Selective inhibition of EZH2 by EPZ-6438 leads to potent antitumor activity in EZH2-mutant non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Mol Cancer Ther. 2014 Apr;13(4):842-54. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-13-0773. Epub 2014 Feb 21.

Abstract

Mutations within the catalytic domain of the histone methyltransferase EZH2 have been identified in subsets of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). These genetic alterations are hypothesized to confer an oncogenic dependency on EZH2 enzymatic activity in these cancers. We have previously reported the discovery of EPZ005678 and EPZ-6438, potent and selective S-adenosyl-methionine-competitive small molecule inhibitors of EZH2. Although both compounds are similar with respect to their mechanism of action and selectivity, EPZ-6438 possesses superior potency and drug-like properties, including good oral bioavailability in animals. Here, we characterize the activity of EPZ-6438 in preclinical models of NHL. EPZ-6438 selectively inhibits intracellular lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27) methylation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in both EZH2 wild-type and mutant lymphoma cells. Inhibition of H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27Me3) leads to selective cell killing of human lymphoma cell lines bearing EZH2 catalytic domain point mutations. Treatment of EZH2-mutant NHL xenograft-bearing mice with EPZ-6438 causes dose-dependent tumor growth inhibition, including complete and sustained tumor regressions with correlative diminution of H3K27Me3 levels in tumors and selected normal tissues. Mice dosed orally with EPZ-6438 for 28 days remained tumor free for up to 63 days after stopping compound treatment in two EZH2-mutant xenograft models. These data confirm the dependency of EZH2-mutant NHL on EZH2 activity and portend the utility of EPZ-6438 as a potential treatment for these genetically defined cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Benzamides / pharmacology*
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Catalytic Domain / genetics
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / drug therapy*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Morpholines
  • Point Mutation
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / genetics*
  • Pyridones / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzamides
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Morpholines
  • Pyridones
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2
  • tazemetostat

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE49284