Development of SOS1 Inhibitor-Based Degraders to Target KRAS-Mutant Colorectal Cancer

J Med Chem. 2022 Dec 22;65(24):16432-16450. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01300. Epub 2022 Dec 2.

Abstract

Direct blockade of KRAS driver mutations in colorectal cancer (CRC) has been challenging. Targeting SOS1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, has arisen as an attractive approach for KRAS-mutant CRC. Here, we describe the development of novel SOS1 degraders and their activity in patient-derived CRC organoids (PDO). The design of these degraders as proteolysis-targeting chimera was based on the crystal structures of cereblon and SOS1. The synthesis used the 6- and 7-OH groups of a quinazoline core as anchor points to connect lenalidomide. Fifteen compounds were screened for SOS1 degradation. P7 was found to have up to 92% SOS1 degradation in both CRC cell lines and PDOs with excellent specificity. SOS1 degrader P7 demonstrated superior activity in inhibiting CRC PDO growth with an IC50 5 times lower than that of SOS1 inhibitor BI3406. In summary, we developed new SOS1 degraders and demonstrated SOS1 degradation as a feasible therapeutic strategy for KRAS-mutant CRC.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)* / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)* / metabolism

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
  • KRAS protein, human