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Chang Y, Li X, Zhou Y, Yang X, Zhao W, Fang H, Hou X. Simultaneous inhibition of FLT3 and HDAC by novel 6-ethylpyrazine-2-Carboxamide derivatives provides therapeutic advantages in acute myelocytic leukemia. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 279:116847. [PMID: 39265252 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
Synergetic inhibition of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) by small molecule chimera presents a promising therapeutic approach for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with FLT3 mutations. In this study, we first observed that the combined use of FLT3 inhibitor gilteritinib and HDAC inhibitor vorinostat increased the survival rate of leukemia xenograft mouse model. Then, we employed a pharmacophore fusion strategy to develop a novel series of FLT3/HDAC dual inhibitors. Among them, compound 25h demonstrated superior inhibitory activity against both FLT3 and HDAC. In particular, compound 25h exhibited enhanced anti-proliferation activity against MOLM-13 cells in comparison to gilteritinib, vorinostat, and their combination, while maintaining reduced cytotoxicity towards normal cells. Mechanistically, the heightened anti-tumor effect of compound 25h was attributed to its more potent regulation of intracellular pathways, notably phosphorylation of ERK, compared to single drug and combination treatments. Furthermore, compound 25h demonstrated superior anti-tumor efficacy in the MOLM-13 xenograft model compared to combination therapy, along with reduced in vivo toxicity. To conclude, we have identified a novel FLT3/HDAC dual inhibitor that could serve as a potential candidate for the treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Chang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Road, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Road, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Yue Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), NMPA Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Road, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Xinying Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Road, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), NMPA Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Road, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
| | - Hao Fang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Road, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
| | - Xuben Hou
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhuaxi Road, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
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2
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Hong Y, Liu Q, Xin C, Hu H, Zhuang Z, Ge H, Shen Y, Zhao Y, Zhou Y, Ye B, Wu D. Ferroptosis-Related Gene Signature for Prognosis Prediction in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Potential Therapeutic Options. Int J Gen Med 2024; 17:3837-3853. [PMID: 39246807 PMCID: PMC11380859 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s460164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Limited data were available to understand the significance of ferroptosis in leukemia prognosis, regardless of the genomic background. Methods RNA-seq data from 151 AML patients were analyzed from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, along with 70 healthy samples from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database. Ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) features were constructed by multivariate COX regression analysis and risk scores were calculated for each sample and a novel prediction model was identified. The validation was carried out using data from 35 AML patients and 13 healthy controls in our cohort. Drug sensitivity analysis was conducted on various chemotherapeutic drugs. Results A signature of 10 FRGs was identified, as prognostic predictors for AML, and the risk scores were calculated to constructed the prognostic features of FRGs. Significantly lower overall survival was observed in the high-risk group. The predictive ability of these features for AML prognosis was confirmed using Cox regression analysis, ROC curves, and DCA. The prediction model performed well in our clinical practices, and had its potential superiority when comparing to classical NCCN risk stratification. Multiple chemotherapy drugs, including paclitaxel, dactinomycin, cisplatin, etc. had a lower IC50 in FRGs high-risk group than low-risk group. Conclusion The AML prognosis model based on FRGs accurately predicts AML prognosis and drug sensitivity, and the drugs identified worthy further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaonan Hong
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuanao Xin
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Huijin Hu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenchao Zhuang
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Hangping Ge
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- National Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingying Shen
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- National Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuechao Zhao
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- National Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuhong Zhou
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- National Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Baodong Ye
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- National Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Dijiong Wu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- National Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base (Hematology), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Wenzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
