Design and Synthesis of BPRCX807.

The synthetic sequence of BPRCX807 is illustrated in Scheme 1. Starting with 2,4-dichloro-6-methylpyrimidine, its more active C4-chlorine atom was first substituted with 4-amino-1-trifluoroacetyl piperidine at room temperature (rt) to produce intermediate 1 (46%), the active C2-chlorine of which was subsequently substituted with Linker 1 (30) (SI Appendix, Figs. S6–S10, S26, and S27) at elevated temperature (140 °C) to afford intermediate 2 in 63% yield. Intermediate 2 thus obtained was selectively hydrolyzed under basic conditions to produce 3 in high yield (92%), which in turn was coupled with 3-(Boc-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)amino) propionic acid under activation with EDCI/HOBt to furnish 4 in 71% yield. Compound 4 was subjected to basic hydrolysis to form the corresponding acid 5 in quantitative yield (99%), whose all N-Boc protecting groups were finally removed under acidic conditions (2 N HCl in Et₂O) to achieve the desired BPRCX807 in 95% yield as a hydrochloride salt (SI Appendix, Figs. S4–S6 and S28–S39).

Scheme 1.

The synthesis of BPRCX807. (A) 4-amino-1-trifluoroacetyl piperidine, TEA, THF, 5 °C to rt, 16 h, 46%; (B) Linker 1, 2-pentanol, 140 °C, 15 h, 63%; (C) KOH, MeOH/THF/H₂O, 25 °C, 16 h, 92%; (D) 3-(Boc (2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl) amino)propionic acid, EDCI, HOBt, CH₂Cl₂, rt, 16 h, 71%; (E) LiOH, THF/H₂O, rt, 16 h, 99%; (F) 2N HCl in diethylether, CH₂Cl₂, rt, 16 h, 95%.

Preclinical Data of BPRCX807 In Vitro and In Vivo.

With BPRCX807 in hand, extensive studies on its pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, and non-GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) toxicological profiles were then undertaken, results of which are compiled in Table 1, and each item is discussed below. Also listed is AMD3100 as a benchmark because it is not only the solely marketed CXCR4 antagonist to date but historically has been successfully used to validate various CXCR4-mediated indications, including cancers and ischemic and inflammatory diseases, among others (10, 21, 31, 32). Biologically, the project was initially tested for binding affinity (IC₅₀) and functional activity (50% effective concentration, EC₅₀) toward CXCR4 receptors. BPRCX807 (IC₅₀ = 40.4 ± 8.0 nM; EC₅₀ = 48.1 ± 14.4 nM; SI Appendix, Fig. S1) exhibited roughly fivefold stronger binding affinity than AMD3100 (IC₅₀ = 213.1 ± 26.3 nM; EC₅₀ = 66.9 ± 5.5 nM) but a comparable cell-mobility activity in the chemotaxis assay, implying that their binding modes could be quite different in nature but functionally they might induce similar cell migratory efficacy. As demonstrated by releasing hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow in mice, the number of CXCR4⁺CD34⁺ stem cells mobilized with BPRCX807 was indeed roughly 1.5-fold higher than AMD3100 (SI Appendix, Fig. S2) as reflected in their EC₅₀ values (EC₅₀ = 48 vs. 67 nM). Acute toxicity of BPRCX807 was further tested following subcutaneous (SC) administration, and results indicated that its maximum tolerated dose (MTD = 75 mg/kg) was fivefold as high as AMD3100 (MTD = 15 mg/kg, SC), suggesting that BPRCX807 is much safer than AMD3100 and can be used to validate many CXCR4-mediated diseases necessary for chronic treatment with emphasis on low systemic toxicity. Pharmacokinetic studies were also performed in C57BL/6 mice following SC administration, and results indicated that both maximum concentration (C_max = 18,833 ng/mL) and blood exposure (area under the curve [AUC] = 16,499 ng/mL·h) of BPRCX807 are more than twofold higher than those of AMD3100 (C_max = 6,200 ng/mL; AUC = 7,152 ng/mL·h; SI Appendix, Fig. S3), implying that it may show better in vivo efficacy in disease animal models under the same setting. Moreover, we also performed a non-GLP repeated dose toxicology of BPRCX807 in SD rats (50 mg⋅kg⁻¹⋅d⁻¹, 14 d), results of which revealed that all animals survived up to study termination and all major organs, including heart, lung, kidney, liver, and so on, were normal in size, weight, and color as compared to those in vehicle (SI Appendix, Table S1). Meanwhile, blood sample analyses also showed that there was no significant difference in hematological and biochemical data (SI Appendix, Tables S2 and S3) between vehicle and tested subjects (rats). Metabolic profiles were also examined, revealing that BPRCX807 was metabolically stable in human, mouse, rat, and dog (SI Appendix, Fig. S4) with no inhibitory effects on six human liver cytochrome P450 isozymes (CYP 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4) up to 100 µM (SI Appendix, Fig. S5). As such, it is anticipated that BPRCX807 is very likely not to cause any drug–drug interactions when coadministered with other drugs in the future. As well, a total of 67 off-target assays for BPRCX807, including a variety of receptors and ion channels, were also conducted (SI Appendix, Table S4). Results revealed that apart from exhibiting inhibition against bradykinin B1 and dopamine D3 receptor by 62% and 58%, respectively, at 10 µM, it showed very low inhibitory activities against 65 other nonprimary targets (<50% inhibition at 10 µM), suggesting that BPRCX807 is a clean and specific CXCR4 antagonist.

