Characterization and preclinical development of LY2603618: a selective and potent Chk1 inhibitor (original) (raw)
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Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 2013
Interactions between the novel Chk1 inhibitor MK-8776 and the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor (HDACI) vorinostat were examined in human leukemia cells harboring wild-type (wt) or deficient p53. MK-8776 synergistically potentiated vorinostat-mediated apoptosis in various p53-wt or -deficient leukemia cell lines, whereas p53 knockdown by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) sensitized p53-wt cells to lethality of this regimen. Leukemia cell lines carrying FLT3-ITD were also sensitive to the MK-8776/vorinostat regimen. Synergistic interactions were associated with inhibition of Chk1 activity, interference with the intra-S-phase checkpoint, disruption of DNA replication, and downregulation of proteins involved in DNA replication (e.g., Cdt1) and repair (e.g., CtIP and BRCA1), resulting in sharp increases in DNA damage, reflected by enhanced g-H2A.X formation, and apoptosis. Moreover, leukemia cells expressing kinase-dead Chk1 (D130A) or Chk1 shRNA were significantly more sensitive to HDACIs compared with their wt counterparts and displayed downregulation of CtIP and BRCA1 phosphorylation following HDACI exposure. Finally, the MK-8776/ vorinostat regimen was active in primary acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) blasts, particularly against the CD34 þ /CD38 À /CD123 þ population enriched for leukemia-initiating cells. In contrast, identical regimens were relatively sparing toward normal cord blood CD34 þ cells. Together, these findings indicate that the novel Chk1 inhibitor MK-8776 markedly potentiates HDACI lethality in leukemia cells displaying various genetic backgrounds through mechanisms involving disruption of the intra-S checkpoint, DNA replication, and DNA repair. They also argue that leukemic cells, including those bearing oncogenic mutations associated with poor prognosis, for example, p53 deletion/mutation or FLT3-ITD, may also be susceptible to this strategy.
LY2606368 causes replication catastrophe and anti-tumor effects through CHK1-dependent mechanisms
Molecular cancer therapeutics, 2015
CHK1 is a multi-functional protein kinase integral to both the cellular response to DNA damage and control of the number of active replication forks. CHK1 inhibitors are currently under investigation as chemopotentiating agents due to CHK1's role in establishing DNA damage checkpoints in the cell cycle. Here we describe the characterization of a novel CHK1 inhibitor, LY2606368 which as a single agent causes double-stranded DNA breakage while simultaneously removing the protection of the DNA damage checkpoints. The action of LY2606368 is dependent upon inhibition of CHK1 and the corresponding increase in CDC25A activation of CDK2, which increases the number of replication forks while reducing their stability. Treatment of cells with LY2606368 results in the rapid appearance of TUNEL and pH2AX-positive double-stranded DNA breaks in the S-phase cell population. Loss of the CHK1-dependent DNA damage checkpoints permits cells with damaged DNA to proceed into early mitosis and die. Th...
Context-Dependent Cell Cycle Checkpoint Abrogation by a Novel Kinase Inhibitor
PLoS ONE, 2010
Background: Checkpoint kinase 1 and 2 (Chk1/Chk2), and the Aurora kinases play a critical role in the activation of the DNA damage response and mitotic spindle checkpoints. We have identified a novel inhibitor of these kinases and utilized this molecule to probe the functional interplay between these two checkpoints.
Oncogene, 2011
In the presence of sustained DNA damage occurring in S-phase or G2, normal cells arrest before mitosis and eventually become senescent. The checkpoint kinases Chk1/ Chk2 and the CDK inhibitor p21 are known to have important complementary roles in this process, in G2 arrest and cell cycle exit, respectively. However, additional checkpoint roles have been reported for these regulators and it is not clear to what extent their functions are redundant.
Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 2008
Checkpoints are present in all phases of the cell cycle and are regarded as the gatekeepers maintaining the integrity of the genome. Many conventional agents used to treat cancer impart damage to the genome and activate cell cycle checkpoints. Many tumors are defective in the tumor suppressor p53 and therefore lack a functional G1 checkpoint. In these tumors, however, the S-G2 checkpoints remain intact and, in response to DNA damage, arrest cell cycle progression allowing time for DNA repair. Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) is a key element in the DNA damage response pathway and plays a crucial role in the S-G2-phase checkpoints. Inhibiting Chk1 represents a therapeutic strategy for creating a “synthetic lethal” response by overriding the last checkpoint defense of tumor cells against the lethal damage induced by DNA-directed chemotherapeutic agents. Chk1 inhibition is consistent with emerging targeted therapies aiming to exploit molecular differences between normal and cancer cells. Add...