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3
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Zhao L, Chen H, Lan F, Hao J, Zhang W, Li Y, Yin Y, Huang M, Wu X. Distinct FLT3 Pathways Gene Expression Profiles in Pediatric De Novo Acute Lymphoblastic and Myeloid Leukemia with FLT3 Mutations: Implications for Targeted Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9581. [PMID: 39273530 PMCID: PMC11395013 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2024] [Revised: 08/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Activating FLT3 mutations plays a crucial role in leukemogenesis, but identifying the optimal candidates for FLT3 inhibitor therapy remains controversial. This study aims to explore the impacts of FLT3 mutations in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to compare the mutation profiles between the two types to inspire the targeted application of FLT3 inhibitors. We retrospectively analyzed 243 ALL and 62 AML cases, grouping them into FLT3-mutant and wild-type categories, respectively. We then assessed the associations between FLT3 mutations and the clinical manifestations, genetic characteristics, and prognosis in ALL and AML. Additionally, we compared the distinct features of FLT3 mutations between ALL and AML. In ALL patients, those with FLT3 mutations predominantly exhibited hyperdiploidy (48.6% vs. 14.9%, p < 0.001) and higher FLT3 expression (108.02 [85.11, 142.06] FPKM vs. 23.11 [9.16, 59.14] FPKM, p < 0.001), but lower expression of signaling pathway-related genes such as HRAS, PIK3R3, BAD, MAP2K2, MAPK3, and STAT5A compared to FLT3 wild-type patients. There was no significant difference in prognosis between the two groups. In contrast, AML patients with FLT3 mutations were primarily associated with leucocytosis (82.90 [47.05, 189.76] G/L vs. 20.36 [8.90, 55.39] G/L, p = 0.001), NUP98 rearrangements (30% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.018), elevated FLT3 expression (74.77 [54.31, 109.46] FPKM vs. 34.56 [20.98, 48.28] FPKM, p < 0.001), and upregulated signaling pathway genes including PIK3CB, AKT1, MTOR, BRAF, and MAPK1 relative to FLT3 wild-type, correlating with poor prognosis. Notably, internal tandem duplications were the predominant type of FLT3 mutation in AML (66.7%) with higher inserted base counts, whereas they were almost absent in ALL (6.3%, p < 0.001). In summary, our study demonstrated that the forms and impacts of FLT3 mutations in ALL differed significantly from those in AML. The gene expression profiles of FLT3-related pathways may provide a rationale for using FLT3 inhibitors in AML rather than ALL when FLT3 mutations are present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizhen Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Hongbo Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Fengli Lan
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Jinjin Hao
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Wenzhi Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Yuhong Yin
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Minchun Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
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4
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Li M, Yang X, Hong Y, Liu Q, Shen Y, Hu T, Shen Y, Kai G, Wu D. Gilteritinib overcomes primary resistance to venetoclax in a patient with FLT3 wild-type refractory/relapsed AML: Case report and exploration of possible mechanisms. Heliyon 2024; 10:e35847. [PMID: 39211920 PMCID: PMC11357765 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Venetoclax, a selective BCL-2 inhibitor, has shown superior efficacy in the treatment of AML. Nevertheless, some AML patients with AML1-ETO respond poorly to venetoclax treatment. In this report, a relapsed/refractory (R/R) venetoclax resistant AML1-ETO positive AML patient showed rapid tumor regression after combination therapy with gilteritinib and venetoclax. Additional laboratory findings indicated that the combined impact of the two drugs may be associated with the induction of the integrated stress response. This case presents a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of FLT3 wild-type RR, AML1-ETO AML patients who have primary resistance to venetoclax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Li
- Zhejiang Key TCM Laboratory for Chinese Resource Innovation and Transformation, Jinhua Academy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiawan Yang
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yaonan Hong
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yingying Shen
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tonglin Hu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiping Shen
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guoyin Kai
- Zhejiang Key TCM Laboratory for Chinese Resource Innovation and Transformation, Jinhua Academy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dijiong Wu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, Wenzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
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5
