Preclinical therapeutic efficacy of a novel blood-brain barrier-penetrant dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor with preferential response in PI3K/PTEN mutant glioma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an ideal candidate disease for signal transduction targeted therapy because the majority of these tumors harbor genetic alterations that result in aberrant activation of growth factor signaling pathways. Loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 10, mutations in the tumor suppressor gene PTEN, and PI3K mutations are molecular hallmarks of GBM and indicate poor prognostic outcomes in many cancers. Consequently, inhibiting the PI3K pathway may provide therapeutic benefit in these cancers. PI3K inhibitors generally block proliferation rather than induce apoptosis. To restore the sensitivity of GBM to apoptosis induction, targeted agents have been combined with conventional therapy. However, the molecular heterogeneity and infiltrative nature of GBM make it resistant to traditional single agent therapy. Our objectives were to test a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor that may cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and provide the rationale for using this inhibitor in combination regimens to chemotherapy-induced synergism in GBM. Here we report the preclinical potential of a novel, orally bioavailable PI3K/mTOR dual inhibitor, DS7423 (hereafter DS), in in-vitro and in-vivo studies. DS was tested in mice, and DS plasma and brain concentrations were determined. DS crossed the BBB and led to potent suppression of PI3K pathway biomarkers in the brain. The physiologically relevant concentration of DS was tested in 9 glioma cell lines and 22 glioma-initiating cell (GIC) lines. DS inhibited the growth of glioma tumor cell lines and GICs at mean 50% inhibitory concentration values of less than 250 nmol/L. We found that PI3K mutations and PTEN alterations were associated with cellular response to DS treatment; with preferential inhibition of cell growth in PI3KCA-mutant and PTEN altered cell lines. DS showed efficacy and survival benefit in the U87 and GSC11 orthotopic models of GBM. Furthermore, administration of DS enhanced the antitumor efficacy of temozolomide against GBM in U87 glioma models, which shows that PI3K/mTOR inhibitors may enhance alkylating agent-mediated cytotoxicity, providing a novel regimen for the treatment of GBM. Our present findings establish that DS can specifically be used in patients who have PI3K pathway activation and/or loss of PTEN function. Further studies are warranted to determine the potential of DS for glioma treatment.