Project description:We demonstrate that CX-5461 treatment suppresses multiple canonical pathways and transcriptions factors We used microarrays to analyze the potential mechanism by which CX-5461 regulates gene expression.
Project description:We discovered two small molecule drugs - CX-5461 and CX-3543 - with specific toxicity against BRCA deficiencies in cancer cells and xenograft models. Both CX-5461 and CX-3543 have been previously recognized as RNA pol I inhibitors. CX-5461 is in advanced phase 1 trials for treatment of lymphoma and leukemia through rDNA transcription inhibition in a p53-dependent mechanism. We have discovered a novel activity of CX-5461, as a stabilizer of G-quadruplex DNA sequences inside cells the same as CX-3543. We found that BRCA1 and BRCA2 deficiency markedly increases (one log order) sensitivity to CX-5461 and a related drug CX-3543 in human cancer cell lines and polyclonal patient derived xenograft models, providing a direct therapeutic hypothesis, including PDX tumours resistant to PARP inhibition. We show that in epithelial cells, exposure to CX-5461 and CX-3543 blocks replication forks and induces ssDNA gaps or breaks. The BRCA and NHEJ pathways are required for the repair of CX-5461 and CX-3543 induced DNA damage and failure to do so leads to lethality. RNA pol I inhibition is not a required component of the cell killing mechanism in these tumours, because BRCA2 deficient cells are not more sensitive to BMH-21, a more potent rDNA transcription inhibitor. These data strengthen the concept of G4 targeting as a therapeutic approach, specifically for targeting HR and NHEJ deficient cancers and other tumors deficient for DNA damage repair. Since CX-5461 is already in advanced phase 1 trials for other indications, this has resulted in immediately testable translational implications (Canadian trial, NCT02719977, opened May 2016) as no phase-1 eligible G4 stabilizers have been described to date.
Project description:In recent years, several small molecule cytotoxic drugs have been identified as potential inhibitors of ribosome biogenesis (Drygin et al., 2011; Peltonen et al., 2014a; Peltonen et al., 2014b). CX-5461 is one such drug that has also demonstrated anticancer potential for a wide range of malignancies (Bywater et al., 2012; Cornelison et al., 2017; Devlin et al., 2015; Drygin et al., 2011; Hald et al., 2019; Hein et al., 2017; Ismael et al., 2019; Lawrence et al., 2018; Lee et al., 2017; Negi and Brown, 2015; Taylor et al., 2019; Xu et al., 2017; Yan et al., 2017) (Haddach et al., 2012), and is presently under phase I trials for the treatment of both hematological cancers and solid tumours (Group, 2016; Khot et al., 2019). CX-5461 was initially characterized as an inhibitor of RNA Polymerase I (RPI/PolR1/PolI) that is responsible for the synthesis of the major ribosomal RNAs and the initial step in ribosome biogenesis (Drygin et al., 2011). Since RPI and its corresponding core transcription factors are dedicated to this task alone, they present ideal molecular targets by which to modulate ribosome biogenesis. However, the specificity of CX-5461 has been questioned and it has been suggested that this drug may also act by stabilizing DNA G-quadruplexes or by “poisoning” topoisomerase II (Topo II). Thus, the primary target of this drug and its mode of action are still in doubt. Here we used Deconvolution-ChIP-Seq in NIH3T3 and HEK293T cells treated for different times with CX-5461. The data show that the primary target of CX5461 is the initiation of ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) transcription. CX-5461 blocks transcription initiation in vitro and in vivo by arresting RNA polymerase I (RPI/Pol1) within the preinitiation complex. In contrast to previous suggestions, CX-5461 does not effect recruitment of the TBP-TAF complex SL1 to the rDNA promoter, the recruitment of the initiation competent RPI-Rrn3 complex or ongoing transcription elongation, arguing against a role for G-quadruplex stabilization or topoisomerase II poisoning. Inhibition of transcription by CX-5461 is not reversible, the RPI-Rrn3 complex remains arrested in the preinitiation complex even after drug removal. This leads to nucleolar stress, extensive DNA damage and cell senescence. Our data show that the cytotoxicity of CX-5461 is the downstream result of the highly specific inhibition of rDNA transcription. The observation that this inhibition is irreversible will be important for the future design of chemotherapeutic strategies and the avoidance of drug resistance.
Project description:The high rates of protein synthesis and processing render multiple myeloma (MM) cells vulnerable to perturbations in protein homeostasis. The induction of proteotoxic stress by targeting protein degradation with proteasome inhibitors (PI) has revolutionized the treatment of MM. However, resistance to PI is inevitable and represents an ongoing clinical challenge. Our first-in-human study of the selective inhibitor of RNA polymerase I transcription of ribosomal RNA genes, CX-5461 has demonstrated a potential signal for anti-tumor activity in three of six heavily pre-treated MM patients. Here we show that CX-5461 has potent antimyeloma activity in PI-resistant MM preclinical models in vitro and in vivo. In addition to inhibiting ribosome biogenesis, CX-5461 causes topoisomerase II trapping and replication-dependent DNA damage, leading to G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death. Surprisingly, the addition of PI does not enhance the therapeutic benefit of CX-5461. In contrast, CX-5461 shows synergistic interaction with the histone deacetylase inhibitor panobinostat in both the Vk*MYC and the 5T33-KaLwRij mouse models of MM by targeting ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis through distinct mechanisms. Our findings thus provide strong evidence to facilitate the clinical development of targeting the ribosome to treat relapsed and refractory MM.
