The HSP90 inhibitor ganetespib synergizes with the MET kinase inhibitor crizotinib in both crizotinib-sensitive and -resistant MET-driven tumor models

Cancer Res. 2013 Dec 1;73(23):7022-33. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-13-1156. Epub 2013 Oct 11.

Abstract

The proto-oncogene MET is aberrantly activated via overexpression or mutation in numerous cancers, making it a prime anticancer molecular target. However, the clinical success of MET-directed tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) has been limited due, in part, to mutations in the MET kinase domain that confer therapeutic resistance. Circumventing this problem remains a key challenge to improving durable responses in patients receiving MET-targeted therapy. MET is an HSP90-dependent kinase, and in this report we show that HSP90 preferentially interacts with and stabilizes activated MET, regardless of whether the activation is ligand-dependent or is a consequence of kinase domain mutation. In contrast, many MET-TKI show a preference for the inactive form of the kinase, and activating mutations in MET can confer resistance. Combining the HSP90 inhibitor ganetespib with the MET-TKI crizotinib achieves synergistic inhibition of MET, its downstream signaling pathways, and tumor growth in both TKI-sensitive and -resistant MET-driven tumor models. These data suggest that inclusion of an HSP90 inhibitor can partially restore TKI sensitivity to previously resistant MET mutants, and they provide the foundation for clinical evaluation of this therapeutic combination in patients with MET-driven cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Crizotinib
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm* / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm* / genetics
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / physiology
  • Pyrazoles / administration & dosage
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology*
  • Pyridines / administration & dosage
  • Pyridines / pharmacology*
  • Triazoles / administration & dosage
  • Triazoles / pharmacology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • MAS1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyridines
  • STA 9090
  • Triazoles
  • Crizotinib
  • MET protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met