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Jiménez-Vicente C, Guardia-Torrelles A, Pérez-Valencia AI, Martínez-Roca A, Castaño-Diez S, Guijarro F, Cortés-Bullich A, Merchán B, Triguero A, Hernández I, Brillembourg H, Munárriz D, Zugasti I, Fernández-Avilés F, Diaz-Beyá M, Esteve J. Clinical management of patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia treated with venetoclax in combination with hypomethylating agents after achieving a response: a real-life study. Ann Hematol 2024:10.1007/s00277-024-05923-5. [PMID: 39207559 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-024-05923-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Although there is an approved indication for venetoclax and hypomethylating agents (VenHMA) and its use in different AML settings will be expanded in the following years, the management of the adverse events (AEs) lacks of harmonized algorithms during treatment of these patients. We have studied the incidence of relevant AEs of 43 patients who achieved a response to VenHMA and its management. Median overall survival of our cohort was 19 months. No patients discontinued treatment due to AEs after C3D1, Regarding severe AEs, high rates of grade 4 neutropenia (97.6%) and grade 4 thrombocytopenia (65.1%) were observed. Severe infectious AEs rate was 16%. Due to severe myelotoxicity, most patients required a progressive dose reduction of both venetoclax and hypomethylating agents during follow-up, being 87.8% at C6D1. Transfusional dependence rate was 91% and G-CSF was prescribed to 86% of the patients. Finally, there was not a significant difference in hemoglobin, platelets and absolute neutrophil count after achieving complete response comparing paired samples during follow-up, although cytopenia rate was high during initial follow-up. We conclude that dose reduction of VenHMA after achieving a response in patients diagnosed with AML is required in most patients and essential to avoid prolonged cytopenia-related adverse events and a rapid and standardized method on how to perform it might decrease the AEs rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Jiménez-Vicente
- Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ares Guardia-Torrelles
- Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amanda Isabel Pérez-Valencia
- Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alexandra Martínez-Roca
- Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Castaño-Diez
- Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesca Guijarro
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Pathology Department. Hospital Clinic, Hemopathology Unit, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Cortés-Bullich
- Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Merchán
- Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Triguero
- Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Hernández
- Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Helena Brillembourg
- Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Munárriz
- Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Inés Zugasti
- Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Marina Diaz-Beyá
- Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Esteve
- Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
- University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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6
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Xu Y, Baylink DJ, Xiao J, Tran L, Nguyen V, Park B, Valladares I, Lee S, Codorniz K, Tan L, Chen CS, Abdel-Azim H, Reeves ME, Mirshahidi H, Marcucci G, Cao H. Discovery of NFκB2-Coordinated Dual Regulation of Mitochondrial and Nuclear Genomes Leads to an Effective Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8532. [PMID: 39126100 PMCID: PMC11313218 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has a poor survival rate for both pediatric and adult patients due to its frequent relapse. To elucidate the bioenergetic principle underlying AML relapse, we investigated the transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial-nuclear dual genomes responsible for metabolic plasticity in treatment-resistant blasts. Both the gain and loss of function results demonstrated that NFκB2, a noncanonical transcription factor (TF) of the NFκB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) family, can control the expression of TFAM (mitochondrial transcription factor A), which is known to be essential for metabolic biogenesis. Furthermore, genetic tracking and promoter assays revealed that NFκB2 is in the mitochondria and can bind the specific "TTGGGGGGTG" region of the regulatory D-loop domain to activate the light-strand promoter (LSP) and heavy-strand promoter 1 (HSP1), promoters of the mitochondrial genome. Based on our discovery of NFκB2's novel function of regulating mitochondrial-nuclear dual genomes, we explored a novel triplet therapy including inhibitors of NFκB2, tyrosine kinase, and mitochondrial ATP synthase that effectively eliminated primary AML blasts with mutations of the FMS-related receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and displayed minimum toxicity to control cells ex vivo. As such, effective treatments for AML must include strong inhibitory actions on the dual genomes mediating metabolic plasticity to improve leukemia prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xu
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (C.-S.C.)
- Division Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Cancer Center, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - David J. Baylink
- Division Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Jeffrey Xiao
- Division Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Lily Tran
- Division Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Vinh Nguyen
- Division Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Brandon Park
- Division Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Ismael Valladares
- Division Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Scott Lee
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Kevin Codorniz
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Laren Tan
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Hyperbaric and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Chien-Shing Chen
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (C.-S.C.)
