showed cellular growth inhibition of MIA PaCa-2 and AsPC-1 cell lines, but not for normal cell line. Our new drug prototypes based on 4-aminoantipyrine and enedione moieties showed quite good anti-cancer properties, therefore deserving to be considered in further studies with the aim of understanding the role of COPZ1 in tumor development, as a target for selective treatment. Citation Format: Allana Cristina F. Martins, Barbara M. Barbosa, Bretton Badenoch, Roberto S. Gomes. Design, synthesis, and in vitro evaluation of enedione derivatives as promising selective COPZ1 inhibitor [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2022 Sep 13-16; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(22 Suppl):Abstract nr B051.

Abstract A071: XNW14010:A highly selective KRASG12C inhibitor with potent efficacy in animal model of pancreatic cancer

Abstract KRAS mutations are frequently found in various types of cancers with an overall mutation frequency of 19.3%. G12C mutation of KRAS (KRASG12C) represents 11.4% of all KRAS mutations in cancer. Targeting KRAS mutations as a cancer treatment strategy has long been investigated for over 30 years already but still remains unconquered field. XNW14010 is a highly selective KRASG12C inhibitor that is rationally designed from AMG510, another proven covalent inhibitor of KRASG12C with potential antineoplastic activity. Compared to AMG510, XNW14010 demonstrated a better pharmaceutical potential and a better safety profile. XNW14010 does not have an axial chiral center shown in AMG510, thus the production cost of this agent could be vastly reduced. The in vitro efficacy of XNW14010 was tested in a variety of cancer cell lines with either wild type KRAS or different mutant KRAS, including lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. The result shows that XNW14010 potently inhibits the activity of KRASG12C, but not wild type KRAS or KRAS bearing other mutations. Specifically, in a pancreatic cancer cell line MIA PaCa-2, which bears KRASG12C, the IC50 of XNW14010 is 26 nM. Furthermore, XNW14010 demonstrated a much less plasma protein binding (PPB) than AMG510 (50.4% versus 93.2%, respectively), suggesting much great potential to penetrating into tumor tissue for XNW14010 compared to AMG510. XNW14010 exhibited comparable or superior pharmacokinetic characteristics compared to AMG510 after oral administration in animal studies. More interestingly, XNW14010 has an improved brain penetration capability. The brain/plasma ratio of XNW14010 exposure is two folds as high as that of AMG510 and the Cmax of XNW14010 in brain tissue is also much higher. XNW14010 had a wider therapeutic window and good tolerance compared to AMG510, both in mouse and dog models, suggesting potentially better safety profile in humans. We also compared the antineoplastic activity of XNW14010 with that of AMG510 in vivo in Xenograft mouse models including lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. The results demonstrated that XNW14010 has comparable antineoplastic activities to AMG510 when administered at the same doses. In pancreatic cancer, the total growth inhibition (TGI) is 90% when administered at the dose of 10 mg/kg QD. Given the better PPB, superior brain penetrating capacity, and similar antineoplastic activitie of XNW14010 compared to AMG510 in non-clinical studies, XNW14010 is expected to be a potent therapeutic candidate in treating cancers bearing KRASG12C, including pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: Yonghan Hu, Xin Li, Bin Huang, Liang Kong, Meijie Le, Yan Li, Cungang Liu, Xiaojun Liu, Bin Qian, Jing Qiang, Qifeng Shi, Wengui Wang, Yuchuan Wu, Zhenwei Wu, Linfeng Xu, Jinfeng Zhao. XNW14010:A highly selective KRASG12C inhibitor with potent efficacy in animal model of pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2022 Sep 13-16; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(22 Suppl):Abstract nr A071.

Characterization of the Biosynthetic Gene Cluster and Shunt Products Yields Insights into the Biosynthesis of Balmoralmycin.

Angucyclines are a family of structurally diverse, aromatic polyketides with some members that exhibit potent bioactivity. Angucyclines have also attracted considerable attention due to the intriguing biosynthetic origins that underlie their structural complexity and diversity. Balmoralmycin (compound 1) represents a unique group of angucyclines that contain an angular benz[α]anthracene tetracyclic system, a characteristic C-glycosidic bond-linked deoxy-sugar (d-olivose), and an unsaturated fatty acid chain. In this study, we identified a Streptomyces strain that produces balmoralmycin and seven biosynthetically related coproducts (compounds 2-8). Four of the coproducts (compounds 5-8) are novel compounds that feature a highly oxygenated or fragmented lactone ring, and three of them (compounds 3-5) exhibited cytotoxicity against the human pancreatic cancer cell line MIA PaCa-2 with IC50 values ranging from 0.9 to 1.2 μg/mL. Genome sequencing and CRISPR/dCas9-assisted gene knockdown led to the identification of the ~43 kb balmoralmycin biosynthetic gene cluster (bal BGC). The bal BGC encodes a type II polyketide synthase (PKS) system for assembling the angucycline aglycone, six enzymes for generating the deoxysugar d-olivose, and a hybrid type II/III PKS system for synthesizing the 2,4-decadienoic acid chain. Based on the genetic and chemical information, we propose a mechanism for the biosynthesis of balmoralmycin and the shunt products. The chemical and genetic studies yielded insights into the biosynthetic origin of the structural diversity of angucyclines. IMPORTANCE Angucyclines are structurally diverse aromatic polyketides that have attracted considerable attention due to their potent bioactivity and intriguing biosynthetic origin. Balmoralmycin is a representative of a small family of angucyclines with unique structural features and an unknown biosynthetic origin. We report a newly isolated Streptomyces strain that produces balmoralmycin in a high fermentation titer as well as several structurally related shunt products. Based on the chemical and genetic information, a biosynthetic pathway that involves a type II polyketide synthase (PKS) system, cyclases/aromatases, oxidoreductases, and other ancillary enzymes was established. The elucidation of the balmoralmycin pathway enriches our understanding of how structural diversity is generated in angucyclines and opens the door for the production of balmoralmycin derivatives via pathway engineering.