Tumor suppression by a rationally designed reversible inhibitor of methionine aminopeptidase-2

Jieyi Wang1, George S Sheppard, Pingping Lou

  • 1Cancer Research, Global Pharmaceutical R & D, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL 60064, USA. Jieyi.Wang@abbott.com

Cancer Research
|November 25, 2003
PubMed

Insights

A new reversible inhibitor of methionine aminopeptidase (MetAP)-2, A-357300, effectively suppresses tumor growth and angiogenesis. This novel cancer therapeutic agent shows promise without the toxicities associated with previous irreversible inhibitors.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Methionine aminopeptidase (MetAP)-2 is a potential cancer therapy target, with TNP-470 being an irreversible inhibitor.
  • The precise role of MetAP2 in tumor progression was unclear due to limitations of irreversible inhibitors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy and safety of a novel, rationally designed reversible MetAP2 inhibitor, A-357300.
  • To determine the therapeutic potential of reversible MetAP2 inhibition in preclinical cancer models.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of a bestatin-type reversible MetAP2 inhibitor (A-357300) using crystal structure data and parallel synthesis.
  • Evaluation of A-357300's effects on cell cycle, angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo, and antitumor efficacy in various murine cancer models.

Main Results:

  • A-357300 selectively induces G(1) cell cycle arrest in endothelial and some tumor cells, but not most primary non-endothelial cells.
  • The inhibitor demonstrated significant inhibition of angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo.
  • A-357300 exhibited potent antitumor efficacy across carcinoma, sarcoma, and neuroblastoma models.

Conclusions:

  • Methionine aminopeptidase (MetAP)-2 plays a critical role in cell growth and tumor progression.
  • Reversible MetAP2 inhibitors, exemplified by A-357300, represent a promising new class of cancer therapeutics with a potentially improved safety profile.

Related Concept Videos

Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Experimental RNAi02:15

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...