Project description:To reveal the effect of CX-5461 (a small-molecule inhibitor of ribosome biogenesis)on the proteome of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells, we carried out two quantitative proteomics analyses, using tumour cells isolated from an inducible mouse model of PDAC (iKras PDAC) (Ying et al., 2012). In this model, oncogenic Kras (G12D) expression can be controlled by administration of doxycycline (Dox). In the first experiment, Tandem Mass Tagging (TMT) was employed for quantitative analysis of mock vs. CX-5461 (100nM) treated iKras cells for 48 hrs, in presence of Dox (Kras on). In the second experiment, TMT was used to quantitatively analyse the proteomics changes induced by Dox removal (48 hrs), in presence or absence of CX-5461. For this purpose, iKras PDAC cells were seeded and grown for 48 hrs with or without Dox, in the background of mock vs. CX-5461 (100nM) co-treatments. TMT labelling was done using the TMT 6plex labelling kit from Thermo Fisher.
Project description:Multiple myeloma cell lines MM1S and MOLP8 were modified by zinc finger nucleases targeting exon 7 of the TP53 DNA binding domain. Knockout (KO) clones were isolated by limiting dilution, identified by TP53 resequencing, and confirmed by Western blotting. KO and unmodified (WT) clones were then either treated with vehicle or 200 nM CX-5461 for 48 hours for gene expression profiling (GEP).
Project description:P. falciparum is the deadliest causative agent of human malaria. This parasite has historically developed resistance to many drugs, including the current frontline treatments, so new therapeutic targets are needed Our previous work on guanine quadruplexes (G4s) in the parasite’s DNA and RNA has highlighted their influence on parasite biology, and also revealed G4 stabilising compounds as promising candidates for drug repositioning. In particular, quarfloxin, a former anticancer agent, kills blood-stage parasites at all developmental stages, with fast rates of kill and nanomolar potency. Here we explored the molecular mechanism of quarfloxin and its related derivative CX-5461. In vitro, both compounds bound to P. falciparum-encoded G4 sequences. In cellulo, quarfloxin was more potent than CX-5461, and could prevent establishment of blood-stage malaria in vivo in a murine model. CX-5461 showed clear DNA damaging activity, as reported in human cells, while quarfloxin caused weaker signatures of DNA damage. Both compounds caused transcriptional dysregulation in the parasite, but the affected genes were largely different, again suggesting different modes of action. Therefore, CX-5461 may act primarily as a DNA damaging agent in both Plasmodium parasites and mammalian cells, whereas the complete anti-malarial mode of action of quarfloxin may be parasite-specific, and remains elusive.
Project description:Mutational inactivation of α-thalassaemia/mental retardation X-linked (ATRX) represents a defining molecular feature in large subsets of adult and pediatric malignant glioma. ATRX deficiency gives rise to abnormal G-quadruplex (G4) DNA secondary structures at GC-rich regions of the genome, altering chromatin accessibility and enhancing DNA damage. Building on earlier work, we sought to assess the extent to which pharmacological G4 stabilization selectively enhances DNA damage and cell death in preclinical models of ATRX-deficient glioma. Deploying the G4 stabilizer CX-5461 in patient-derived glioma stem cells (GSCs) in vitro and in GSC murine flank and intracranial xenografts in vivo, we evaluated efficacy as both a single agent and in combination with ionizing radiation (IR), a central element of current treatment standards. CX-5461 promoted dose-sensitive lethality in ATRX-deficient GSCs relative to ATRX-intact controls. Mechanistic studies revealed that CX-5461 disrupted histone variant H3.3 deposition, enhanced replication stress and DNA damage pathways, activated p53-independent apoptosis, and induced G2/M arrest selectively in ATRX-deficient GSCs. These data were corroborated in vivo, where we notably demonstrated that combinational treatment leads to profound tumor growth delay and prolonged survival exclusively in ATRX-deficient flank tumors. In its totality, our work substantively demonstrates efficacy and defines mechanisms of action for a novel therapeutic strategy targeting ATRX-deficient malignant glioma, laying the groundwork for clinical translation.
Project description:Sequencing files from TRAP-seq samples isolated from DHPG-stimulated WT and Fmr1-/y hippocampal slices incubated with vehicle or 200 nM CX-5461
Project description:Mutational inactivation of ?-thalassaemia/mental retardation X-linked (ATRX) represents a defining molecular feature in large subsets of adult and pediatric malignant glioma. ATRX deficiency gives rise to abnormal G-quadruplex (G4) DNA secondary structures at GC-rich regions of the genome, altering chromatin accessibility and enhancing DNA damage. Building on earlier work, we sought to assess the extent to which pharmacological G4 stabilization selectively enhances DNA damage and cell death in preclinical models of ATRX-deficient glioma. To investigate the effect of G4 stabilization on histone variant H3.3 deposition on the genome, we treated patient-derived glioma stem cells (GSCs) with G4 stabilizer CX-5461 and performed cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) for H3.3. Our analyses show that G4 stabilizer CX-541 disrupts H3.3 deposition in ATRX-deficient GSCs and likely enhances replication stress and DNA damage.