Abstract P020: Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) as a predictive biomarker of the response to TAS1553, a novel small molecule ribonucleotide reductase subunit interaction inhibitor
Authors: Fukushima Hiroto , Ueno Hiroyuki , Hoshino Takuya , Yano Wakako , Itadani Hiraku , Terasaka Miki , Tsukioka Sayaka , Suzuki Takamasa , Hara Shoki , Ogino Yoshio , Chong Khoon Tee , Suzuki Tatsuya , Otsu Yoshihiro , Ito Satoshi , Tanaka Nozomu , Miyahara Seiji 
Published: December 2021

Background: Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) plays a crucial role in dNTP biosynthesis, which is required for DNA synthesis and repair, and is thought to be an attractive cancer therapeutic target. However, the precise significance of RNR inhibition remains to be elucidated, since reported RNR inhibitors exhibit limited pharmacological potency and off-target effects. We have developed a highly potent and novel small molecule RNR inhibitor, TAS1553, and reported that TAS1553 disrupted the protein-protein interaction between RNR subunits and exhibited the broad antiproliferative activity against human cancer cells in both in vitro and in vivo via oral administration. Phase-I study is currently ongoing and the identification of a predictive biomarker is essential to maximize clinical benefit of TAS1553. Here, we report a predictive biomarker of the response to TAS1553, and a clinical development strategy with the biomarker use. Material and methods: TAS1553 was synthesized at Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. DNA replication stress, apoptosis, caspase activity and cellular growth inhibition induced by TAS1553 were assessed by western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, Caspase-Glo 3/7 assay and CellTiter-Glo® 2.0 assay, respectively. Cells were transfected with 2 nM siRNAs against SLFN11 (siSLFN11) and used for caspase-3/7 activation assay and cell proliferation assay. Results: TAS1553 induced intracellular pChk1, pRPA2 and γH2AX, followed by cleavage of PARP and caspase-3, suggesting that TAS1553 causes massive DNA replication stress. Then, we explored factors, involved in DNA replication stress, to predict response to TAS1553. Cytotoxicity profiling revealed broad antiproliferative activity of TAS1553 against both human hematological and solid cancer cell lines in a dose-​dependent manner (GI50 = 228-4150 nmol/L), and global gene expression profiling revealed that cells with high SLFN11 mRNA expression showed a higher sensitivity to TAS1553. TAS1553 exerted growth inhibitory activity without any cell killing effect against cells with low SLFN11 expression even at a concentration of 10 μmol/L, but cell killing activity against cells with high SLFN11 expression. Depletion of SLFN11 by siSLFN11 treatment in A673 cells which have high SLFN11 expression suppressed cytotoxic effect but not the growth inhibitory effect of TAS1553. Furthermore, we observed suppression of caspase-3/7 activation induced by TAS1553 in A673 cells transfected with siSLFN11. SLFN11 appeared to sensitize cancer cells to TAS1553 via promoting apoptosis. Conclusions: TAS1553, a novel orally available RNR inhibitor, showed potent antitumor activity in preclinical models of both hematological and solid tumors. Thus, TAS1553 could be a promising therapeutic agent for cancer, and SLFN11 could be a predictive biomarker in order to maximize clinical response to TAS1553.

Citation Format: Hiroto Fukushima, Hiroyuki Ueno, Takuya Hoshino, Wakako Yano, Hiraku Itadani, Miki Terasaka, Sayaka Tsukioka, Takamasa Suzuki, Shoki Hara, Yoshio Ogino, Khoon Tee Chong, Tatsuya Suzuki, Yoshihiro Otsu, Satoshi Ito, Nozomu Tanaka, Seiji Miyahara. Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) as a predictive biomarker of the response to TAS1553, a novel small molecule ribonucleotide reductase subunit interaction inhibitor [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2021 Oct 7-10. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2021;20(12 Suppl):Abstract nr P020.