Dedicated to Professor Rolf Huisgen on the occasion of his 85th birthday Inhibition of the enzyme histone deacetylase (HDAC) is emerging as a novel approach to the treatment of cancer. A series of novel sulfonamide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit human HDAC. Compounds were identified which are potent enzyme inhibitors, with IC 50 values in the low nanomolar range against enzyme obtained from HeLa cell extracts, and with antiproliferative effects in cell culture. Extensive characterization of the structure ± activity relationships of this series identified key requirements for activity. These include the direction of the sulfonamide bond and substitution patterns on the central phenyl ring. The alkyl spacer between the aromatic head group and the sulfonamide functionality also influenced the HDAC inhibitory activity. One of these compounds, m11.1, also designated PXD101, has entered clinical trials for solid tumors and haematological malignancies.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and highly lethal disease. Because of its heterogeneity and lack of hormone receptors or HER2 expression, targeted therapy is limited. Here, by performing a functional siRNA screening for 2-OG-dependent enzymes, we identifi ed gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase 1 ( BBOX1 ) as an essential gene for TNBC tumorigenesis. BBOX1 depletion inhibits TNBC cell growth while not affecting normal breast cells. Mechanistically, BBOX1 binds with the calcium channel inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 3 (IP3R3) in an enzymatic-dependent manner and prevents its ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. BBOX1 depletion suppresses IP3R3-mediated endoplasmic reticulum calcium release, therefore impairing calcium-dependent energy-generating processes including mitochondrial respiration and mTORC1-mediated glycolysis, which leads to apoptosis and impaired cell-cycle progression in TNBC cells. Therapeutically, genetic depletion or pharmacologic inhibition of BBOX1 inhibits TNBC tumor growth in vitro and in vivo . Our study highlights the importance of targeting the previously uncharacterized BBOX1-IP3R3-calcium oncogenic signaling axis in TNBC.
SIGNIFICANCE:We provide evidence from unbiased screens that BBOX1 is a potential therapeutic target in TNBC and that genetic knockdown or pharmacologic inhibition of BBOX1 leads to decreased TNBC cell fi tness. This study lays the foundation for developing effective BBOX1 inhibitors for treatment of this lethal disease.
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