BAY 87-2243

This Hif1a inhibitor (FW = 525.53 g/mol; CAS 1227158-85-1; Solubility: <1 mg/mL DMSO or H2O) targets the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), which plays an essential role in tumor development, tumor progression, and resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. BAY 87-2243 inhibits HIF-1α and HIF-2α accumulation under hypoxic conditions in the H460 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) cell line but is without effect on HIF-1α protein levels that are induced by such hypoxia mimetics asdesferrioxamine or cobalt chloride. BAY 87-2243 has no effect on HIF target gene expression levels in RCC4 cells lacking Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) activity; nor does it affect the activity of HIF prolyl hydroxylase-2. Antitumor activity of BAY 87-2243, suppression of HIF-1α protein levels, and reduction of HIF-1 target gene expression in vivo have been demonstrated in a H460 xenograft model. BAY 87-2243 does not inhibit cell proliferation under standard conditions. Upon glucose depletion, a condition favoring mitochondrial ATP generation as energy source, BAY 87-2243 inhibits cell proliferation in the low-nM range. In a mouse model for BRAF mutant melanoma, BAY 87-2243-mediated complex I inhibition induces melanoma cell death in vitro and reduces melanoma tumor growth in various mouse models in vivo. This effect is mediated through BAY 87-2243- induced stimulation of mitochondrial ROS production, leading to oxidative damage and subsequent cell death. BAY 87-2243 displays increased anti tumor efficacy compared to single agent treatment, when combined with the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib in nude mice with BRAF mutant melanoma xenografts.