- Cancer Center, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Hisham Abdel-Azim
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (C.-S.C.)
- Division of Transplant and Cell Therapy, Loma Linda University Cancer Center, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Mark E. Reeves
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (C.-S.C.)
- Cancer Center, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Hamid Mirshahidi
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (C.-S.C.)
- Cancer Center, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Guido Marcucci
- Department of Hematological Malignancies Translational Science, Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, City of Hope Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Huynh Cao
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA; (C.-S.C.)
- Cancer Center, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
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7
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Oikonomou A, Watrin T, Valsecchi L, Scharov K, Savino AM, Schliehe-Diecks J, Bardini M, Fazio G, Bresolin S, Biondi A, Borkhardt A, Bhatia S, Cazzaniga G, Palmi C. Synergistic drug interactions of the histone deacetylase inhibitor givinostat (ITF2357) in CRLF2-rearranged pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia identified by high-throughput drug screening. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34033. [PMID: 39071567 PMCID: PMC11277435 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Combining multiple drugs broadens the window of therapeutic opportunities and is crucial for diseases that are currently lacking fully curative treatments. A powerful emerging tool for selecting effective drugs and combinations is the high-throughput drug screening (HTP). The histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) givinostat (ITF2357) has been shown to act effectively against CRLF2-rearranged pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL), a subtype characterized by poor outcome and enriched in children with Down Syndrome, very fragile patients with a high susceptibility to treatment-related toxicity. The aim of this study is to investigate possible synergies with givinostat for these difficult-to-treat patients by performing HTP screening with a library of 174 drugs, either approved or in preclinical studies. By applying this approach to the CRLF2-r MHH-CALL-4 cell line, we identified 19 compounds with higher sensitivity in combination with givinostat compared to the single treatments. Next, the synergy between givinostat and the promising candidates was further validated in CRLF2r cell lines with a broad matrix of concentrations. The combinations with trametinib (MEKi) or venetoclax (BCL2i) were found to be the most effective and with the greatest synergy across three metrics (ZIP, HAS, Bliss). Their efficacy was confirmed in primary blasts treated ex vivo at concentration ranges with a safe profile on healthy cells. Finally, we described givinostat-induced modifications in gene expression of MAPK and BCL-2 family members, supporting the observed synergistic interactions. Overall, our study represents a model of drug repurposing strategy using HTP screening for identifying synergistic, efficient, and safe drug combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Titus Watrin
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Luigia Valsecchi
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Katerina Scharov
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Angela Maria Savino
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Julian Schliehe-Diecks
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michela Bardini
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Grazia Fazio
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Silvia Bresolin
- Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant Division, Women and Child Health Department, Padua University and Hospital, Padua, Italy
- Onco-Hematology, Stem Cell Transplant and Gene Therapy, Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Foundation - Città della Speranza, Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Biondi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
- Pediatrics, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Arndt Borkhardt
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sanil Bhatia
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Giovanni Cazzaniga
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Chiara Palmi
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
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8
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Liu L, Yang C, Zhu L, Wang Y, Zheng F, Liang L, Cao P, Liu J, Han X, Zhang J. RSL3 enhances ROS-mediated cell apoptosis of myelodysplastic syndrome cells through MYB/Bcl-2 signaling pathway. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:465. [PMID: 38956026 PMCID: PMC11219730 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06866-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal hematopoietic malignancies and seriously threaten people's health. Current therapies include bone marrow transplantation and several hypomethylating agents. However, many elderly patients cannot benefit from bone marrow transplantation and many patients develop drug resistance to hypomethylating agents, making it urgent to explore novel therapy. RSL3 can effectively induce ferroptosis in various tumors and combination of RSL3 and hypomethylating agents is promising to treat many tumors. However, its effect in MDS was unknown. In this study, we found that RSL3 inhibited MDS cell proliferation through inducing ROS-dependent apoptosis. RSL3 inhibited Bcl-2 expression and increased caspase 3 and PARP cleavage. RNA-seq analysis revealed that MYB may be a potential target of RSL3. Rescue experiments showed that overexpression of MYB can rescue MDS cell proliferation inhibition caused by RSL3. Cellular thermal shift assay showed that RSL3 binds to MYB to exert its function. Furthermore, RSL3 inhibited tumor growth and decreased MYB and Bcl-2 expression in vivo. More importantly, RSL3 decreased the viability of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) isolated from MDS patients, and RSL3 had a synergistic effect with DAC in MDS cells. Our studies have uncovered RSL3 as a promising compound and MYB/Bcl-2 signaling pathway as a potential target for MDS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
- Molecular Biology Research Center & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Chaoying Yang
- Molecular Biology Research Center & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Yanyan Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
| | - Fuxiang Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, 518033, Guangdong, China
| | - Long Liang
- Molecular Biology Research Center & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Pengfei Cao
- Department of Hematology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Molecular Biology Research Center & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Xu Han
- Molecular Biology Research Center & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China.
