Simultaneous Drug Targeting of the Promoter MYC G-Quadruplex and BCL2 i-Motif in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Delays Tumor Growth

Samantha Kendrick, Andrea Muranyi, Vijay Gokhale, Laurence H. Hurley, Lisa M. Rimsza

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Secondary DNA structures are uniquely poised as therapeutic targets due to their molecular switch function in turning gene expression on or off and scaffold-like properties for protein and small molecule interaction. Strategies to alter gene transcription through these structures thus far involve targeting single DNA conformations. Here we investigate the feasibility of simultaneously targeting different secondary DNA structures to modulate two key oncogenes, cellular-myelocytomatosis (MYC) and B-cell lymphoma gene-2 (BCL2), in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Cotreatment with previously identified ellipticine and pregnanol derivatives that recognize the MYC G-quadruplex and BCL2 i-motif promoter DNA structures lowered mRNA levels and subsequently enhanced sensitivity to a standard chemotherapy drug, cyclophosphamide, in DLBCL cell lines. In vivo repression of MYC and BCL2 in combination with cyclophosphamide also significantly slowed tumor growth in DLBCL xenograft mice. Our findings demonstrate concurrent targeting of different DNA secondary structures offers an effective, precise, medicine-based approach to directly impede transcription and overcome aberrant pathways in aggressive malignancies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6587-6597
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry
Volume60
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 10 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Drug Discovery

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