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KX-01, a novel Src kinase inhibitor directed toward the peptide substrate site, synergizes with tamoxifen in estrogen receptor α positive breast cancer

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Abstract

KX-01 is the first clinical Src inhibitor of the novel peptidomimetic class that targets the peptide substrate site of Src providing more specificity toward Src kinase. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of KX-01 as a single agent and in combination with tamoxifen (TAM) on cell growth and apoptosis of ERα positive breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. Flow cytometry demonstrated that KX-01 induced cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase. Immunofluorescent staining for mitotic phase markers and TUNEL staining indicated that cells had arrested in the mitotic phase and mitotic arrested cells were undergoing apoptosis. KX-01 induced nuclear accumulation of cyclin B1, and activation of CDK1, MPM2, and Cdc25C that is required for progression past the G2/M checkpoint. Apoptosis resulted from activation of caspases 6, 7, 8, and 9. Combinational index analysis revealed that combinations of KX-01 with TAM resulted in synergistic growth inhibition of breast cancer cell lines. KX-01 combined with TAM resulted in decreased ERα phosphorylation at Src-regulated phosphorylation sites serines 118 and 167 that were associated with reduced ERα transcriptional activity. Orally administered KX-01 resulted in a dose dependent growth inhibition of MCF-7 tumor xenografts, and in combination with TAM exhibited synergistic growth inhibition. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that combinational treatment reduced angiogenesis, and ERα signaling in tumors compared to either drug alone that may underlie the synergistic tumor growth inhibition. Combinations of KX-01 with endocrine therapy present a promising new strategy for clinical management of ERα positive breast cancer.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH/NIDDK) Grant RO1DK06832 (B.G.R.), Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program Idea Award (DAMD17-02-1-0531) and Career Development Award (DAMD17-02-1-0530) (B.G.R), Clinical and Translational Research, Education, and Commercialization Project (CTRECP), Tulane Health Sciences Center (B.G.R.), and postdoctoral matching funds from the Tulane Cancer Center (M.A).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Muralidharan Anbalagan, Latonya Carrier, Seth Glodowski & Brian G. Rowan

  2. Kinex Pharmaceuticals LLC, State University of New York at Buffalo, 359 Natural Sciences Complex, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA

    David Hangauer

  3. Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA

    Bin Shan

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  1. Muralidharan Anbalagan
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Correspondence to Brian G. Rowan.

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Anbalagan, M., Carrier, L., Glodowski, S. et al. KX-01, a novel Src kinase inhibitor directed toward the peptide substrate site, synergizes with tamoxifen in estrogen receptor α positive breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 132, 391–409 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-011-1513-3

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