Abstract 3871: A novel TACC3 inhibitor as an anti-cancer agent in breast cancer
Authors: Ozge Akbulut, Deniz Lengerli, Ozge Saatci, Elif Duman, Urartu Seker, Burcu Caliskan, Erden Banoglu, Ozgur Sahin
Journal: Cancer Research (2019)

Abstract Transforming Acidic Coiled-Coil Containing Protein 3 (TACC3) is a microtubule-associated protein that is localized on mitotic spindles and ensures proper chromosomal segregation and microtubule stability. TACC3 is frequently amplified or mutated, and was demonstrated to be a prognostic factor in a broad spectrum of cancers which makes it a highly attractive therapeutic target. TACC3 knockdown was demonstrated to cause mitotic spindle defects and prevent proper mitotic progression causing apoptotic cell death. Inhibition of TACC3 with the currently available small molecule inhibitors, KHS101 and SPL-B, has been shown to reduce the growth of glioblastoma xenografts, and suppress tumor growth in ovarian cancer xenografts, respectively. However, none of these TACC3 inhibitors is being tested in clinics potentially due to low systemic stability or high IC50 (inhibitory concentration 50) values. Here, by combining rational drug design and screening approaches, we aimed to identify a novel and more potent TACC3 inhibitor that is effective in in vitro and in vivo systems and that can be used as a mitotic blocker in breast cancer (BC). A library of test compounds was generated by replacing certain functional groups of already available TACC3 inhibitors with their isosteric equivalents to improve potency and drug-like properties. Then, the generated compounds were tested in vitro in terms of growth inhibition in a panel of breast cancer cell lines of different breast cancer subtypes. The compounds were also compared based on their effect on the cellular processes that TACC3 is involved in, and were further compared with genomic TACC3 inhibition by siRNAs. Finally, the most promising agent was tested in vivo in terms of its anti-tumorigenic effects. BO-264 was identified as the most potent TACC3 inhibitor that effectively kills breast cancer cells of different subtypes when administered at nanomolar dose. Moreover, it demonstrated superior inhibitory effects on mitotic progression, DNA repair, and cellular viability as compared to currently available inhibitors. Oral administration of BO-264 suppressed tumor growth in breast cancer xenografts at a dose that caused no apparent toxicity. Specificity of BO-264 to TACC3 protein was tested by kinome profiling and further validated by state-of-art binding assays. Currently, we are testing the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics properties and organ toxicity of our inhibitor and performing the detailed molecular characterization of BO-264-mediated anti-tumor effects. Overall, our preclinical findings suggest that our novel compound (BO-264) is potentially a specific TACC3 inhibitor, causing growth inhibition in breast cancer cell lines and xenograft models by inducing mitotic arrest, DNA damage and apoptosis. Considering the critical importance of TACC3 as a cancer biomarker and driver of disease progression, BO-264 has great potential to be used as a novel therapeutic strategy in BC. Citation Format: Ozge Akbulut, Deniz Lengerli, Ozge Saatci, Elif Duman, Urartu Seker, Burcu Caliskan, Erden Banoglu, Ozgur Sahin. A novel TACC3 inhibitor as an anti-cancer agent in breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3871.