oprozomib and Neoplasms

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP), which influences essential cellular functions including cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, signal transduction, antigen processing and inflammatory responses, has been considered as one of the most important cellular protein degradation approaches. Proteasome functions as a gatekeeper, which controls the execution of protein degradation and plays a critical role in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The unfolding of the close connection between proteasome and cancer provides a potential strategy for cancer treatment by using proteasome inhibitors. Small molecular inhibitors of varied structures and potency against proteasome have been discovered in recent years, with bortezomib and carfilzomib having been successfully approved for clinical application while some other promising candidates are currently under clinical trials. Herein, we review the development history of drugs and candidates that target the 20S proteasome, structure-activity relationships (SARs) of various proteasome inhibitors, and related completed or ongoing clinical trials.

Topics: Boron Compounds; Boronic Acids; Bortezomib; Glycine; Humans; Lactones; Neoplasms; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Pyrazines; Pyrroles; Structure-Activity Relationship; Threonine

The proteasome is an intracellular enzyme complex that degrades ubiquitin-tagged proteins and thereby regulates protein levels within the cell. Given this important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis, it is perhaps somewhat surprising that proteasome inhibitors have a therapeutic window. Proteasome inhibitors have demonstrated clinical efficacy in the treatment of multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma and are under evaluation for the treatment of other malignancies. Bortezomib is the first and only Food and Drug Administration-approved proteasome inhibitor that inhibits this enzyme complex in a reversible fashion. Although bortezomib improves clinical outcomes when used as a single agent, most patients do not respond to this drug and those who do respond almost uniformly relapse. As such, efforts are underway to develop proteasome inhibitors that act through mechanisms distinct from that of bortezomib. Specifically, inhibitors that bind the active site of the proteasome and inhibit the complex irreversibly have been developed and are in advanced clinical trials. Inhibitors that act on sites of the proteasome outside of the catalytic center have also been identified and are in preclinical development. In this review, we discuss the structure and function of the proteasome. We then focus on the molecular biology, chemistry, and the preclinical and clinical efficacy of novel proteasome inhibitors as strategies to inhibit this target and overcome some forms of bortezomib resistance.

Topics: Allosteric Site; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Boronic Acids; Bortezomib; Cell Line, Tumor; Chloroquine; Clioquinol; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Humans; Hydroxyquinolines; Lactones; Neoplasms; Oligopeptides; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Pyrazines; Pyrroles; Threonine; Ubiquitinated Proteins; Ubiquitination

Oprozomib is an oral, second-generation, irreversible proteasome inhibitor currently in clinical development for haematologic malignancies, including multiple myeloma and other malignancies. Oprozomib is a rare example of a small molecule drug that demonstrates cytochrome P450 (CYP) mRNA suppression. This unusual property elicits uncertainty regarding the optimal approach for predicting its drug-drug interaction (DDI) risk. The current study aims to understand DDI potential during early clinical development of oprozomib.. To support early development of oprozomib (e.g. inclusion/exclusion criteria, combination study design), we used human hepatocyte data and physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling to predict its CYP3A4-mediated DDI potential. Subsequently, a clinical DDI study using midazolam as the substrate was conducted in patients with advanced malignancies.. The clinical DDI study enrolled a total of 21 patients, 18 with advanced solid tumours. No patient discontinued oprozomib due to a treatment-related adverse event. The PBPK model prospectively predicted oprozomib 300 mg would not cause a clinically relevant change in exposure to CYP3A4 substrates (≤30%), which was confirmed by the results of this clinical DDI study.. These results indicate oprozomib has a low potential to inhibit the metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates in humans. The study shows that cultured human hepatocytes are a more reliable system for DDI prediction than human liver microsomes for studying this class of compounds. Developing a PBPK model prior to a clinical DDI study has been valuable in supporting clinical development of oprozomib.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cells, Cultured; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors; Drug Development; Drug Interactions; Female; Hepatocytes; Humans; Male; Microsomes, Liver; Midazolam; Middle Aged; Models, Biological; Neoplasms; Oligopeptides; Primary Cell Culture; Proteasome Inhibitors; Young Adult

To determine the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of the tripeptide epoxyketone proteasome inhibitor oprozomib in patients with advanced refractory or recurrent solid tumors.. Patients received escalating once daily (QD) or split doses of oprozomib on days 1-5 of 14-day cycles (C). The split-dose arm was implemented and compared in fasted (C1) and fed (C2) states. Pharmacokinetic samples were collected during C1 and C2. Proteasome inhibition was evaluated in red blood cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.. Forty-four patients (QD, n = 25; split dose, n = 19) were enrolled. The most common primary tumor types were non-small cell lung cancer (18%) and colorectal cancer (16%). In the 180-mg QD cohort, two patients experienced DLTs: grade 3 vomiting and dehydration; grade 3 hypophosphatemia (n = 1 each). In the split-dose group, three DLTs were observed (180-mg cohort: grade 3 hypophosphatemia; 210-mg cohort: grade 5 gastrointestinal hemorrhage and grade 3 hallucinations (n = 1 each). In the QD and split-dose groups, the MTD was 150 and 180 mg, respectively. Common adverse events (all grades) included nausea (91%), vomiting (86%), and diarrhea (61%). Peak concentrations and total exposure of oprozomib generally increased with the increasing dose. Oprozomib induced dose-dependent proteasome inhibition. Best response was stable disease.. While generally low-grade, clinically relevant gastrointestinal toxicities occurred frequently with this oprozomib formulation. Despite dose-dependent increases in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, single-agent oprozomib had minimal antitumor activity in this patient population with advanced solid tumors.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Agents; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Male; Maximum Tolerated Dose; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Neoplasms; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Inhibitors