| | - Ji Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
- MOE Key Laboratory of Rare Pediatric Diseases, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
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9
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Boer JM, Ilan U, Boeree A, Langenberg KPS, Koster J, Koudijs MJ, Hehir-Kwa JY, Nierkens S, Rossi C, Molenaar JJ, Goemans BF, den Boer ML, Zwaan CM. Oncogenic and immunological targets for matched therapy of pediatric blood cancer patients: Dutch iTHER study experience. Hemasphere 2024; 8:e122. [PMID: 39011126 PMCID: PMC11247331 DOI: 10.1002/hem3.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past 10 years, institutional and national molecular tumor boards have been implemented for relapsed or refractory pediatric cancer to prioritize targeted drugs for individualized treatment based on actionable oncogenic lesions, including the Dutch iTHER platform. Hematological malignancies form a minority in precision medicine studies. Here, we report on 56 iTHER leukemia/lymphoma patients for which we considered cell surface markers and oncogenic aberrations as actionable events, supplemented with ex vivo drug sensitivity for six patients. Prior to iTHER registration, 34% of the patients had received allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and 18% CAR-T therapy. For 51 patients (91%), a sample with sufficient tumor percentage (≥20%) required for comprehensive diagnostic testing was obtained. Up to 10 oncogenic actionable events were prioritized in 49/51 patients, and immunotherapy targets were identified in all profiled patients. Targeted treatment(s) based on the iTHER advice was given to 24 of 51 patients (47%), including immunotherapy in 17 patients, a targeted drug matching an oncogenic aberration in 12 patients, and a drug based on ex vivo drug sensitivity in one patient, resulting in objective responses and a bridge to HCT in the majority of the patients. In conclusion, comprehensive profiling of relapsed/refractory hematological malignancies showed multiple oncogenic and immunotherapy targets for a precision medicine approach, which requires multidisciplinary expertise to prioritize the best treatment options for this rare, heavily pretreated pediatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith M Boer
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Uri Ilan
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Aurélie Boeree
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
| | | | - Jan Koster
- Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Marco J Koudijs
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Jayne Y Hehir-Kwa
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Nierkens
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
- Center for Translational Immunology UMC Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Corinne Rossi
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, and Immunology Heidelberg University Hospital Heidelberg Germany
| | - Jan J Molenaar
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Bianca F Goemans
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Monique L den Boer
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital Rotterdam The Netherlands
| | - C Michel Zwaan
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology Utrecht The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Erasmus Medical Center - Sophia Children's Hospital Rotterdam The Netherlands
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10