Table 1.

Preclinical profiles of BPRCX807 vs. AMD3100

Study objects	BPRCX807	AMD3100
IC50, nM*	40.4 ± 8.0	213.1 ± 26.3
EC50, nM*	48.1 ± 14.4	66.9 ± 5.5
Maximum tolerated dose, mg/kg (SC, mice, n = 3)†	75	15
Cmax, ng/mL (6 mg/kg, SC, mice, n = 3)*,†	18,833 ± 2499	6,200 ± 394
AUC0–4 h, ng/mL·h (6 mg/kg, SC, mice, n = 3)*,†	16,499 ± 878	7,152 ± 135
Half-life, h (6 mg/kg, SC, mice, n = 3)†	1	1
CYP450 inhibition (100 μM)‡	No inhibition	No inhibition
Metabolic stability in liver microsomes (mouse, rat, dog, and human)	Stable	Stable
67 off-target standard assay (inhibition >50% at 10 μM)	B1R: 62% D3R: 58%	ND§
hERG patch clamp assay	>100 μM	>100 μM
Non-GLP 14-d repeated dose (50 mg/kg, SC, rat, n = 5)	Clean	ND§

* Binding affinity or chemotaxis assay; the data are the mean values ± SD.

^† Pharmacokinetic studies following SC administration in C57BL/6 mice (n = 3).

^‡ Cytochrome P450 tests including 1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4 isozymes.

^§ Not determined.

More importantly, in the patch-clamp assay, its IC₅₀ value was found to be more than 100 μM toward human K⁺ channel, suggesting that hERG liability, usually responsible for QT prolongation and sudden death, might not occur under treatment with BPRCX807 (SI Appendix, Table S5). The specificity toward a family of chemokine receptors, including 10 CCRs, 7 CXCRs, and 1 CX3CR subtypes, through the β-arrestin assay was also conducted at 10 µM, results of which showed that BPRCX807 displayed high selectivity for CXCR4 (100% inhibition) over other chemokine receptors (<10% inhibition), indicating that it is a functionally highly specific CXCR4-targeting antagonist (SI Appendix, Table S6). In summary, the above preclinical data strongly support that BPRCX807 is a potent, safe, and target-specific drug candidate appropriate for further clinical development in many CXCR4-mediated diseases (21).

BPRCX807 Inhibits Migration In Vitro and Suppresses Metastasis In Vivo.

