Characterization of Torin2, an ATP-competitive inhibitor of mTOR, ATM, and ATR
Authors: Yuchuan Wang
Nicholas P Kwiatkowski
Chunxiao Xu
Tanya Tupper
Mario Niepel
Kenneth D Westover
Stephen J Elledge
Wooyoung Hur
Carson C Thoreen
Pasi A Janne
Seong A Kang
Matthew P Patricelli
Peng Gao
Kwok-Kin Wong
Xin Zhang
Kathryn D Held
Dalia Ercan
Abigail Altabef
Yan Liu
Nathanael S Gray
Hidemasa Kawamura
Sivapriya Kirubakaran
David M Sabatini
Qingsong Liu
Danny M Chou
Jinhua Wang
Journal: Cancer research (2013)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: mTOR; Torin2; cancer; inhibitors; PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway
Affiliations: Department of Cancer Biology, Ludwig Center at Dana-Farber-Harvard Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.

Abstract:  mTOR is a highly conserved serine/threonine protein kinase that serves as a central regulator of cell growth, survival, and autophagy. Deregulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway occurs commonly in cancer and numerous inhibitors targeting the ATP-binding site of these kinases are currently undergoing clinical evaluation. Here, we report the characterization of Torin2, a second-generation ATP-competitive inhibitor that is potent and selective for mTOR with a superior pharmacokinetic profile to previous inhibitors. Torin2 inhibited mTORC1-dependent T389 phosphorylation on S6K (RPS6KB1) with an EC(50) of 250 pmol/L with approximately 800-fold selectivity for cellular mTOR versus phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). Torin2 also exhibited potent biochemical and cellular activity against phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-like kinase (PIKK) family kinases including ATM (EC(50), 28 nmol/L), ATR (EC(50), 35 nmol/L), and DNA-PK (EC(50), 118 nmol/L; PRKDC), the inhibition of which sensitized cells to Irradiation. Similar to the earlier generation compound Torin1 and in contrast to other reported mTOR inhibitors, Torin2 inhibited mTOR kinase and mTORC1 signaling activities in a sustained manner suggestive of a slow dissociation from the kinase. Cancer cell treatment with Torin2 for 24 hours resulted in a prolonged block in negative feedback and consequent T308 phosphorylation on Akt. These effects were associated with strong growth inhibition in vitro. Single-agent treatment with Torin2 in vivo did not yield significant efficacy against KRAS-driven lung tumors, but the combination of Torin2 with mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) inhibitor AZD6244 yielded a significant growth inhibition. Taken together, our findings establish Torin2 as a strong candidate for clinical evaluation in a broad number of oncologic settings where mTOR signaling has a pathogenic role. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
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