Anti-tumor efficacy of HRS-4642 and its potential combination with proteasome inhibition in KRAS G12D-mutant cancer

Cancer Cell. 2024 Jul 8;42(7):1286-1300.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.06.001. Epub 2024 Jun 27.

Abstract

KRAS G12D is the most frequently mutated oncogenic KRAS subtype in solid tumors and remains undruggable in clinical settings. Here, we developed a high affinity, selective, long-acting, and non-covalent KRAS G12D inhibitor, HRS-4642, with an affinity constant of 0.083 nM. HRS-4642 demonstrated robust efficacy against KRAS G12D-mutant cancers both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, in a phase 1 clinical trial, HRS-4642 exhibited promising anti-tumor activity in the escalating dosing cohorts. Furthermore, the sensitization and resistance spectrum for HRS-4642 was deciphered through genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening, which unveiled proteasome as a sensitization target. We further observed that the proteasome inhibitor, carfilzomib, improved the anti-tumor efficacy of HRS-4642. Additionally, HRS-4642, either as a single agent or in combination with carfilzomib, reshaped the tumor microenvironment toward an immune-permissive one. In summary, this study provides potential therapies for patients with KRAS G12D-mutant cancers, for whom effective treatments are currently lacking.

Keywords: HRS-4642; KRAS G12D; carfilzomib; tumor immune microenvironment.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mutation*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / genetics
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Proteasome Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Proteasome Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)* / genetics
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Proteasome Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • KRAS protein, human
  • carfilzomib
  • Oligopeptides
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex