Discovery of a PROTAC targeting ALK with in vivo activity

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) was involved in the development of various cancer types. Although several ALK inhibitors have been advanced to clinical trials, the emergence of drug resistance has limited the clinical application of them. To overcome the drug resistance, proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) could be an alternative strategy. In this study, a series of ALK degraders were designed and synthesized. The degraders were developed through the conjugation of LDK378 and CRBN E3 ubiquitin ligase ligands. Among all the molecules, compound B3 showed potent selective inhibitory activity to ALK and can decrease the cellular levels of ALK fusion proteins in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in H3122 cell line. Meanwhile, B3 showed improved anticancer activity in vitro comparing with LDK378 and the antiproliferative activity to xenograft tumor model was acceptable. All the results demonstrated that ALK degrader B3 with in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer activities was valua..... READ ARTICLE

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry DOI:10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.113150

Authors: Guoyi Yan, Xinxin Zhong, Lin Yue, Chunlan Pu, Huifang Shan, Suke Lan, Meng Zhou, Xueyan Hou, Jie Yang and Rui Li

Pre-ClinicalKirk SmithFebruary 15, 2021ALK, Degrader, Oral anticancer bioactivities, PROTAC

Development of a Brigatinib degrader (SIAIS117) as a potential treatment for ALK positive cancer resistance

EML4-ALK and NPM-ALK fusion proteins possess constitutively activated ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) activity, which in turn leads to the development of non-small cell lung cancer and anaplastic large-cell lymphomas (ALCLs). FDA-approved ALK inhibitor drugs cause significant cancer regression. However, drug resistance eventually occurs and it becomes a big obstacle in clinic. Novel proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology platform provides a potential therapeutic strategy for drug resistance. Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of ALK PROTACs based on Brigatinib and VHL-1 conjunction, and screened SIAIS117 as the best degrader which not only blocked the growth of SR and H2228 cancer cell lines, but also degraded ALK protein. In addition, SIAIS117 also showed much better growth inhibition effect than Brigatinib on 293T cell line that exogenously expressed G1202R-resistant ALK proteins. Furthermore, it also degraded G1202R mutant ALK protein in vitro. At last, it has ..... READ ARTICLE

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry DOI:10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112190

Authors: Ning Sun, Chaowei Ren, Ying Kong, Hui Zhong, Jinju Chen, Yan Li, Jianshui Zhang, Yuedong Zhou, Xing Qiu, Haifan Lin, Xiaoling Song, Xiaobao Yang, Biao Jiang

Pre-ClinicalKirk SmithMay 1, 2020ALK, Brigatinib, Degrader, VHL, PROTAC, NSCLC, ALCL, Resistance

Induced protein degradation of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) by proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC)

Recently, proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology is highlighted in drug discovery area as a new therapeutic approach. PROTAC as a heterobifunctional molecule is comprised of two ligands, which recruit target protein and E3 ligase, respectively. To degrade the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion protein, such as NPM-ALK or EML4-ALK, we generated several ALK-PROTAC molecules consisted of ceritinib, one of the ALK inhibitors, and ligand of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3 ligase. Among these molecules, TD-004 effectively induced ALK degradation and inhibited the growth of ALK fusion positive cell lines, SU-DHL-1 and H3122. We also confirmed that TD-004 significantly reduced the tumor growth in H3122 xenograft model. READ ARTICLE

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications DOI:10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.09.169

Authors: Chung Hyo Kanga, Dong Ho Lee, Chong Ock Lee, Jae Du Ha, Chi Hoon Park, Jong Yeon Hwang