Ganetespib for small cell lung cancer

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are part of a complex network of chaperone proteins that are critically involved in the conformational maturation of intracellular proteins and regulate their degradation via the proteasome system Hsps (especially Hsp70 and Hsp90) are upregulated in many cancers and are potentially attractive therapeutic targets. Ganetespib is a potent non-geldanamycin analogue, and avoids the toxicities associated with older analogues due to its small molecular weight, lipophilicity and the absence of the benzoquinone moiety; strong pre-clinical data support its evaluation in lung cancer, especially small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Areas covered: The chemical structure of ganetespib, the biology of Hsp90 in cancer and the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data related to ganetespib are summarized; data from preclinical studies and multiple Phase I-III clinical trials, with a focus on its evaluation in SCLC are reviewed.

Expert opinion: Recent progress made in the treatment of refractory SCLC with immune checkpoint inhibitors and DLL3-directed antibody-drug conjugate have made the development of ganetespib particularly challenging in SCLC. Hsp90 remains a critical therapeutic target. Hsp90 inhibitors with a wider therapeutic index and combinations with drugs targeting iHsp90 co-chaperones such as Cdc37 or Protein Kinase 2 may need to be explored in the future.

KEYWORDS:

• Small cell lung cancer
• ganetespib
• Hsp90 inhibitors
• heat shock proteins

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.