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Overcoming ABCG2-mediated drug resistance with imidazo-[1,2-b]-pyridazine-based Pim1 kinase inhibitors

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Abstract

Purpose

Multidrug efflux pumps such as ABCG2 confer drug resistance to a number of cancer types, leading to poor prognosis and outcome. To date, the strategy of directly inhibiting multidrug efflux pumps in order to overcome drug resistance in cancer has been unsuccessful. An alternative strategy is to target proteins involved in the regulation of multidrug efflux pump activity or expression. Pim1 kinase has been demonstrated to phosphorylate ABCG2, promote its oligomerisation and contribute to its ability to confer drug resistance.

Methods

In the present manuscript, imidazo-pyridazine-based inhibitors of Pim1 were examined for their ability to overcome ABCG2-mediated drug resistance. Drug efficacy was measured as a cytotoxic response or an effect on transport by ABCG2. Protein expression patterns were assessed using western immuno-blotting.

Results

The two Pim1 inhibitors increased the potency of flavopiridol, mitoxantrone, topotecan and doxorubicin, specifically in ABCG2-expressing cells. This effect was associated with an increase in the cellular accumulation of [3H]-mitoxantrone, suggesting direct impairment of the transporter. However, prolonged pre-incubation with the studied inhibitors greatly enhanced the effect on mitoxantrone accumulation. The inhibitors caused a significant time-dependent reduction in the expression of ABCG2 in the resistant cells, an effect that would improve drug efficacy.

Conclusion

Consequently, it appears that the Pim1 inhibitors display a dual-mode effect on ABCG2-expressing cancer cells. This may provide a powerful new strategy in overcoming drug resistance by targeting proteins that regulate expression of efflux pumps.

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Acknowledgments

This investigation was funded by a project Grant (090072/Z/09/Z) from the Wellcome Trust awarded to Richard Callaghan and Stefan Knapp. SK is grateful for support by the SGC, a registered charity (number 1097737) that receives funds from AbbVie, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Genome Canada, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Lilly Canada, the Novartis Research Foundation, the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation, Pfizer, Takeda, and the Wellcome Trust (092809/Z/10/Z).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Headington, UK

    Richard A. J. Darby, Amanda Unsworth & Richard Callaghan

  2. Structural Genomics Consortium and Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, NDM Research Building, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK

    Richard A. J. Darby & Stefan Knapp

  3. School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK

    Ian D. Kerr

  4. Division of Biomedical Science and Biochemistry, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia

    Richard Callaghan

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  1. Richard A. J. Darby
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Correspondence to Richard Callaghan.

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Darby, R.A.J., Unsworth, A., Knapp, S. et al. Overcoming ABCG2-mediated drug resistance with imidazo-[1,2-b]-pyridazine-based Pim1 kinase inhibitors. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 76, 853–864 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-015-2858-9

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