1. Academic Validation
  2. Targeting RAF Isoforms and Tumor Microenvironments in RAS or BRAF Mutant Colorectal Cancers with SJ-C1044 for Anti-Tumor Activity

Targeting RAF Isoforms and Tumor Microenvironments in RAS or BRAF Mutant Colorectal Cancers with SJ-C1044 for Anti-Tumor Activity

  • Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2023 Jul 13;45(7):5865-5878. doi: 10.3390/cimb45070371.
Sungpyo Hong 1 Myeongjin Jeon 2 Jeonghee Kwon 1 Hanbyeol Park 1 Goeun Lee 2 Kilwon Kim 1 Soonkil Ahn 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Institute for New Drug Development, Division of Life Sciences, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea.
  • 2 Research Center, Samjin Pharm. Co., Ltd., Seoul 07794, Republic of Korea.
Abstract

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is a significant global health issue characterized by a high prevalence of KRAS gene mutations. The Ras/MAPK pathway, involving KRAS, plays a crucial role in CRC progression. Although some Ras inhibitors have been approved, their efficacy in CRC is limited. To overcome these limitations, pan-RAF inhibitors targeting A-Raf, B-Raf, and c-Raf have emerged as promising therapeutic strategies. However, resistance to Raf inhibition and the presence of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) pose additional obstacles to effective therapy. Here, we evaluated the potential of a novel pan-RAF inhibitor, SJ-C1044, for targeting mutant KRAS-mediated signaling and inhibiting CRC cell proliferation. Notably, SJ-C1044 also exhibited inhibitory effects on immunokinases, specifically, CSF1R, VEGFR2/KDR/Flk-1, and Tie2, which play crucial roles in immune suppression. SJ-C1044 demonstrated potent antitumor activity in xenograft models of CRC harboring KRAS or BRaf mutations. Importantly, treatment with SJ-C1044 resulted in increased infiltration of T cells and reduced presence of tumor-associated macrophages and regulatory T cells within the TME. Thus, SJ-C1044 shows immunomodulatory potential and the ability to enhance antitumor responses. The study underscores the therapeutic potential of SJ-C1044 as a novel pan-RAF inhibitor capable of targeting oncogenic signaling pathways and overcoming immune suppression in CRC.

Keywords

CSF1R; KRAS; colorectal cancer; pan-RAF; tumor-associated macrophages.

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