Targeting G1/S phase cell-cycle genomic alterations and accompanying co-alterations with individualized CDK4/6

Shumei Kato1, Ryosuke Okamura1, Jacob J Adashek2

  • 1Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy and Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, La Jolla, California, USA.

JCI Insight
|January 11, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Targeting cell-cycle alterations with CDK4/6 inhibitors and other matched therapies improved outcomes in non-breast cancer patients. A higher proportion of matched genomic alterations correlated with longer progression-free survival and better response rates.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Genomics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • CDK4/6 inhibitors are standard for HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer.
  • Their efficacy in other cancers with cell-cycle alterations is limited.
  • G1/S phase cell-cycle alterations are potential targets for CDK4/6 inhibitors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate factors influencing clinical outcomes in patients with G1/S phase cell-cycle alterations treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors.
  • To determine the association between genomic alterations matching and patient response.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 2457 diverse solid tumor patients undergoing next-generation sequencing.
  • Focus on 40 patients with G1/S phase cell-cycle alterations treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors.
  • Correlation of genomic matching score with progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response.

Main Results:

  • G1/S phase cell-cycle alterations were found in 20.6% of patients.
  • Patients with a high genomic matching score (≥50%) had significantly longer PFS (6.2 vs. 2.0 months) and higher response rates (57% vs. 21%).
  • Matched CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy, as part of a regimen targeting most genomic alterations, was independently linked to longer PFS.

Conclusions:

  • Individualized therapy regimens targeting a majority of genomic alterations, including CDK4/6 inhibitors for cell-cycle altered cancers, are associated with improved PFS.
  • Genomic matching is a critical factor for CDK4/6 inhibitor efficacy beyond breast cancer.
  • Further research into CDK4/6 inhibitor utility in diverse solid tumors with specific genomic profiles is warranted.

Related Concept Videos

Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
5.3K
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...
8.1K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
5.6K
M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis02:15

M-Cdk Drives Transition Into Mitosis

Checkpoints throughout the cell cycle serve as safeguards and gatekeepers, allowing the cell cycle to progress in favorable conditions and slow or halt it in problematic ones. This regulation is known as the cell cycle control system.
Cyclin-dependent kinases, or Cdks, work in concert with cyclins to control cell cycle transitions. M-Cdk, a complex of Cdk1 bound to M cyclin, is a well-known example of this coordinated control that drives the transition from the G2 to the M phase.
M cyclin...
6.0K
The Cell Cycle Control System01:28

The Cell Cycle Control System

The cell cycle regulation directs how a cell proceeds from one phase to the next and begins mitosis. The cell cycle control system includes intracellular regulatory molecules and external triggers. They provide "stop" or "advance" signals and operate at specific cell cycle stages termed checkpoints to ensure that a particular process is completed before the cell advances to the next phase.
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and...
4.6K
The Cell Cycle Control System02:11

The Cell Cycle Control System

The cell cycle is an organized set of events that leads the cell to divide into two daughter cells, each containing chromosomes identical to the parent cell. It is the cell cycle that leads to the formation of an entire organism from a single-cell zygote. Besides, cell division also functions in the renewal or repair of tissues in adult multicellular eukaryotes. For example, in the bone marrow, the stem cells divide to form new blood cells. Although essential for several functions, cell...
13.3K