Raquel Torres

Abstract B233: Identification and characterization of LY2835219: A potent oral inhibitor of the cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) with broad in vivo antitumor activity.

Dysregulation of the cell cycle, which normally regulates cell proliferation in response to mitogenic signaling and other extracellular stimuli, is a hallmark of cancer. The G1 restriction point is a primary mechanism controlling cell cycle progression and is controlled by the CDK4/6 pathway (CDK4/6-cyclin D1-Rb-CDKN2). The importance of this pathway is highlighted by inactivation of restriction point control in a majority of human tumors. Transition through the restriction point requires phosphorylation of Rb by CDK4/6, and these kinases are considered highly validated cancer drug targets. We have identified and characterized a potent and selective dual CDK4/6 inhibitor, LY2835219. Preclinical characterization was performed with the monomesylate salt (LY2835219-MsOH), which inhibits these kinases with a IC50 of 2 and 10 nM for CDK4 and CDK6, respectively. In vitro, LY2835219-MsOH is a potent inhibitor of Rb phosphorylation resulting in a G1 arrest, and its activity is specific for tumors that have functional Rb protein. In a multiplexed in vivo target inhibition assay (IVTI), LY2835219-MsOH is a potent inhibitor of Rb phosphorylation and induces complete cell cycle arrest 24 hrs after a single dose. In tumor-bearing mice, oral administration of LY2835219-MsOH inhibits tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner in colon (colo-205), glioblastoma (U87MG), acute myeloid leukemia (MV4–11), mantle cell lymphoma (Jeko-1), and lung (H460) xenografts. LY2835219-MsOH may be administered up to 56 days without adverse events or tumor outgrowth. LY2835219-MsOH enhances the in vivo activity of cytotoxic drugs, suggesting that this novel CDK4/6 inhibitor can be used in combination with these anti-neoplastic agents. In summary, we have identified an oral small molecule inhibitor of CDK4/6 that may provide therapeutic benefit to cancer patients with tumors that have functional Rb protein. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B233.

Phenotypic Screening Approaches to Develop Aurora Kinase Inhibitors: Drug Discovery Perspectives

Targeting mitotic regulators as a strategy to fight cancer implies the development of drugs against key proteins, such as Aurora-A and -B. Current drugs, which target mitosis through a general mechanism of action (stabilization/destabilization of microtubules), have several side effects (neutropenia, alopecia, and emesis). Pharmaceutical companies aim at avoiding these unwanted effects by generating improved and selective drugs that increase the quality of life of the patients. However, the development of these drugs is an ambitious task that involves testing thousands of compounds through biochemical and cell-based assays. In addition, molecules usually target complex biological processes, involving several proteins and different molecular pathways, further emphasizing the need for high-throughput screening techniques and multiplexing technologies in order to identify drugs with the desired phenotype. We will briefly describe two multiplexing technologies [high-content imaging (HCI) and flow cytometry] and two key processes for drug discovery research (assay development and validation) following our own published industry quality standards. We will further focus on HCI as a useful tool for phenotypic screening and will provide a concrete example of HCI assay to detect Aurora-A or -B selective inhibitors discriminating the off-target effects related to the inhibition of other cell cycle or non-cell cycle key regulators. Finally, we will describe other assays that can help to characterize the in vitro pharmacology of the inhibitors.

Abstract 3101: In-vitro characterization of Abemaciclib pharmacology in ER+ breast cancer cell lines

