Abstract 1728: ASP8273, a novel mutant-selective irreversible EGFR inhibitor, inhibits growth of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells with EGFR activating and T790M resistance mutations
Authors: Sakagami Hideki , Konagai Satoshi , Yamamoto Hiroko , Tanaka Hiroaki , Matsuya Takahiro , Mori Masamichi , Koshio Hiroyuki , Yuri Masatoshi , Hirano Masaaki , Kuromitsu Sadao 
Published: May 2015

BACKGROUND: Reversible EGFR TKIs, gefitinib and erlotinib, have shown antitumor efficacy in NSCLC patients with activating mutations in EGFR kinase domain. But the clinical efficacy of these agents is limited by the development of acquired drug resistance, which is most commonly caused by T790M resistance mutation in EGFR. This mutation has been detected in approximately 50% to 60% of patients. The 2nd generation irreversible EGFR inhibitors inhibit EGFR with T790M, but their clinical efficacy to NSCLC patients with T790M appears to be limited due to severe adverse effects caused by concomitant WT EGFR inhibition. Therefore, an EGFR TKI which inhibits T790M mutant EGFR selectively with less activity against WT EGFR may be beneficial. Here we report ASP8273, a novel, small molecule EGFR TKI that inhibits the kinase activity of EGFR containing the activating and T790M resistance mutations with less activity against WT EGFR.

METHODS: The inhibitory effect and the selectivity of ASP8273 were evaluated against mutant EGFR (L858R, del ex19, L858R/T790M and del ex19/T790M) and WT EGFR using in vitro enzymatic and cell-based assay. Binding mode of ASP8273 to EGFR was assessed by mass spectrometry. Antitumor activity of ASP8273 was evaluated in xenograft models using PC-9 (del ex19), HCC827 (del ex19), NCI-H1975 (L858R/T790M) and PC-9ER (Erlotinib Resistant)(del ex19/T790M) NSCLC cells.

RESULTS: ASP8273 inhibited mutant EGFR containing del ex19 or L858R activating mutations as well as the T790M resistance mutation with lower IC50 values than WT EGFR. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that ASP8273 is covalently bound to a mutant EGFR(L858R/T790M) via C797 in the kinase domain of EGFR. In NCI-H1975 cells, ASP8273 induced long-lasting inhibition of EGFR phosphorylation for 24 h after washout of compound.

In assays using endogenously EGFR-dependent cells, ASP8273 inhibited the growth of PC-9(del ex19), HCC827(del ex19), NCI-H1975(del ex19/T790M) and PC-9ER(del ex19/T790M) with IC50 values of 8-33 nM, more potently than that of NCI-H1666(WT) with IC50 value of 230 nM.

In mouse xenograft studies, ASP8273 induced tumor regression in NCI-H1975 (L858R/T790M), HCC827 (del ex19) and PC-9 (del ex19) xenograft models by repeated oral dosing in a dose-dependent manner. Dosing schedules did not affect the efficacy of ASP8273. In an NCI-H1975 xenograft model, complete regression of tumor was achieved after 14-days of ASP8273 treatment. Complete regression was maintained in 50% of mice more than 85 days after cessation of ASP8273 treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: ASP8273 inhibits the growth of NSCLC cells with EGFR activating and T790M resistance mutations with evidence of tumor regression. Therefore, ASP8273 may show therapeutic efficacy in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations. Clinical trials of ASP8273 in NSCLC patients are planned in the US/EU and Asia.

Citation Format: Hideki Sakagami, Satoshi Konagai, Hiroko Yamamoto, Hiroaki Tanaka, Takahiro Matsuya, Masamichi Mori, Hiroyuki Koshio, Masatoshi Yuri, Masaaki Hirano, Sadao Kuromitsu. ASP8273, a novel mutant-selective irreversible EGFR inhibitor, inhibits growth of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells with EGFR activating and T790M resistance mutations. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1728. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1728