Cancer is the second leading cause of death in United States and new therapeutics are desperately needed to combat the disease. In 1985, the RET (RE-arranged during Transfection) gene was identified as a novel oncogene activated through chromosomal rearrangement. Since then, RET has been identified as a driving oncogene in several cancers, especially for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Due to the challenges of identifying a selective RET inhibitor, a treatment for MTC is still an unmet medical need. In an effort to develop a RET kinase inhibitor, a picomolar RET/VEGFR2 clinical candidate has been developed and is currently in preclinical studies. However, the inhibition of VEGFR2 is associated with vascular on-target dose-limiting toxicities, including hypertension in patients for most VEGFR2 inhibitor drugs. We wish to further develop an inhibitor by removing VEGFR2 activity and improving overall selectivity in the kinome, thereby achieving maximal/or complete inhibition of the RET-signaling pathway in patients. We will utilize validated computational models of RET and VEGFR2, fragment-based screening, and potential X-ray crystal structural information to develop a clinical candidate with >30 times RET selectivity over VEGFR2. The resulting selective RET inhibitor could maximally block the RET signaling pathway and will increase MTC survival from months to multiple years.

Public Health Relevance

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in United States, and new therapeutics are desperately needed to combat this disease. Due to the challenges of identifying a selective RET inhibitor, an effective treatment of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is still an unmet medical need. In a new research effort we will utilize validated computational models of RET and fragment-based screening to develop a RET inhibitor clinical candidate with a high kinase selectivity profile. The resulting selective RET inhibitor is expected to increase MTC survival from months to multiple years.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01CA197178-02
Application #
9148246
Study Section
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Study Section (MCE)
Program Officer
Forry, Suzanne L
Project Start
2015-09-30
Project End
2020-08-31
Budget Start
2016-09-01
Budget End
2017-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
$309,478
Indirect Cost
$80,728
Name
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Department
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
122452563
City
Little Rock
State
AR
Country
United States
Zip Code
72205
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