Dysregulation of the cell-cycle is a hallmark of cancer and genetic alterations in its regulatory machinery (or checkpoints) occur in most human tumors. The majority these defects are found in genes encoding for proteins regulating G1 phase progression, such as Rb, E2F1, CyclinD1, CDK4 and CDK6. Aberrant regulation of the G1 kinases CDK4 and CDK6, as well as overexpression or gene amplification of CyclinD, lead to inhibition of tumor suppressors such as Rb resulting in an accelerated cell cycle progression. Alterations in the CyclinD-CDK4/6-Rb pathway are common in breast cancer. Amplification of CCND1 gene encoding CyclinD1, occurs in 15% to 20% of breast cancers, and CyclinD1 overexpression is even more common (up to 50% of breast cancers). Abemaciclib is a reversible, ATP competitive, kinase inhibitor selective for CDK4 and CDK6 that has been shown to prevent growth of malignant cells in-vitro and in-vivo. This antitumor activity is mediated by inhibiting the phosphorylation of Rb and subsequent blockade of tumor cell cycle progression through G1/S. CDK4/6 inhibitors in general have shown significant potential for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and Abemaciclib, in particular, is currently being evaluated in advanced clinical trials (Phase II as single agent and Phase III in combination with anti-hormone therapy) in hormone receptor positive metastatic breast cancer patients. The goal of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of Abemaciclib in ER+ luminal breast cancer. We have evaluated the response of the drug in a diversity of breast cancer cell lines. Phenotypic characterization of sensitive cell lines was carried out by monitoring proliferation, cell cycle progression and phosphorylation of Rb using High Content Imaging. Senescence markers were included in the study to monitor the final outcome of the cells upon sustained exposure to the drug. Luminal ER+ breast cancer cells showed a marked sensitivity to treatment with Abemaciclib with IC50 values ranging from 5nM to 2uM. Simultaneous decrease in Rb phosphorylation with sustained accumulation of the 2N subpopulation was observed. Associated to the G1S arrest phenotype, Abemaciclib treatment resulted in a decrease of cell proliferation markers (Ki67 and BrdU). Additionally, a marked hyper-methylation profile (Histone H3K9met3) and a decrease of FOXM1 expression were observed, as well as an accumulation of endogenous beta-galactosidase and p21. Taken together this profile suggests that Abemaciclib acts through promotion of senescence in breast cancer cells. Abemaciclib prevents proliferation of breast cancer cell lines expressing D-types cyclins by promoting cell cycle arrest mediated by inhibition of Rb phosphorylation. Abemaciclib is a CDK4/6 inhibitor with potential to treat breast cancer by blocking cell proliferation leading to induction of senescence. Citation Format: Maria Jose Lallena, Karsten Boehnke, Raquel Torres, Ana Hermoso, Joaquin Amat, Bruna Calsina, Alfonso De Dios, Sean Buchanan, Jian Du, Richard Paul Beckmann, Xueqian Gong, Ann Mcnulty. In-vitro characterization of Abemaciclib pharmacology in ER+ breast cancer cell lines. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3101. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3101

Abstract A07: The identification of combinations for the CDK4 and CDK6 inhibitor, abemaciclib

We developed a combination screening protocol to look for synergistic interactions with abemaciclib, an inhibitor of cyclin dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4 and CDK6). Abemaciclib (LY2835219), has shown cytostatic effects in some cell lines while inducing senescence and apoptosis in particularly sensitive cell lines. Abemaciclib, combined with various compounds, was screened across panels of genomically characterized tumor cells. These screens identified several synergistic interactions that improved the activity of abemaciclib in cancer cells lines that respond to abemaciclib monotherapy (e.g. mantle cell lymphoma, ER+ breast cancer) but additionally revealed certain combinations with synergy in Rb wild-type cancers that do not respond optimally to single agent abemaciclib treatment. Most interestingly, MEK inhibitors and LY3009120, a novel Raf dimer inhibitor that inhibits all three Raf isoforms (Cancer Cell 28:384-98) were found to potentiate the cytostatic effects of abemaciclib in these cell lines leading to apoptosis in vitro and tumor regression in vivo. Further analysis of the effects of combined inhibition of CDK4 and CDK6 and Raf isoforms on downstream signaling pathways provides mechanistic clues that may help explain the observed synergy. Citation Format: Gong Xueqian, Li-Chun Chio, Yue Webster, Maria Jose Lallena, Karsten Boehnke, Raquel Torres, Phil Iversen, Alfonso De Dios, Ian Smith, Christoph Reinhard, Sheng-Bin Peng, Jack Dempsey, Teresa Burke, Shih-Hsun Chen, Trent Stewart, Richard Beckmann, Wenjuan Wu, Sean G. Buchanan. The identification of combinations for the CDK4 and CDK6 inhibitor, abemaciclib. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Precision Medicine Series: Cancer Cell Cycle - Tumor Progression and Therapeutic Response; Feb 28-Mar 2, 2016; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2016;14(11_Suppl):Abstract nr A07.

Abstract 2829: Preclinical analysis and characterization of abemaciclib using three-dimensional patient-derived colorectal cancer organoid cultures

