A Novel Affinity Engineered Anti-CD47 Antibody With Improved Therapeutic Index That Preserves Erythrocytes and Normal Immune Cells.

Therapeutic blockade of the CD47/SIRPα axis by small molecules or monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is a proven strategy to enhance macrophages-mediated anti-tumor activity. However, this strategy has been hampered by elevated on-target toxicities and rapid clearance due to the extensive CD47 expression on normal cells ("antigen sink") such as red blood cells (RBCs). To address these hurdles, we report on the development of STI-6643, an affinity-engineered fully human anti-CD47 IgG antibody with negligible binding to normal cells.

Macrophage Syk-PI3Kγ Inhibits Antitumor Immunity: SRX3207, a Novel Dual Syk-PI3K Inhibitory Chemotype Relieves Tumor Immunosuppression.

Macrophages (MΦ) play a critical role in tumor growth, immunosuppression, and inhibition of adaptive immune responses in cancer. Hence, targeting signaling pathways in MΦs that promote tumor immunosuppression will provide therapeutic benefit. PI3Kγ has been recently established by our group and others as a novel immuno-oncology target.

SF2523: Dual PI3K/BRD4 Inhibitor Blocks Tumor Immunosuppression and Promotes Adaptive Immune Responses in Cancer.

Macrophages (MΘs) are key immune infiltrates in solid tumors and serve as major drivers behind tumor growth, immune suppression, and inhibition of adaptive immune responses in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) protein, BRD4, which binds to acetylated lysine on histone tails, has recently been reported to promote gene transcription of proinflammatory cytokines but has rarely been explored for its role in IL4-driven MΘ transcriptional programming and MΘ-mediated immunosuppression in the TME. Herein, we report that BET bromodomain inhibitor, JQ1, blocks association of BRD4 with promoters of arginase and other IL4-driven MΘ genes, which promote immunosuppression in TME.

Association of high microvessel αβ and low PTEN with poor outcome in stage 3 neuroblastoma: rationale for using first in class dual PI3K/BRD4 inhibitor, SF1126.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. Our previous studies showed that the angiogenic integrin αβ was increased in high-risk metastatic (stage 4) NB compared with localized neuroblastomas. Herein, we show that integrin αβ was expressed on 68% of microvessels in MYCN-amplified stage 3 neuroblastomas, but only on 34% (means) in MYCN-non-amplified tumors ( < 0.

Rac2 is required for alternative macrophage activation and bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis; a macrophage autonomous phenotype.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease characterized by cellular phenotype alterations and deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. The alternative activation of macrophages in the lungs has been associated as a major factor promoting pulmonary fibrosis, however the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood. In the present study, we have defined a molecular mechanism by which signals transmitted from the extracellular matrix via the α4β1 integrin lead to the activation of Rac2 which regulates alternative macrophage differentiation, a signaling axis within the pulmonary macrophage compartment required for bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Dual-activity PI3K-BRD4 inhibitor for the orthogonal inhibition of MYC to block tumor growth and metastasis.

is a major cancer driver but is documented to be a difficult therapeutic target itself. Here, we report on the biological activity, the structural basis, and therapeutic effects of the family of multitargeted compounds that simultaneously disrupt functions of two critical MYC-mediating factors through inhibiting the acetyllysine binding of BRD4 and the kinase activity of PI3K. We show that the dual-action inhibitor impairs PI3K/BRD4 signaling in vitro and in vivo and affords maximal MYC down-regulation.

Single Agent and Synergistic Activity of the "First-in-Class" Dual PI3K/BRD4 Inhibitor SF1126 with Sorafenib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Deregulated PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Ras/Raf/MAPK, and c-Myc signaling pathways are of prognostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sorafenib, the only drug clinically approved for patients with advanced HCC, blocks the Ras/Raf/MAPK pathway but it does not inhibit the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway or c-Myc activation. Hence, there is an unmet medical need to identify potent PI3K/BRD4 inhibitors, which can be used either alone or in combination with sorafenib to treat patients with advanced HCC.

PI-3K Inhibitors Preferentially Target CD15+ Cancer Stem Cell Population in SHH Driven Medulloblastoma.

Sonic hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastoma (MB) subtype is driven by a proliferative CD15+ tumor propagating cell (TPC), also considered in the literature as a putative cancer stem cell (CSC). Despite considerable research, much of the biology of this TPC remains unknown. We report evidence that phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K) play a crucial role in the propagation, survival and potential response to therapy in this CD15+ CSC/TPC-driven malignant disease.

Pan-PI-3 kinase inhibitor SF1126 shows antitumor and antiangiogenic activity in renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: SF1126 is a vascular-targeted pan-PI-3K inhibitor prodrug with antitumor and antiangiogenic activity and has completed phase I clinical trial in solid tumors and B-cell malignancies. In this study, we investigated the effect of SF1126 on hypoxic HIF-1α/HIF-2α stability as well as on antitumor and/or antiangiogenic activity in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) models in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: The effect of SF1126 on hypoxic HIF-1α/HIF-2α protein stability, antitumor and antiangiogenic activity was studied on VHL-null (786-0) and VHL-WT (Caki) RCC cells.

Anti-tumor effect of a novel PI3-kinase inhibitor, SF1126, in (12) V-Ha-Ras transgenic mouse glioma model.

