CX-5461 dihydrochloride is a potent and orally bioavailable inhibitor of Pol I-mediated rRNA synthesis, with IC50s of 142 nM in HCT-116, 113 nM in A375, and 54 nM in MIA PaCa-2 cells, and shows little or no effect on Pol II (IC50 ≥25 μM). IC50: 54 nM (rRNA synthesis, MIA PaCa-2 cells), 113 nM (rRNA synthesis, A375 cells), 142 nM (rRNA synthesis, HCT-116 cells)[1]
CX-5461 is a potent and orally bioavailable inhibitor of Pol I-mediated rRNA synthesis, with IC50s of 142 nM in HCT-116, 113 nM in A375, and 54 nM in MIA PaCa-2 cells, and shows little or no effect on Pol II (IC50, ≥25 μM). CX-5461 has modest inhibition on DNA replication and protein translation. CX-5461 also exhibits broad antiproliferative activity against a panel of human cancer cell lines, with a mean EC50 of 147 nM, but has minimal effect on viability of nontransformed human cells, with EC50 values of appr 5000 nM. EC50s of CX-5461 for HCT-116, A375, and MIA PaCa-2 cell lines are 167, 58, and 74 nM, respectively. CX-5461 induces autophagy and senescence in solid tumor cancer cells, rather than apoptosis, through a p53-independent process[1]. Eμ-Myc lymphoma cells from tumor-bearing mice are exquisitely sensitive to CX-5461 with an IC50 of 27.3 nM ± 8.1 nM for Pol I transcription after 1 hr and IC50 of 5.4 nM ± 2.1 nM for cell death after 16 hr. CX-5461 activates p53 via the nucleolar stress response in Eμ-MycLymphoma Cells[2].
CX-5461 displays antitumor activity against human solid tumors in murine xenograft models. CX-5461 (50 mg/kg, p.o.) shows significant MIA PaCa-2 growth inhibition with TGI equal to 69% on day 31 and 79% TGI on A375 on day 32[1]. CX-5461 (50 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibits the Eμ-Myc tumor cells with 84% repression in Pol I transcription at 1 hr posttreatment in C57BL/6 mice. CX-5461 also induces a rapid reduction in tumor burden in the lymph nodes and a concomitant reduction of spleen size to within the normal range[2].
[1]. Drygin D et al. Targeting RNA polymerase I with an oral small molecule CX-5461 inhibits ribosomal RNA synthesis and solid tumor growth. Cancer Res. 2011 Feb 15;71(4):1418-30. [2]. Bywater MJ, et al. Inhibition of RNA Polymerase I as a Therapeutic Strategy to Promote Cancer-Specific Activation of p53.