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Tan Y, Xin L, Wang Q, Xu R, Tong X, Chen G, Ma L, Yang F, Jiang H, Zhang N, Wu J, Li X, Guo X, Wang C, Zhou H, Zhou F. FLT3-selective PROTAC: Enhanced safety and increased synergy with Venetoclax in FLT3-ITD mutated acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Lett 2024; 592:216933. [PMID: 38705564 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients carrying Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) mutations often face a poor prognosis. While some FLT3 inhibitors have been used clinically, challenges such as short efficacy and poor specificity persist. Proteolytic targeting chimera (PROTAC), with its lower ligand affinity requirement for target proteins, offers higher and rapid targeting capability. Gilteritinib, used as the ligand for the target protein, was connected with different E3 ligase ligands to synthesize several series of PROTAC targeting FLT3-ITD. Through screening and structural optimization, the optimal lead compound PROTAC Z29 showed better specificity than Gilteritinib. Z29 induced FLT3 degradation through the proteasome pathway and inhibited tumor growth in subcutaneous xenograft mice. We verified Z29's minimal impact on platelets in a patient-derived xenografts (PDX) model compared to Gilteritinib. The combination of Z29 and Venetoclax showed better anti-tumor effects, lower platelet toxicity, and lower hepatic toxicity in FLT3-ITD+ models. The FLT3-selective PROTAC can mitigate the platelet toxicity of small molecule inhibitors, ensuring safety and efficacy in monotherapy and combination therapy with Venetoclax. It is a promising strategy for FLT3-ITD+ patients, especially those with platelet deficiency or liver damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Tan
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Lilan Xin
- Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Rong Xu
- Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xiqin Tong
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Guopeng Chen
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Linlu Ma
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Fuwei Yang
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Hongqiang Jiang
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jinxian Wu
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xinqi Li
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xinyi Guo
- Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Haibing Zhou
- Medical Research Institute, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (MOE) and Hubei Province Engineering and Technology Research Center for Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Fuling Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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11
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Zhang Y, Zhou X. Targeting regulated cell death (RCD) in hematological malignancies: Recent advances and therapeutic potential. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116667. [PMID: 38703504 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Regulated cell death (RCD) is a form of cell death that can be regulated by numerous biomacromolecules. Accumulating evidence suggests that dysregulated expression and altered localization of related proteins in RCD promote the development of cancer. Targeting subroutines of RCD with pharmacological small-molecule compounds is becoming a promising therapeutic avenue for anti-tumor treatment, especially in hematological malignancies. Herein, we summarize the aberrant mechanisms of apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, PANoptosis, and ferroptosis in hematological malignancies. In particular, we focus on the relationship between cell death and tumorigenesis, anti-tumor immunotherapy, and drug resistance in hematological malignancies. Furthermore, we discuss the emerging therapeutic strategies targeting different RCD subroutines. This review aims to summarize the significance and potential mechanisms of RCD in hematological malignancies, along with the development and utilization of pertinent therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Xiangxiang Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China; Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China; Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China; Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China; National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 251006, China.