14-3-3σ and p21 synergize to determine DNA damage response following Chk2 inhibition
Cell Cycle, 2009
DNA damage checkpoints are critical for preventing tumorigenesis and regulating the response of cells to genotoxic agents. It is believed that the coordinated actions of a number of effectors underlie proper checkpoint function. The kinase Chk2, p21 and 14-3-3σ have each been shown to be independent effectors of the G 2 DNA damage checkpoint. However, the relative roles of these proteins remain unclear. To help elucidate this question, we have perturbed each of these 3 genes in combination in human cells. We show that Chk2 depletion causes markedly increased sensitivity to DNA damage in p21-/-, 14-3-3σ-/cells but not in cells lacking only one or none of these genes. This greater sensitivity was due to an increase in apoptosis following DNA damage and not due to exacerbation of G 2 checkpoint defects. Pharmacologic inhibition of Chk2 in p21-/-, 14-3-3σ-/cells also resulted in greater sensitivity to DNA damage. Our data indicates that p21 and 14-3-3σ synergize as molecular determinants of sensitivity to DNA damage following Chk2 inhibition, and Chk2 modulates the biological rheostat that determines whether a cancer cell undergoes arrest versus death after treatment with a chemotherapeutic agent. These findings have implications for the targeting of Chk2 in human cancers.
Roles of Chk1 in cell biology and cancer therapy
2014
The evolutionally conserved DNA damage response (DDR) and cell cycle checkpoints preserve genome integrity. Central to these genome surveillance pathways is a protein kinase, Chk1. DNA damage induces activation of Chk1, which then transduces the checkpoint signal and facilitates cell cycle arrest and DNA damage repair. Significant progress has been made recently toward our understanding of Chk1 regulation and its implications in cancer etiology and therapy. Specifically, a model that involves both spatiotemporal and conformational changes of proteins has been proposed for Chk1 activation. Further, emerging evidence suggests that Chk1 does not appear to be a tumor suppressor; instead, it promotes tumor growth and may contribute to anticancer therapy resistance. Recent data from our laboratory suggest that activating, but not inhibiting, Chk1 in the absence of chemotherapy might represent an innovative approach to suppress tumor growth. These findings suggest unique regulation of Chk1 in cell biology and cancer etiology, pointing to novel strategies for targeting Chk1 in cancer therapy.
Clinical Cancer Research, 2012
Purpose-Many tumors exhibit defective cell cycle checkpoint control and increased replicative stress. CHK1 is critically involved in the DNA damage response and maintenance of replication fork stability. We have therefore discovered a novel, potent, highly selective, orally active, ATP competitive CHK1 inhibitor, CCT244747, and present its preclinical pharmacology and therapeutic activity. Experimental design-Cellular CHK1 activity was assessed using an ELISA assay and cytotoxicity a SRB assay. Biomarker modulation was measured using immunoblotting and cell cycle effects by flow cytometry. Single agent, oral CCT244747 antitumor activity was evaluated in a MYCN-driven transgenic mouse model of neuroblastoma by MRI and in genotoxic combinations in human tumor xenografts by growth delay. Results-CCT244747 inhibited cellular CHK1 activity (IC 50 29-170nM), significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of several anticancer drugs and abrogated drug-induced S and G2 arrest in multiple tumor cell lines. Biomarkers of CHK1 (pS296 CHK1) activity and cell cycle inactivity (pY15 CDK1) were induced by genotoxics and inhibited by CCT244747 both in vitro and in vivo, producing enhanced DNA damage and apoptosis. Active tumor concentrations of CCT244747 were obtained following oral administration. The antitumor activity of both gemcitabine and irinotecan were significantly enhanced by CCT244747 in several human tumor xenografts, giving
Targeting ATR and Chk1 kinases for cancer treatment: A new model for new (and old) drugs
Molecular Oncology, 2011
Trying to kill cancer cells by generating DNA damage is by no means a new idea. Radiotherapy and genotoxic drugs are routinely used in cancer therapy. More recent developments also explored the potential of targeting the DNA damage response (DDR) in order to increase the toxicity of radio‐ and chemo‐ therapy. Chk1 inhibitors have pioneered studies in this regard. Interestingly, early studies noted that Chk1 inhibitors were particularly toxic for p53‐deficient cells. The model proposed for this observation was that this effect was due to the simultaneous abrogation of the G2 (Chk1) and G1 (p53) checkpoints. We here challenge this view, and propose a model where the toxicity of Chk1 inhibitors is rather due to the fact that these compounds generate high loads of replicative stress (RS) during S‐phase, which are further boosted by the less restrictive S‐phase entry found in p53‐deficient cells. This new model implies that the particular toxicity of Chk1 inhibitors might not be restrict...