Abstract 6276: SKL27969, an oral selective PRMT5 inhibitor, sensitizes the effect of DNA-damaging agents in preclinical models of multiple solid tumors
Authors: Moon Mijin , Shin Yongje , Ki Soyoung , Na Jungtae , Lee Ho Yeon , Koh Ilkyoo , Hong Beomjin , Yun Jiyeon , Laramy Janice , Vashi Vijaykumar , Park Sook-Kyung 
Published: April 2023

Background: Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is overexpressed in various human malignancies and induces epigenetic and post-translational changes, which have a significant impact on cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA damage repair. SKL27969 is a potent and selective brain-penetrating PRMT5 inhibitor demonstrating antitumor activity in the preclinical models of glioblastoma (GBM) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) brain metastasis models. In this study, we evaluated the antitumor activity of SKL27969 alone or in combination with DNA-damaging agents in various cancer models.

Methods: Cell cycle analysis, apoptosis, proliferation, and invasion assays were conducted to determine in vitro profiles of SKL27969. In vivo efficacy of SKL27969 was evaluated in human cancer cell line-derived xenograft (CDX) or patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Immunohistochemistry and RNA-sequencing analysis in tumor samples from animal models were conducted to confirm the in vivo mechanism of action (MoA). In vitro synergistic effects of SKL27969 with combination partner drugs were analyzed using Combenefit software.

Results: SKL27969 exhibits strong anti-proliferative effect by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and also inhibits invasion of cancer cells. An evaluation of SKL27969 in a panel of over 100 cancer cell lines revealed a broad spectrum of anti-proliferative activity in various cancer types, and an especially more sensitive response in cell lines harboring genetic alterations in the mitotic DNA damage checkpoint, DNA repair, or RNA processing pathways. Administration of SKL27969 demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition, with a decrease in tumor symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) in NSCLC and TNBC subcutaneous xenograft models. Transcriptome and immunohistochemical analysis of SKL27969-treated tumors revealed that the cell cycle checkpoint pathways and DNA damage repair genes were downregulated, supporting the rationale for combination treatment with DNA-damaging agents such as chemotherapeutic agents. Robust antitumor effects were observed after treatment with SKL27969 in combination with paclitaxel or gemcitabine in NSCLC PDX or pancreatic cancer CDX models. Further ex vivo studies to confirm the in vivo MoA of this synergism, and in vivo combination studies of SKL27969 with standard chemotherapeutic agents in other solid cancer CDX models, are ongoing.

Conclusion: This is the first preclinical study that suggests the therapeutic potential of SKL27969 in combination with currently approved DNA-damaging agents, and supports further clinical investigation of SKL27969’s role in improving the therapeutic benefit of standard therapies.

Citation Format: Mijin Moon, Yongje Shin, Soyoung Ki, Jungtae Na, Ho Yeon Lee, Ilkyoo Koh, Beomjin Hong, Jiyeon Yun, Janice Laramy, Vijaykumar Vashi, Sook-Kyung Park. SKL27969, an oral selective PRMT5 inhibitor, sensitizes the effect of DNA-damaging agents in preclinical models of multiple solid tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 6276.