2. Academic Validation
  3. MTH1 inhibition eradicates cancer by preventing sanitation of the dNTP pool

MTH1 inhibition eradicates cancer by preventing sanitation of the dNTP pool

  • Nature. 2014 Apr 10;508(7495):215-21. doi: 10.1038/nature13181.
Helge Gad 1,  Tobias Koolmeister 1,  Ann-Sofie Jemth 1,  Saeed Eshtad 1,  Sylvain A Jacques 1,  Cecilia E Ström 1,  Linda M Svensson 2,  Niklas Schultz 3,  Thomas Lundbäck 4,  Berglind Osk Einarsdottir 5,  Aljona Saleh 6,  Camilla Göktürk 3,  Pawel Baranczewski 7,  Richard Svensson 8,  Ronnie P-A Berntsson 2,  Robert Gustafsson 2,  Kia Strömberg 3,  Kumar Sanjiv 3,  Marie-Caroline Jacques-Cordonnier 3,  Matthieu Desroses 3,  Anna-Lena Gustavsson 4,  Roger Olofsson 5,  Fredrik Johansson 9,  Evert J Homan 3,  Olga Loseva 3,  Lars Bräutigam 3,  Lars Johansson 4,  Andreas Höglund 3,  Anna Hagenkort 3,  Therese Pham 3,  Mikael Altun 3,  Fabienne Z Gaugaz 7,  Svante Vikingsson 10,  Bastiaan Evers 11,  Martin Henriksson 3,  Karl S A Vallin 3,  Olov A Wallner 3,  Lars G J Hammarström 4,  Elisee Wiita 3,  Ingrid Almlöf 3,  Christina Kalderén 3,  Hanna Axelsson 4,  Tatjana Djureinovic 12,  Jordi Carreras Puigvert 3,  Maria Häggblad 13,  Fredrik Jeppsson 3,  Ulf Martens 13,  Cecilia Lundin 3,  Bo Lundgren 13,  Ingrid Granelli 6,  Annika Jenmalm Jensen 4,  Per Artursson 8,  Jonas A Nilsson 5,  Pål Stenmark 2,  Martin Scobie 3,  Ulrika Warpman Berglund 3,  Thomas Helleday 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 1] Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden [2].
  • 2 Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
  • 3 Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden.
  • 4 1] Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden [2] Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden.
  • 5 Sahlgrenska Translational Melanoma Group, Sahlgrenska Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, S-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • 6 Department of Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
  • 7 1] Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden [2] Uppsala University Drug Optimization and Pharmaceutical Profiling Platform, Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, S-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden.
  • 8 1] Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden [2] Uppsala University Drug Optimization and Pharmaceutical Profiling Platform, Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, S-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden.
  • 9 Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Toxicology, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
  • 10 1] Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden [2] Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, S-58185 Linköping, Sweden.
  • 11 1] Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 21 Stockholm, Sweden [2] Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1006 Amsterdam, The Netherlands (B.E.); Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, S-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden (T.D.).
  • 12 1] Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Toxicology, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden [2] Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1006 Amsterdam, The Netherlands (B.E.); Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, S-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden (T.D.).
  • 13 Science for Life Laboratory, RNAi Cell Screening Facility, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
PMID: 24695224 DOI: 10.1038/nature13181
Abstract

Cancers have dysfunctional redox regulation resulting in Reactive Oxygen Species production, damaging both DNA and free dNTPs. The MTH1 protein sanitizes oxidized dNTP pools to prevent incorporation of damaged bases during DNA replication. Although MTH1 is non-essential in normal cells, we show that Cancer cells require MTH1 activity to avoid incorporation of oxidized dNTPs, resulting in DNA damage and cell death. We validate MTH1 as an Anticancer target in vivo and describe small molecules TH287 and TH588 as first-in-class nudix hydrolase family inhibitors that potently and selectively engage and inhibit the MTH1 protein in cells. Protein co-crystal structures demonstrate that the inhibitors bind in the active site of MTH1. The inhibitors cause incorporation of oxidized dNTPs in Cancer cells, leading to DNA damage, cytotoxicity and therapeutic responses in patient-derived mouse xenografts. This study exemplifies the non-oncogene addiction concept for Anticancer treatment and validates MTH1 as being Cancer phenotypic lethal.

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