Metastasis is characterized by the capability of cancer cells to invade and migrate to surrounding tissues and to establish tumors in target organs by regulating multiple signaling pathways, including the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis (12). To investigate the antimetastatic effect of BPRCX807, CXCL12/CXCR4 axis-mediated migration of HCC cells in vitro through wound healing and migration assays was conducted. Consequently, as HCA-1 cells were exposed to CXCL12 they exhibited faster wound closure rate than control; however, this effect was significantly suppressed upon BPRCX807 treatment (Fig. 2A and SI Appendix, Fig. S6). Similarly, when HCA-1 cells were stimulated with CXCL12, an increase in cell migration was observed, but a significant decrease was detected upon exposure to BPRCX807 at a concentration up to 1 µM (Fig. 2B). These results indicate that BPRCX807 can effectively inhibit CXCL12/CXCR4 axis-mediated migration of HCC cells. Migration and invasion of cancer cells are also mediated by activation of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). The CXCL12/CXCR4 axis is known to regulate the hypoxia-induced EMT in cancer cells and to facilitate metastasis. We thus examined whether blocking the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis with BPRCX807 could reverse the hypoxia-induced EMT in vitro. We found that BPRCX807 restrained the increases in the expression of mesenchymal markers (including Slug, Fibronectin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, FOXC2, Zeb1, and Zeb2) in HCA-1 cells cultured under hypoxic conditions in a dose-dependent manner (Fig. 2C and SI Appendix, Fig. S7). We also found that BPRCX807 alleviated a hypoxia-induced decrease in the epithelial markers (E-cadherin, MTA-3, CLDN3, and CLDN5) in HCA-1 cells (Fig. 2C). Collectively, these data imply that BPRCX807 significantly inhibits HCC cell migration by suppressing the hypoxia-induced EMT.

Fig. 2.

BPRCX807 suppresses metastatic progression of HCC. (A) Migration assay of HCA-1 cells incubated for 24, 48, and 72 h after treatment with CXCL12 (100 ng/mL) and BPRCX807 (10 μM) (n = 3). (B) CXCL12-induced HCA-1 chemotaxis was analyzed to measure the inhibitory activity (n = 3). (C) BPRCX807 inhibits the EMT phenotype of HCA-1 cells under hypoxic conditions (1% oxygen). The messenger RNA levels of EMT regulators (Slug, FOXC2, Zeb-1, Zeb-2, and Twist-1), epithelial markers (E-cadherin, MTA-3, CLDN3, and CLDN5), and mesenchymal markers (vimentin, fibronectin, and N-cadherin) were determined by qRT-PCR 24 h (EMT regulators and mesenchymal markers) or 48 h (epithelial markers) after treatment with BPRCX807 at different doses (n = 4 to 12). (D) Representative hematoxylin/eosin staining images showing metastatic tumor nodules in the lung. (Scale bars, 200 μm.) (E) The number of spontaneously occurring lung metastatic nodules in orthotopic HCA-1 HCC models was reduced in mice treated with AMD3100 or BPRCX807 (n = 19 to 34). The data are the mean value ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001.

We next investigated whether suppression of the migration ability and EMT of HCC cells with BPRCX807 can be translated to the distant metastasis in vivo. The experimental protocol is detailed in Fig. 3A. In brief, the orthotopic HCA-1 mouse model was established and lung metastasis would develop spontaneously within 24 d after tumor cells were implanted in liver. Histopathological analysis of tumor tissue (Fig. 2 D and E) indicated that lung metastasis is barely reduced in the sorafenib-treated group as evidenced by the number of nodules counted in lungs; however, whether given alone or combined with sorafenib, BPRCX807 can significantly suppress lung metastasis relative to control or sorafenib-treated alone (Fig. 2E). Also emphasized is the fact that BPRCX807 alone displays much better ability than AMD3100 in lung metastasis prevention, implying that clinically it may have greater potential to become an essential element for combination cancer therapy to prevent migration and distant metastasis, a long-term issue needed to be immediately addressed in cancer treatments.

Fig. 3.

BPRCX807 sensitizes HCC to sorafenib treatment in orthotopic HCC models. (A) Experimental design. Ten days after implantation of HCA-1 cells, mice were treated with BPRCX807 using minipumps (15 mg⋅kg⁻¹⋅d⁻¹, SC) and with sorafenib (40 mg⋅kg⁻¹⋅d⁻¹, oral) five times per week, and tumor size was measured on day 24. (B) Tumor volumes of orthotopic HCA-1 (n = 10 mice for control and BPRCX807; n = 6 mice for AMD3100, BPRCX714 and SOR + BPRCX714; n = 13 mice for SOR, SOR + AMD3100 and SOR + BPRCX807) or (C) JHH-7 (n = 34 mice for control; n = 10 mice for AMD3100, SOR + BPRCX807 and SOR + BPRCX714; n = 5 mice for BPRCX714; n = 7 mice for BPRCX807; n = 24 mice for SOR; n = 21 mice for SOR + AMD3100) in response to treatment with individual CXCR4 antagonists or in combination with sorafenib. The data are the mean value ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001; n.s., not significant. (D) The overall survival (n = 8) in the orthotopic HCA-1 model. **P = 0.0053, SOR plus BPRCX807 vs. SOR alone; ^#P = 0.0123, SOR plus BPRCX807 vs. BPRCX807 alone.

