bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abstract 5782: Selumetinib-based therapy in uveal melanoma patient-derived xenografts
Authors: Decaudin Didier , Botty Rania EL , Diallo Béré , Massonnet Gerald , Fleury Justine , Naguez Adnan , Dubois Marine , Davies Emma J. , Smith Aaron , Wilson Joanne , Howes Colin , Smith Paul , Cassoux Nathalie , Mariani Pascale , Piperno-Neumann Sophie , Roman Sergio Roman , Nemati Fariba 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Purpose: The prognosis of metastatic uveal melanoma (UM) patients remains one of the worst observed in human cancers. The identification of frequently mutated GNAQ/GNA11 and the activation of MAPK signaling in UM raise the possibility of using efficient targeted therapies such as MEK inhibition. The aim of our study was to evaluate drug combinations that might enhance the efficacy of the MEK inhibitor, selumetinib (AZD6244, ARRY-142886), using patient-derived xenografts.
Materials: Five UM PDXs were used in this study, i.e., MP34, MP46, MP55, MP77, and MM26, all mutated for GNAQ or GNA11. Selumetinib was administered alone or combined with chemotherapies (dacarbazine and docetaxel) or targeted therapies: the ERK inhibitor, AZ6197 and the mTORC1/2 inhibitor, vistusertib (AZD2014). All targeted therapies were administered orally five days/week at the following doses: selumetinib at 25 mg/kg/day BID, AZ6197 at 50 mg/kg QD, AZD2014 at 15mg/kg QD. Dacarbazine was administered at 40 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days every 28 days and docetaxel at 15 mg/kg weekly. Both were administered intraperitoneally.
Results: The combination of selumetinib and dacarbazine did not show improvement of antitumor efficacy in MP34, MM26 and MP55.The results showed a slight increase of overall response rate when selumetinib was combined with docetaxel, in comparison to the treatment with selumetinib or docetaxel alone. Importantly, we observed a significant antitumor effect when selumetinib was used in combination with AZ6197 or AZD2014 with respect to the monotherapies. Preliminary pharmacodynamics studies showed variation of the expression of p-ERK and also p-AKT and/or p-S6 when UM PDX were treated with AZ6197 or AZD2014 alone or in combination with selumetinib.
Conclusion: Our data suggest that ERK and mTORC1/2 targeting could represent promising therapeutic approaches for the treatment of metastatic UM patients.
Citation Format: Didier Decaudin, Rania EL Botty, Béré Diallo, Gerald Massonnet, Justine Fleury, Adnan Naguez, Marine Dubois, Emma J. Davies, Aaron Smith, Joanne Wilson, Colin Howes, Paul Smith, Nathalie Cassoux, Pascale Mariani, Sophie Piperno-Neumann, Sergio Roman Roman, Fariba Nemati. Selumetinib-based therapy in uveal melanoma patient-derived xenografts [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 5782.
Abstract 5783: Strong antitumor activity of ASN007, an oral ERK1/2 inhibitor, in PDX tumor models with MAP kinase pathway alterations including KRAS mutations
Authors: Reddy Sanjeeva P. , Rao Niranjan S. , Smith Roger A. , Thompson Scott K. , Toker Sarper 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
The RAS/RAF/MEK pathway is frequently dysregulated in a broad range of cancers through mutations in several targets such as KRAS, NRAS, HRAS, BRAF, NF1 and receptor tyrosine kinases. Although MEK and BRAF inhibitors improve the outcome for patients with BRAF mutant melanoma and lung cancers, the duration of response is limited due to reactivation of the pathway. The extracellular-signal-regulated kinases, ERK1 and ERK2 (ERK1/2), which are downstream of MEK and BRAF kinases, serve as a key node in this crucial signaling pathway. Targeting ERK1/2 offers a promising therapeutic strategy for a broad range of cancers, particularly the ones driven by RAS mutations, and in overcoming resistance to MEK/BRAF inhibitors. Here, we present discovery and characterization of a novel orally bioavailable compound, ASN007, that showed inhibition of ERK1/2 kinases in a biochemical assay with IC50 = 2 nM for both targets. Interestingly, ASN007 displayed a much slower dissociation rate (longer target residence time) as compared to other ERK inhibitors. ASN007 inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 substrates such as RSK1, FRA1 and Elk1 in various cell lines with low nM IC50 values. ASN007 showed potent anti-proliferative activity that was selective for MAPK-pathway dependent cancer cell lines. Indeed, ASN007 showed much more robust activity against RAS mutant cell lines as compared to other ERK1/2 inhibitors. In a daily oral dosing regimen, ASN007 demonstrated strong tumor growth inhibition in BRAF, KRAS and NRAS mutant xenograft models in mice and was well tolerated at efficacious doses. Of note, ASN007 showed strong efficacy using various intermittent dosing regimens. It also showed a strong anti-tumor activity in colorectal PDX models with various KRAS mutations. Furthermore, ASN007 showed regression of tumor growth in a melanoma PDX model that was resistant to both MEK and BRAF inhibitors. In addition to the single agent activity, greater efficacy was observed when ASN007 was combined with immunotherapeutic agents such as an anti-PD-1 antibody or an IDO-1 inhibitor. ASN007 does not exhibit significant inhibition of CYP enzymes or the hERG channel. A Phase 1 trial with ASN007 in patients with BRAF and K-, H- and N-RAS mutant melanoma, colorectal, non-small lung and pancreatic cancers is being planned.
