From structural plasticity to the development of next-generation inhibitors to overcome drug-resistant GIST

dc.contributor.advisorRauh, Daniel
dc.contributor.authorSchulz, Tom
dc.contributor.refereeWu, Peng
dc.date.accepted2025-01-22
dc.date.accessioned2025-02-07T12:26:02Z
dc.date.available2025-02-07T12:26:02Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.description.abstractGastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, primarily driven by activating mutations in the receptor tyrosine kinases KIT and PDGFRA. While tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have improved treatment outcomes, their efficacy is often compromised by acquired resistance mutations and dose-limiting toxicities. This highlights the need for next-generation inhibitors with improved potency and selectivity. A detailed structural understanding of the kinase's ability to adopt different conformations and the impact of (resistance) mutations is crucial for the development of novel small molecules with improved efficacy. This work elucidates the molecular basis of drug resistance in GIST, focusing on mutations within the ATP-binding pocket and activation loop of the kinase domain. Through in-depth structural analysis and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, a previously undescribed, targetable sub-pocket in KIT and PDGFRA was identified. Located between two key regulatory elements, the Gly-rich loop and the αC-helix, this pocket - termed the Gα-pocket - represents a novel target for inhibitor design. These structural insights guided the design and synthesis of novel kinase inhibitors, enabling the identification of key pharmacophoric features necessary to overcome resistance. Given the success of covalent inhibitors such as osimertinib and ibrutinib in the treatment of otherwise drug-resistant cancers, this work explores their untapped potential in GIST to overcome resistance while improving potency and selectivity. In summary, this work lays the foundation for next-generation inhibitors to address the pressing challenge of drug resistance in GIST.en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2003/43443
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.17877/DE290R-25274
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectCanceren
dc.subjectGISTen
dc.subjectDrug resistanceen
dc.subjectKinase inhibitorsen
dc.subjectCovalent inhibitorsen
dc.subjectStructure-based drug designen
dc.subject.ddc570
dc.subject.ddc540
dc.subject.rswkKrebs <Medizin>de
dc.titleFrom structural plasticity to the development of next-generation inhibitors to overcome drug-resistant GISTen
dc.typeText
dc.type.publicationtypePhDThesis
dcterms.accessRightsopen access
eldorado.secondarypublicationfalse

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