Abstract 3164: The in vivo Hollow Fiber model is a valuable tool in drug development of selective KRas inhibitors
Authors: Metzger Philipp , Franzke Claus-Werner , Dikici Ezgi , Sommerkamp Gregor , Fimm-Todt Franziska , Ehlert Jan E. , Obodozie Cynthia , Weber Holger 
Published: March 2024

The proto-oncogene KRas is a well-described small GTPase that functions as a molecular switch for major physiological signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. It has been shown that activating mutations in KRas are among the most common oncogenic drivers of tumorigenesis. Missense mutations of KRas result in constitutive activation due to impaired hydrolysis of GTP which enhances tumor-promoting downstream signaling pathways. Most KRas mutations are located in exon 2 or 3 including the most frequently altered glycine 12, which is present in most pancreatic cancers as well as in colorectal cancers and lung adenocarcinomas.

A panel of cancer cell lines harboring different KRas mutations such as G12C, G12V or G12D was selected to test KRas inhibitors in several cellular assays: phosphorylation assays, 2D and 3D proliferation assays. Applying the cellular pERK AlphaLISA assay showed high selectivity of several inhibitors for specific KRas mutants, while RAF and MEK inhibitors did not show significant selectivity in the tested cancer cell lines. The KRas inhibitors were then examined in a cellular 2D and a 3D spheroid proliferation assay to determine the inhibitory effect on cell growth. These cellular assays revealed a high selectivity for a specific KRas mutant, which was even more pronounced in the 3D format than in the 2D setup.

The transferability of the cellular data obtained to in vivo was tested in the Hollow Fiber mouse model. The Hollow Fiber model allows the simultaneous study of multiple cell lines implanted in separated drug-(but not cell-) permeable fibers in a single mouse with a study duration of only 16 days. AMG510 (Sotorasib), a drug approved for tumors with a G12C Kras mutation, and MRTX1133, which is currently in clinical phase and shows activity in tumors with a G12D Kras mutation, were screened for their inhibitory effect on the pancreatic tumor cells MiaPaCa-2 (G12C Kras mutation), AsPC-1 (G12D Kras mutation) and BxPC-3 (wt Kras) in the in vivo Hollow Fiber model in female NMRI nude mice. While the growth of BxPC-3 tumor cells was not affected by either inhibitor, the growth of AsPC-1 tumor cells in particular was selectively and significantly inhibited by MRTX1133.

In summary, the in vivo Hollow Fiber model is a fast and cost-effective model that can play an prominent role in drug development as a link between in vitro and in vivo xenograft studies by providing rapid and transferable evidence for in vivo efficacy.

Citation Format: Philipp Metzger, Claus-Werner Franzke, Ezgi Dikici, Gregor Sommerkamp, Franziska Fimm-Todt, Jan E. Ehlert, Cynthia Obodozie, Holger Weber. The in vivo Hollow Fiber model is a valuable tool in drug development of selective KRas inhibitors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3164.