Proper patient-tailoring strategy and the validation of novel therapeutic targets remain enormous challenges during drug discovery processes. Patient-derived three-dimensional organoid cell culture models possess great potential to associate compound sensitivity and disease complexity in order to provide a key missing link between compound screening and clinical trials. Abemaciclib is a reversible, ATP competitive, selective inhibitor of the kinase activity of both CDK4 and CDK6 and is currently undergoing advanced clinical testing. In this study, we established and characterized three-dimensional organoid cultures from primary colorectal cancer patients and validated their use as drug sensitivity models. We aimed to explore the antitumor activity of abemaciclib in colon cancer organoid cultures by assessing markers for cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle, senescence and apoptosis. Single cell suspension of patient-derived samples were precultured for four days to allow for complete morphogenesis of three-dimensional organoid structures. Subsequently, the cultures were treated for at least two population doubling times and analyzed by luminescent cell viability, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry assays. Our data suggest that abemaciclib treatment decreased the cell viability of patient-derived colorectal cancer organoid cultures characterized by G1 cell cycle arrest and reduced Ki-67-positive cells. Furthermore, treated cultures showed elevated levels of reactive oxygen species and increased markers for early and late apoptosis. In summary, complex organoid models have the potential to further evaluate the antitumor activity of abemaciclib in various tumor types by enabling mechanistic studies in a patient-specific preclinical setting. Citation Format: Karsten Boehnke, Bruna Calsina, Joaquin Amat, Ana Hermoso, Raquel Torres, Christoph Reinhard, Juan A. Velasco, Philip W. Iversen, Alfonso De Dios, Sean Buchanan, Richard P. Beckmann, Dirk Schumacher, Christian RA Regenbrecht, Marie-Laure Yaspo, Hans Lehrach, Maria Jose Lallena. Preclinical analysis and characterization of abemaciclib using three-dimensional patient-derived colorectal cancer organoid cultures. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2829.

Abstract 2818: An unbiased tumor cell panel profiling method to identify drug-drug interactions reveals synergy between the CDK4 and CDK 6 inhibitor abemaciclib and the Raf dimer and pan-Raf inhibitor LY3009120 in Ras mutant cancers

Drug sensitivity profiling across genomically characterized panels of tumor cells can identify the molecular determinants of drug response. By testing compound combinations in an unbiased format, the same methodology can be used to identify the genomic context of drug-drug synergy. Based on this principle, we developed an unbiased combination screening protocol to identify synergistic interactions with LY3009120, a novel Raf dimer inhibitor that inhibits all three Raf isoforms (Peng et al. 2015, Cancer Cell 28:384-98). Inhibitors of the Ras-MAPK pathway have proven very effective in the treatment of BRAF-mutant melanoma but are, in general, only partially effective in the treatment of BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer and Ras mutant cancers. LY3009120 combined with various compounds was screened across panels of genomically characterized tumor cells. These screens identified a strong synergy with abemaciclib, an inhibitor of cyclin dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4 and CDK6). Statistical analysis of effects in over 500 cancer cell lines showed that mutations in BRAF or Ras family genes were strongly associated with sensitivity to this combination. Strong synergy was observed in skin, colorectal, lung and pancreatic cancers with Ras/Raf mutations, but was also observed in various cancer cells wild type for Ras pathway genes. This included tumor types sensitive to single agent abemaciclib, such as mantle cell lymphoma, ER+ breast cancers, certain leukemias, squamous non-small cell lung cancer, and/or lung cancer with receptor tyrosine kinase activation. In vitro and in vivo analyses of the effects of the combination treatment on signaling pathways in KRAS mutant cancers led to potential mechanistic explanations for the differing efficacy of the combination, which manifests as regression of tumor xenografts in rodent models. Citation Format: Xueqian Gong, Wenjuan Wu, Li-Chun Chio, Susan Pratt, Constance King, Yue Webster, Maria Jose Lallena, Karsten Boehnke, Raquel Torres, Philip Iversen, Christoph Reinhard, Shih-Hsun Chen, Richard Bechmann, Sheng-Bin Peng, Sean Buchanan. An unbiased tumor cell panel profiling method to identify drug-drug interactions reveals synergy between the CDK4 and CDK 6 inhibitor abemaciclib and the Raf dimer and pan-Raf inhibitor LY3009120 in Ras mutant cancers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2818.

Abstract 2836: Characterization of the mechanism of action for abemaciclib with antiestrogen combined therapy in human breast cancer cell lines

