The therapeutic potential of RNA Polymerase I transcription inhibitor, CX-5461, in uterine leiomyosarcoma

Chang Won Kang, Katherine M. Hannan, Anneke C. Blackburn, Amos H.P. Loh, Kuick Chik Hong, Goh Jian Yuan, Nadine Hein, Denis Drygin, Ross D. Hannan, Lucy A. Coupland*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    3 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background. Uterine leiomyosarcoma is a rare aggressive smooth muscle cancer with poor survival rates. RNA Polymerase I (Pol I) activity is elevated in many cancers supporting tumour growth and prior studies in uterine leiomyosarcoma revealed enlarged nucleoli and upregulated Pol I activity-related genes. This study aimed to investigate the anti-tumour potential of CX-5461, a Pol I transcription inhibitor currently being evaluated in clinical trials for several cancers, against the human uterine leiomyosarcoma cell line, SK-UT-1. Methods. SK-UT-1 was characterised using genome profiling and western blotting. The anti-tumour effects of CX-5461 were investigated using cell proliferation assays, expression analysis using qRT-PCR, and BrdU/PI based cell cycle analysis. Results. Genetic analysis of SK-UT-1 revealed mutations in TP53, RB1, PTEN, APC and TSC1 & 2, all potentially associated with increased Pol I activity. Protein expression analysis showed dysregulated p53, RB1 and c-Myc. CX-5461 treatment resulted in an anti-proliferation response, G2 phase cell-cycle arrest and on-target activity demonstrated by reduced ribosomal DNA transcription. Conclusions. SK-UT-1 was confirmed as a representative model of uterine leiomyosarcoma and CX-5461 has significant potential as a novel adjuvant for this rare cancer.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)529-536
    Number of pages8
    JournalInvestigational New Drugs
    Volume40
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jun 2022

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