Targeting DDX3 with a small molecule inhibitor for lung cancer therapy

Abstract Lung cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide and is a focus for developing targeted therapies due to its refractory nature to current treatment. We identified a RNA helicase, DDX3, which is overexpressed in many cancer types including lung cancer and is associated with lower survival...

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Main Authors: Guus M Bol, Farhad Vesuna, Min Xie, Jing Zeng, Khaled Aziz, Nishant Gandhi, Anne Levine, Ashley Irving, Dorian Korz, Saritha Tantravedi, Marise R Heerma van Voss, Kathleen Gabrielson, Evan A Bordt, Brian M Polster, Leslie Cope, Petra van der Groep, Atul Kondaskar, Michelle A Rudek, Ramachandra S Hosmane, Elsken van der Wall, Paul J van Diest, Phuoc T Tran, Venu Raman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2015-03-01
Series:EMBO Molecular Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201404368
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author Guus M Bol
Farhad Vesuna
Min Xie
Jing Zeng
Khaled Aziz
Nishant Gandhi
Anne Levine
Ashley Irving
Dorian Korz
Saritha Tantravedi
Marise R Heerma van Voss
Kathleen Gabrielson
Evan A Bordt
Brian M Polster
Leslie Cope
Petra van der Groep
Atul Kondaskar
Michelle A Rudek
Ramachandra S Hosmane
Elsken van der Wall
Paul J van Diest
Phuoc T Tran
Venu Raman
author_facet Guus M Bol
Farhad Vesuna
Min Xie
Jing Zeng
Khaled Aziz
Nishant Gandhi
Anne Levine
Ashley Irving
Dorian Korz
Saritha Tantravedi
Marise R Heerma van Voss
Kathleen Gabrielson
Evan A Bordt
Brian M Polster
Leslie Cope
Petra van der Groep
Atul Kondaskar
Michelle A Rudek
Ramachandra S Hosmane
Elsken van der Wall
Paul J van Diest
Phuoc T Tran
Venu Raman
author_sort Guus M Bol
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Lung cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide and is a focus for developing targeted therapies due to its refractory nature to current treatment. We identified a RNA helicase, DDX3, which is overexpressed in many cancer types including lung cancer and is associated with lower survival in lung cancer patients. We designed a first‐in‐class small molecule inhibitor, RK‐33, which binds to DDX3 and abrogates its activity. Inhibition of DDX3 by RK‐33 caused G1 cell cycle arrest, induced apoptosis, and promoted radiation sensitization in DDX3‐overexpressing cells. Importantly, RK‐33 in combination with radiation induced tumor regression in multiple mouse models of lung cancer. Mechanistically, loss of DDX3 function either by shRNA or by RK‐33 impaired Wnt signaling through disruption of the DDX3–β‐catenin axis and inhibited non‐homologous end joining—the major DNA repair pathway in mammalian somatic cells. Overall, inhibition of DDX3 by RK‐33 promotes tumor regression, thus providing a compelling argument to develop DDX3 inhibitors for lung cancer therapy.
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spelling doaj-art-e07c631e5fec4cceaa092c7b616dd2dc2025-08-20T03:05:55ZengSpringer NatureEMBO Molecular Medicine1757-46761757-46842015-03-017564866910.15252/emmm.201404368Targeting DDX3 with a small molecule inhibitor for lung cancer therapyGuus M Bol0Farhad Vesuna1Min Xie2Jing Zeng3Khaled Aziz4Nishant Gandhi5Anne Levine6Ashley Irving7Dorian Korz8Saritha Tantravedi9Marise R Heerma van Voss10Kathleen Gabrielson11Evan A Bordt12Brian M Polster13Leslie Cope14Petra van der Groep15Atul Kondaskar16Michelle A Rudek17Ramachandra S Hosmane18Elsken van der Wall19Paul J van Diest20Phuoc T Tran21Venu Raman22Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Maryland School of MedicineDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Maryland School of MedicineDepartment of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Pathology, University Medical Center UtrechtDepartment of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of MarylandDepartment of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of MarylandDepartment of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center UtrechtDepartment of Pathology, University Medical Center UtrechtDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineAbstract Lung cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide and is a focus for developing targeted therapies due to its refractory nature to current treatment. We identified a RNA helicase, DDX3, which is overexpressed in many cancer types including lung cancer and is associated with lower survival in lung cancer patients. We designed a first‐in‐class small molecule inhibitor, RK‐33, which binds to DDX3 and abrogates its activity. Inhibition of DDX3 by RK‐33 caused G1 cell cycle arrest, induced apoptosis, and promoted radiation sensitization in DDX3‐overexpressing cells. Importantly, RK‐33 in combination with radiation induced tumor regression in multiple mouse models of lung cancer. Mechanistically, loss of DDX3 function either by shRNA or by RK‐33 impaired Wnt signaling through disruption of the DDX3–β‐catenin axis and inhibited non‐homologous end joining—the major DNA repair pathway in mammalian somatic cells. Overall, inhibition of DDX3 by RK‐33 promotes tumor regression, thus providing a compelling argument to develop DDX3 inhibitors for lung cancer therapy.https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201404368DDX3DNA repairlung cancerradiation‐sensitizing agentsmall molecule inhibitor
spellingShingle Guus M Bol
Farhad Vesuna
Min Xie
Jing Zeng
Khaled Aziz
Nishant Gandhi
Anne Levine
Ashley Irving
Dorian Korz
Saritha Tantravedi
Marise R Heerma van Voss
Kathleen Gabrielson
Evan A Bordt
Brian M Polster
Leslie Cope
Petra van der Groep
Atul Kondaskar
Michelle A Rudek
Ramachandra S Hosmane
Elsken van der Wall
Paul J van Diest
Phuoc T Tran
Venu Raman
Targeting DDX3 with a small molecule inhibitor for lung cancer therapy
EMBO Molecular Medicine
DDX3
DNA repair
lung cancer
radiation‐sensitizing agent
small molecule inhibitor
title Targeting DDX3 with a small molecule inhibitor for lung cancer therapy
title_full Targeting DDX3 with a small molecule inhibitor for lung cancer therapy
title_fullStr Targeting DDX3 with a small molecule inhibitor for lung cancer therapy
title_full_unstemmed Targeting DDX3 with a small molecule inhibitor for lung cancer therapy
title_short Targeting DDX3 with a small molecule inhibitor for lung cancer therapy
title_sort targeting ddx3 with a small molecule inhibitor for lung cancer therapy
topic DDX3
DNA repair
lung cancer
radiation‐sensitizing agent
small molecule inhibitor
url https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201404368
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