Citation Format: Sanjeeva P. Reddy, Niranjan S. Rao, Roger A. Smith, Scott K. Thompson, Sarper Toker. Strong antitumor activity of ASN007, an oral ERK1/2 inhibitor, in PDX tumor models with MAP kinase pathway alterations including KRAS mutations [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 5783.
Abstract 5784: A novel ERK inhibitor in the treatment of uveal melanoma
Authors: Musi Elgilda , Ambrosini Grazia , Munck Joanne , Schwartz Gary K. 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Uveal melanoma is one of most common intraocular malignancies of the adult eye. GNAQ/ GNA11 genetic alterations are present in 85% of diagnosed cases resulting in activation of MAPK pathway. Recently, MEK inhibitors, such as selumetinib have been used to treat GNAQ/GNA11-mutant uveal melanoma patients. However, selumetinib has shown modest effect compared to chemotherapy. As ERK is the primary downstream effector of the MAPK pathway, it is hypothesized that ERK inhibitors have the potential to improve clinical activity in these patient populations. We examined the effects of a selective and potent ERK inhibitor (Compound A), on several uveal melanoma cell lines including 4 GNAQ cell lines (92.1, Mel202, Omm1.3, MP46), 2 GNA11 cell lines (MP41, Omm1), 2 BRAF cell lines (OCM1A, OCM1) and a Wild Type (Mel290) cell line. The uveal melanoma cell lines were sensitive to ERK inhibition by Compound A, with IC50s concentrations determined to be between 50 to 250 nM. Compound A was more effective at inhibiting growth than the MEK inhibitor selumetinib at nanomolar concentrations. Compound A at 250 nM inhibited pERK1/2 within at least 2 hours of drug exposure. By 24 hours inhibition of pRB and suppression of cyclin D1 was detected in all the cell lines tested except the Wild type cell line Mel290. Cell cycle analysis of Compound A dosed at 250 nM for 24 hours showed significant G1 arrest (85-90% G1). These in vitro results support further evaluation of ERK inhibition in the treatment of uveal melanoma.
Citation Format: Elgilda Musi, Grazia Ambrosini, Joanne Munck, Gary K. Schwartz. A novel ERK inhibitor in the treatment of uveal melanoma [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 5784.
Abstract 5788: Preclinical evaluation of HZB0071, a small molecule inhibitor of AKT
Authors: Li Gang , Hu Lihong , Mao Weifeng , Li Dongfang , Ding Charles Z. , Chen Shuhui 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Objective: AKT is a component of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR (PAM) pathway, which plays an important part in cell proliferation, growth and survival, activated in many cancers and has been validated as a therapeutic target in the clinic. Inhibition of AKT activity can block the PAM pathway and proliferation of various types of tumor cells with loss of tumor suppressor PTEN, mutational activation of p110a catalytic subunit of PI3K and amplification of the gene encoding either AKT or PI3K. The purpose of this study is to investigate the in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of HZB0071, a small molecule AKT kinase inhibitor, in preclinical models of solid cancer with AKT overexpression.
Method: Kinase inhibiting activity of HZB0071 was determined with AKT1, 2, 3 kinase assays. Cellular anti-proliferative activity was evaluated with AKT overexpressed LNcap cell line and DU145 cell line without AKT overexpression. The antitumor activity of HZB0071 was evaluate in vivo and the synergistic effect combined with Paclitaxel in AKT highly expressed patient-derived mouse xenograft (PDX) models of Gastric Cancer ST-02-0013 and cell-derived mouse xenograft (CDX) models of Breast Cancer BT474.
Result: HZB0071 displayed potent kinase inhibiting activity for AKT1, 2, 3 with IC50 1.3±0.41 nM, 50.3±13.4 nM and 90.4±5.84 nM, respectively. HZB0071 inhibited cell proliferation in AKT overexpressed LNcap cells with IC50 67±7 nM. In contrast, HZB0071 showed much weaker anti-proliferative activity in DU145 cells with IC50 &gt;10,000 nM. HZB0071 showed antitumor efficacy in AKT highly expressed gastric cancer PDX model ST-02-0013 (TGI = 62% @30 mpk, QD as single agent; TGI = 61% @15 mpk + Paclitaxel @10 mpk, QD, in combination with Paclitaxel), as well as in the breast cancer BT474 CDX model (TGI = 88% @30 mpk + Paclitaxel @15 mpk, QD).
Conclusion: We have identified a novel potent AKT inhibitor HZB0071. Preclinical studies shows antitumor efficacy of HZB0071 in AKT overexpressed solid cancer models. HZB0071 represents a promising clinical candidate for treating solid cancers with high AKT expression.
Citation Format: Gang Li, Lihong Hu, Weifeng Mao, Dongfang Li, Charles Z. Ding, Shuhui Chen. Preclinical evaluation of HZB0071, a small molecule inhibitor of AKT [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 5788.
Abstract 5799: Characterization and profiling of CB-103, a novel small-molecule protein-protein interaction inhibitor targeting the NOTCH transcription complex
Authors: Lehal Rajwinder , Urech Charlotte , Vigolo Michele , Murone Maximilien , Radtke Freddy 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
NOTCH signalling is a key development pathway whose aberrant activation is known to play a role in multiple human cancers. In human tumors the NOTCH pathway can be activated by various genetic lesions such over expression of ligands/receptors, GOF mutations in NOTCH receptors, including protein stabilizing mutations in the PEST domain of NOTCH, chromosomal translocations, or loss-of-function mutations in the E3 ubiquitin ligase FBXW7 and other negative regulators of the pathway (SPEN, NUMB). Activation of signalling due to above mentioned mechanisms can be addressed in part using blocking antibodies against NOTCH ligands/receptors or small molecule inhibitors of the gamma secretase enzyme (GSIs). However, in human tumors where NOTCH signalling is constitutively activated due to chromosomal translocations in the NOTCH receptors (NOTCH1 and 2), none of the above-mentioned strategies will be effective. Moreover, due to on-target and off-target toxicities associated with blocking antibodies and GSIs, these anti-NOTCH agents failed to advance in clinical trials, although some of them showed signs of clinical efficacy. Given the role of NOTCH signalling in human tumors, there is a need to identify novel targets in the NOTCH pathway and develop new and more selective anti-NOTCH agents. To inhibit pan-NOTCH signalling in human tumors independently of the mechanisms of NOTCH activation, and in the most downstream part of the pathway, we have previously reported the discovery of a new class of small molecules able to target the NOTCH transcription complex enabling the specific inhibition of NOTCH target gene expression (e.g. cMYC, HES1, DTX1, CCND1). These small molecules act as protein-protein interaction inhibitors, and thereby compromise the assembly of functional NOTCH transcription complex.
Here we present further in vitro and in vivo characterization of the lead molecule CB-103. The anti-cancer activity of CB-103 was extensively profiled in several human cancer cell lines representing NOTCH positive solid tumors, leukemias and lymphomas. Moreover, CB-103 responsiveness of these cell lines correlates with a downregulation of the NOTCH signature following treatment with CB-103. Specifically, we will present data outlining the in vivo pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of CB-103.
Citation Format: Rajwinder Lehal, Charlotte Urech, Michele Vigolo, Maximilien Murone, Freddy Radtke. Characterization and profiling of CB-103, a novel small-molecule protein-protein interaction inhibitor targeting the NOTCH transcription complex [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 5799.
