Discovery of a Potent and Oral Available Complex I OXPHOS Inhibitor That Abrogates Tumor Growth and Circumvents MEKi Resistance

J Med Chem. 2023 May 11;66(9):6047-6069. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01844. Epub 2023 May 2.

Abstract

Targeting oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer therapy. Here, we discovered a 1H-1,2,3-triazole derivative HP661 as a highly potent and orally available OXPHOS inhibitor that effectively blocked the activity of mitochondrial complex I. HP661 specifically compromised the mitochondrial oxygen consumption of high-OXPHOS lung cancer cells but not that of low-OXPHOS lung cancer cells or normal cells in the low nanomolar range. Notably, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor (trametinib)-resistant lung cancer cells with high levels of OXPHOS also showed marked sensitivity to HP661, as indicated by decreased clonogenic growth and increased cell apoptosis upon treatment. In a mouse model of high-OXPHOS lung cancer, HP661 treatment not only significantly suppressed tumor growth but also augmented the therapeutic efficacy of trametinib by impairing tumor mitochondrial respiration. In summary, we identified HP661 as a highly effective OXPHOS inhibitor to abrogate the growth of high OXPHOS-dependent tumors and conquer high OXPHOS-mediated drug resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Lung Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Mice
  • Mitochondria
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / metabolism
  • Oxidative Phosphorylation

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases