Targeting heat shock protein 90 with CUDC-305 overcomes erlotinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer

Mol Cancer Ther. 2009 Dec;8(12):3296-306. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-09-0538.

Abstract

CUDC-305 is a heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitor of the novel imidazopyridine class. Here, we report its activities in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines with gene deregulations conferring primary or secondary resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. We show that CUDC-305 binds strongly to HSP90 extracted from erlotinib-resistant NSCLC cells (IC50 70 nmol/L). This result correlates well with the potent antiproliferative activity in erlotinib-resistant NSCLC cell lines (IC50 120-700 nmol/L) reported previously. Furthermore, it exhibits durable inhibition of multiple oncoproteins and induction of apoptosis in erlotinib-resistant NSCLC cells. CUDC-305 potently inhibits tumor growth in subcutaneous xenograft models of H1975 and A549, which harbor EGFR T790M mutation or K-ras mutations conferring acquired and primary erlotinib resistance, respectively. In addition, CUDC-305 significantly prolongs animal survival in orthotopic lung tumor models of H1975 and A549, which may be partially attributed to its preferential exposure in lung tissue. Furthermore, CUDC-305 is able to extend animal survival in a brain metastatic model of H1975, further confirming its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Correlating with its effects in various tumor models, CUDC-305 induces degradation of receptor tyrosine kinases and downstream signaling molecules of the PI3K/AKT and RAF/MEK/ERK pathways simultaneously, with concurrent induction of apoptosis in vivo. In a combination study, CUDC-305 enhanced the antitumor activity of a standard-of-care agent in the H1975 tumor model. These results suggest that CUDC-305 holds promise for the treatment of NSCLC with primary or acquired resistance to EGFR inhibitor therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Benzodioxoles / metabolism
  • Benzodioxoles / pharmacokinetics
  • Benzodioxoles / pharmacology*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
  • Drug Synergism
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • Female
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / metabolism
  • Imidazoles / pharmacokinetics
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Survival Analysis
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Benzodioxoles
  • CUDC 305
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Imidazoles
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Quinazolines
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Paclitaxel