Abstract B016: Novel curcumin analogues as therapies for endometrial cancer with TP53 mutations

Abstract The protein p53 is designated as the guardian of the genome because it is the principal tumor suppressor and functions to surveil the genome, enforce cell cycle checkpoints, and trigger apoptosis when genomic instability is beyond repair. Mutations in TP53 are found in 50% of human tumors and in 25% of the deadliest endometrial malignancies. Yet, few studies have targeted the mutant protein to restore its wild type (WT) tumor suppressor functions. Curcumin, a turmeric derivative, has been shown to help return WT function to mutant p53. However, curcumin is not bioavailable to most of the body because of its water insolubility, hydrophobic nature and rapid metabolization. Our laboratory is testing novel, more bioavailable analogs of curcumin including HO-3867 and AKT-100. In these studies, we tested these agents in preclinical models of serous endometrial cancer to assess their effects on cell growth and p53-dependent signaling. We used CyQUANT cell proliferation assay to identify IC50 values for HO-3867 and AKT-100 in ECC-1 and KLE endometrial cancer cell lines. We performed RNA sequencing to elucidate mechanisms of action and verified p53 expression changes via Western blotting. IC50 values ranged from 100 nanomolar (AKT-100) to low micromolar (HO-3867). RNA sequencing data revealed the re-enforcement of cell cycle checkpoints including the upregulation of CDKN1A (p21) and GADD45 (Gadd45). Proliferative signaling downstream of ATM, an important protein kinase stimulating cell growth, was downregulated by both agents. Western blotting confirmed the classic negative feedback loop of p53, where total p53 levels decreased after drug treatment. Taken together, our findings show that AKT-100 and HO-3867 are able to restore WT tumor suppressor function in otherwise oncogenic mutant p53 by reducing cell replication and promoting apoptosis. Thus, curcumin analogues such as AKT-100 and HO-3867 show promise in the treatment of a subset of endometrial tumors expressing mutant p53 by returning WT p53 functionality, and future studies will move to in vivo analyses of curcumin analogue function. Citation Format: Kimberly K. Leslie, Alex Goss, Jamie Padilla, Lane E. Smith. Novel curcumin analogues as therapies for endometrial cancer with TP53 mutations abstract. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Endometrial Cancer: Transforming Care through Science; 2023 Nov 16-18; Boston, Massachusetts. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2024;30 (5Suppl): Abstract nr B016.