Project 1: Targeting HSPA Proteins in Advanced and Recurrent Endometrial Cancer Therapy

PROJECT SUMMARY The incidence and mortality of endometrial cancer has increased over the past few decades, and is predicted to continue rising. There is significant need for improved therapies with reduced toxicity for women with endometrial cancers that are advanced, recurrent or refractory to standard of care. Endometrial cancer is a heterogeneous disease that has been classified into molecular profile categories with different degrees of patient prognosis. Across these categories, endometrial cancer has the highest rates of mutations in heat shock protein A(HSPA) 5, 8 and 9 genes compared to other The Cancer Genome Atlas-studied cancers. The HSPA5, HSPA8 and HSPA9 genes encode chaperone proteins, Grp78, hsc70 and mortalin, respectively, which become elevated during carcinogenesis to bind and modulate oncoproteins in a way that assures cancer cell survival. Thus, these chaperone/oncoprotein complexes represent differential targets present at higher levels in cancer cells compared to healthy cells. We developed a drug, SHetA2 (NSC 726189), which disrupts these complexes. SHetA2 induces growth arrest, altered metabolism, mitophagy and cell death in endometrial cancer cells, while the effects on healthy cells is limited to G1 cell cycle arrest. Preclinical studies found lack of SHetA2 toxicity, and this drug is now in a Phase 1 clinical trial in advanced, recurrent or persistent gynecologic cancers (NCT04928508). In vivo studies revealed that SHetA2 has complementary activities and efficacies with paclitaxel and cyclin dependent kinase (CDK4/6) inhibitors. In this project, we hypothesize that SHetA2 will safely reduce endometrial cancer tumor burden and complement the efficacies of paclitaxel and CDK4/6 inhibitors without increasing toxicity; the mechanism will be mediated through SHetA2 disruption of HSPA/client protein complexes; and the treatment efficacies will be modulated by mutations in PTEN and TP53 genes. To test this, and optimize SHetA2-based therapies, we propose to study the mechanism of SHetA2 in healthy endometrial cells, endometrial cancer cell lines, and patient derived organoids and xenografts with a range of natural or induced genetic mutations in PTEN and TP53 genes. We will conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial of SHetA2 in combination with paclitaxel in advanced, recurrent or persistent endometrial cancer patients; a Phase 2 expansion will evaluate response. Using specimens from this and other trials, we will test the hypothesis that mortalin co-localization with the Mps1 kinase or p53 at the centrosome correlates with poor or improved response, respectively, of paclitaxel-treated endometrial cancer patients. In preparation for a future clinical trial, we will use a quantitative systems biology approach that integrates pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and toxicity data to optimize dose and schedule for testing SHetA2 in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors. The outcome is anticipated to identify biomarkers predictive of which patients will most likely benefit from SHetA2- based therapies, and provide justification and data for development of a randomized Phase 3 trial of a SHetA2 combination anticipated to have an improved therapeutic window over current therapy.