Preclinical validation and phase I trial of 4-hydroxysalicylanilide, targeting ribonucleotide reductase mediated dNTP synthesis in multiple myeloma

BACKGROUND: Aberrant DNA repair pathways contribute to malignant transformation or disease progression and the acquisition of drug resistance in multiple myeloma (MM); therefore, these pathways could be therapeutically exploited. Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) is the rate-limiting enzyme for the biosynthesis of deoxyribonucleotides (dNTPs), which are essential for DNA replication and DNA damage repair. In this study, we explored the efficacy of the novel RNR inhibitor, 4-hydroxysalicylanilide (HDS), in myeloma cells and xenograft model. In addition, we assessed the clinical activity and safety of HDS in patients with MM. METHODS: We applied bioinformatic, genetic, and pharmacological approaches to demonstrate that HDS was an RNR inhibitor that directly bound to RNR subunit M2 (RRM2). The activity of HDS alone or in synergy with standard treatments was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. We also initiated a phase I clinical trial of single-agent HDS in MM patients (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03670173) to assess safety and efficacy. RESULTS: HDS inhibited the activity of RNR by directly targeting RRM2. HDS decreased the RNR-mediated dNTP synthesis and concomitantly inhibited DNA damage repair, resulting in the accumulation of endogenous unrepaired DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), thus inhibiting MM cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Moreover, HDS overcame the protective effects of IL-6, IGF-1 and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) on MM cells. HDS prolonged survival in a MM xenograft model and induced synergistic anti-myeloma activity in combination with melphalan and bortezomib. HDS also showed a favorable safety profile and demonstrated clinical activity against MM. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a rationale for the clinical evaluation of HDS as an anti-myeloma agent, either alone or in combination with standard treatments for MM. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03670173, Registered 12 September 2018. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12929-022-00813-2.