Abstract LB329: A potent and selective small molecule inhibitor of CSF-1R ABSK021 demonstrates strong efficacy in preclinical models of osteosarcoma
Authors: Zhang Nannan , Dai Cheng , Zhang Jiacheng , Yang Shuqun , Wang Jie , Zhang Jie , Liu Manqi , Chen Zhui 
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children and young adults. Surgery combined with multimodal chemotherapy remains as the standard treatment for osteosarcoma patients. However, patients with osteosarcoma metastasis have a five-year survival rate of less than 30%, and their long-term outcomes have not improved over the last 30 years. CSF-1/CSF-1R signaling is crucial for the survival, function, proliferation and differentiation of myeloid lineage cells, including osteoclasts and monocytes/macrophages. Targeting CSF-1R either on tumor cells or tumor-associated macrophages has been reported to limit osteosarcoma progression in preclinical models. ABSK021, an oral, highly potent and selective small molecule inhibitor of CSF-1R discovered by Abbisko, has entered into Phase I trial (NCT04192344) and showed significant anti-tumor activity and favorable safety profile in patients with advanced tenosynovial giant cell tumor. Here, we conducted a series of preclinical in vitro and in vivo experiments, as well as human osteosarcoma profiling, to investigate the treatment potential of ABSK021 for osteosarcoma patients.

Methods: Cellular potency of ABSK021 was evaluated by Celltiter-Glo assay in osteosarcoma cell lines and CSF-1R expression was evaluated by western blot. In vivo efficacy studies were conducted in murine osteosarcoma models and pharmacodynamics changes were measured. CSF-1R IHC staining was conducted in tissue microarray samples from osteosarcoma patients.

Results: ABSK021 potently inhibited the proliferation of K7M2, a murine osteosarcoma cell line with high expression of CSF-1R. In animal, ABSK021 showed strong anti-tumor activity on K7M2 syngeneic model and SA4094 osteosarcoma PDX model without causing significant body weight loss. Pharmacodynamics analysis displayed robust inhibition of macrophage infiltration and CSF-1R signaling by ABSK021, confirming its effective target engagement in vivo. Parallel IHC analysis of human tissue microarray samples revealed high prevalence of positive CSF-1R staining in osteosarcoma patients.

Conclusion: Taken together, these results demonstrate that ABSK021 has strong inhibition of CSF-1R activity and corresponding anti-tumor activity in preclinical osteosarcoma models. High prevalence of CSF-1R expression was also found in osteosarcoma patients, suggesting great potential of utilizing ABSK021 as a novel therapy to treat osteosarcoma patients in clinic.

Citation Format: Nannan Zhang, Cheng Dai, Jiacheng Zhang, Shuqun Yang, Jie Wang, Jie Zhang, Manqi Liu, Zhui Chen. A potent and selective small molecule inhibitor of CSF-1R ABSK021 demonstrates strong efficacy in preclinical models of osteosarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 2 (Clinical Trials and Late-Breaking Research); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(8_Suppl):Abstract nr LB329.