title: Novel MET/TIE2/VEGFR2 inhibitor altiratinib inhibits tumor growth and invasiveness in bevacizumab-resistant glioblastoma mouse models.
abstract: Glioblastoma highly expresses the proto-oncogene MET in the setting of resistance to bevacizumab. MET engagement by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) results in receptor dimerization and autophosphorylation mediating tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Evasive revascularization and the recruitment of TIE2-expressing macrophages (TEMs) are also triggered by anti-VEGF therapy.
  
  
  
  We investigated the activity of altiratinib (a novel balanced inhibitor of MET/TIE2/VEGFR2) against human glioblastoma stem cell lines in vitro and in vivo using xenograft mouse models. The biological activity of altiratinib was assessed in vitro by testing the expression of HGF-stimulated MET phosphorylation as well as cell viability after altiratinib treatment. Tumor volume, stem cell and mesenchymal marker levels, microvessel density, and TIE2-expressing monocyte infiltration were evaluated in vivo following treatment with a control, bevacizumab alone, bevacizumab combined with altiratinib, or altiratinib alone.
  
  
  
  In vitro, HGF-stimulated MET phosphorylation was completely suppressed by altiratinib in GSC17 and GSC267, and altiratinib markedly inhibited cell viability in several glioblastoma stem cell lines. More importantly, in multiple xenograft mouse models, altiratinib combined with bevacizumab dramatically reduced tumor volume, invasiveness, mesenchymal marker expression, microvessel density, and TIE2-expressing monocyte infiltration compared with bevacizumab alone. Furthermore, in the GSC17 xenograft model, altiratinib combined with bevacizumab significantly prolonged survival compared with bevacizumab alone.
  
  
  
  Together, these data suggest that altiratinib may suppress tumor growth, invasiveness, angiogenesis, and myeloid cell infiltration in glioblastoma. Thus, altiratinib administered alone or in combination with bevacizumab may overcome resistance to bevacizumab and prolong survival in patients with glioblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (Y.P., S.Y.P., N.T., J.F.d.G.); Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (V.H.); Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Waltham, Massachusetts (B.D.S., D.L.F.).
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Piao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (Y.P., S.Y.P., N.T., J.F.d.G.); Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (V.H.); Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Waltham, Massachusetts (B.D.S., D.L.F.).
authors.forename: Soon Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (Y.P., S.Y.P., N.T., J.F.d.G.); Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (V.H.); Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Waltham, Massachusetts (B.D.S., D.L.F.).
authors.forename: Verlene
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (Y.P., S.Y.P., N.T., J.F.d.G.); Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (V.H.); Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Waltham, Massachusetts (B.D.S., D.L.F.).
authors.forename: Bryan D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (Y.P., S.Y.P., N.T., J.F.d.G.); Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (V.H.); Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Waltham, Massachusetts (B.D.S., D.L.F.).
authors.forename: Ningyi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (Y.P., S.Y.P., N.T., J.F.d.G.); Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (V.H.); Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Waltham, Massachusetts (B.D.S., D.L.F.).
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (Y.P., S.Y.P., N.T., J.F.d.G.); Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (V.H.); Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Waltham, Massachusetts (B.D.S., D.L.F.) jdegroot@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: de Groot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000494:pharmacology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D000068258:Bevacizumab; C000588866:KDR protein, human; C491743:MET protein, human; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
keywords: MET; TIE2–expressing monocytes; altiratinib; bevacizumab; glioma