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12
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Kugler E, Cohen I, Amitai I, Ram R, Frisch A, Nachmias B, Canaani J, Moshe Y, Krayem B, Aumann S, Henig I, Vainstein V, Shargian L, Ganzel C, Yeshurun M, Levi I, Raanani P, Akria L, Ofran Y, Shimony S, Wolach O. Gilteritinib with or without venetoclax for relapsed/refractory FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukaemia. Br J Haematol 2024. [PMID: 38782575 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Patients with FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) that relapse or are refractory (R/R) to intensive induction have poor outcomes. Gilteritinib has recently become standard-of-care for patients with R/R FLT3-mutated AML. We investigated whether adding venetoclax to gilteritinib (gilt-ven) improves outcomes as compared with gilteritinib monotherapy. We included patients treated with gilteritinib (n = 19) and gilt-ven (n = 17) for R/R AML after intensive chemotherapy. Gilteritinib and gilt-ven groups did not differ in terms of mCRc rates (53% and 65%, p = 0.51) and realization of allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT, 47% and 35%, p = 0.5). Overall survival (OS) was comparable between groups, although a trend towards better OS was seen with gilt-ven (12-month OS 58.8% [95% CI 39.5%-87.6%]) versus gilteritinib (42.1% [95% CI 24.9%-71.3%] for gilteritinib). Early salvage with gilt-ven versus any other gilteritinib-based approach was associated with the best outcome (p = 0.031). Combination therapy was associated with increased haematological toxicity. In summary, gilt-ven did not improve remissions or HSCT-realization rates in patients with R/R FLT3-mutated AML as compared with gilteritinib and was associated with increased haematological toxicity. Although OS did not differ, a trend towards better survival was suggested with gilt-ven and a survival benefit was shown for gilt-ven approach when sequenced early for salvage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eitan Kugler
- Institute of Haematology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Inbar Cohen
- Institute of Haematology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Irina Amitai
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Haematology Division, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Ron Ram
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Institute of Haematology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (TLVMC), Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Avraham Frisch
- Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
- Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Boaz Nachmias
- Department of Haematology, Hadassah Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jonathan Canaani
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yakir Moshe
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Institute of Haematology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (TLVMC), Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Baher Krayem
- Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
- Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shlomzion Aumann
- Department of Haematology, Hadassah Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Israel Henig
- Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
- Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Vladimir Vainstein
- Department of Haematology, Hadassah Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Liat Shargian
- Institute of Haematology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Chezi Ganzel
- Department of Haematology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Moshe Yeshurun
- Institute of Haematology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Itay Levi
- Haematology Institute, Soroka Medical Center, Beer-Sheba, Israel
| | - Pia Raanani
- Institute of Haematology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Luiza Akria
- Department of Haematology, Galilee Medical Center, Naharyia, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine Bar Ilan University, Sefad, Israel
| | - Yishai Ofran
- Department of Haematology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shai Shimony
- Institute of Haematology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ofir Wolach
- Institute of Haematology, Davidoff Cancer Center, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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13
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Short NJ, Daver N, Dinardo CD, Kadia T, Nasr LF, Macaron W, Yilmaz M, Borthakur G, Montalban-Bravo G, Garcia-Manero G, Issa GC, Chien KS, Jabbour E, Nasnas C, Huang X, Qiao W, Matthews J, Stojanik CJ, Patel KP, Abramova R, Thankachan J, Konopleva M, Kantarjian H, Ravandi F. Azacitidine, Venetoclax, and Gilteritinib in Newly Diagnosed and Relapsed or Refractory FLT3-Mutated AML. J Clin Oncol 2024; 42:1499-1508. [PMID: 38277619 PMCID: PMC11095865 DOI: 10.1200/jco.23.01911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Azacitidine plus venetoclax is a standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed AML who are unfit for intensive chemotherapy. However, FLT3 mutations are a common mechanism of resistance to this regimen. The addition of gilteritinib, an oral FLT3 inhibitor, to azacitidine and venetoclax may improve outcomes in patients with FLT3-mutated AML. METHODS This phase I/II study evaluated azacitidine, venetoclax, and gilteritinib in two cohorts: patients with (1) newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML who were unfit for intensive chemotherapy or (2) relapsed/refractory FLT3-mutated AML (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04140487). The primary end points were the maximum tolerated dose of gilteritinib (phase I) and the combined complete remission (CR)/CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) rate (phase II). RESULTS Fifty-two patients were enrolled (frontline [n = 30]; relapsed/refractory [n = 22]). The recommended phase II dose was gilteritinib 80 mg once daily in combination with azacitidine and venetoclax. In the frontline cohort, the median