The WEE1 inhibitor adavosertib and the CDK2 inhibitor INCB123667 achieved response rates of 53% and 33% respectively in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients whose tumours overexpressed cyclin E1. Targeting of cyclin E dysregulation via a synthetic lethality approach is therefore a key area of focus for improving treatment strategies in HGSOC and other cancers with high unmet clinical need. In this review we discuss the functions of cyclin E1, mechanisms and consequences of dysregulation, and strategies for therapeutic exploitation of cyclin E1 dysregulated tumours, combining fundamental biology with clinical perspectives.

We evaluated cell cycle-targeted strategies to overcome HR-proficient chemoresistance using either volasertib (a selective PLK1 inhibitor) or adavosertib (a potent WEE1 inhibitor) in BRCA-WT/HR-proficient and BRCA-mutant/HR-deficient HGSOC models. Functional and xenograft models confirmed selective vulnerability of BRCA-WT tumors to either PLK1 or WEE1 inhibition. Our work highlights a mechanistic framework linking cell cycle checkpoint inhibition to DNA repair pathway selectivity, providing a rationale for targeting mitotic regulators in HR-proficient ovarian cancer-a subgroup with high clinical unmet need.

P1/2, N=76, Active, not recruiting, MedSIR | Recruiting --> Active, not recruiting

P1, N=76, Terminated, Debiopharm International SA | Trial completion date: Nov 2027 --> Oct 2025 | Active, not recruiting --> Terminated | Trial primary completion date: Nov 2027 --> Oct 2025; This trial was concluded for strategic reasons.

P1, N=34, Active, not recruiting, Debiopharm International SA | Trial completion date: Jul 2026 --> Feb 2026

We treated ER+ MCF7 breast cancer cells with palbociclib alternating with a combination of fulvestrant and WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 for 12 months. We developed a mathematical model that can simulate cell proliferation under monotherapy and alternating drug treatments. Finally, we showed that the mathematical model can be used to minimize the number of fulvestrant plus AZD1775 treatment periods while maintaining its efficacy.

P1, N=34, Active, not recruiting, Debiopharm International SA | Recruiting --> Active, not recruiting | N=78 --> 34

The efficacy of the mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) inhibitor (HDM201) and the Wee1 G2 checkpoint kinase (Wee1) inhibitor (adavosertib) was confirmed in both p53 wild-type (p53 WT) and p53 mutant (p53 MT) GIST cells. Our results highlight the importance of p53 status in guiding GIST treatment. p53 WT tumors respond to MDM2 inhibitors, while p53 MT tumors show greater sensitivity to Wee1 inhibitors, supporting p53 pathway targeting as a promising strategy for GIST patients.

P1, N=155, Active, not recruiting, Debiopharm International SA | Recruiting --> Active, not recruiting

Risk model analysis predicted differential treatment responses: low-risk patients exhibited superior anti-PD-1 immunotherapy responses, whereas high-risk patients showed increased sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents (e.g., the Wee1 inhibitor MK-1775) and sorafenib. Plasma exosomal lncRNAs enable robust molecular subtyping, accurate prognostic stratification, and treatment response prediction in HCC. The ERG-centric classification system and validated 6-gene risk model provide clinically actionable tools for precision oncology.

P1, N=13, Active, not recruiting, National Cancer Institute (NCI) | Trial completion date: Sep 2025 --> Sep 2026

Using a pooled CRISPRi screen, we identify GSPT1 and ALKBH8 as factors whose depletion confer hypersensitivity to the WEE1 inhibitor, AZD1775...This dual mechanism highlights opportunities for combination therapies, such as pairing WEE1 inhibitors with agents targeting the mRNA translation machinery. This study also underscores the need for more precise WEE1 targeting strategies to mitigate off-target effects, with implications for optimising the therapeutic potential of WEE1 inhibitors.