BPRCX807 Displays Synergistic Efficacy in Combination with Antiangiogenic Therapy.

The inhibitory effects of BPRCX807 on HCC growth in orthotopic murine HCA-1 (immunocompetent C3H mice) and human JHH-7 (immunocompromised nude mice) HCC models were further evaluated (Fig. 3A). BPRCX807 and its counterparts BPRCX714 and AMD3100 were SC administered following osmotic minipumps by which the therapeutic cargo (15 mg⋅kg⁻¹⋅d⁻¹) was released constantly for 14 d since day 10; meanwhile, sorafenib (40 mg⋅kg⁻¹⋅d⁻¹) following the clinical setting was given orally when combination treatment was applicable. As a result, when AMD3100 or BPRCX714 was treated alone, they had no significant effect on tumor growth, whereas in sharp contrast BPRCX807 treatment alone could significantly inhibit HCC growth in both human (JHH-7) and murine (HCA-1) orthotopic HCC models (Fig. 3 B and C) by reducing 67% and 62% tumor volume relative to control, respectively. More encouragingly, under combination treatment with sorafenib, the maximum suppression of HCC growth could be induced and tumor volume was shrunk by roughly 85% in the orthotopic HCA-1 model and 77% in the orthotopic JHH-7 model, indicating that BPRCX807 could sensitize HCC cells to sorafenib and augment synergistic effects significantly. In addition, we observed that BPRCX807 afforded at least two times more in vivo efficacy in HCA-1 than in JHH-7 mouse model; a possible explanation could be that it might serve as an immunomodulator to enhance anticancer ability of immune cells (e.g., CD8⁺ T cells) in immunocompetent mice more effectively, as seen in previous reports (9, 17). These results also motivate us to further investigate a possible mode of action on immunity associated with BPRCX807 (discussed below). Apparently, we can conclude that BPRCX807 is superior to its CXCR4 counterparts AMD3100 and BPRCX714 whether administered alone or in combination with sorafenib for antiangiogenic therapy. In addition, a long-term study on the overall survival rate was also conducted in the orthotopic HCA-1 model, results of which revealed that in combination with antiangiogenic therapy the overall survival was significantly extended compared to either BPRCX807 (P = 0.0123) or sorafenib (P = 0.0053) alone (Fig. 3D).

Given that most HCCs are developed in the context of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, to mimic clinical settings we further evaluate the effect of combination treatment in the nitrosodiethylamine (DEN)/carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver fibrosis associated HCC model (SI Appendix, Fig. S8). Although the number of tumor nodules in mice with combination treatment was only moderately decreased compared with the control group, combination therapy can significantly reduce tumor size more efficiently than sorafenib alone, again indicating that combination treatment could confer the best therapeutic benefits on HCC models.

BPRCX807 Reprograms the Tumor Microenvironment toward Antitumor Activity.

