RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Phenotype-Based Screens with Conformation-Specific Inhibitors Reveal p38 Gamma and Delta as Targets for HCC Polypharmacology
JF Molecular Cancer Therapeutics
JO Mol Cancer Ther
FD American Association for Cancer Research
SP 1506
OP 1519
DO 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-18-0571
VO 18
IS 9
A1 Yu, Jia Xin
A1 Craig, Amanda J.
A1 Duffy, Mary E.
A1 Villacorta-Martin, Carlos
A1 Miguela, Verónica
A1 Ruiz de Galarreta, Marina
A1 Scopton, Alexander P.
A1 Silber, Lisa
A1 Maldonado, Andres Y.
A1 Rialdi, Alexander
A1 Guccione, Ernesto
A1 Lujambio, Amaia
A1 Villanueva, Augusto
A1 Dar, Arvin C.
YR 2019
UL http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/18/9/1506.abstract
AB The approved kinase inhibitors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not matched to specific mutations within tumors. This has presented a daunting challenge; without a clear target or mechanism, no straightforward path has existed to guide the development of improved therapies for HCC. Here, we combine phenotypic screens with a class of conformation-specific kinase inhibitors termed type II to identify a multikinase inhibitor, AD80, with antitumoral activity across a variety of HCC preclinical models, including mouse xenografts. Mass spectrometry profiling found a number of kinases as putative targets for AD80, including several receptor and cytoplasmic protein kinases. Among these, we found p38 gamma and delta as direct targets of AD80. Notably, a closely related analog of AD80 lacking p38δ/γ activity, but retaining several other off-target kinases, lost significant activity in several HCC models. Moreover, forced and sustained MKK6 → p38→ATF2 signaling led to a significant reduction of AD80 activity within HCC cell lines. Together with HCC survival data in The Cancer Genome Atlas and RNA-seq analysis, we suggest p38 delta and gamma as therapeutic targets in HCC and an “AD80 inhibition signature” as identifying those patients with best clinical outcomes.