BI6727 (Volasertib)

BI6727 (Volasertib) is a selective inhibitor of Plk1, Plk2, and Plk3 with IC50 value of 0.87, 5 and 56 nM/L, respectively [1].

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is an early trigger for G2/M phase transition and is over-expressed in a variety of cancers for that being regarded as a promising target for cancer treatment [1].

BI6727 (Volasertib) is a potent Plk1 inhibitor and is regarded as a promising drug for multiple cancers in clinic. When tested with NB TICs and normal human pediatric SKPs (neural crest-like stem cells), BI6727 (Volasertib) treatment inhibits NB TICs with EC50 value of 21 nM/L and 2.8 μM/L on SKPs and decresed TIC survival [2]. It has been reported that BI6727 (Volasertib) inhibited proliferation of multiple cell lines, including HCT 116(caicinomas of the colon), NCI-H460 (lung cancer), BRO (melanoma), GRANTA (hematopoitic cancers) with EC50 value of 23 nmol/l, 21 nmol/l, 11 nmol/l, 15 nmol/l, respectively [1] [3].

In nude mice model with HCT 16 cells (colon carcinoma) subcutaneous xenograft, oral administration of BI6727 (Volasertib) delays tumor growth, decreased tumor size and induced tumor regression by increasing the mitotic index and apoptosis. And the same results were achieved when tested with NCI-H4660 (non-small cell lung carcinoma), xenograft model [1].

References:
[1].  Rudolph, D., et al., BI 6727, a Polo-like kinase inhibitor with improved pharmacokinetic profile and broad antitumor activity. Clin Cancer Res, 2009. 15(9): p. 3094-102.
[2].  Grinshtein, N., et al., Small molecule kinase inhibitor screen identifies polo-like kinase 1 as a target for neuroblastoma tumor-initiating cells. Cancer Res, 2011. 71(4): p. 1385-95.
[3].   Munch, C., et al., Therapeutic polo-like kinase 1 inhibition results in mitotic arrest and subsequent cell death of blasts in the bone marrow of AML patients and has similar effects in non-neoplastic cell lines. Leuk Res, 2015. 39(4): p. 462-70.