The document summarizes research on targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway for cancer treatment. It discusses that EGFR is overexpressed in many cancers like breast cancer. A compound called DPDIM was found to inhibit the EGFR pathway and induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Nanoparticles were used to deliver diindolylmethane (DIM) to the brain by targeting somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) and avoiding the blood brain barrier. Studies showed this targeted nanoparticle delivery reduced brain tumor growth in animal models by regulating EGFR pathway members.
2. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)
belongs to the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine
kinases (RTK)
These trans-membrane proteins are activated
following binding with peptide growth factors
of the EGF-family of proteins
Binding of the protein to a ligand induces
receptor dimerization and tyrosine
autophosphorylation and leads to cell proliferation
Amplification of the EGFR gene and mutations
of the EGFR tyrosine kinase domain have been
demonstrated to occur in cancer patients.
Figure source : Bessman et al. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
19, 13 (2012)
5. Scope of Breast Cancer
- Most common cancer (31%) in
women.
- Incidence 110/10K people
- Life time risk is 13.48% (1 in 7)
- 0.6% of all cases are in men
6. EGFR overexpression in breast cancer is associated with large tumor size, poor
differentiation, and poor clinical outcomes.
Treatment of patients with high EGFR level has been challenging not only because of
the aggressive behaviour of these diseases but also because of the lack of established
clinically relevant treatment targets.
The role of EGFR in breast cancer has been scrutinized, and several therapies that target
EGFR, including gefitinib, cetuximab, lapatinib, and others, have been developed.
However, results of clinical studies of EGFR-targeted therapy in breast cancer have been
disappointing.
7. Anti-proliferative effects of indole derivatives
a) 1,1',2,2'-tetramethyl-
3,3'-diindolylmethane
(TetraMDIM),
b) 2,2'-dimethyl-3,3'-
diindolylmethane (DMDIM),
c) 1,1'-dimethyl-5,5'-
dimethoxy-3,3'-
diindolylmethane
(DMDMODIM),
d) 5,5'-dimethoxy-3,3'-
diindolylmethane
(DMODIM) and
e) 2,2'-diphenyl-3,3'-
diindolylmethane (DPDIM)
Bhowmik et.al; Plos one;2013
12. In silico comparison of DPDIM binding with EGFR, HER2, HER3 and other
known EGFR inhibitors
Bhowmik et.al; Plos one;2013
13. Inhibition of EGF induced EGFR activation, cell viability and colony formation
of MCF7 cells by DPDIM
Bhowmik et.al; Plos one;2013
14. Inhibition of phosphorylation of constitutively active EGFR (EGFRvIII) and
regulation of cell viability in EGFRvIII overexpressed cells by DPDIM
Bhowmik et.al; Plos one;2013
15. Reduction of breast tumor growth by DPDIM in animal model.
Bhowmik et.al; Plos one;2013
16. In vivo determination of DPDIM induced EGFR pathway regulation
directed to apoptosis
Bhowmik et.al; Plos one;2013
17. In summary
Indole Derivative DPDIM Inhibits Proliferation and Survival of Cancer Cells.
DPDIM is a Non-cytotoxic Compound.
Regulation of EGFR Pathway by DPDIM Leads to Mitochondrial Cyt c Release
in Breast Cancer Cells.
DPDIM Induces apoptosis Through Activation of the Mitochondrial
Caspase Cascade.
DPDIM Inhibits Growth and Induces Apoptosis in DMBA Induced
Breast Tumors also.
Thus, DPDIM emerges as a promising anti-cancer agent showing high efficacy in
breast cancer cells and the breast tumor model
18. Scope of Brain Cancer
- Incidence of primary brain tumors
(benign or malignant) 12.8/100,000
- 10%15% of cancer patients develop
brain metastases
- Brain cancer is associated with high
mortality rate
- Glioma is the most common type of
brain cancer
- Overall survival rate for patients with
high grade glioma remains lowaround
8%
- Till date, malignant glioma has no
effective therapy
19. Source : Oncomine Database
Incidence of malignant primary brain tumor by age and histology
20. The major cause of drug failure : Blood Brain Barrier
Figure source : Bhowmik et al.,BMRI
23. 3,3-diindolylmethane(DIM)-induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells is
mediated by inhibition of EGFR-ERK pathway; PK. Kandala, KC. Pramanik, S
Reddy Boreddy, and SK. Srivastava; Cancer Res ; April 15, 2010 70; 3781
Blocking Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Activation by 3,3-
Diindolylmethane Suppresses Ovarian Tumor Growth In Vitro and In
Vivo; PK. Kandala, SE. Wright and SK. Srivastava; JPET ; April 2012 vol.