Several studies demonstrated that sorafenib could induce hypoxia via antiangiogenesis. The hypoxic TME plays a crucial role in promoting angiogenesis and metastasis as well as in suppressing antitumor immunity (9, 3233–34). CXCL12/CXCR4 up-regulation in response to hypoxic stimulation contributes to these malignant features of the hypoxic TME (10, 15). To confirm the suppressive effect of BPRCX807 in combination with sorafenib on tumor angiogenesis, we assessed MVD by CD31⁺ staining in the orthotopic HCA-1 model. Ten days after orthotopic implantation of HCA-1 cells, mice were treated with BPRCX807, sorafenib, or BPRCX807 in combination with sorafenib, respectively, wherein BPRCX807 was given using minipumps (15 mg⋅kg⁻¹⋅d⁻¹, SC) for 14 consecutive days and sorafenib (40 mg⋅kg⁻¹⋅d⁻¹, oral) five times per week for 2 wk. Quantification of MVD in HCC tumors was measured on day 24. As immunofluorescence images in tumors shown in Fig. 4A were translated into Fig. 4B, it clearly demonstrated that treatment with sorafenib or BPRCX807 alone could significantly decrease intratumoral MVD, with the former (a typical antiangiogenic agent) being stronger than the latter, and these antiangiogenic effects could be synergistically enhanced in combination treatment. Moreover, CXCL12/CXCR4 axis up-regulation in the hypoxic TME increases recruitment of protumor bone marrow-derived cells such as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and tumor-associated neutrophils, resulting in immunosuppression and resistance to anticancer treatment in the context of HCC (10). Thus, we also evaluated the effects of BPRCX807 on F4/80⁺ TAMs recruitment in orthotopic HCA-1 tumors by flow cytometry. As a result, sorafenib-treated alone substantially increased F4/80⁺ TAMs infiltration into tumor tissues but BPRCX807-treated alone, on the contrary, significantly decreased TAMs infiltration; moreover, sorafenib-induced TAMs infiltration was found to be remarkably suppressed by addition of BPRCX807 in combination treatment (Fig. 4C). Upon further close examination on the above F4/80⁺ TAMs we found that BPRCX807, whether it was treated alone or combined with sorafenib, could improve the immunostimulatory M1/immunosuppressive M2 ratio by increasing the proportion of M1-like CD86⁺ TAMs (Fig. 4D) and decreasing that of M2-like CD206⁺ TAMs in tumors (Fig. 4E), thus potentiating the antitumor immune response. Also noticed is the fact that combination treatment is allowed to increase cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cell infiltration into tumors more significantly than sorafenib alone (Fig. 4F). None of the treatments affected the number of tumor-infiltrating CD4⁺ T cells (Fig. 4G). Collectively, these analyses clearly demonstrate that BPRCX807 can inhibit angiogenesis, promote cytotoxic T cell infiltration, reduce TAMs infiltration, and reprogram TAMs polarization in the orthotopic HCA-1 model, leading to a shift in the TME from immunosuppression toward antitumor immunity.

Fig. 4.

BPRCX807 inhibits angiogenesis and remodels the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in the orthotopic HCA-1 model. (A) Representative immunofluorescence images of tumor vessels indicated by CD31⁺ staining; CD31⁺ endothelial cells were stained green and nuclei were stained blue using DAPI. (Scale bar, 50 μm.) (B) MVD determined by CD31⁺ staining and presented as the percentage of the total tumor area (n = 7 to 12). (C) CD45⁺F4/80⁺ TAMs. (D) M1-like TAMs stained by CD86. (E) M2-like TAMs stained by CD206. (F) cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells and (G) helper CD4⁺ T cells were measured by flow cytometry (n = 9 to 17). The data are the mean value ± SEM *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001.

BPRCX807 Displays Synergistic Effects in Combination with Immunotherapy.

Encouraged by the above positive impacts on antitumor immunity, we further evaluated whether BPRCX807 in combination with a second-line therapeutics such as anti–PD-1, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, could increase the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. The experimental protocol is outlined in Fig. 5A. Accordingly, BPRCX807 (15 mg⋅kg⁻¹⋅d⁻¹, SC) is continuously given by a minipump from days 10 to 24 after tumor implantation in the orthotopic HCA-1 model; anti–PD-1 (200 μg/mouse, intraperitoneally [IP]) is injected once on days 10, 14, 17, and 20. The study was completed and subjected to analysis on day 24. Compared to no treatment, treatment with anti–PD-1 antibody (Ab) or BPRCX807 alone moderately increased CD8⁺ T cell infiltration into orthotopic HCA-1 tumors (Fig. 5B). Combined anti–PD-1 Ab and BPRCX807 treatment, however, significantly increased CD4⁺ T and CD8⁺ T cell intratumoral infiltration (Fig. 5B). Consequently, in terms of efficacy as measured by tumor size reduction, treatment with BPRCX807 alone appeared comparable to anti–PD-1, resulting in moderately inhibiting tumor growth (Fig. 5C); however, in sharp contrast, their combination treatment could dramatically reduce the tumor size by more than 95% vs. control (Fig. 5C) in the orthotopic HCA-1 model. The above remarkable outcomes might be ascribed to BPRCX807’s extraordinary ability to stimulate immunity by a significant increase of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells to accumulate in HCC (Fig. 5B). As well, lung metastasis was found to be significantly prevented in combination treatment (Fig. 5D) in the orthotopic HCA-1 model. Collectively, BPRCX807 can augment antitumor immunity and sensitize HCC to anti–PD-1 treatment. More importantly, the overall survival (Fig. 5E) was significantly prolonged in combination treatment as compared with either anti–PD-1 or BPRCX807 alone in the orthotopic HCA-1 model, again verifying that BPRCX807 cannot only synergize with antiangiogenic therapy (Fig. 4) but also with immunotherapy to maximize therapeutic effects (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5.