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide after lung cancer. About 70% of breast cancers express estrogen receptor α (ER+) and/or progesterone receptor (PR+), and these biomarkers are indicative of hormone dependence. However up to 50% acquire resistance to hormone therapy [1, 2]. Estrogen independent ER+ breast cancer depends on CDK4 for tumor growth and CDK4 inhibitors have emerged as a promising approach to treat this type of tumors [3]. Abemaciclib is a cell cycle inhibitor with selective activity against CDK4 and CDK6 and it is being evaluated in advanced clinical trials for its potential to reduce metastatic ER+ breast cancer growth. We have evaluated combination of abemaciclib with an anti-estrogen therapy in an in vitro breast cancer panel. Phenotypic characterization of sensitive cell lines was carried out by monitoring cell proliferation, senescence, and apoptosis markers using flow cytometry and high content imaging approaches. Using an in vitro panel with a diversity of breast cancer cell lines, a synergistic effect of abemaciclib in combination with the ER down-regulating drug fulvestrant was observed based on Bliss score. This combination treatment demonstrated effective growth inhibition in ER+ cells and exhibited synergism in MCF-7, T47D and ZR-75-1. The mechanistic analyses revealed that the combination of abemaciclib with fulvestrant promoted a decrease in cancer cell proliferation due to G1 phase arrest at doses tested. This growth inhibition was accompanied by increased hallmarks for cell senescence as observed by markers such as SA-β-galactosidase staining or morphological changes. Subsequently, an increase in biomarkers for apoptosis was also observed. These changes occurred in a time dependent manner and were significantly greater with the combination than fulvestrant single agent treatment. We conclude the combination of abemaciclib with fulvestrant better prevented proliferation of breast cancer cell lines by blocking cell proliferation and lead to induction of senescence and apoptosis as compared to fulvestrant treatment alone in ER+ cells. Bibliography [1] American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures 2014. [2] Dixon J.M. (2014) New Journal of Science. Volume 2014, Article ID 390618. [3] Miller TW et al. (2011) Cancer Discov. Volume 1 (4): 338-51. Citation Format: Raquel Torres, Bruna Calsina, Ana Hermoso, Carmen Baquero, Cecilia Mur, Karsten Boehnke, Joaquin Amat, Alfonso De Dios, Xueqian Gong, Sean Buchanan, Richard Paul Beckmann, Maria Jose Lallena. Characterization of the mechanism of action for abemaciclib with antiestrogen combined therapy in human breast cancer cell lines. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2836.

Abstract 2830: The major human metabolites of abemaciclib are inhibitors of CDK4 and CDK6

Abemaciclib (LY2835219) is an ATP-competitive inhibitor of cyclin dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4 and CDK6) which is currently undergoing clinical evaluation for the treatment of breast and lung cancers. A radiolabeled disposition study following a single 150-mg oral dose of [14C]LY2835219 in healthy subjects indicated that in plasma, in addition to parent drug, the presence of 5 metabolites denoted as M1, M2, M18, M20 and M22. Abemaciclib (34%), M20 (26%), M2 (13%), and M18 (5%) constituted the majority of the plasma exposure. This study investigated the in vitro biological activity of these human circulating metabolites, with the exception of the trace metabolite, M1, and compared their potencies with the parent drug abemaciclib. Specifically non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and breast cancer cell lines were evaluated for growth inhibition, cell cycle inhibition and biomarker expression following treatment with abemaciclib and the metabolites. The metabolites were also profiled and compared to abemaciclib for inhibition of CDK4, CDK6, CDK1, and CDK9 in cell-free biochemical kinase assays. The IC50 values for the inhibition of CDK4 and CDK6, for metabolites M2, M18, and M20, but not M22, were between 1 and 3 nM and were nearly equivalent in potency to abemaciclib. Likewise, metabolites M2, M20, and M18 inhibited cell growth and cell cycle progression in a concentration-dependent manner that was consistent with the inhibition of CDK4 and CDK6 since these outcomes correlated with the concentration-dependent inhibition of various biomarkers such a phospho-serine 780-Rb (pRb), topoisomerase II-alpha (Topo IIα), and phospho-serine 10-histone H3 (pHH3). In this regard, metabolites M2 and M20 showed potencies nearly identical with abemaciclib in the cancer cell lines evaluated, whereas depending on the endpoint measured, the potency of M18 was approximately 3-20-fold lower than abemaciclib. M22 showed the least potency for growth inhibition and little or no inhibition of biomarker expression or cell cycle progression at concentrations below 2 μM. Although the cell-free kinase assays showed that like abemaciclib, M2, M18, and M20 had potential to inhibit CDK9, no measurable inhibition of CDK9 by any of these compounds was observed in cancer cells, indicating that the primary targets driving cell cycle inhibition for these metabolites in cancer cells were CDK4 and CDK6 and not CDK9. Studies with abemaciclib, M2 or M20 in breast cancer cells showed that all 3 compounds induced senescence in addition to growth inhibition following 6-8 days of treatment at 200 and 500 nM. In total the results indicated that the major human metabolites of abemaciclib, M2 and M20, are effective inhibitors of CDK4 and CDK6 that are remarkably similar to abemaciclib in regards to their effects in cancer cells on growth, senescence, and other phenotypic responses. Citation Format: Teresa Burke, Raquel Torres, Ann McNulty, Jack Dempsey, Stanley Kolis, Palaniappan Kulanthaivel, Richard Beckmann. The major human metabolites of abemaciclib are inhibitors of CDK4 and CDK6. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2830.