Abstract 679: ABI-231: A novel small molecule suppresses tumor growth and metastatic phenotypes of cervical cancer cells via targeting HPV E6 and E7
Authors: Kashyap Vivek K. , Hafeez Bilal B. , Wang Qinghai , Chauhan Neeraj , Nagesh Prashanth K. , Dan Nirnoy , kumari sonam , Malik Shabnam , Setua Saini , Ganju Aditya , Yallapu Murali M. , Miller Duane D. , Li Wei , Jaggi Meena , Chauhan Subhash C. Chauhan C. 
Published: August 2018

Objective: Cervical cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers among women worldwide and is associated with persistent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Human papilloma virus (HPV) expressing E6 and E7 oncoproteins involved in carcinogenesis through their interactions with the p53 and pRB pathways, respectively. Therefore, non-toxic agents that have potential to inhibit the expression of E6 and E7 oncoproteins and their regulated oncogenic signaling pathways could be used in the management of cervical cancer. Microtubule targeting agents including paclitaxel, colchicine and vinca alkaloids are widely used in the treatment of various cancers but most of these agents have toxic side effects and develop chemoresistance. Herein, we investigated the potential anti-cancer effects of a novel tubulin targeting agent (ABI-231) in in vitro and in vivo model systems.

Method: ABI-231 ((2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1H-imidazol-4-yl)(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl))- methanone was synthesized in our home institution. Human cervical cancer cells (CaSki and SiHa) were used as in vitro model system. To determine the effect of ABI-231 on cell proliferation, migration and invasion, we performed MTS and wound healing assays. Effect of ABI-231 on the expression of HPV E6/E7 was determined by Western blot, qRT-PCR, and confocal microscopy. Xenograft study was performed to determine the effect of ABI-231 on cervical tumor growth.

Results: ABI-231 treatment significantly (P&lt;0.01) inhibited growth, clonogenic, invasive and migratory potential of cervical cancer cells. ABI-231 treatment was resulted in inhibition of HPV E6 and E7 expression at both mRNA and protein levels in both Caski and SiHa cells. ABI-231 inhibited phosphorylation of STAT3 at both Tyr705 and Ser727 residues. ABI-231 arrested cell cycle in G2/M phase as determined by flow cytometry and inhibited protein levels of cyclin B1, p21 and p27. Moreover, ABI-231 treatment SiHa and Caski was resulted in induction of apoptosis which was analyzed by enhance Annexin V staining. Western blot results demonstrated cleavage in PARP protein, Bid, and Bim. ABI-231 treatment also showed significant (P&lt;0.01) inhibition of xenograft tumors in athymic nude mice. Excised xenograft tumors tissues were also analyzed for oncogenic signaling components which showed potent inhibition of aforementioned oncogenic signaling components compared to control.

Conclusions: Taken together, our results demonstrate the potential anti-cancer efficacy of ABI-231 in in vivo and in vivo. ABI-231 can be explored as a potent therapeutic agent for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Citation Format: Vivek K. Kashyap, Bilal B. Hafeez, Qinghai Wang, Neeraj Chauhan, Prashanth K. Nagesh, Nirnoy Dan, sonam kumari, Shabnam Malik, Saini Setua, Aditya Ganju, Murali M. Yallapu, Duane D. Miller, Wei Li, Meena Jaggi, Subhash C. Chauhan C. Chauhan. ABI-231: A novel small molecule suppresses tumor growth and metastatic phenotypes of cervical cancer cells via targeting HPV E6 and E7 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 679.