Ian Scanlon

B-RAF is a therapeutic target in melanoma

B-RAF is a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase that is mutated in approximately 70% of human melanomas. However, the role of this signalling molecule in cancer is unclear. Here, we show that ERK is constitutively activated in melanoma cells expressing oncogenic B-RAF and that this activity is required for proliferation. B-RAF depletion by siRNA blocks ERK activity, whereas A-RAF and C-RAF depletion do not affect ERK signalling. B-RAF depletion inhibits DNA synthesis and induces apoptosis in three melanoma cell lines and we show that the RAF inhibitor BAY43-9006 also blocks ERK activity, inhibits DNA synthesis and induces cell death in these cells. BAY43-9006 targets B-RAF signalling in vivo and induces a substantial growth delay in melanoma tumour xenografts. Our data demonstrate that oncogenic B-RAF activates ERK signalling, induces proliferation and protects cells from apoptosis, demonstrating that it is an important therapeutic target and thus provides novel strategies for clinical management of melanoma and other cancers.

Suicide Gene Therapy of Human Colon Carcinoma Xenografts Using an Armed Oncolytic Adenovirus Expressing Carboxypeptidase G2

We have designed a targeted systemic suicide gene therapy that combines the advantages of tumor-selective gene expression, using the human telomerase promoter (hTERT), with the beneficial effects of an oncolytic adenovirus to deliver the gene for the prodrug-activating enzyme carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2) to tumors. Following delivery of the vector (AdV.hTERT-CPG2) and expression of CPG2 in cancer cells, the prodrug ZD2767P was administered for conversion by CPG2 to a cytotoxic drug. This system is sometimes termed gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT). Here, we have shown that it is applicable to 10 human colorectal carcinoma cell lines with a direct correlation between viral toxicity and CPG2 production. SW620 xenografts were selected for analysis and were significantly reduced or eradicated after a single administration of AdV.hTERT-CPG2 followed by a prodrug course. The oncolytic effect of adenovirus alone did not result in DNA cross-links or apoptosis, whereas DNA cross-links and apoptosis occurred following prodrug administration, showing the combined beneficial effects of the GDEPT system. The apoptotic regions extended beyond the areas of CPG2 expression in the tumors, indicative of significant bystander effects in vivo. Higher concentrations of vector particles and CPG2 were found in the AdV.hTERT-CPG2 plus prodrug-treated tumors compared with the virus alone, showing an unexpected beneficial and cooperative effect between the vector and GDEPT. This is the first time that a tumor-selective GDEPT vector has been shown to be effective in colorectal carcinoma and that apoptosis and significant bystander effects have been identified as the mechanisms of cytotoxicity within the tumor.

Systemic Gene-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using a Targeted Adenovirus Armed with Carboxypeptidase G2

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common cancer worldwide, and there is no effective therapy for unresectable disease. We have developed a targeted systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. The gene for a foreign enzyme is selectively expressed in the tumor cells and a nontoxic prodrug is then given, which is activated to a potent cytotoxic drug by the tumor-localized enzyme. This approach is termed gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT). Adenoviruses have been used to target cancer cells, have an intrinsic tropism for liver, and are efficient gene vectors. Oncolytic adenoviruses produce clinical benefits, particularly in combination with conventional anticancer agents and are well tolerated. We rationalized that such adenoviruses, if their expression were restricted to telomerase-positive cancer cells, would make excellent gene vectors for GDEPT therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Here we use an oncolytic adenovirus to deliver the prodrug-activating enzyme carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2) to tumors in a single systemic administration. The adenovirus replicated and produced high levels of CPG2 in two different hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts (Hep3B and HepG2) but not other tissues. GDEPT enhanced the adenovirus-alone therapy to elicit tumor regressions in the hepatocellular carcinoma models. This is the first time that CPG2 has been targeted and expressed intracellularly to effect significant therapy, showing that the combined approach holds enormous potential as a tumor-selective therapy for the systemic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Novel Inhibitors of the v-raf Murine Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homologue B1 (BRAF) Based on a 2,6-Disubstituted Pyrazine Scaffold

BRAF, a serine/threonine kinase, plays a key role in the development of certain types of cancer, particularly melanoma. 2-(3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenylamino)-6-(3-acetamidophenyl)-pyrazine, 1, was identified as a low micromolar (IC 50 = 3.5 microM) BRAF inhibitor from a high-throughput screen of a library of 23000 compounds. This compound was chosen as the starting point of a program aimed at developing inhibitors of mutant (V600E)BRAF. We have already reported on the optimization of the trimethoxyphenylamino moiety of 1. In this paper, we describe the synthesis of a series of compounds derived from 1 with the purpose of optimization of the pyrazine central core and the phenylacetamido moiety in order to increase the potency against (V600E)BRAF compared to CRAF. The biological activity of the new inhibitors was assessed against mutant (V600E)BRAF in vitro. Several compounds were identified with IC 50s of 300-500 nM for (V600E)BRAF, and all compounds that were assessed showed selectivity for (V600E)BRAF compared to CRAF by 5-->86-fold.

Gene regulation in cancer gene therapy strategies

Regulation of expression in gene therapy is considered to be a very desirable goal, preventing toxic effects and improving biological efficacy. A variety of systems have been reported in an ever widening range of applications, this paper describes these systems with specific reference to cancer gene therapy.