EPZ019997

Type I protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) catalyze uneven dimethylation of arginines on proteins. Type I PRMTs as well as their substrates happen to be implicated in human cancers, suggesting inhibition of type I PRMTs offer a therapeutic method for oncology. The present report describes GSK3368715 (EPZ019997), a powerful, reversible type I PRMT inhibitor with anti-tumor effects in human cancer models. Inhibition of PRMT5, the predominant type II PRMT, produces synergistic cancer cell growth inhibition when coupled with GSK3368715. Interestingly, deletion from the methylthioadenosine phosphorylase gene (MTAP) leads to accumulation from the metabolite 2-methylthioadenosine, an endogenous inhibitor of PRMT5, and correlates with sensitivity to GSK3368715 in cell lines. These data provide rationale to understand more about MTAP status like a biomarker technique for patient selection.