341 no. 124-32
Some reports of DIM targeting EGFR..
27. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
0 100 200 300 400 500
%
cell
viability
Compound dose (nM)
IC50 value 390 nM
Effective growth inhibiting and apoptotic response of nanotized DIM
C C
T T
0 hr 0 hr
48 hr 48 hr
C C
0 day
0 day
4th day
4th day
T T C T
** No cell death in HEK293 cells
35. Counts
Confirmation of peptide coupling with nanoparticles
EDC (1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-
carbodiimide)- NHS (N-hydroxysuccinimide)
Coupling of nanoparticle and peptide
PLGA nanoparticle
DIM
SSTR2 peptide
36. Study of apoptotic effect of DIM nanoparticle having surface modification with peptide
37. Primary endothelial cell
(ICAM1 staining)
C6 astrocytes
In vitro validation of drug passaging through BBB
TEER value :
200 to 350 立 cm2
38. T
C
In vivo validation of drug passaging through BBB
1
2
3
5
4
6
7
1
2
4
7
3
5
6
1 Brain, 2- Heart, 3- Lungs, 4-Liver, 5- Spleen, 6- Pancreas , 7- Kidney
39. In vivo validation of internalization of DIM in rat brain by ESI-Mass spectrophotometry
Native DIM
41. Untreated Treated Untreated Treated
0
10
20
30
40
untreated treated
Days
of
survivability
of
SD
rats
Nanotized DIM treatment Groups
*
Reduction of brain tumor growth by peptide tagged nanotized DIM in animal model
43. SSTR2
Low and high
grade brain
tumors
Indole
compound
EGFR
Nanoparticle based
modification and peptide
tagging
Peptide
BBB
In Summary
44. 1. A Bhowmik, N Das, U Pal, M Mandal, S Bhattacharya, M Sarkar et al.,
2, 2-diphenyl-3, 3-diindolylmethane: a potent compound induces apoptosis in breast cancer
cells by inhibiting EGFR pathway, PloS one, 8 (3), e59798, 2013.
2. A Bhowmik, R Khan, MK Ghosh, Blood Brain Barrier: A Challenge for Effectual
Therapy of Brain Tumors, BioMed Research International, vol. 2015, Article ID 320941,
20 pages, 2015.
3. K De, A Bhowmik, A Behera, I Banerjee, MK Ghosh, M Misra, Synthesis, radiolabeling, and
preclinical evaluation of a new octreotide analog for somatostatin receptorpositive tumor
scintigraphy, Journal of Peptide Science, 18 (12), 720-730, 2012.
4. I Paul, SF Ahmed, A Bhowmik, S Deb, MK Ghosh, The ubiquitin ligase CHIP regulates c-Myc
stability and transcriptional activity, Oncogene, 32 (10), 1284-1295, 2013.
5. T Mandal, A Bhowmik, A Chatterjee, U Chatterjee, S Chatterjee et al., Reduced phosphorylation
of Stat3 at Ser-727 mediated by casein kinase 2Protein phosphatase 2A enhances Stat3
Tyr-705 induced tumorigenic potential of glioma cells, Cellular signalling, 26 (8), 1725-1734, 2014.
6. KKN Guturi, M Sarkar, A Bhowmik, N Das, MK Ghosh, DEAD-box protein p68 is regulated
by 硫-catenin/transcription factor 4 to maintain a positive feedback loop in control of breast cancer
progression, Breast Cancer Research 16 (6), 496, 2014
Publications
45. Acknowledgments
Dr. Mrinal K. Ghosh
Dr. Parimal C. Sen
Dr. P. Jaisankar
Dr. Nakul C. Maity
Dr. Aparajita Ghosh
Dr. Suman Bhandary
Ms. Nilanjana Das
Ms. Rajni Khan
Mr. Uttam Pal
Mr. Anshul Jain
Ms. Madhumita Mandal
And all my lab members