Mahmoud El Shemerly, Florian Richalet, Dimitri Robay, Claude Nuoffer, Alexandra Kunz, Luc Bury, Claire Hisler, Norbert Hermann, Jochen Spickermann, Sven Weiler, Paul M J McSheehy, Laurenz Kellenberger, Heidi A Lane
{"title":"Discovery and optimization of oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors from a phenotypic screen.","authors":"Mahmoud El Shemerly, Florian Richalet, Dimitri Robay, Claude Nuoffer, Alexandra Kunz, Luc Bury, Claire Hisler, Norbert Hermann, Jochen Spickermann, Sven Weiler, Paul M J McSheehy, Laurenz Kellenberger, Heidi A Lane","doi":"10.1097/CAD.0000000000001750","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tumor metabolism and metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells represent a promising area in oncology research, offering new avenues for therapeutic intervention. While the 'Warburg effect' highlights the reliance of many tumors on aerobic glycolysis, emerging evidence indicates that some cancers also depend on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) for energy production, cancer cell survival, tumor progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. We conducted a high-throughput, differential, phenotypic screening followed by a focused medicinal chemistry campaign, leading to the identification of novel, potent OXPHOS inhibitors. These lead compounds selectively target complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, thereby disrupting ATP production and oxygen consumption in cancer cells. In-vitro studies in breast cancer cell lines, along with published data, suggest that MCT4 expression may serve as a biomarker for drug sensitivity. Notably, low MCT4 expression correlated with higher potency in cell growth assays. The identified compounds exhibited favorable drug-like properties, including good pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability in mice. Daily oral dosing significantly inhibited tumor growth in two in-vivo breast cancer models with low MCT4 expression levels. This efficacy, however, was accompanied by body weight loss, indicating the need to enhance the therapeutic index through optimization or rational combination therapy strategies. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting mitochondrial OXPHOS in cancers with defined metabolic dependencies, offering a novel approach for exploiting tumor-specific metabolic vulnerabilities for improved cancer treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":7969,"journal":{"name":"Anti-Cancer Drugs","volume":" ","pages":"731-741"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Anti-Cancer Drugs","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/CAD.0000000000001750","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/6/20 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ONCOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Tumor metabolism and metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells represent a promising area in oncology research, offering new avenues for therapeutic intervention. While the 'Warburg effect' highlights the reliance of many tumors on aerobic glycolysis, emerging evidence indicates that some cancers also depend on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) for energy production, cancer cell survival, tumor progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. We conducted a high-throughput, differential, phenotypic screening followed by a focused medicinal chemistry campaign, leading to the identification of novel, potent OXPHOS inhibitors. These lead compounds selectively target complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, thereby disrupting ATP production and oxygen consumption in cancer cells. In-vitro studies in breast cancer cell lines, along with published data, suggest that MCT4 expression may serve as a biomarker for drug sensitivity. Notably, low MCT4 expression correlated with higher potency in cell growth assays. The identified compounds exhibited favorable drug-like properties, including good pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability in mice. Daily oral dosing significantly inhibited tumor growth in two in-vivo breast cancer models with low MCT4 expression levels. This efficacy, however, was accompanied by body weight loss, indicating the need to enhance the therapeutic index through optimization or rational combination therapy strategies. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting mitochondrial OXPHOS in cancers with defined metabolic dependencies, offering a novel approach for exploiting tumor-specific metabolic vulnerabilities for improved cancer treatment.
期刊介绍:
Anti-Cancer Drugs reports both clinical and experimental results related to anti-cancer drugs, and welcomes contributions on anti-cancer drug design, drug delivery, pharmacology, hormonal and biological modalities and chemotherapy evaluation. An internationally refereed journal devoted to the fast publication of innovative investigations on therapeutic agents against cancer, Anti-Cancer Drugs aims to stimulate and report research on both toxic and non-toxic anti-cancer agents. Consequently, the scope on the journal will cover both conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy and hormonal or biological response modalities such as interleukins and immunotherapy. Submitted articles undergo a preliminary review by the editor. Some articles may be returned to authors without further consideration. Those being considered for publication will undergo further assessment and peer-review by the editors and those invited to do so from a reviewer pool.