Abstract 5809: Synergistic effect of alectinib and everolimus on anaplastic large cell lymphoma cells via ALK-mTOR pathway inhibition
Authors: Kim Dongchan , Park Hyejoo , Koh Youngil , Yoon Sung-Soo 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Purpose Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion is associated with various kinds of cancer, including anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). We investigated the efficacy of combination between ALK inhibitor and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor in ALK-positive ALCL cells.
Methods & Results ALK-positive cancer cell lines were treated with ALK and/or mTOR inhibitors and assessed for cell viability. Treatment of ALK-positive ALCL cell lines with the combination resulted in a synergistic effect in Karpas299 cells but not in SU-DHL-1 cells. Viability of Karpas299 cell was reduced to 26.4% (p&lt;0.001) by alectinib-everolimus combination treatment compared to the single treatment groups (alectinib: 59.5%, everolimus: 51.6%); the Combination Index (CI) value of 0.316 indicated a synergistic effect of the combination treatment. Moreover, changes in intracellular signaling were analyzed by western blot. Combination treatment augmented increase of ALK-mTOR de-phosphorylation, and cleavage of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) molecules. Combination treatment significantly increased the numbers of Karpas299 cells in subG1 (p = 0.0096 everolimus), and G0/G1 (p = 0.0018 alectinib; 0.0013 everolimus) cell cycle arrest compared to single treatment groups. We investigated the biological differences between Karpas299 and SU-DHL-1 cell lines using RNA sequencing data obtained from Sequence Read Archive (SRA). The RNA expression pattern of the ALK isoforms ALK-201 and 203 was different between the two cell lines. These data indicated that the relatively high expression of ALK-203 in SU-DHL1 cells could explain the lack of synergism in response to the combination treatment observed.
Conclusions Combination treatment with alectinib and everolimus synergistically reduced cell survival, augmented inhibition of cellular signaling, and increased cell cycle arrest in Karpas299 but not in SU-DHL1 cells. These differences might be attributable to differential expression of ALK isoforms between the two cell lines.
Citation Format: Dongchan Kim, Hyejoo Park, Youngil Koh, Sung-Soo Yoon. Synergistic effect of alectinib and everolimus on anaplastic large cell lymphoma cells via ALK-mTOR pathway inhibition [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 5809.
Abstract 5837: Acquired resistance to anticancer drug of high glucose-exposed HepG2
Authors: Kishimoto Shuichi , Fukushima Shoji 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Reports show that diabetic patients with cancer tend to show resistance to anticancer drug treatment and have poor prognosis compared to non-diabetic patients. We observed that HepG2-HG, which is a derivative of the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 exposed continuously to high glucose, shows high resistance to etoposide. In this study, we aimed to understand the involvement of excretion transporter and apoptosis regulatory factor in anti-cancer drug resistance in HepG2-HG. HepG2 was cultured in minimum essential medium (MEM) (with 5.5 mM glucose), and HepG2-HG was cultured in MEM supplemented with up to 25 mM glucose. Sensitivity to anticancer drugs was evaluated by the SRB assay. mRNA expression was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) on Rotor-Gene Q using the KAPA SYBR FAST qPCR kit. Proteins extracted using the Ultra-RIPA kit were electrophoresed, transferred to a membrane by the iBlot 2 gel transfer device, reacted with antibodies, and evaluated for expression using enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) prime reagent. IC50 values of etoposide in HepG2 and HepG2-HG were 0.59 µM and 17.5 µM, respectively. Comparison of the expression of the excretion transporter showed that the expression of p-glycoprotein (p-gp) was markedly enhanced in HepG2-HG compared to that in HepG2. Continuous contact of HepG2-HG with high glucose induced the expression of the glucose transporter GLUT1, which may provide a survival mechanism for cancer cells via escape from hypoxia-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the expression of phospho-p70S6K was high in HepG2-HG, suggesting an increase in the activity of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Therefore, we suggest that increased p-gp expression and mTOR activity in HepG2-HG provided resistance to etoposide by decreasing intracellular drug levels and suppressing the apoptotic mechanism. Estimation of the contribution of both mechanisms to etoposide resistance of HepG2-HG requires further examination.
Citation Format: Shuichi Kishimoto, Shoji Fukushima. Acquired resistance to anticancer drug of high glucose-exposed HepG2 [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 5837.
