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Rational design of anti-cancer therapeutics harnessing the synthetic lethality of methionine metabolism and arginine methyltransferases

Award Number: F30CA275213
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

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Rational design of anti-cancer therapeutics harnessing the synthetic lethality of methionine metabolism and arginine methyltransferases - Proposal Abstract Methionine adenosyltransferase 2 alpha (MAT2A) and protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) are cancer targets that are synthetically lethal with MTAP deletions and have several drug candidates in clinical trials targeting MTAP-/- cancers. MTAP is deleted in ~15% of human cancers and encodes the metabolic enzyme 5’-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase, the sole enzyme in humans responsible for recycling of methylthioadenosine (MTA) to methionine. MAT2A synthesizes S-adenosyl methionine (SAM), the methyl donor substrate for methyltransferase reactions. PRMT5 utilizes SAM as a substrate and is inhibited by MTA, and MTAP-/- cells in culture demonstrate elevated MTA levels. In vivo observations of glioblastoma tumors suggest however, that MTAP-/- does not always lead to increased tumoral MTA levels due to MTA efflux into matrix MTAP-competent cells. Additionally, MTAP deletions are a rare (~2%) occurrence in colorectal cancers (CRCs), precluding MAT2A and PRMT5 inhibitors’ use for most CRCs. The Schramm laboratory has previously solved the transition state (TS) structure of MTAP and synthesized a potent small molecule inhibitor methylthio-DADMe-immucillin-A (MTDIA) that recapitulates the in vitro effects of MTA accumulation within tissues. MTDIA has been shown to inhibit tumor growth in several cancer models, including CRC, and is linked to a decrease in PRMT5 activity through elevation of MTA levels. We propose that MTDIA be used in combination with MAT2A inhibitor AG-270, currently in Phase I clinical trials, to harness their synthetic lethality by targeting PRMT5. We will test the safety, target engagement, and anti-cancer efficacy of MTDIA in combination with AG-270 in ApcMin/+ and CRC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mice. To determine mechanisms of anti-cancer effects, we will probe the upstream and downstream effects related to PRMT5 activity. We will perform tumor metabolomic quantification of relevant metabolites and histone and protein- arginine methylation characterization using immunohistochemistry and proteomic techniques. We will also profile the gene expression changes using single-cell RNA sequencing to determine how combination therapy alters tumor architecture and growth. Finally, we will solve the transition state structure of PRMT5 with the goal of laying the foundations for development of novel transition state analogue inhibitors. This work will expand upon the use of MAT2A and PRMT5 inhibitors beyond the ~15% of MTAP-deleted cancers and provide avenues for MTDIA to be used in clinical trials.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $54,538 )
2025	2025	ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE	1300 MORRIS PARK AVE	BRONX	NY	10461	BRONX	USA	Cancer Research Manpower	000	4	6/17/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$54,538
														Subtotal = $54,538

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $53,974 )
2024	2024	ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE	1300 MORRIS PARK AVE	BRONX	NY	10461	BRONX	USA	Cancer Research Manpower	000	3	6/12/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$53,974
														Subtotal = $53,974

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $52,694 )
2023	2023	ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE	1300 MORRIS PARK AVE	BRONX	NY	10461	BRONX	USA	Cancer Research Manpower	000	2	6/30/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$52,694
														Subtotal = $52,694

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $51,752 )
2022	2022	ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE	1300 MORRIS PARK AVE	BRONX	NY	10461	BRONX	USA	Cancer Research Manpower	001	1	7/1/2022	NEW	$0
2022	2022	ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE	1300 MORRIS PARK AVE	BRONX	NY	10461	BRONX	USA	Cancer Research Manpower	000	1	7/1/2022	NEW	$51,752
														Subtotal = $51,752

Grand Total All Awards = $212,958

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Rational design of anti-cancer therapeutics harnessing the synthetic lethality of methionine metabolism and arginine methyltransferases

Award Number: F30CA275213

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

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