Targeting DYRK1A/B kinases to modulate p21‐cyclin D1‐p27 signalling and induce anti‐tumour activity in a model of human glioblastoma

The dual‐specificity tyrosine‐regulated kinases DYRK1A and DYRK1B play a key role in controlling the quiescence‐proliferation switch in cancer cells. Serum reduction of U87MG 2D cultures or multi‐cellular tumour spheroids induced a quiescent like state characterized by increased DYRK1B and p27, and decreased pRb and cyclin D1. VER‐239353 is a potent, selective inhibitor of the DYRK1A and DYRK1B kinases identified through fragment and structure‐guided drug discovery. Inhibition of DYRK1A/B by VER‐239353 in quiescent U87MG cells increased pRb, DYRK1B and cyclin D1 but also increased the cell cycle inhibitors p21 and p27. This resulted in exit from G0 but subsequent arrest in G1. DYRK1A/B inhibition reduced the proliferation of U87MG cells in 2D and 3D culture with greater effects observed under reduced serum conditions. Paradoxically, the induced re‐expression of cell cycle proteins by DYRK1A/B inhibition further inhibited cell proliferation. Cell growth arrest induced in quiescent cells by DYRK1A/B inhibition was reversible through the addition of growth‐promoting factors. DYRK inhibition‐induced DNA damage and synergized with a CHK1 inhibitor in the U87MG spheroids. In vivo, DYRK1A/B inhibition‐induced tumour stasis in a U87MG tumour xenograft model. These results suggest that further evaluation of VER‐239353 as a treatment for glioblastoma is therefore warranted.