RRx-001, a novel clinical-stage chemosensitizer, radiosensitizer, and immunosensitizer, inhibits glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in human tumor cells

Discov Med. 2016 Apr;21(116):251-65.

Abstract

The anti-proliferative effects of RRx-001, a novel RONS-mediated immuno-epigenetic and vascular normalizing anticancer agent in Phase 2 clinical trials, are not explainable via a single mechanism. Previous research suggested an association between G6PD inhibition and RRx-001 anticancer activity. The results in this study confirm and extend previous observations that RRx-001 exerts its anti-proliferative effect, at least partially, through interference with glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), a key enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway, responsible for maintaining adequate levels of the major cellular reductant, NADPH. RRx-001 affects glucose and G6PD enzyme activity in three different cancer cell lines namely Hep G2, CACO-2, and HT-29. We observed that in all cancer cell lines tested, RRx-001 induced G6PD inhibition in a concentration dependent fashion. Inhibition of G6PD activity associated with a reduction in ribonucleotide synthesis, glutathione reduction and cell proliferation may represent an important mechanism by which RRx-001 exerts its anticancer effects.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Azetidines / pharmacology*
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • NADP / metabolism
  • Nitro Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Pentose Phosphate Pathway / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Azetidines
  • Nitro Compounds
  • RRx-001
  • NADP
  • Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase
  • Glucose