Adagrasib / ROS Cancer Research Results

Adag, Adagrasib: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Adagrasib is a small molecule inhibitor of the KRAS G12C mutation, which is a common driver mutation in various types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and pancreatic cancer.

Adagrasib — an orally bioavailable, covalent, allele-selective small-molecule inhibitor of KRAS G12C (also known as MRTX849; brand name KRAZATI) that irreversibly binds the mutant cysteine in the KRAS switch-II pocket to suppress downstream RAS–MAPK signaling in KRAS G12C–mutant tumors. It is a targeted anticancer drug (small-molecule covalent oncoprotein inhibitor) developed for KRAS G12C–driven malignancies, with FDA accelerated approval as monotherapy in previously treated KRAS G12C–mutated advanced NSCLC, and (more recently) an FDA accelerated approval for KRAS G12C–mutated metastatic/locally advanced colorectal cancer in combination with cetuximab (EGFR blockade) after standard chemotherapy.

Primary mechanisms (ranked):

  1. Covalent inhibition of KRAS G12C (switch-II pocket binding) → blockade of KRAS signaling output.
  2. Downstream suppression of RAF–MEK–ERK (MAPK) and (context-dependent) PI3K–AKT signaling driven by KRAS G12C.
  3. Adaptive/feedback signaling rewiring (context-dependent RTK/EGFR pathway reactivation); clinical leverage in CRC via concurrent EGFR inhibition (cetuximab) to blunt feedback escape.

Bioavailability / PK relevance: Oral dosing (commonly 600 mg twice daily in labeled settings). Clinically relevant systemic exposure is achievable, but GI intolerance and hepatotoxicity frequently drive dose interruptions/reductions. Notable PK/interaction constraints include CYP3A-mediated metabolism and clinically important drug–drug interaction potential (e.g., strong CYP3A modulators) plus exposure effects with acid-reducing agents; QT prolongation risk is an additional exposure-linked constraint.

In-vitro vs systemic exposure relevance: Primary pharmacology is concentration- and target-occupancy–driven with on-target KRAS G12C covalent engagement; many pathway-level in-vitro effects occur at exposures that may not be uniformly achievable across tumors because of heterogeneity in drug delivery, efflux/uptake, and adaptive signaling. No external trigger is required.

Clinical evidence status: Established clinical activity in KRAS G12C–mutated NSCLC after prior therapy (single-arm phase 2 registrational cohort supporting accelerated approval) with documented objective responses and intracranial activity in a subset; additional confirmatory/comparative and combination trials are ongoing. In KRAS G12C–mutated colorectal cancer, combination with cetuximab has clinically meaningful response rates supporting accelerated approval in later-line disease.


Mechanism of Action:
Adagrasib works by selectively inhibiting the activity of the KRAS G12C protein, which is a key player in the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway. By blocking the activity of KRAS G12C, adagrasib prevents the growth and proliferation of cancer cells, leading to tumor shrinkage and improved survival.

Adagrasib is a promising treatment for patients with NSCLC and CRC who have the KRAS G12C mutation. Its ability to selectively inhibit KRAS G12C activity makes it a valuable option for patients who have limited treatment options. However, resistance to adagrasib can occur, and combination therapy may be necessary to overcome this resistance.

Adagrasib is a novel KRAS G12C inhibitor that targets the mutant KRAS protein by covalently binding to its switch II pocket, thereby locking it in an inactive form. This inhibition blocks critical downstream signaling pathways, such as RAF/MEK/ERK and potentially PI3K/AKT/mTOR, which are essential for tumor growth and survival. Clinically, adagrasib is being developed and used primarily to treat NSCLC and other solid tumors with the KRAS G12C mutation, providing a targeted therapy option in a subset of cancers that historically have few effective targeted treatments.

