Effective targeting of Hedgehog signaling in a medulloblastoma model with PF-5274857, a potent and selective Smoothened antagonist that penetrates the blood-brain barrier

Inhibition of the Smoothened (Smo) represents a promising therapeutic strategy for treating malignant tumors that are dependent on the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. PF-5274857 is a novel Smo antagonist that specifically binds to Smo with a K(i) of 4.6 ± 1.1 nmol/L and completely blocks the transcriptional activity of the downstream gene Gli1 with an IC(50) of 2.7 ± 1.4 nmol/L in cells. This Smo antagonist showed robust antitumor activity in a mouse model of medulloblastoma with an in vivo IC(50) of 8.9 ± 2.6 nmol/L. The downregulation of Gli1 is closely linked to the tumor growth inhibition in patched(+/-) medulloblastoma mice. Mathematical analysis of the relationship between the drug's pharmacokinetics and Gli1 pharmacodynamics in patched(+/-) medulloblastoma tumor models yielded similar tumor and skin Gli1 IC(50) values, suggesting that skin can be used as a surrogate tissue for the measurement of tumor Gli1 levels. In addition, PF-5274857 was found to effectively penetrate the blood-brain barrier and inhibit Smo activity in the brain of primary medulloblastoma mice, resulting in improved animal survival rates. The brain permeability of PF-5274857 was also confirmed and quantified in nontumor-bearing preclinical species with an intact blood-brain barrier. PF-5274857 was orally available and metabolically stable in vivo. These findings suggest that PF-5274857 is a potentially attractive clinical candidate for the treatment of tumor types including brain tumors and brain metastasis driven by an activated Hh pathway.