Background: Growth factor mediated activation of RAS-MAP-kinase and PI3-kinase-AKT pathways are critical for the pathogenesis of glioblastoma. The attenuation of PI3-kinase/AKT signaling will be effective in regulating the tumorigenic phenotypes of the glioma cells.

Methods: Glioma cells derived from the brain of the (12) V-Ha-Ras transgenic mice were used to study the effect of PI-3 kinase inhibitor SF1126 on activation of AKT and ERK signaling, proliferation, vitronectin mediated migration and changes in the distribution of cortical actin on vitronectin in the glioma cells in vitro.

A macrophage-dominant PI3K isoform controls hypoxia-induced HIF1α and HIF2α stability and tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis.

Unlabelled: Tumor growth, progression, and response to the hypoxic tumor microenvironment involve the action of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors, HIF1 and HIF2. HIF is a heterodimeric transcription factor containing an inducible HIFα subunit and a constitutively expressed HIFβ subunit. The signaling pathways operational in macrophages regulating hypoxia-induced HIFα stabilization remain the subject of intense investigation.

MDM2 regulates hypoxic hypoxia-inducible factor 1α stability in an E3 ligase, proteasome, and PTEN-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-AKT-dependent manner.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1) is a heterodimeric transcription factor containing an inducibly expressed HIF1α subunit and a constitutively expressed HIF1β subunit. Under hypoxic conditions, the HIF1α subunit accumulates because of a decrease in the rate of proteolytic degradation, and the resulting HIF1α-HIF1β heterodimers undergo post-translational modifications that promote transactivation. Previous reports suggest that amplified signaling through PI3K enhances HIF1-dependent gene expression; however, its role is controversial, and the mechanism is unclear.

A PKC-SHP1 signaling axis desensitizes Fcγ receptor signaling by reducing the tyrosine phosphorylation of CBL and regulates FcγR mediated phagocytosis.

Background: Fcγ receptors mediate important biological signals in myeloid cells including the ingestion of microorganisms through a process of phagocytosis. It is well-known that Fcγ receptor (FcγR) crosslinking induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of CBL which is associated with FcγR mediated phagocytosis, however how signaling molecules coordinate to desensitize these receptors is unclear. An investigation of the mechanisms involved in receptor desensitization will provide new insight into potential mechanisms by which signaling molecules may downregulate tyrosine phosphorylation dependent signaling events to terminate important signaling processes.

PTEN and PI-3 kinase inhibitors control LPS signaling and the lymphoproliferative response in the CD19+ B cell compartment.

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), e.g. toll receptors (TLRs) that bind ligands within the microbiome have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer.

Rac2 controls tumor growth, metastasis and M1-M2 macrophage differentiation in vivo.

Although it is well-established that the macrophage M1 to M2 transition plays a role in tumor progression, the molecular basis for this process remains incompletely understood. Herein, we demonstrate that the small GTPase, Rac2 controls macrophage M1 to M2 differentiation and the metastatic phenotype in vivo. Using a genetic approach, combined with syngeneic and orthotopic tumor models we demonstrate that Rac2-/- mice display a marked defect in tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis.

PTEN status mediates 2ME2 anti-tumor efficacy in preclinical glioblastoma models: role of HIF1α suppression.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common brain cancer and is highly lethal in both adults and children. 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2) is a microtubule inhibitor that potently inhibits HIF1α, GBM angiogenesis and tumor growth in preclinical models. In patients, 2ME2 exhibits low toxicity and promising but inconsistent efficacy.

Guanidine hydrochloride and urea-induced unfolding of Brugia malayi hexokinase.

Guanidine hydrochloride and urea-induced unfolding of B. malayi hexokinase (BmHk), a tetrameric protein, was examined in detail by using various optical spectroscopic techniques, enzymatic activity measurements, and size-exclusion chromatography. The equilibrium unfolding of BmHk by guanidine hydrochloride (GdmCl) and urea proceeded through stabilization of several unique oligomeric intermediates.

Molecular cloning and characterization of Brugia malayi hexokinase.

5' EST from filarial gene database has been subjected to 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), semi-nested PCR and PCR to obtain full-length cDNA of Brugia malayi. Full-length hexokinase gene was obtained from cDNA using gene specific primers. The elicited PCR product was cloned, sequenced and expressed as an active enzyme in Escherichia coli.

Molecular cloning and characterization of Plasmodium falciparum transketolase.

The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is an important metabolic pathway for yielding reducing power in the form of NADPH and production of pentose sugar needed for nucleic acid synthesis. Transketolase, the key enzyme of non-oxidative arm of PPP, plays a vital role in the survival/replication of the malarial parasite. This enzyme in Plasmodium falciparum is a novel drug target as it has least homology with the human host.

DNA binding and topoisomerase II inhibitory activity of water-soluble ruthenium(II) and rhodium(III) complexes.

Water-soluble piano-stool arene ruthenium complexes based on 1-(4-cyanophenyl)imidazole (CPI) and 4-cyanopyridine (CNPy) with the formulas [(eta6-arene)RuCl2(L)] (L = CPI, eta6-arene = benzene (1), p-cymene (2), hexamethylbenzene (3); L = CNPy, eta6-arene = benzene (4), p-cymene (5), hexamethylbenzene (6)) have been prepared by our earlier methods. The molecular structure of [(eta6-C6Me6)RuCl2(CNPy)] (6) has been determined crystallographically. Analogous rhodium(III) complex [(eta5-C5Me5)RhCl2(CPI)] (7) has also been prepared and characterized.