Simultaneous Drug Targeting of the Promoter MYC G-Quadruplex and BCL2 i-Motif in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Delays Tumor Growth

J Med Chem. 2017 Aug 10;60(15):6587-6597. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00298. Epub 2017 Jul 25.

Abstract

Secondary DNA structures are uniquely poised as therapeutic targets due to their molecular switch function in turning gene expression on or off and scaffold-like properties for protein and small molecule interaction. Strategies to alter gene transcription through these structures thus far involve targeting single DNA conformations. Here we investigate the feasibility of simultaneously targeting different secondary DNA structures to modulate two key oncogenes, cellular-myelocytomatosis (MYC) and B-cell lymphoma gene-2 (BCL2), in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Cotreatment with previously identified ellipticine and pregnanol derivatives that recognize the MYC G-quadruplex and BCL2 i-motif promoter DNA structures lowered mRNA levels and subsequently enhanced sensitivity to a standard chemotherapy drug, cyclophosphamide, in DLBCL cell lines. In vivo repression of MYC and BCL2 in combination with cyclophosphamide also significantly slowed tumor growth in DLBCL xenograft mice. Our findings demonstrate concurrent targeting of different DNA secondary structures offers an effective, precise, medicine-based approach to directly impede transcription and overcome aberrant pathways in aggressive malignancies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Benzoxazines / therapeutic use
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Ellipticines / therapeutic use
  • G-Quadruplexes*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / drug therapy*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology
  • Mice
  • Pregnanes / therapeutic use
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Tumor Burden
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • 9-(dimethylaminoethoxy)ellipticine
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • BCL2 protein, human
  • Benzoxazines
  • Ellipticines
  • IMC-76
  • MYC protein, human
  • Pregnanes
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • CASP3 protein, human
  • Caspase 3