The enzyme iodothyronine deiodinase type 3 (DIO3) contributes to cancer proliferation by inactivating the tumor-suppressive actions of thyroid hormone (T3). We recently established DIO3 involvement in the progression of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Here we provide a link between high DIO3 expression and lower survival in patients, similar to common disease markers such as Ki67, PAX8, CA-125, and CCNE1. These observations suggest that DIO3 is a logical target for inhibition. Using a DIO3 mimic, we developed original DIO3 inhibitors that contain a core of dibromomaleic anhydride (DBRMD) as scaffold. Two compounds, PBENZ-DBRMD and ITYR-DBRMD, demonstrated attenuated cell counts, induction in apoptosis, and a reduction in cell proliferation in DIO3-positive HGSOC cells (ES-2 and KURAMOCHI), but not in DIO3-negative normal ovary cells (CHOK1) and ES-2 depleted for DIO3 or its substrate, T3. Potent tumor inhibition with a high safety profile was further established in HGSOC xenograft model, with no effect in DIO3-depleted tumors. The antitumor effects are mediated by downregulation in an array of pro-cancerous proteins, the majority of which known to be repressed by T3. To conclude, using small molecules that specifically target the DIO3 enzyme we present a new treatment paradigm for ovarian cancer and potentially other DIO3-dependent malignancies.
碘甲腺原
氨酸脱
碘酶3型(DIO3)可使甲状腺激素(T3)的抑癌作用失活,从而导致癌症增殖。我们最近证实,DIO3 参与了高级别浆液性卵巢癌(
HGSOC)的进展。在此,我们提供了 DIO3 高表达与患者低生存率之间的联系,这与 Ki67、PAX8、CA-125 和 CCNE1 等常见疾病标志物相似。这些观察结果表明,DIO3 是一个合理的抑制靶点。我们利用 DIO3 模拟物,开发出以
二溴马来酸酐(DBRMD)为核心支架的原创 DIO3
抑制剂。在 DIO3 阳性的
HGSOC 细胞(ES-2 和 KURAMOCHI)中,PBENZ-DBRMD 和 ITYR-DBRMD 这两种化合物可减少细胞数量,诱导细胞凋亡,并降低细胞增殖,但在 DIO3 阴性的正常卵巢细胞(CHOK1)和去除了 DIO3 或其底物 T3 的 ES-2 中却没有这种效果。在
HGSOC 异种移植模型中进一步证实了这种药物对肿瘤的强效抑制作用,而且安全性很高。抗肿瘤作用是通过下调一系列促癌蛋白介导的,其中大部分蛋白已知会受到 T3 的抑制。总之,利用特异性靶向 DIO3 酶的小分子,我们为卵巢癌和其他潜在的 DIO3 依赖性恶性肿瘤提供了一种新的治疗模式。