An improved PDE6D inhibitor combines with Sildenafil to synergistically inhibit KRAS mutant cancer cell growth

Abstract

The trafficking chaperone PDE6D (or PDEδ) was proposed as a surrogate target for K-Ras, leading to the development of a series of inhibitors that block its prenyl-binding pocket. These inhibitors suffered from low solubility and intracellular potency, preventing their clinical development. Here we developed a highly soluble PDE6D inhibitor (PDE6Di), Deltaflexin3, which has the currently lowest off-target activity, as we demonstrate in dedicated assays. We further increased the K-Ras focus, by exploiting that PKG2-mediated phosphorylation of Ser181 lowers K-Ras binding to PDE6D. Thus, the combination of Deltaflexin3 with the approved PKG2-activator Sildenafil synergistically inhibits cell- and microtumor growth. However, the overall cancer survival of the high PDE6D/ low PKG2 target population is higher than of the group with the opposite signature. Our results therefore suggest re-examining the interplay between PDE6D and K-Ras in cancer, while recommending the development of PDE6Di that 'plug', rather than 'stuff' the hydrophobic pocket of PDE6D.