BGJ398

NVP-BGJ398 is a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable inhibitor of the FGFR tyrosine kinases. NVP-BGJ398 is a small molecular with the formula of C₂₆H₃₁Cl₂N₇O₃ and Molecular Weight of 560. The fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), FGFR2, FGFR3, and FGFR4, encompasses the receptors for 18 different FGF ligands. These ligand–receptor combinations regulate a broad spectrum of signaling during development and in normal growth control. BGJ398 inhibits the cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in cancer cells and suppresses tumor growth in xenograft model.

References:
1. Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors as Novel Therapeutic Targets in SNF5-Deleted Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors. S Wöhrle, A Weiss, M Ito, A Kauffmann, M Murakami. PLOS ONE. 2013
2. Rescue screens with secreted proteins reveal compensatory potential of receptor tyrosine kinases in driving cancer growth. F Harbinski, VJ Craig, S Sanghavi, D Jeffery, L Liu. Cancer Discovery, 2012

Evaluation of BGJ398, a Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1-3 Kinase Inhibitor, in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors Harboring Genetic Alterations in Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors: Results of a Global Phase I, Dose-Escalation and Dose-Expansion Study.[Pubmed:27870574]

J Clin Oncol. 2017 Jan 10;35(2):157-165.

Purpose This two-part, first-in-human study was initiated in patients with advanced solid tumors harboring genetic alterations in fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), the recommended phase II dose (RP2D), and the schedule, safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of oral BGJ398, a selective FGFR1-3 tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Patients and Methods Adult patients were treated with escalating dosages of BGJ398 5 to 150 mg once daily or 50 mg twice daily continuously in 28-day cycles. During expansion at the MTD, patients with FGFR1-amplified squamous cell non-small-cell lung cancer (sqNSCLC; arm 1) or other solid tumors with FGFR genetic alterations (mutations/amplifications/fusions) received BGJ398 daily on a continuous schedule (arm 2), or on a 3-weeks-on/1-week-off schedule (arm 3). Results Data in 132 patients from the escalation and expansion arms are reported (May 15, 2015, cutoff). The MTD, 125 mg daily, was determined on the basis of dose-limiting toxicities in four patients (100 mg, grade 3 aminotransferase elevations [n = 1]; 125 mg, hyperphosphatemia [n = 1]; 150 mg, grade 1 corneal toxicity [n = 1] and grade 3 aminotransferase elevations [n = 1]). Common adverse events in patients treated at the MTD (n = 57) included hyperphosphatemia (82.5%), constipation (50.9%), decreased appetite (45.6%), and stomatitis (45.6%). A similar safety profile was observed using the 3-weeks-on/1-week-off schedule (RP2D). However, adverse event-related dose adjustments/interruptions were less frequent with the 3-weeks-on/1-week-off (50.0%) versus the continuous (73.7%) schedule. Antitumor activity (seven partial responses [six confirmed]) was demonstrated with BGJ398 doses >/= 100 mg in patients with FGFR1-amplified sqNSCLC and FGFR3-mutant bladder/urothelial cancer. Conclusion BGJ398 at the MTD/RP2D had a tolerable and manageable safety profile and showed antitumor activity in several tumor types, including FGFR1-amplified sqNSCLC and FGFR3-mutant bladder/urothelial cancers.

Akt Activation Mediates Acquired Resistance to Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor BGJ398.[Pubmed:28255027]

Mol Cancer Ther. 2017 Apr;16(4):614-624.

Activation of FGFR signaling through mutations, amplifications, or fusions involving FGFR1, 2, 3, or 4 is seen in multiple tumors, including lung, bladder, and cholangiocarcinoma. Currently, several clinical trials are evaluating the role of novel FGFR inhibitors in solid tumors. As we move forward with FGFR inhibitors clinically, we anticipate the emergence of resistance with treatment. Consequently, we sought to study the mechanism(s) of acquired resistance to FGFR inhibitors using annotated cancer cell lines. We identified cancer cell lines that have activating mutations in FGFR1, 2, or 3 and treated them chronically with the selective FGFR inhibitor, BGJ398. We observed resistance to chronic BGJ398 exposure in DMS114 (small-cell lung cancer, FGFR1 amplification) and RT112 (urothelial carcinoma, FGFR3 fusion/amplification) cell lines based on viability assays. Reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) analysis showed increased phosphorylation of Akt (T308 and S473) and its downstream target GSK3 (S9 and S21) in both the resistant cell lines when compared with matching controls. Results of RPPA were confirmed using immunoblots. Consequently, the addition of an Akt inhibitor (GSK2141795) or siRNA was able to restore sensitivity to BGJ398 in resistant cell lines. These data suggest a role for Akt pathway in mediating acquired resistance to FGFR inhibition. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(4); 614-24. (c)2017 AACR.

Selective FGFR inhibitor BGJ398 inhibits phosphorylation of AKT and STAT3 and induces cytotoxicity in sphere-cultured ovarian cancer cells.[Pubmed:28350116]

Int J Oncol. 2017 Mar 15.

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most aggressive and lethal among the gynecological malignancies, which is often found disseminated to peritoneal cavity at the time of diagnosis. There is accumulating evidence on the existence of genetic alteration and amplification of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) in various cancers. Also the aberrated FGFR/FGF signaling has been implicated in cancer development and tumor microenvironment. However, the antitumor activity of BGJ398, a selective inhibitor of FGFR 1/2/3 against ovarian cancer still remains unknown. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the antitumoral activity of BGJ398 on ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3ip1 using 3-dimensional (3D) sphere culture system which has been accepted as a better mimic in vivo microenvironment than conventional 2-dimensional (2D) monolayer culture system. We examined the differential expression features of key signaling molecules which have a role in cell survival and proliferation between sphere-cultured SKOV3ip1 cells and monolayer-cultured SKOV3ip1 cells. The phosphorylation of AKT and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) known as survival signaling molecules were upregulated in sphere-cultured SKOV3ip1 cells compared to in monolayer-cultured SKOV3ip1 cells. Next, we evaluated the antitumor activity of BGJ398 in monolayer-cultured SKOV3ip1 cells or sphere-cultured SKOV3ip1 cells. Treatment of BGJ398 did not affect the SKOV3ip1 cell viability in monolayer culture system, but, the cell viability of sphere-cultured SKOV3ip1 cells was markedly reduced by BGJ398. The phosphorylation of AKT and STAT3 was downregulated by BGJ398 in sphere-cultured SKOV3ip1 cells, but not in monolayer cultured-SKOV3ip1 cells. Moreover, combination treatment with BGJ398 and paclitaxel in sphere-cultured SKOV3ip1 showed synergistic inhibitory effect on cell viability. Collectively, our report reveals the BGJ398 is a potent antitumor agent against ovarian cancer and FGFR is a promising therapeutic target to anticancer therapy considering ovarian cancer metastatic microenvironment.