Most
colorectal cancers (CRC) are initiated by mutations of APC, leading to increased β-
catenin-mediated signaling. However, continued requirement of Wnt/β-
catenin signaling for
tumor progression in the context of acquired KRAS and other mutations is less well-established. To attenuate Wnt/β-
catenin signaling in
tumors, we have developed potent and specific small-molecule
tankyrase inhibitors,
G007-LK and
G244-LM, that reduce Wnt/β-
catenin signaling by preventing poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation-dependent AXIN degradation, thereby promoting β-
catenin destabilization. We show that novel
tankyrase inhibitors completely block
ligand-driven Wnt/β-
catenin signaling in cell culture and display approximately 50% inhibition of APC mutation-driven signaling in most CRC cell lines. It was previously unknown whether the level of
AXIN protein stabilization by
tankyrase inhibition is sufficient to impact
tumor growth in the absence of normal APC activity. Compound
G007-LK displays favorable pharmacokinetic properties and inhibits in vivo
tumor growth in a subset of APC-mutant CRC xenograft models. In the xenograft model most sensitive to
tankyrase inhibitor, COLO-320DM,
G007-LK inhibits cell-cycle progression, reduces colony formation, and induces differentiation, suggesting that β-
catenin-dependent maintenance of an undifferentiated state may be blocked by
tankyrase inhibition. The full potential of the antitumor activity of
G007-LK may be limited by intestinal toxicity associated with inhibition of Wnt/β-
catenin signaling and cell proliferation in intestinal crypts. These results establish proof-of-concept antitumor efficacy for
tankyrase inhibitors in APC-mutant CRC models and uncover potential diagnostic and safety concerns to be overcome as
tankyrase inhibitors are advanced into the clinic.