Synergistic effects of BPRCX807 with immune therapy in the orthotopic HCA-1 model. (A) Treatment protocol. Ten days after implantation of HCC cells, mice were treated with BPRCX807 (15 mg⋅kg⁻¹⋅d⁻¹, SC) by minipump from day 10 to day 24. Anti–PD-1 Ab (200 μg/mouse) was injected IP on days 10, 14, 17, and 20 after tumor implantation. (B) T cells (n = 6 to 13) shown in CD8⁺ T cells and CD4⁺ T cells. (C) Tumor sizes (n = 10 mice for control and BPRCX807; n = 8 mice for anti–PD-1 and anti–PD-1 + BPRCX807). (D) Counts of lung nodules (n = 11 to 34). (E) Overall survival (n = 8). *P = 0.050, anti–PD-1 plus BPRCX807 vs. anti–PD-1 alone; ^##P = 0.002, anti–PD-1 plus BPRCX807 vs. BPRCX807 alone. The data are the mean value ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001.

We further evaluate the effect of combination treatment in the DEN/CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis associated HCC model. The experimental protocol is outlined in Fig. 6A. BPRCX807 was then continuously given following SC by minipumps (15 mg⋅kg⁻¹⋅d⁻¹) from weeks 25 to 28 along with a total of nine injections of anti–PD-1 (200 μg/mouse, IP) at an interval of 3 d. As a result, combination therapy can significantly facilitate CD8⁺ T cell tumor infiltration (Fig. 6B) and reduce both liver nodules (Fig. 6C) and tumor size (Fig. 6D) more efficiently than anti–PD-1 alone in the DEN/CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis associated HCC model. More encouragingly, as pinpointed by white arrows in control, tumors in fibrotic liver were remarkably suppressed in combination treatment groups (Fig. 6E). In addition, BPRCX807 is superior to its CXCR4 counterpart AMD11070, which is currently being studied in Phase 2/3 clinical trials in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, whether administered alone or in combination with anti–PD-1 (SI Appendix, Fig. S9) (35, 36). These outcomes again substantiate that BPRCX807 is a perfect complement to immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer immunotherapy. Very recently, atezolizumab (Tecentriq, PD-L1 Ab) in combination with bevacizumab (Avastin, VEGF Ab) was approved by the US FDA for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic HCC on the basis of superior overall survival over sorafenib (37). These encouraging clinical outcomes seem to echo that BPRCX807, also able to synergize with either sorafenib or anti–PD-1 effectively, might have great potential for HCC treatment in a similar fashion.

Fig. 6.

Anticancer effects of BPRCX807 with immune therapy in DEN/CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis associated HCC model. (A) Experimental protocol. (B) Analysis of CD8⁺ T cells (n = 3 mice). (C) Liver tumor nodule counts (>1 mm) per mouse (n = 5 mice). (D) Measurement of tumor size (n = 5 mice). (E) Representative livers in a DEN/CCl₄-induced spontaneous HCC model; white arrows pinpoint tumor sites in fibrotic liver. The data are the mean value ± SEM. *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01. ns, not significant.

We further assessed BPRCX807 and its CXCR4 counterparts BPRCX714, AMD3100, and AMD11070 in affecting downstream signaling, including ERK and Akt pathways. Accordingly, we incubated HCC cells (murine HCA-1 and human JHH-7 cells) expressing high levels of CXCR4 (8) with increasing doses of BPRCX807 upon CXCL12 stimulation and then monitored the phosphorylation levels of Akt and ERK by Western blotting. Consequently, as indicated in Fig. 7 A and B, BPRCX807 could suppress CXCR4/CXCL12-triggered ERK and Akt activation more significantly than its counterparts at a concentration of 20 µM in HCA-1 and 10 µM in JHH-7 cells (SI Appendix, Fig. S10). These results might somewhat explain why under treatment alone BPRCX807 showed better efficacy than a typical antiangiogenic agent sorafenib in reducing tumor size in both HCA-1 and JHH-7 models (Fig. 3 B and C).