Adagrasib — mechanistic axis ranking for oncology relevance

Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells TSF Primary Effect Notes / Interpretation
1 KRAS G12C oncoprotein activity ↓ KRAS G12C signaling output (allele-selective) ↔ (limited direct effect; depends on presence of KRAS G12C) P Direct on-target covalent inhibition Core MOA: irreversible engagement of mutant KRAS cysteine; efficacy depends on KRAS G12C dependency and effective intratumoral exposure.
2 RAF–MEK–ERK (MAPK) signaling ↓ pERK / proliferative signaling; ↓ growth/survival programs ↔ to ↓ (context-dependent off-tumor pathway effects) P/R Pathway suppression downstream of KRAS Primary therapeutic leverage in KRAS G12C–addicted tumors; depth/durability limited by feedback and bypass signaling.
3 RTK–EGFR feedback bypass ↑ RTK/EGFR signaling (adaptive; model-dependent) unless co-inhibited R/G Adaptive resistance circuitry Clinically exploited in CRC by combining adagrasib with cetuximab to blunt EGFR-driven MAPK reactivation.
4 PI3K–AKT–mTOR ↓ (context-dependent; partial pathway dampening) R Secondary survival pathway modulation Magnitude varies by lineage, co-mutations (e.g., STK11/KEAP1), and RTK feedback intensity.
5 Cell-cycle progression and apoptosis balance ↓ proliferation; ↑ apoptosis (context-dependent) G Phenotype-level tumor control Downstream consequence of KRAS pathway suppression; tumor microenvironment and co-genetics shape whether cytostatic vs cytotoxic responses dominate.
6 Immune context and combination leverage (context-dependent) ↑ immune-mediated control with rational combinations G Combination-dependent disease control Clinical development includes combinations with immune checkpoint blockade and chemotherapy in selected settings; benefit is regimen- and population-dependent.
7 Clinical Translation Constraint GI toxicity, hepatotoxicity, ILD/pneumonitis (rare but serious), QT prolongation; CYP3A/DDI constraints; variable CNS and intratumoral exposure Same safety/PK constraints Limits dose intensity and durability Accelerated approvals rely on ORR/DOR; confirmatory evidence and optimal sequencing vs other KRAS G12C inhibitors/combinations remain active questions.


ROS, Reactive Oxygen Species: Click to Expand ⟱
Source: HalifaxProj (inhibit)
Type:
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive molecules that contain oxygen and can lead to oxidative stress in cells. They play a dual role in cancer biology, acting as both promoters and suppressors of cancer.
ROS can cause oxidative damage to DNA, leading to mutations that may contribute to cancer initiation and progression. So normally you want to inhibit ROS to prevent cell mutations.
However excessive ROS can induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells, potentially limiting tumor growth. Chemotherapy typically raises ROS.
-mitochondria is the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (and the ETC is heavily related)

"Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are two electron reduction products of oxygen, including superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, lipid peroxides, protein peroxides and peroxides formed in nucleic acids 1. They are maintained in a dynamic balance by a series of reduction-oxidation (redox) reactions in biological systems and act as signaling molecules to drive cellular regulatory pathways."
"During different stages of cancer formation, abnormal ROS levels play paradoxical roles in cell growth and death 8. A physiological concentration of ROS that maintained in equilibrium is necessary for normal cell survival. Ectopic ROS accumulation promotes cell proliferation and consequently induces malignant transformation of normal cells by initiating pathological conversion of physiological signaling networks. Excessive ROS levels lead to cell death by damaging cellular components, including proteins, lipid bilayers, and chromosomes. Therefore, both scavenging abnormally elevated ROS to prevent early neoplasia and facilitating ROS production to specifically kill cancer cells are promising anticancer therapeutic strategies, in spite of their contradictoriness and complexity."
"ROS are the collection of derivatives of molecular oxygen that occur in biology, which can be categorized into two types, free radicals and non-radical species. The non-radical species are hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2 ), organic hydroperoxides (ROOH), singlet molecular oxygen ( 1 O 2 ), electronically excited carbonyl, ozone (O3 ), hypochlorous acid (HOCl, and hypobromous acid HOBr). Free radical species are super-oxide anion radical (O 2•−), hydroxyl radical (•OH), peroxyl radical (ROO•) and alkoxyl radical (RO•) [130]. Any imbalance of ROS can lead to adverse effects. H2 O 2 and O 2 •− are the main redox signalling agents. The cellular concentration of H2 O 2 is about 10−8 M, which is almost a thousand times more than that of O2 •−".
"Radicals are molecules with an odd number of electrons in the outer shell [393,394]. A pair of radicals can be formed by breaking a chemical bond or electron transfer between two molecules."

Recent investigations have documented that polyphenols with good antioxidant activity may exhibit pro-oxidant activity in the presence of copper ions, which can induce apoptosis in various cancer cell lines but not in normal cells. "We have shown that such cell growth inhibition by polyphenols in cancer cells is reversed by copper-specific sequestering agent neocuproine to a significant extent whereas iron and zinc chelators are relatively ineffective, thus confirming the role of endogenous copper in the cytotoxic action of polyphenols against cancer cells. Therefore, this mechanism of mobilization of endogenous copper." > Ions could be one of the important mechanisms for the cytotoxic action of plant polyphenols against cancer cells and is possibly a common mechanism for all plant polyphenols. In fact, similar results obtained with four different polyphenolic compounds in this study, namely apigenin, luteolin, EGCG, and resveratrol, strengthen this idea.
Interestingly, the normal breast epithelial MCF10A cells have earlier been shown to possess no detectable copper as opposed to breast cancer cells [24], which may explain their resistance to polyphenols apigenin- and luteolin-induced growth inhibition as observed here (Fig. 1). We have earlier proposed [25] that this preferential cytotoxicity of plant polyphenols toward cancer cells is explained by the observation made several years earlier, which showed that copper levels in cancer cells are significantly elevated in various malignancies. Thus, because of higher intracellular copper levels in cancer cells, it may be predicted that the cytotoxic concentrations of polyphenols required would be lower in these cells as compared to normal cells."

