Photodynamic Therapy for ras-Driven Cancers: Targeting G-Quadruplex RNA Structures with Bifunctional Alkyl-Modified Porphyrins

J Med Chem. 2020 Feb 13;63(3):1245-1260. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01577. Epub 2020 Jan 24.

Abstract

Designing small molecules able to break down G4 structures in mRNA (RG4s) offers an interesting approach to cancer therapy. Here, we have studied cationic porphyrins (CPs) bearing an alkyl chain up to 12 carbons, as they bind to RG4s while generating reactive oxygen species upon photoirradiation. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and confocal microscopy showed that the designed alkyl CPs strongly penetrate cell membranes, binding to KRAS and NRAS mRNAs under low-abundance cell conditions. In Panc-1 cells, alkyl CPs at nanomolar concentrations promote a dramatic downregulation of KRAS and NRAS expression, but only if photoactivated. Alkyl CPs also reduce the metabolic activity of pancreatic cancer cells and the growth of a Panc-1 xenograft in SCID mice. Propidium iodide/annexin assays and caspase 3, caspase 7, and PARP-1 analyses show that these compounds activate apoptosis. All these data demonstrate that the designed alkyl CPs are efficient photosensitizers for the photodynamic therapy of ras-driven cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Base Sequence
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / drug therapy*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Female
  • G-Quadruplexes / drug effects*
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / genetics
  • Genes, ras / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Mice, SCID
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Photochemotherapy / methods
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Photosensitizing Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Porphyrins / chemical synthesis
  • Porphyrins / therapeutic use*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics
  • RNA / chemistry
  • RNA / genetics
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • KRAS protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Porphyrins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • RNA
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • NRAS protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)