A first-in-class EGFR-directed KRAS G12V selective inhibitor.

Lyla J Stanland, Hayden P Huggins, Snehasudha S Sahoo, Alessandro Porrello, Yogitha Chareddy, Salma H Azam, Jillian L Perry, Pradeep S Pallan, Kristina Whately, Lincy Edatt, William D Green, Matthew C Fleming, Jonah Im, Christina Gutierrez-Ford, Imani Simmons, Alyaa Dawoud, Katherine I Zhou, Vandanaa Jayaprakash, Rani S Sellers, Gabriela de la Cruz, Albert Wielgus, Justin Milner, Martin Egli, Albert A Bowers, Chad V Pecot
Author Information
  1. Lyla J Stanland: EnFuego Therapeutics, Inc, Morrisville, NC 27560, USA.
  2. Hayden P Huggins: EnFuego Therapeutics, Inc, Morrisville, NC 27560, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  3. Snehasudha S Sahoo: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; RNA Discovery Center, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  4. Alessandro Porrello: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; RNA Discovery Center, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  5. Yogitha Chareddy: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; RNA Discovery Center, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  6. Salma H Azam: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  7. Jillian L Perry: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  8. Pradeep S Pallan: Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
  9. Kristina Whately: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; RNA Discovery Center, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  10. Lincy Edatt: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; RNA Discovery Center, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  11. William D Green: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  12. Matthew C Fleming: Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  13. Jonah Im: EnFuego Therapeutics, Inc, Morrisville, NC 27560, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  14. Christina Gutierrez-Ford: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  15. Imani Simmons: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  16. Alyaa Dawoud: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; RNA Discovery Center, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  17. Katherine I Zhou: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; RNA Discovery Center, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Division of Medical Oncology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, USA.
  18. Vandanaa Jayaprakash: EnFuego Therapeutics, Inc, Morrisville, NC 27560, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  19. Rani S Sellers: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  20. Gabriela de la Cruz: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  21. Albert Wielgus: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  22. Justin Milner: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  23. Martin Egli: Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
  24. Albert A Bowers: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; RNA Discovery Center, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Chemistry, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  25. Chad V Pecot: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; RNA Discovery Center, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Division of Hematology/Oncology, UNC at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Electronic address: pecot@email.unc.edu.

Abstract

Despite KRAS being the second most common KRAS mutation in cancer, no direct inhibitors targeting KRAS have been approved. RNA interference (RNAi) has faced numerous obstacles as cancer therapeutic, including the lack of cancer-specific tissue targeting, rapid oligonucleotide nuclease degradation, and clearance from circulation. Recently, the use of targetable ligands conjugated to chemically modified siRNAs have shown remarkable promise in circumventing these barriers. In this study, we demonstrate that an EGFR-directed RNAi molecule (EFTX-G12V) is highly selective for KRAS and exhibits improved therapeutic activity over pan-KRAS targeting, including enhanced inhibition of several cancer hallmarks. Using a targeted RNAi delivery platform, we achieve effective tumor silencing of KRAS and significant anti-tumor activity across several cancer models. Our findings represent a technological advance in oncogene targeting using RNAi and provide new biologic insights in KRAS targeting with potential implications for safety and efficacy.

Keywords

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Grants

  1. T32 HL007057/NHLBI NIH HHS
  2. P30 ES010126/NIEHS NIH HHS
  3. R44 CA284932/NCI NIH HHS
  4. P30 CA016086/NCI NIH HHS
  5. UG1 CA233333/NCI NIH HHS
  6. R01 CA279532/NCI NIH HHS
  7. R01 CA215075/NCI NIH HHS
  8. R41 CA246848/NCI NIH HHS
  9. P30 CA014236/NCI NIH HHS
  10. R01 CA258451/NCI NIH HHS

MeSH Term

Humans
Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
ErbB Receptors
Animals
Mice
Cell Line, Tumor
Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
RNA, Small Interfering
Mutation
RNA Interference
Neoplasms
Female
Mice, Nude
Antineoplastic Agents

Chemicals

Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
ErbB Receptors
KRAS protein, human
EGFR protein, human
RNA, Small Interfering
Antineoplastic Agents

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