Combination therapy targeting the Chk1 and Wee1 kinases shows therapeutic efficacy in neuroblastoma

Cancer Res. 2013 Jan 15;73(2):776-84. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-12-2669. Epub 2012 Nov 7.

Abstract

Neuroblastoma is uniquely sensitive to single-agent inhibition of the DNA damage checkpoint kinase Chk1, leading us to examine downstream effectors of this pathway and identify mitotic regulator Wee1 as an additional therapeutic target in this disease. Wee1 was overexpressed in both neuroblastoma cell lines and high-risk patient tumors. Genetic or pharmacologic abrogation of Wee1 signaling results in marked cytotoxicity in 10 of 11 neuroblastoma cell lines with a median IC(50) of 300 nmol/L for the Wee1-selective small-molecule inhibitor MK-1775. Murine tumor lines derived from mice that were either heterozygous or homozygous for MycN were particularly sensitive to single-agent inhibition of Wee1 (IC(50)s of 160 and 62 nmol/L, respectively). Simultaneous pharmacologic inhibition of Chk1 and Wee1 acted in a synergistic fashion to further impede neuroblastoma cell growth in vitro, in a manner greater than the individual inhibitors either alone or combined with chemotherapy. Combination Chk1 and Wee1 inhibition also revealed in vivo efficacy in neuroblastoma xenografts. Taken together, our results show that neuroblastoma cells depend on Wee1 activity for growth and that inhibition of this kinase may serve as a therapeutic for patients with neuroblastoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Checkpoint Kinase 1
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neuroblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Nuclear Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Protein Kinases / drug effects*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Pyrazoles / administration & dosage*
  • Pyrimidines / administration & dosage*
  • Pyrimidinones
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • MK-8776
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • Pyrimidinones
  • Protein Kinases
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • WEE1 protein, human
  • CHEK1 protein, human
  • Checkpoint Kinase 1
  • Chek1 protein, mouse
  • adavosertib