BCL-X(L) PROTAC degrader DT2216 synergizes with sotorasib in preclinical models of KRAS(G12C)-mutated cancers

KRAS mutations are the most common oncogenic drivers. Sotorasib (AMG510), a covalent inhibitor of KRAS(G12C), was recently approved for the treatment of KRAS(G12C)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the efficacy of sotorasib and other KRAS(G12C) inhibitors is limited by intrinsic resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC) and by the rapid emergence of acquired resistance in all treated tumors. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel combination therapies to overcome sotorasib resistance and to maximize its efficacy. We assessed the effect of sotorasib alone or in combination with DT2216 (a clinical-stage BCL-X(L) proteolysis targeting chimera [PROTAC]) on KRAS(G12C)-mutated NSCLC, CRC and pancreatic cancer (PC) cell lines using MTS cell viability, colony formation and Annexin-V/PI apoptosis assays. Furthermore, the therapeutic efficacy of sotorasib alone and in combination with DT2216 was evaluated in vivo using different tumor xenograft models. We observed heterogeneous responses to sotorasib alone, whereas its combination with DT2216 strongly inhibited viability of KRAS(G12C) tumor cell lines that partially responded to sotorasib treatment. Mechanistically, sotorasib treatment led to stabilization of BIM and co-treatment with DT2216 inhibited sotorasib-induced BCL-X(L)/BIM interaction leading to enhanced apoptosis in KRAS(G12C) tumor cell lines. Furthermore, DT2216 co-treatment significantly improved the antitumor efficacy of sotorasib in vivo. Collectively, our findings suggest that due to cytostatic activity, the efficacy of sotorasib is limited, and therefore, its combination with a pro-apoptotic agent, i.e., DT2216, shows synergistic responses and can potentially overcome resistance. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13045-022-01241-3.