Targeting GOF p53 and c-MYC through LZK Inhibition or Degradation Suppresses Head and Neck Tumor Growth.

The worldwide frequency of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is approximately 800,000 new cases, with 430,000 deaths annually. We determined that LZK (encoded by ) is a therapeutic target in HNSCC and showed that inhibition with small molecule inhibitors decreases the viability of HNSCC cells with amplified . A drug-resistant mutant of LZK blocks decreases in cell viability due to LZK inhibition, indicating on-target activity by two separate small molecules.

PIM1 targeted degradation prevents the emergence of chemoresistance in prostate cancer.

PIM kinases have important pro-tumorigenic roles and mediate several oncogenic traits, including cell proliferation, survival, and chemotherapeutic resistance. As a result, multiple PIM inhibitors have been pursued as investigational new drugs in cancer; however, response to PIM inhibitors in solid tumors has fallen short of expectations. We found that inhibition of PIM kinase activity stabilizes protein levels of all three PIM isoforms (PIM1/2/3), and this can promote resistance to PIM inhibitors and chemotherapy.