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Small Molecule Destabilizer of β-Catenin and Ras Proteins Antagonizes Growth of K-Ras Mutation-Driven Colorectal Cancers Resistant to EGFR Inhibitors

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Abstract

Background

Oncogenic K-Ras mutations in colorectal cancer (CRC) combined with APC mutations worsen CRC prognosis and lower drug effectiveness. Thus, inhibition of both Wnt/β-catenin and Ras-MAPK signaling may be a rational strategy to improve the treatment of this cancer.

Objective

To identify a novel compound inhibiting both Wnt/β-catenin and Ras-MAPK signaling in CRC.

Methods and Patients

We developed a two-part screening system consisting of analysis of TOP flash reporter cells and then potential toxicity effects on primary neural stem cells (NSCs). We then screened 2000 chemical compounds and tested efficacy of candidates against isogenic colon cancer cells harboring wild-type or mutant K-Ras. We employed immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry to determine marker signatures associated with development of disease phenotypes.

Results

We identified CPD0857, a compound that inactivates Wnt/β-catenin signaling and promotes ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of β-catenin and Ras proteins. CPD0857 effectively decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of CRC cell lines, and overcame resistance of CRC harboring APC and K-Ras mutations to treatment with an EGFR monoclonal antibody (mAb). Moreover, CPD0857 attenuated invasiveness of highly migratory CRC cells in vitro. Accordingly, xenograft mice treated with CPD0857 showed slower tumor growth and significant decreases in both β-catenin and Ras protein expression.

Conclusions

CPD0857 may be a potential drug for treating aggressive CRC carrying mutations that aberrantly activate Wnt/β-catenin and Ras-ERK pathways.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Kang-Yell Choi for insightful discussions (Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul) for technical advice. Byoung-San Moon and Heeyeong Cho were supported by the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) (SI2031-50)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, College of Life and Applied Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, Korea

    Jung Kyu Choi

  2. Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division, Drug Discovery Platform Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon, 34114, Korea

    Heeyeong Cho & Byoung-San Moon

  3. Department of Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, Yeosu, 59626, Korea

    Byoung-San Moon

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  1. Jung Kyu Choi
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Correspondence to Byoung-San Moon.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) (SI2031-50).

Conflict of interest

The authors Jung Kyu Choi, Heeyeong Cho, and Byoung-San Moon declare that they have no conflicts of interest that might be relevant to the contents of this manuscript.

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Author contributions

JKC and B-SM designed and performed the all experiments. HC supported materials, edited the manuscript and performed data analysis. B-SM wrote the manuscript and organized the project.

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Choi, J.K., Cho, H. & Moon, BS. Small Molecule Destabilizer of β-Catenin and Ras Proteins Antagonizes Growth of K-Ras Mutation-Driven Colorectal Cancers Resistant to EGFR Inhibitors. Targ Oncol 15, 645–657 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11523-020-00755-5

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