Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a lethal disease leading to about 30,000 estimated annual deaths in U.S. The majority of CRPCs are driven by androgen receptor (AR) signaling, which represents a key therapeutic target in metastatic CRPC. Despite development of second generation therapeutics targeting the androgen receptor signaling, the resistance to androgen ablation therapies (e.g. enzalutamide and abiraterone) and increased AR transcriptional activity are major drivers of metastatic CRPC, emphasizing a clear need for novel therapies. Recently, we discovered that the Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) protein complex functions as a co-activator of AR and that the interaction of MLL complex with AR is mediated by menin, a scaffold protein required for MLL recruitment to target genes. Knockdown of components of the MLL complex as well as inhibition of the menin-MLL interaction with small molecules we developed abrogates the AR-mediated signaling and inhibits the AR-mediated gene transcription. We also demonstrated that treatment with a small molecule inhibitor targeting the MLL complex effectively and selectively inhibits proliferation of the prostate cancer cells and leads to a suppression of the in vivo tumor growth in the CRPC xenograft models. Based on our findings, we hypothesize that the MLL complex represents an attractive therapeutic target in CRPC and that inhibition of this complex by blocking the menin-MLL interaction may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for advanced prostate cancer. The overall goal of this proposal is to develop very potent small molecule inhibitors targeting the MLL complex with improved potency in prostate cancer models and optimized drug-like properties and to provide a compelling scientific rationale, including detailed mechanistic insight, to facilitate advancing of these compounds as a novel potential treatment for advanced prostate cancer. To achieve this goal, we propose three specific aims:
Aim 1 : Develop highly potent small molecule inhibitors of the menin-MLL interaction with significantly improved potency in prostate cancer models and optimal in vivo properties.
In Aim 2, we propose to study the mechanism of pharmacologic inhibition of the MLL complex in prostate cancer cells, while in Aim 3 we will assess the in vivo efficacy of the menin-MLL inhibitors in mice models of prostate cancer and investigate the mechanism of resistance of response to these compounds in prostate cancer models. Upon successful completion of this project we expect to identify promising candidate compound(s) that could be further developed for clinical use to treat metastatic CRPC.

Public Health Relevance

We propose to develop small molecule inhibitors targeting the MLL protein complex as a novel therapeutic strategy for advanced prostate cancer. This study should result in a completely new therapeutic avenue to block prostate cancer via targeting the Mixed Lineage Leukemia complex.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA200660-04
Application #
9746635
Study Section
Basic Mechanisms of Cancer Therapeutics Study Section (BMCT)
Program Officer
Chen, Weiwei
Project Start
2016-08-01
Project End
2021-07-31
Budget Start
2019-08-01
Budget End
2020-07-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Kempinska, Katarzyna; Malik, Bhavna; Borkin, Dmitry et al. (2018) Pharmacologic Inhibition of the Menin-MLL Interaction Leads to Transcriptional Repression of PEG10 and Blocks Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Mol Cancer Ther 17:26-38
Borkin, Dmitry; Klossowski, Szymon; Pollock, Jonathan et al. (2018) Complexity of Blocking Bivalent Protein-Protein Interactions: Development of a Highly Potent Inhibitor of the Menin-Mixed-Lineage Leukemia Interaction. J Med Chem 61:4832-4850
Sundaresan, Sinju; Meininger, Cameron A; Kang, Anthony J et al. (2017) Gastrin Induces Nuclear Export and Proteasome Degradation of Menin in Enteric Glial Cells. Gastroenterology 153:1555-1567.e15