Abstract 4336: Selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINE) display single agent efficacy against gastric (NCI-N87) and colon (HCT-116) xenografts.
Authors: McCauley Dilara , Kashyap Trinayan , Hamuza Mwanasha , Landesman Yosef , Ippolitti Paul , Shechter Sharon , Saint-Martin Jean Richard , Crochiere Marsha , Senapedis William , Klebanov Boris , Tamir Sharon , Del Alamo Diego , Baloglu Erkan , Draetta Giulio , Kauffman Michael , Shacham Sharon 
Published: August 2014

Abstract

Chromosomal Maintenance Protein 1/Exportin 1 (CRM1/XPO1) is a key nuclear export protein whose inhibition leads to the nuclear accumulation of Tumor Suppressor Proteins (TSPs) such as p53, FOXO, PTEN, pRB and I-κB. SINE are a novel class of compounds currently in clinical development for a variety of cancers. SINE irreversibly block CRM1-dependent nuclear export and force the nuclear retention of TSPs, inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. Here we report in vitro activity of SINE on a broad range of cancer cell lines and in vivo efficacy results in NCI-N87 gastric and HCT-116 colorectal carcinoma murine tumor xenograft models.

Methods

MTT cytotoxicity assays were used to determine IC50s of KPT-SINE on various cell lines. The effects of SINE on the cell cycle and gene expression were investigated by FACS and quantitative RT/PCR respectively. Inhibition of CRM1 nuclear export was determined by immunofluorescence of CRM1 cargos. The effects of SINE treatment on tumor growth in vivo were assessed by measuring tumor volumes and by imaging with FluoroThymidine Positron Emission Tomography (FLT-PET). In tumors, gene expression was analyzed and immunohistochemistry performed to detect TSP, proliferation and apoptosis markers.

Results

SINE showed potent cytotoxicity on the majority of the cell lines tested with IC50 values &lt;1 μM, but did not affect non-malignant human intestinal epithelial cells. The inhibition of CRM1 nuclear export with SINE resulted with the accumulation of TSPs p53, p21, p27 and FOXO in the nucleus. Immunoblot and qPCR studies showed increased expression of stress-related genes, reduced expression of proliferation markers, and evidence of cell death. SINE therapy was well-tolerated in mice. In the HCT-116 (p53wt, K-ras mutant) xenograft model, oral SINE treatment inhibited tumor growth by &gt;80%. Treated tumor samples showed very low levels of Ki67 and increased TUNEL staining consistent with induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in SINE-treated groups. Also, marked upregulation of the TSPs p53 and p21 was observed, indicating that SINE induced nuclear localization of these proteins in situ. In the NCI-N87 gastric carcinoma xenograft model, oral SINE treatment inhibited tumor growth &gt;75% compared with vehicle- treated animals. Immunofluorescence analysis with biomarkers of proliferation, along with FLT-PET results, indicated significant inhibition of proliferation in tumors. Histological analysis of the tumors confirmed in vitro observations of cytotoxic effects on tumors, induction of apoptosis and the replacement of cancer cells with fibrotic tissue.

Conclusions

These studies demonstrate potent in vitro and in vivo efficacy of single agent SINE CRM1 inhibitors against NCI-N87 and HCT-116 xenografts. These data further support the development of SINE-based therapies for gastric and colorectal cancers.

Citation Format: Dilara McCauley, Trinayan Kashyap, Mwanasha Hamuza, Yosef Landesman, Paul Ippolitti, Sharon Shechter, Jean Richard Saint-Martin, Marsha Crochiere, William Senapedis, Boris Klebanov, Sharon Tamir, Diego Del Alamo, Erkan Baloglu, Giulio Draetta, Michael Kauffman, Sharon Shacham. Selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINE) display single agent efficacy against gastric (NCI-N87) and colon (HCT-116) xenografts. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4336. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4336