Majority of ROS are produced as a by-product of oxidative phosphorylation, high levels of ROS are detected in almost all cancers.
-It is well established that during ER stress, cytosolic calcium released from the ER is taken up by the mitochondrion to stimulate ROS overgeneration and the release of cytochrome c, both of which lead to apoptosis.

Note: Products that may raise ROS can be found using this database, by:
Filtering on the target of ROS, and selecting the Effect Direction of ↑

Targets to raise ROS (to kill cancer cells):
• NADPH oxidases (NOX): NOX enzymes are involved in the production of ROS.
    -Targeting NOX enzymes can increase ROS levels and induce cancer cell death.
    -eNOX2 inhibition leads to a high NADH/NAD⁺ ratio which can lead to increased ROS
• Mitochondrial complex I: Inhibiting can increase ROS production
• P53: Activating p53 can increase ROS levels(by inducing the expression of pro-oxidant genes)
Nrf2 inhibition: regulates the expression of antioxidant genes. Inhibiting Nrf2 can increase ROS levels
• Glutathione (GSH): an antioxidant. Depleting GSH can increase ROS levels
• Catalase: Catalase converts H2O2 into H2O+O. Inhibiting catalase can increase ROS levels
• SOD1: converts superoxide into hydrogen peroxide. Inhibiting SOD1 can increase ROS levels
• PI3K/AKT pathway: regulates cell survival and metabolism. Inhibiting can increase ROS levels
HIF-1α inhibition: regulates genes involved in metabolism and angiogenesis. Inhibiting HIF-1α can increase ROS
• Glycolysis: Inhibiting glycolysis can increase ROS levels • Fatty acid oxidation: Cancer cells often rely on fatty acid oxidation for energy production.
-Inhibiting fatty acid oxidation can increase ROS levels
• ER stress: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress can increase ROS levels
• Autophagy: process by which cells recycle damaged organelles and proteins.
-Inhibiting autophagy can increase ROS levels and induce cancer cell death.
• KEAP1/Nrf2 pathway: regulates the expression of antioxidant genes.
    -Inhibiting KEAP1 or activating Nrf2 can increase ROS levels and induce cancer cell death.
• DJ-1: regulates the expression of antioxidant genes. Inhibiting DJ-1 can increase ROS levels
• PARK2: regulates the expression of antioxidant genes. Inhibiting PARK2 can increase ROS levels
SIRT1 inhibition:regulates the expression of antioxidant genes. Inhibiting SIRT1 can increase ROS levels
AMPK activation: regulates energy metabolism and can increase ROS levels when activated.
mTOR inhibition: regulates cell growth and metabolism. Inhibiting mTOR can increase ROS levels
HSP90 inhibition: regulates protein folding and can increase ROS levels when inhibited.
• Proteasome: degrades damaged proteins. Inhibiting the proteasome can increase ROS levels
Lipid peroxidation: a process by which lipids are oxidized, leading to the production of ROS.
    -Increasing lipid peroxidation can increase ROS levels
• Ferroptosis: form of cell death that is regulated by iron and lipid peroxidation.
    -Increasing ferroptosis can increase ROS levels
• Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP): regulates mitochondrial permeability.
    -Opening the mPTP can increase ROS levels
• BCL-2 family proteins: regulate apoptosis and can increase ROS levels when inhibited.
• Caspase-independent cell death: a form of cell death that is regulated by ROS.
    -Increasing caspase-independent cell death can increase ROS levels
• DNA damage response: regulates the repair of DNA damage. Increasing DNA damage can increase ROS
• Epigenetic regulation: process by which gene expression is regulated.
    -Increasing epigenetic regulation can increase ROS levels

-PKM2, but not PKM1, can be inhibited by direct oxidation of cysteine 358 as an adaptive response to increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS)

ProOxidant Strategy:(inhibit the Mevalonate Pathway (likely will also inhibit GPx)
-HydroxyCitrate (HCA) found as supplement online and typically used in a dose of about 1.5g/day or more
-Atorvastatin typically 40-80mg/day, -Dipyridamole typically 200mg 2x/day Combined effect research
-Lycopene typically 100mg/day range (note debatable as it mainly lowers NRF2)

