R162 (64302-87-0) is a selective inhibitor of glutamate dehydrogenase 1 (GDH1), a commonly upregulated enzyme in human cancers (K_i = 28.6 µM).  It does not inhibit the activity of other NADPH enzymes such as 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and fumarate hydratase. R162 treatment leads to decreased fumarate levels, lower glutathione peroxidase activity, increased ROS levels and reduced cell proliferation in H1299 and MDA-MB231 cells.  R162 sensitizes LKB-1 deficient tumor cells to anoikis induction.  R162 treatment (at 20 mg/kg/day) significantly attenuates metastatic potential in a xenograft mouse model.²  GDH1 is a promising antimetastasis target and R162 is a useful tool for proof of principal studies.

References/Citations

1) Jin et al. (2015), Glutamate Dehydrogenase 1 Signals through Antioxidant Glutathione Peroxidase 1 to Regulate Redox Homeostasis and Tumor Growth; Cancer Cell, 27 257
2) Jin et al. (2018) The PLAG1-GDH1 Axis Promotes Anokis Resistance and Tumor Metastasis through CamKK2-AMPK Signaling in LKB1-Deficient Lung Cancer; Mol. Cell, 69 1