GNS561, a new lysosomotropic small molecule, for the treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

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Brun S, Bassissi F, Serdjebi C, Novello M, Tracz J, Autelitano F, Guillemot M, Fabre P, Courcambeck J, Ansaldi C, Raymond E, Halfon P

GNS561, a new lysosomotropic small molecule, for the treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Invest New Drugs. 2019 Dec;37(6):1135-1145. doi: 10.1007/s10637-019-00741-3. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

PubMed ID
30778887 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Among the acquired modifications in cancer cells, changes in lysosomal phenotype and functions are well described, making lysosomes a potential target for novel therapies. Some weak base lipophilic drugs have a particular affinity towards lysosomes, taking benefits from lysosomal trapping to exert anticancer activity. Here, we have developed a new lysosomotropic small molecule, GNS561, and assessed its activity in multiple in vitro intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma models (HuCCT1 and RBE cell lines and patient-derived cells) and in a chicken chorioallantoic membrane xenograft model. GNS561 significantly reduced cell viability in two intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cell lines (IC50 of 1.5 +/- 0.2 muM in HuCCT1 and IC50 of 1.7 +/- 0.1 muM in RBE cells) and induced apoptosis as measured by caspases activation. We confirmed that GNS561-mediated cell death was related to its lysosomotropic properties. GNS561 induced lysosomal dysregulation as proven by inhibition of late-stage autophagy and induction of a dose-dependent build-up of enlarged lysosomes. In patient-derived cells, GNS561 was more potent than cisplatin and gemcitabine in 2/5 and 1/5 of the patient-derived cells models, respectively. Moreover, in these models, GNS561 was potent in models with low sensitivity to gemcitabine. GNS561 was also efficient in vivo against a human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cell line in a chicken chorioallantoic membrane xenograft model, with a good tolerance at doses high enough to induce an antitumor effect in this model. In summary, GNS561 is a new lysosomotropic agent, with an anticancer activity against intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Further investigations are currently ongoing to fully elucidate its mechanism of action.

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