SU11274

SU11274 is a potent and selective inhibitor of Met kinase with IC50 value of 10nM [1].

SU11274 shows high selectivity toward Met kinase versus a serine/threonine kinase, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), or other receptor tyrosine kinases, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) [1].

SU11274  has revealed to inhibit autophosphorylation of Met at kinase tyrosines 1234/1235 in NIH3T3 cells expressing drug-sensitive or drug-resistant MET mutants and human lung cancer cell line H1993, however, concomitantly, increase total MET levels dose-dependently. Cells treated with SU11274 (2 μM for 16 h) has shown a reduction of Met Ubiquitination [2].

References:
[1] Wang X1, Le P, Liang C, Chan J, Kiewlich D, Miller T, Harris D, Sun L, Rice A, Vasile S, Blake RA, Howlett AR, Patel N, McMahon G, Lipson KE. Potent and selective inhibitors of the Met [hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) receptor] tyrosine kinase block HGF/SF-induced tumor cell growth and invasion. Mol Cancer Ther. 2003 Nov;2(11):1085-92.
[2] Leiser D1, Pochon B1, Blank-Liss W1, Francica P1, Glück AA1, Aebersold DM1, Zimmer Y1, Medová M2. Targeting of the MET receptor tyrosine kinase by small molecule inhibitors leads to MET accumulation by impairing the receptor downregulation. FEBS Lett. 2014 Mar 3;588(5):653-8.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor SU11274 increased tumorigenicity and enriched for melanoma-initiating cells by bioenergetic modulation.[Pubmed:27175734]

BMC Cancer. 2016 May 12;16:308.

BACKGROUND: Small molecule inhibitor of tyrosine kinase activity, compound SU11274, was reported to have antitumorigenic and antimetastatic effect in melanoma. In this study, we evaluated, whether similar effect could be achieved also in other melanoma cells including highly tumorigenic and hypermetastatic variant. METHODS: The effect of SU11274 was evaluated in adherent and non-adherent melanosphere cultures of human melanoma cells M14, M4Beu, A375 and EGFP-A375/Rel3. Tumorigenicity of SU11274-treated cells was tested by limiting dilution assay in xenograft model in vivo. RESULTS: Here we show that SU11274 enriched for melanoma-initiating cells in vivo. SU11274 substantially decreased number of cells in adherent and spheroid cultures, but increased their tumorigenic potential as determined by higher frequency of tumor-initiating cells in vivo. SU11274 treatment was not associated with any significant alteration in the expression of stem cell markers, but the inhibitor stimulated higher level of pluripotent markers. SU11274-treated melanoma cells exhibited higher ATP content and lactate release indicative of increased glycolysis. Our data suggest that the SU11274 altered bioenergetic state of the cells. Indeed, pharmacological intervention with a glycolytic inhibitor dichloroacetate significantly reduced SU11274-promoted increase in melanoma-initiating cells and decreased their tumorigenicity. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest critical role of glycolysis regulation in melanoma-initiating cells. Moreover, these data unravel substantial plasticity of melanoma cells and their adoptive mechanisms, which result in ambivalent response to therapeutic targeting.

Effect of c-Met inhibitor SU11274 on human colon cancer cell growth.[Pubmed:23876900]

Chin Med J (Engl). 2013 Jul;126(14):2705-9.

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer is one of the major malignancies worldwide and it still remains resistant to much of the currently available chemotherapy. Downregulation of HGF/c-Met signaling pathway is an emerging therapy for cancer treatment. METHODS: In this study, the inhibitory effects of c-Met phosphorylation were observed with SU11274 on different colon cancer cell lines in vitro. RESULTS: The results revealed the significant inhibitory effects of SU11274 on cell proliferation and cell survival, in a time and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of SU11274 on different subgroups of colon cancer cells via the HGF/c-Met signaling pathway were implicated in this study. CONCLUSION: The results suggested the possible selective therapeutic effects of c-Met inhibitor on colon cancer.

SU11274 suppresses proliferation and motility of pancreatic cancer cells.[Pubmed:26622692]

Oncol Lett. 2015 Sep;10(3):1468-1472.

Mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-Met) is associated with the proliferation and motility of cancer cells. c-Met expression has been detected in surgical pancreatic cancer specimens, and its overexpression is associated with a poor prognosis. SU11274 is a specific inhibitor of c-Met. In the present study, the cell proliferation and motility of pancreatic cancer cells treated with SU11274 was investigated. The PANC-1, MIA-Paca2, NOR-P1, PK-45H, PK-1 and PK-59 pancreatic cancer cell lines were used. The expression of c-Met and cyclin D1 was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetr azolium inner salt assay was performed to assess cell proliferation, and a scratch assay was performed to assess cell motility. c-Met expression was higher in PANC-1, PK-45H, PK-1 and PK-59 cell lines compared with that in normal pancreatic tissue. Following treatment with 30 microM SU11274, the proliferation of MIA-Paca2 and PK-45H cells was suppressed to 19.8+/-10.7% (P<0.05) and 45.8+/-14.8% (P<0.05) of the control level, respectively. Furthermore, cyclin D1 expression was downregulated to 43.7+/-17.9% (P<0.05) and 53.2+/-18.6% (P<0.05) of the control level in the MIA-Paca2 and PK-45H cell lines, respectively, following treatment with 30 microM SU11274. In addition, cell motility was reduced to 1.0+/-0.3% in MIA-Paca2 (P<0.05) and 14.7+/-3.5% in PK-45H (P<0.05) following treatment with 30 microM SU11274, compared with the motility of untreated cells. These results indicated that SU11274 suppresses the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells via the downregulation of cyclin D1. The present study also demonstrated that cell motility was suppressed by treatment with SU11274.

Co-culture of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and human umbilical endothelial cells damaged by SU11274.[Pubmed:25279148]

Biomed Rep. 2014 Nov;2(6):799-803.

Mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-Met) is a receptor that binds to the hepatocyte growth factor and is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The anti-tumor effects of (3Z)-N-(3-chlorophenyl)-3-({3,5-dimethyl-4-[(4- methyl-piperazin-1-yl)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrol-2-yl}methylene)-N-me- thyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-5-sulfonamide (SU11274), a c-Met inhibitor, were investigated in the present study. HCC cells (HLE, HLF, PLC/PRL/5, Hep3B, Huh-6 and HepG2) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the expression level of c-Met in HCC and HUVECs, and cyclin D1 in HCC. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-car-boxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tet razolium inner salt assay was performed to assess the proliferation of the HCC cells and HUVECs cultured with SU11274. Co-culture of HLF or PLC/PRL/5 cells and HUVECs was established as an in vitro model of HCC tissues. The expression levels of c-Met in HLE, HLF, PLC/PRL/5, Hep3B, Huh-6 and HepG2, adult healthy liver and HUVECs were 4.43+/-0.50, 1.61+/-0.18, 3.70+/-0.08, 0.81+/-0.18, 6.60+/-1.29, 1.06+/-0.35, 1.00+/-0.09 and 88.8+/-17.3 (mean +/- standard deviation), respectively. SU11274 (30 muM) suppressed the proliferation of HLF, PLC/PRL/5 and HUVECs to 11.0+/-9.4, 46.5+/-30.7 and 29.4+/-5.0%, respectively. SU11274 (30 muM) decreased the expression levels of cyclin D1 in HLF and PLC/PRL/5 cells to 45.1+/-11.6 and 30.1+/-10.3%, respectively. SU11274, at a concentration of 30 muM damaged the morphology of the co-cultures of HLF or PLC/PRL/5 cells with HUVECs and all the cells died. c-Met is highly expressed in HUVECs and HCC cells, but not in Hep3B. At a 30-muM concentration, SU11274 suppresses the proliferation of HLF, PLC/PRL/5 and HUVECs. SU11274 (30 muM) damages the co-cultures of HLF or PLC/PRL/5 cells with HUVECs.

The MET receptor tyrosine kinase is a potential novel therapeutic target for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.[Pubmed:19318576]

Cancer Res. 2009 Apr 1;69(7):3021-31.

Recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer remains a devastating disease with insufficient treatment options. We investigated the MET receptor tyrosine kinase as a novel target for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). MET/phosphorylated MET and HGF expression was analyzed in 121 tissues (HNSCC/normal) by immunohistochemistry, and in 20 HNSCC cell lines by immunoblotting. The effects of MET inhibition using small interfering RNA/two small-molecule inhibitors (SU11274/PF-2341066) on signaling, migration, viability, and angiogenesis were determined. The complete MET gene was sequenced in 66 head and neck cancer tissue samples and eight cell lines. MET gene copy number was determined in 14 cell lines and 23 tumor tissues. Drug combinations of SU11274 with cisplatin or erlotinib were tested in SCC35/HN5 cell lines. Eighty-four percent of the HNSCC samples showed MET overexpression, whereas 18 of 20 HNSCC cell lines (90%) expressed MET. HGF overexpression was present in 45% of HNSCC. MET inhibition with SU11274/PF-2341066 abrogated MET signaling, cell viability, motility/migration in vitro, and tumor angiogenesis in vivo. Mutational analysis of 66 tumor tissues and 8 cell lines identified novel mutations in the semaphorin (T230M/E168D/N375S), juxtamembrane (T1010I/R988C), and tyrosine kinase (T1275I/V1333I) domains (incidence: 13.5%). Increased MET gene copy number was present with >10 copies in 3 of 23 (13%) tumor tissues. A greater-than-additive inhibition of cell growth was observed when combining a MET inhibitor with cisplatin or erlotinib and synergy may be mediated via erbB3/AKT signaling. MET is functionally important in HNSCC with prominent overexpression, increased gene copy number, and mutations. MET inhibition abrogated MET functions, including proliferation, migration/motility, and angiogenesis. MET is a promising, novel target for HNSCC and combination approaches with cisplatin or EGFR inhibitors should be explored.

A novel small molecule met inhibitor induces apoptosis in cells transformed by the oncogenic TPR-MET tyrosine kinase.[Pubmed:14500382]

Cancer Res. 2003 Sep 1;63(17):5462-9.

The Met receptor tyrosine kinase has been shown to be overexpressed or mutated in a variety of solid tumors and has, therefore, been identified as a good candidate for molecularly targeted therapy. Activation of the Met tyrosine kinase by the TPR gene was originally described in vitro through carcinogen-induced rearrangement. The TPR-MET fusion protein contains constitutively elevated Met tyrosine kinase activity and constitutes an ideal model to study the transforming activity of the Met kinase. We found, when introduced into an interleukin 3-dependent cell line, TPR-MET induces factor independence and constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation of several cellular proteins. One major tyrosine phosphorylated protein was identified as the TPR-MET oncoprotein itself. Inhibition of the Met kinase activity by the novel small molecule drug SU11274 [(3Z)-N-(3-chlorophenyl)-3-([3,5-dimethyl-4-[(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)carbonyl]-1H -pyrrol-2-yl]methylene)-N-methyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-5-sulfonamide] led to time- and dose-dependent reduced cell growth. The inhibitor did not affect other tyrosine kinase oncoproteins, including BCR-ABL, TEL-JAK2, TEL-PDGFbetaR, or TEL-ABL. The Met inhibitor induced G(1) cell cycle arrest and apoptosis with increased Annexin V staining and caspase 3 activity. The autophosphorylation of the Met kinase was reduced on sites that have been shown previously to be important for activation of pathways involved in cell growth and survival, especially the phosphatidylinositol-3'-kinase and the Ras pathway. In particular, we found that the inhibitor blocked phosphorylation of AKT, GSK-3beta, and the pro-apoptotic transcription factor FKHR. The characterization of SU11274 as an effective inhibitor of Met tyrosine kinase activity illustrates the potential of targeting for Met therapeutic use in cancers associated with activated forms of this kinase.

Potent and selective inhibitors of the Met [hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) receptor] tyrosine kinase block HGF/SF-induced tumor cell growth and invasion.[Pubmed:14617781]

Mol Cancer Ther. 2003 Nov;2(11):1085-92.

The hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) receptor, Met, mediates various cellular responses on activation with its ligand, including proliferation, survival, motility, invasion, and tubular morphogenesis. Met expression is frequently up-regulated in sarcomas and carcinomas. Experimental evidence suggests that Met activation correlates with poor clinical outcome and the likelihood of metastasis. Therefore, inhibitors of Met tyrosine kinase may be useful for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers that have spread from the primary site. We have discovered potent and selective pyrrole-indolinone Met kinase inhibitors and characterized them for their ability to inhibit HGF/SF-induced cellular responses in vitro. These compounds inhibit HGF/SF-induced receptor phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. They also inhibit the HGF/SF-induced motility and invasion of epithelial and carcinoma cells. Therefore, these compounds represent a class of prototype small molecules that selectively inhibit the Met kinase and could lead to identification of compounds with potential therapeutic utility in treatment of cancers.