CerS2 is a druggable target in triple-negative breast cancer

Alatawi, H.; Nair, H. H.; Ai, L.; Mahmud, I.; Gour, A.; Singh, A.; Baek, D.; Yan, B.; Maharjan, C. K.; Zhang, W.; Law, B. K.; Zajac-Kaye, M.; Vulpe, C.; Guryanova, O. A.; Sharma, A. K.; Garrett, T. J.; Sharma, A.; Heldermon, C. D.; Hong, S.; Narayan, S.

doi:10.1101/2025.08.15.670525

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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.08.15.670525

CerS2 is a druggable target in triple-negative breast cancer

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Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a significant clinical challenge due to its aggressive nature and lack of effective targeted therapies. The enzyme ceramide synthase 2 (CerS2), which synthesizes pro-apoptotic very long-chain ceramides (VLCCs), represents a promising therapeutic target. Here, we identify and characterize DH20931, a novel, first-in-class small-molecule agonist of CerS2. We demonstrate that DH20931 directly activates CerS2 with nanomolar potency, leading to significant VLCC accumulation in breast cancer cells. This lipotoxic event induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and triggers apoptosis via the canonical ATF4/CHOP/PUMA signaling pathway. Mechanistically, we uncover a novel interaction between CerS2 and the ER calcium channel, Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor 1 (IP3R1). We demonstrate that DH20931 promotes this interaction, enhancing ER-mitochondria proximity and facilitating a CerS2-dependent flux of calcium (Ca{superscript 2}) from the ER into mitochondria. This subsequent mitochondrial Ca{superscript 2} overload serves as a critical trigger for apoptosis. In preclinical evaluations, DH20931 potently inhibited the growth of TNBC cells in 2D and 3D cultures and significantly suppressed tumor progression in orthotopic and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, all while exhibiting a favorable safety profile. Our findings validate CerS2 as a druggable target in TNBC and establish a novel therapeutic strategy that leverages a coordinated attack on cancer cells through ER stress and calcium-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=100 SRC="FIGDIR/small/670525v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (33K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@2db377org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@6175d4org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@7edb8corg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@80042e_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG HighlightsO_LIDH20931 is a first-in-class, potent agonist of Ceramide Synthase 2 (CerS2). C_LIO_LICerS2 activation induces ER stress and engages the ATF4/CHOP/PUMA apoptotic pathway. C_LIO_LIDH20931 promotes a novel CerS2-IP3R1 interaction, causing lethal mitochondrial calcium overload. C_LIO_LITargeting CerS2 shows significant preclinical efficacy against triple-negative breast cancer. C_LI

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Alatawi, H., Nair, H. H., Ai, L., Mahmud, I., Gour, A., Singh, A., Baek, D., Yan, B., Maharjan, C. K., Zhang, W., Law, B. K., Zajac-Kaye, M., Vulpe, C., Guryanova, O. A., Sharma, A. K., Garrett, T. J., Sharma, A., Heldermon, C. D., Hong, S., Narayan, S.. 2025-08-21. CerS2 is a druggable target in triple-negative breast cancer. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.15.670525

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