LWJ-M30, a conjugate of DM1 and B6, for the targeted therapy of colorectal cancer with improved therapeutic effects.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide as well as a significant cause of mortality. The conventional treatment could cause serious side effects and induce drug resistance, recurrence and metastasis of cancers. Hence, specific targeting of cancer cells without affecting the normal tissues is currently an urgent necessity in cancer therapy. The emerging of peptide-drug conjugates (PDC) is regarded as a promising approach to address malignant tumors. LWJ-M30, a conjugate of DM1 and B6 peptide, targeted transferrin receptors (TfRs) on the surface of the CRC cells, showing a powerful anti-cancer effect. LWJ-M30 significantly inhibited the HCT116 cells proliferation and migration in vitro. LWJ-M30 also dramatically decreased the level of polymeric tubulin, while the disruption of microtubules caused the cell cycle to be arrested in the G2/M phase. LWJ-M30 induced the HCT116 cells apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. The results in vivo demonstrated that LWJ-M30 could inhibit the HCT116 growth without affecting the mouse body weight. Taking these results together, our data indicated that LWJ-M30 could improve the therapeutic effects of DM1 while reducing the systemic toxicity in normal tissues.

XHL11, a novel selective EGFR inhibitor, overcomes EGFRT790M-mediated resistance in non-small cell lung cancer.

The first-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), gefitinib and erlotinib significantly improved the therapeutic effect in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutation. However, the EGFRT790M mutation occurs and results in acquired resistance. Consequently, mutant selective third-generation EGFR TKIs represented by AZD9291 (Osimertinib) have been developed to offer more effective therapeutic treatment, but the clinical application is limited by the acquired resistance and the high costs. A series of 5-chloropyrimidine-2,4-diamine derivatives were synthesized and screened for in vitro antitumor activity on H1975 and A431 cells. XHL11 showed the strongest antineoplastic activity. Compared to AZD9291, XHL11 suppressed cellular proliferation and colony formation and induced apoptosis in H1975 cells with EGFRL858R/T790M mutation. In addition, XHL11 caused expression changes in EGFR and apoptosis-related pathways. Moreover, oral administration of XHL11 suppressed tumor progression in vivo in a H1975 subcutaneous xenograft model. These data demonstrated that XHL11 might be developed as a promising EGFR TKI for the therapeutic use of NSCLC patients.