Fig. 7.

BPRCX807 inhibited CXCL12-mediated cell signaling pathways. Western blot analysis of phospho-ERK and phospho-AKT in (A) HCA-1 and (B) JHH-7 cells.

Molecular Modeling Studies.

Considering that BPRCX807 possesses such a distinct difference in downstream behaviors from its counterparts BPRCX714 and AMD3100, computer modeling studies were then performed to look into ligand–receptor interactions at a molecular level. Instead of a traditional receptor built over the rhodopsin model by Palcewski et al. (3839–40), the human CXCR4 crystal structure (RCSB Protein Data Bank ID code 4RWS) published by Wu et al. was adopted for this study (24). Most historical CXCR4 blockers are designed to contain multiple N-atoms owing to mimicking the highly positively charged nature ligand CXCL12 (23, 4142434445464748–49). Based on computer modeling studies, the most stable ligand–receptor complexes I, II, and III for three test compounds are individually generated through a docking-simulation algorithm as detailed in SI Appendix, Figs. S12 and S13).

Complex I (Fig. 8A) presents the best induced-fit conformation of BPRCX807 surrounded by Asp97, Tyr116, Tyr121, Arg188, Gln202, and Glu288 with strong hydrogen bonding, and attracted by His281 and Ile284 with strong hydrophobic interaction. This binding mode makes its terminal carboxylate insert deeply into the crevice between domains IV and V, moving the molecule toward the major subpocket built up by TMIII, IV, V, and VI. However, BPRCX714 in complex II (Fig. 8B) forms hydrogen bonding with Asn33, Asn37, Asp97, His203, Gly207, and Tyr256, and van der Waals attraction with Trp94, Trp102, Val112, and His281, moving the molecule toward the minor subpocket built up by TMI, TMII, TMVI, and TMVII as proximately occupied by AMD3100 (Fig. 8C). Apparently, an intramolecular hydrogen bond induced by N1 atom and HN-cyclohexyl in BPRCX714 (Fig. 8B, pink dashed line) forces it to adopt a macrocyclic conformation similar to that of AMD3100. Coincidentally, we observed that both BPRCX714 and AMD3100 also showed many similar downstream effects in various HCC models, including antiangiogenesis and antimetastasis. The above results might imply that while the next generation of CXCR4 antagonists is pursued new chemical entities should be designed through their interactions with primary key residues in the major subpocket rather than the minor subpocket to approach or acquire a similar mode of action bestowed on BPRCX807.

Fig. 8.

Molecular modeling studies. (A) Twenty-nanosecond molecular dynamics equilibrium results for BPRCX807, (B) for BPRCX714, and (C) for AMD3100. Hydrogen bonding is formed with residues in green as indicated by dashed lines; hydrophobic interaction is formed with residues in orange.

Cell Culture.

The murine HCC cell line HCA-1 and the human HCC cell line JHH-7 were kindly provided by Dan Duda, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. The HCA-1 cells were maintained in high-glucose Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM; Corning). The JHH-7 cells were cultured in DME/F12 medium (Corning), and CCRF-CEM (T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia; ATCC) cells were kept in RPMI-1640 medium (Gibco). The culture media were supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum and 1% penicillin and streptomycin (HyClone). The cells were maintained at 37 °C in an incubator (Thermo Fisher Scientific) with an atmosphere of 5% CO₂. HEK293T cells (ATCC) were kept in DMEM (Gibco).

Animals.

Male C3H/HeNCrNarl mice (4 to 5 wk old) and BALB/cAnN.Cg-Foxnl^nu/CrlNarl mice (6 to 7 wk old) were purchased from the National Laboratory Animal Center (Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China). All animals received humane care in compliance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (50), and all study procedures and protocols were approved by the Animal Research Committee of National Tsing-Hua University (Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China) (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee [IACUC] approval 107014). Male C57BL/6 mice, ICR mice, and SD rats were purchased from the National Laboratory Animals Center (Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China). The animals received humane care in compliance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (50), and the procedures and protocols were approved by the IACUC of the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) (Miaoli, Taiwan, Republic of China) (IACUC approval 105094).

Other experimental procedures, including synthesis of novel compounds, biological assays, animal models, and computer modeling, are described in detail in SI Appendix. Compound characterization date and ¹H & ¹³C NMR spectra of key intermediates and final target BPRCX807 are also provided.