Degradation of Polo-like Kinase 1 by the Novel Poly-Arginine N-Degron Pathway PROTAC Regulates Tumor Growth in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer

J Med Chem. 2024 Mar 14;67(5):3307-3320. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01493. Epub 2023 Dec 17.

Abstract

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), which is crucial in cell cycle regulation, is considered a promising anticancer drug target. Herein, we present the N-degron pathway-based proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) for PLK1 degradation, targeting the Polo-box domain (PBD). We identified DD-2 as the most potent PROTAC that selectively induces PLK1 degradation in cancer cells, including HeLa and nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), through the N-degron pathway. DD-2 exhibited significant in vitro anticancer effects, inducing G2/M arrest and apoptosis in HeLa and NSCLC cell lines. DD-2 showed significant tumor growth inhibition in a xenograft mouse model using HeLa and NSCLC cell lines, highlighting its potential in cancer treatment. Furthermore, the combination of DD-2 with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), osimertinib, effectively suppressed tumor growth in double-mutated H1975 cell lines, emphasizing DD-2's potential in combination cancer therapies. Collectively, this study demonstrates the potential of the N-degron pathway, especially using DD-2, for targeted cancer therapies.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / pathology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Degrons
  • G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Mice
  • Polo-Like Kinase 1
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Proteolysis Targeting Chimera

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Proteolysis Targeting Chimera
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Polo-Like Kinase 1
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors