Abstract 5159: Characterization of a novel class of RAS inhibitory compounds with potent anti-tumor activity
Authors: Ward Antonio , Chen Xi , Valiyaveettil Jacob , Zhu Bing , Ramirez-Alcantara Veronica , Lee Kevin J. , Lindsey Ashley , Berry Kristy , Mattox Tyler E. , McConnell Kate , Boyd Michael R. , Piazza Gary A. , Keeton Adam B. 
Published: July 2017

Introduction: Over 30% of all human cancers harbor activating RAS mutations which induce deregulation of the cell cycle, uncontrolled proliferation, and decreased apoptosis. Through a phenotypic screening strategy, we have identified a series of indene derivatives which potently and selectively inhibit growth of tumor cells harboring activated RAS. A development candidate from this series, DC070-547, disrupts RAS-RAF binding, inhibits RAS signaling, causes cell cycle arrest and induces apoptosis, and exhibits strong anti-tumor activity in a mouse KRAS mutant tumor model.

Methods: Viable cell number was measured using a luminescent indicator of ATP. RAS activation was measured by GST-RAF1-RBD pull-down and western blotting using an anti-RAS antibody. Disruption of RAS-RAF binding was determined by pre-incubation of GST-RAF1-RBD beads with cell lysates or recombinant RAS in the presence of test compounds for 30 min. Cell cycle distribution was measured by DNA content and immunofluorescent detection of cell cycle proteins. Antitumor activity was determined in a subcutaneous mouse tumor model involving KRAS mutant colon tumors.

Results: Low nanomolar concentrations of DC070-547 selectively inhibited growth of a diverse panel of tumor cell lines harboring activated RAS relative to tumor cell lines lacking activated RAS. Transfection of HT-29 cells lacking activated RAS with mutant RAS conferred sensitivity to DC070-547. The compounds blocked binding of RAF1-RBD to recombinant RAS, RAS from cell lysates, as well as RAS in intact cells. Sustained and potent growth inhibitory effects of DC070-547 were demonstrated by colony formation assays. Immunoblotting showed that DC070-547 inhibited EGF-induced signaling in HCT-116 colon tumor cells with activated RAS at concentrations that inhibit growth. DC070-547 also induced apoptosis as evident by Annexin V labeling and M-phase arrest in HCT116 cells as shown by DNA content and immunostaining of phospho-Histone H3B and Cdc25C, an important downstream mediator of RAS signaling. DC070-547 and three analogs from this series were evaluated for antitumor activity in an athymic mouse model using subcutaneously implanted KRAS mutant colon tumor cells. Treatments either completely suppressed tumor growth or caused tumor regression with no discernible toxicity.

Conclusion: While RAS is widely considered to be non-druggable, a novel compound series was identified that potently and selectivity inhibit in vitro and in vivo the growth of tumor cells harboring activated RAS by inhibiting RAS-effector binding. Together, these findings support further preclinical development of this compound class for Phase I/II clinical evaluation for the treatment of RAS-driven cancers.

Citation Format: Antonio Ward, Xi Chen, Jacob Valiyaveettil, Bing Zhu, Veronica Ramirez-Alcantara, Kevin J. Lee, Ashley Lindsey, Kristy Berry, Tyler E. Mattox, Kate McConnell, Michael R. Boyd, Gary A. Piazza, Adam B. Keeton. Characterization of a novel class of RAS inhibitory compounds with potent anti-tumor activity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5159. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5159