Abstract 5840: Inhibition of cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) sensitizes colon cancer cells to 5-FU via increasing apoptosis and inhibiting cellular bioenergetics
Authors: Chen Shanwen , Wang Pengyuan , Pan Yisheng , Liu Yucun 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Increased expression of cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) has been validated in multiple kinds of tumor tissues, including colorectal cancer. Endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S), produced by CBS, was able to promote the proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells by inhibiting apoptosis and injuries caused by noxious environmental factors, including chemotherapeutic agents. Recently, overexpression of CBS has been reported to play a pivotal role in tumorigenesis of colon cancer cells, rendering the normal colon epithelial cell line acquiring the features of malignant cells. However, the potential role of CBS in the development of chemoresistance of colon cancer cells has not be illustrated. In the present study, overexpression of CBS in tumor tissues was further validated by realtime PCR and the effect of inhibition of both the activity and expression of CBS on the sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was investigated in colon cancer cell lines. Inhibition of the activity of CBS by CBS inhibitor aminooxyacetate (AOAA) significantly increased the sensitivity of colon cancer cell lines to 5-FU, featured by decreased IC50 and colony forming efficiency. However, utilizing a slowly releasing H2S donor GYY4137, the present study suggested that exogenous hydrogen sulfide was able to increase the resistance to 5-FU in both colon cancer cell lines. What's intriguing was that, 5-FU, at clinically relevant concentrations, significantly inhibited the expression of CBS. Co-treatment of AOAA significantly increased the expression of Bax and decreased the expression of Bcl-2, indicating the involvement of increased apoptosis. AOAA also predisposed the colon cancer cells to the inhibition of cellular energetics induced by 5-FU, featured by the further reduced level of cellular ATP. These results suggested that inhibition of CBS promoted the sensitivity of colon cancer cells to 5-FU via increasing apoptosis and inhibiting cellular bioenergetics. Furthermore, inhibition of CBS expression by shRNA sensitizes the 5-FU resistant colon cancer cell line HCT-8/5-FU to treatment with 5-FU. The increased expression of CBS and the consequently increased level of endogenous H2S might be a potential therapeutic target for chemoresistance in colon cancer.
Citation Format: Shanwen Chen, Pengyuan Wang, Yisheng Pan, Yucun Liu. Inhibition of cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) sensitizes colon cancer cells to 5-FU via increasing apoptosis and inhibiting cellular bioenergetics [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 5840.
Abstract 5856: Identification and validation of Nrf2 inhibitors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Weir Seth , Chen Xiaoxin , Paiboonrungruan Chorlada 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Background: The Nrf2/Keap1 pathway is critical for human cells to respond to oxidative stress. In basal conditions the Keap1 homodimer is bound to Nrf2 in the cytoplasm. When stressed, Keap1 releases Nrf2 which translocates into the nucleus, binds the antioxidant response element, and activate antioxidative genes. Somatic mutations of Nrf2 or Keap1 gene can cause constitutive activation of this pathway, and thus results in chemoradioresistance and poor survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Our goal is to identify chemical Nrf2 inhibitors for targeted therapy of Nrf2high ESCC in the future.
Methods: Possible Nrf2 inhibitors were identified using high throughput screening of 1,280 compounds in the Prestwick library, and 35,000 compounds in the Asinex library with Nqo1-EGFP H1299 cells stimulated by an Nrf2 activator (CDDO). Nrf2 activity was monitored via Incucyte by measuring the total normalized green fluorescence divided by the total normalized red fluorescence (tagged nuclear cherry marker). The red channel assessed cell viability and cytotoxicity of compounds. Inhibitors were identified if they met a threshold of &gt;50% inhibition. Lead compounds will be further validated in vitro with KYSE 450 (Nrf2low+Keap1 knockdown) and KYSE 70 (Nrf2high) by examining their effects on expression of nuclear Nrf2 and its downstream target gene (Nqo1). These compounds will also be validated in vivo using Sox2CreER;Nrf2Ki/Ki mice.
Results: We successfully established the in vitro assay with Nqo1-EGFP H1299 cells for high throughput screening of Nrf2 inhibitors. Eight lead compounds were identified from the Prestwick library and validated as
Nrf2 inhibitors via a dose-response experiment (IC50&lt;1μM). Screening of the Asinex library and further validations are still ongoing.
Conclusion: We have identified Nrf2 inhibitors through high-throughput screening and will test them in vitro and finally in vivo.
Citation Format: Seth Weir, Xiaoxin Chen, Chorlada Paiboonrungruan. Identification and validation of Nrf2 inhibitors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [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 5856.