INCB-024360, also known as epacadostat, is an oral small molecule selective IDO1 inhibitor (IC50 = 71.8nM) [1]. INCB-024360 can selectively inhibit IDO1 enzyme activity and block the pathway of tryptophan metabolism to kynurenine [2]. INCB-024360 is mainly used to treat advanced or metastatic solid tumors [3-4].
In SKOV-3 cells, INCB-024360 (10-3-104nM; 24h, 48h, 72h) increases IDO1 protein expression [5]. In HT-29 cells, INCB-024360 (10μM; 96h) reduced cell viability [6]. In 4T1 cells, INCB-024360 (1μM; 24h, 48h) sensitize pulmonary metastases to agents targeting hypoxia/nutrient deprivation survival mechanisms [7].
In colon carcinoma xenograft mice model, INCB-024360 (100mg/kg; ig; 2h) effectively inhibits the metabolism of tryptophan to kynurenine by achieving high drug exposure in areas with high IDO1 expression, significantly reducing the Kyn/Trp ratio, thereby restoring immune activity and enhancing anti-tumor efficacy [8]. In in wild-type and PD-1-negative mice, co-administration of the CTLA-4 blocking antibody 9D9 and/or the IDO1 inhibitor INCB-024360 (300mg/kg; ig; 27d) (to mimic the effects of PD1 blockade) synergistically induced liver injury and immune cell infiltration [9]. In TAC-induced WT mice, INCB-024360 (50mg/kg; sc; 4 weeks) inhibits IDO1 and ameliorates pathological cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling [10].
References:
[1]. Liu X, Shin N, Koblish HK, et al. Selective inhibition of IDO1 effectively regulates mediators of antitumor immunity. Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology. 2010 Apr 29; 115(17): 3520-3230.
[2]. Hao X, Chen Z, Li H, et al. Small-molecule drugs in immunotherapy. Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry. 2023 Jul 1;23(13):1341-1359.
[3]. Alford B, Cox K, Soliman H. IDO1 inhibitors for cancer immunotherapy. Drugs of the Future. 2016 Sep 1; 41(9): 553-559.
[4]. Hellmann MD, Gettinger S, Chow LQ, et al. Phase 1 study of epacadostat in combination with atezolizumab for patients with previously treated advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer. International Journal of Cancer. 2020 Oct 1; 147(7): 1963-1969.
[5]. Rossini S, Ambrosino S, Volpi C, et al. Epacadostat stabilizes the apo-form of IDO1 and signals a pro-tumorigenic pathway in human ovarian cancer cells. Frontiers in Immunology. 2024 Jan 25; 15: 1346686.
[6]. Zhou Y, Tao Q, Luo C, et al. Epacadostat Overcomes Cetuximab Resistance in Colorectal Cancer by Targeting IDO‐Mediated Tryptophan Metabolism. Cancer Science. 2025 Mar 18.
[7]. Shen SC, Dey S, DuHadaway JB, et al. Neovascular pruning by IDO1 inhibitors can potentiate immunogenic cytotoxicity of ischemia-targeted agents to synergistically enhance anti-PD-1 responsiveness. Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer. 2025 May 30; 13(5): e011398.
[8]. Poncelet L, Ait-Belkacem R, Marillier R, et al. Target exposure and pharmacodynamics study of the indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO-1) inhibitor epacadostat in the CT26 mouse tumor model. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2019 Jun 5; 170: 220-227.
[9]. Affolter T, Llewellyn HP, Bartlett DW, et al. Inhibition of immune checkpoints PD-1, CTLA-4, and IDO1 coordinately induces immune-mediated liver injury in mice. PLoS One. 2019 May 21; 14(5): e0217276.
[10]. Wang Y, Song J, Yu K, et al. Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 deletion-mediated kynurenine insufficiency inhibits pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Hypertension. 2023 Oct; 80(10): 2099-2111.
INCB-024360,又名epacadostat,是一种口服小分子选择性IDO1抑制剂(IC50 = 71.8nM) [1]。INCB-024360可以选择性抑制IDO1酶活性,阻断色氨酸代谢为犬尿氨酸的途径 [2]。INCB-024360主要用于治疗晚期或转移性实体瘤 [3-4]。
在SKOV-3细胞中,INCB-024360(10-3-104nM;24h、48h、72h)可增加IDO1蛋白的表达 [5]。在HT-29细胞中,INCB-024360(10μM;96h)可降低细胞活力 [6]。在4T1细胞中,INCB-024360(1μM;24h、48h)可增强肺转移瘤对靶向缺氧/营养剥夺生存机制的药物的敏感性 [7]。
在结肠癌异种移植小鼠模型中,INCB-024360(100mg/kg;ig;2h)通过在IDO1高表达区域实现高药物暴露,有效抑制色氨酸代谢为犬尿氨酸,显著降低犬尿氨酸/色氨酸比例,从而恢复免疫活性并增强抗肿瘤疗效 [8]。在野生型和PD-1阴性小鼠中,联合应用CTLA-4阻断抗体9D9和/或IDO1抑制剂INCB-024360(300mg/kg;ig;27d)(以模拟PD-1阻断的作用)可协同诱导肝损伤和免疫细胞浸润 [9]。在TAC诱导的WT小鼠中,INCB-024360(50mg/kg;sc;4周)抑制IDO1并改善病理性心脏肥大和重塑 [10]。
















