# Project 1: Targeting HSPA Proteins in Advanced and Recurrent Endometrial Cancer Therapy

> **NIH NIH P50** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $376,436

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The incidence and mortality of endometrial cancer has increased over the past few decades, and is predicted to
continue rising. There is significant need for improved therapies with reduced toxicity for women with endometrial
cancers that are advanced, recurrent or refractory to standard of care. Endometrial cancer is a heterogeneous
disease that has been classified into molecular profile categories with different degrees of patient prognosis.
Across these categories, endometrial cancer has the highest rates of mutations in heat shock protein A(HSPA)
5, 8 and 9 genes compared to other The Cancer Genome Atlas-studied cancers. The HSPA5, HSPA8 and
HSPA9 genes encode chaperone proteins, Grp78, hsc70 and mortalin, respectively, which become elevated
during carcinogenesis to bind and modulate oncoproteins in a way that assures cancer cell survival. Thus, these
chaperone/oncoprotein complexes represent differential targets present at higher levels in cancer cells
compared to healthy cells. We developed a drug, SHetA2 (NSC 726189), which disrupts these complexes.
SHetA2 induces growth arrest, altered metabolism, mitophagy and cell death in endometrial cancer cells, while
the effects on healthy cells is limited to G1 cell cycle arrest. Preclinical studies found lack of SHetA2 toxicity, and
this drug is now in a Phase 1 clinical trial in advanced, recurrent or persistent gynecologic cancers
(NCT04928508). In vivo studies revealed that SHetA2 has complementary activities and efficacies with paclitaxel
and cyclin dependent kinase (CDK4/6) inhibitors. In this project, we hypothesize that SHetA2 will safely reduce
endometrial cancer tumor burden and complement the efficacies of paclitaxel and CDK4/6 inhibitors without
increasing toxicity; the mechanism will be mediated through SHetA2 disruption of HSPA/client protein
complexes; and the treatment efficacies will be modulated by mutations in PTEN and TP53 genes. To test this,
and optimize SHetA2-based therapies, we propose to study the mechanism of SHetA2 in healthy endometrial
cells, endometrial cancer cell lines, and patient derived organoids and xenografts with a range of natural or
induced genetic mutations in PTEN and TP53 genes. We will conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial of SHetA2 in
combination with paclitaxel in advanced, recurrent or persistent endometrial cancer patients; a Phase 2
expansion will evaluate response. Using specimens from this and other trials, we will test the hypothesis that
mortalin co-localization with the Mps1 kinase or p53 at the centrosome correlates with poor or improved
response, respectively, of paclitaxel-treated endometrial cancer patients. In preparation for a future clinical trial,
we will use a quantitative systems biology approach that integrates pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and
toxicity data to optimize dose and schedule for testing SHetA2 in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors. The
outcome is anticipated to identify biomarkers predictive of which patien...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10912613
- **Project number:** 5P50CA265793-02
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** DORIS Mangiaracina BENBROOK
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $376,436
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-23 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10912613

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10912613, Project 1: Targeting HSPA Proteins in Advanced and Recurrent Endometrial Cancer Therapy (5P50CA265793-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10912613. Licensed CC0.

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