Dual Role of Reactive Oxygen Species and their Application in Cancer Therapy
ROS-Inducing Interventions in Cancer — Canonical + Mechanistic Reference
-generated from AI and Cancer database
ROS rating:  +++ strong | ++ moderate | + weak | ± mixed | 0 none
NRF2:        ↓ suppressed | ↑ activated | ± mixed | 0 none
Conditions:  [D] dose  [Fe] metal  [M] metabolic  [O₂] oxygen
             [L] light [F] formulation [T] tumor-type [C] combination

Item ROS NRF2 Condition Mechanism Class Remarks
ROS">Piperlongumine +++ [D][T] ROS-dominant
ROS">Shikonin +++↓/±[D][T]ROS-dominant
ROS">Vitamin K3 (menadione) +++[D]ROS-dominant
ROS">Copper (ionic / nano) +++[Fe][F]ROS-dominant
ROS">Sodium Selenite +++[D]ROS-dominant
ROS">Juglone +++[D]ROS-dominant
ROS">Auranofin +++[D]ROS-dominant
ROS">Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) +++0[L][O₂]ROS-dominant
ROS">Radiotherapy / Radiation +++0[O₂]ROS-dominant
ROS">Doxorubicin +++[D]ROS-dominant
ROS">Cisplatin ++[D][T]ROS-dominant
ROS">Salinomycin ++[D][T]ROS-dominant
ROS">Artemisinin / DHA ++[Fe][T]ROS-dominant
ROS">Sulfasalazine ++[C][T]ROS-dominant
ROS">FMD / fasting ++[M][C][O₂]ROS-dominant
ROS">Vitamin C (pharmacologic) ++[Fe][D]ROS-dominant
ROS">Silver nanoparticles ++±[F][D]ROS-dominant
ROS">Gambogic acid ++[D][T]ROS-dominant
ROS">Parthenolide ++[D][T]ROS-dominant
ROS">Plumbagin ++[D]ROS-dominant
ROS">Allicin ++[D]ROS-dominant
ROS">Ashwagandha (Withaferin A) ++[D][T]ROS-dominant
ROS">Berberine ++[D][M]ROS-dominant
ROS">PEITC ++[D][C]ROS-dominant
ROS">Methionine restriction +[M][C][T]ROS-secondary
ROS">DCA +±[M][T]ROS-secondary
ROS">Capsaicin +±[D][T]ROS-secondary
ROS">Galloflavin +0[D]ROS-secondary
ROS">Piperine +±[D][F]ROS-secondary
ROS">Propyl gallate +[D]ROS-secondary
ROS">Scoulerine +?[D][T]ROS-secondary
ROS">Thymoquinone ±±[D][T]Dual redox
ROS">Emodin ±±[D][T]Dual redox
ROS">Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) ±[D][M]NRF2-dominant
ROS">Curcumin ±↑/↓[D][F]NRF2-dominant
ROS">EGCG ±↑/↓[D][O₂]NRF2-dominant
ROS">Quercetin ±↑/↓[D][Fe]NRF2-dominant
ROS">Resveratrol ±[D][M]NRF2-dominant
ROS">Sulforaphane ±↑↑[D]NRF2-dominant
ROS">Lycopene 0Antioxidant
ROS">Rosmarinic acid 0Antioxidant
ROS">Citrate 00Neutral


Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
1002- SSE,  Osi,  Adag,    Selenite as a dual apoptotic and ferroptotic agent synergizes with EGFR and KRAS inhibitors with epigenetic interference
- in-vitro, Lung, H1975 - in-vitro, Lung, H385
Apoptosis↑, Ferroptosis↑, DNMT1↓, TET1↑, TumCCA↑, cl‑PARP↑, cl‑Casp3↑, Cyt‑c↑, BIM↑, NOXA↑, Apoptosis↑, ROS↑, ER Stress↑, UPR↑,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 1 of 1

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 1

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

Ferroptosis↑, 1,   ROS↑, 1,  

Cell Death

Apoptosis↑, 2,   BIM↑, 1,   cl‑Casp3↑, 1,   Cyt‑c↑, 1,   Ferroptosis↑, 1,   NOXA↑, 1,  

Protein Folding & ER Stress

ER Stress↑, 1,   UPR↑, 1,  

DNA Damage & Repair

DNMT1↓, 1,   cl‑PARP↑, 1,  

Cell Cycle & Senescence

TumCCA↑, 1,  

Migration

TET1↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 14

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Total Targets: 0

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: ROS, Reactive Oxygen Species
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells
Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:254  Target#:275  State#:%  Dir#:2
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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