age was 71 years and 73% of patients had an FLT3-internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation. The CR/CRi rate was 96% (CR, 90%; CRi, 6%). Sixty-five percent of evaluable patients achieved FLT3-ITD measurable residual disease <5 × 10-5 within four cycles. With a median follow-up of 19.3 months, the median relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) have not been reached and the 18-month RFS and OS rates are 71% and 72%, respectively. In the relapsed/refractory cohort, the CR/CRi rate was 27%; nine additional patients (41%) achieved a morphologic leukemia-free state. The most common grade 3 or higher nonhematologic adverse events were infection (62%) and febrile neutropenia (38%), which were more frequent in the relapsed/refractory cohort. CONCLUSION The combination of azacitidine, venetoclax, and gilteritinib resulted in high rates of CR/CRi, deep FLT3 molecular responses, and encouraging survival in newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML. Myelosuppression was manageable with mitigative dosing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Short
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Naval Daver
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Courtney D. Dinardo
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Tapan Kadia
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Lewis F. Nasr
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Walid Macaron
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Musa Yilmaz
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Gautam Borthakur
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | | | | | - Ghayas C. Issa
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Kelly S. Chien
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Elias Jabbour
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Cedric Nasnas
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Xuelin Huang
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Wei Qiao
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Jairo Matthews
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | | | - Keyur P. Patel
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Regina Abramova
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Jennifer Thankachan
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Marina Konopleva
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Hagop Kantarjian
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Farhad Ravandi
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
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14
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Nachmias B, Aumann S, Haran A, Schimmer AD. Venetoclax resistance in acute myeloid leukaemia-Clinical and biological insights. Br J Haematol 2024; 204:1146-1158. [PMID: 38296617 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Venetoclax, an oral BCL-2 inhibitor, has been widely incorporated in the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia. The combination of hypomethylating agents and venetoclax is the current standard of care for elderly and patient's ineligible for aggressive therapies. However, venetoclax is being increasingly used with aggressive chemotherapy regimens both in the front line and in the relapse setting. Our growing experience and intensive research demonstrate that certain genetic abnormalities are associated with venetoclax sensitivity, while others with resistance, and that resistance can emerge during treatment leading to disease relapse. In the current review, we provide a summary of the known mechanisms of venetoclax cytotoxicity, both regarding the inhibition of BCL-2-mediated apoptosis and its effect on cell metabolism. We describe how these pathways are linked to venetoclax resistance and are associated with specific mutations. Finally, we provide the rationale for novel drug combinations in current and future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boaz Nachmias
- Department of Hematology, Hadassah Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shlomzion Aumann
- Department of Hematology, Hadassah Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Arnon Haran
- Department of Hematology, Hadassah Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Aaron D Schimmer
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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15
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Petit C, Saillard C, Mohty B, Hicheri Y, Villetard F, Maisano V, Charbonnier A, Rey J, D'Incan E, Rouzaud C, Gelsi-Boyer V, Murati A, Lhoumeau AC, Ittel A, Mozziconacci MJ, Alary AS, Hospital MA, Vey N, Garciaz S. Azacitidine-venetoclax versus azacitidine salvage treatment for primary induction failure or first relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia patients. Eur J Haematol 2024; 112:530-537. [PMID: 38031389 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.14140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy of venetoclax-azacitidine (VEN-AZA) with AZA in the real-life for patients with first relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia (R/R AML). METHODS We retrospectively analysed R/R AML patients treated with VEN-AZA at the Institut Paoli Calmettes between September 2020 and February 2022. We compared them to a historical cohort of patients treated with AZA between 2010 and 2021. RESULTS Thirty-five patients treated with VEN-AZA were compared with 140 patients treated with AZA. There were more favourable cytogenetics (25.7% vs. 8.6%; p = 0.01) and less FLT3-ITD mutated AML (8.8% vs. 25.5%; p = .049) in the VEN-AZA group. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 7.4% and the overall 90-day mortality was 20%, with no difference between the groups. The complete remission rate was 48.6% in the VEN-AZA group versus 15% (p < .0001). The composite complete response rate was 65.7% in the VEN-AZA group versus 23.6% (p < .0001). OS was 12.8 months in the VEN-AZA group versus 7.3 months (p = 0.059). Patients with primary refractory AML, poor-risk cytogenetics, prior hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) and FLT3-ITD mutated AML had lower response and survival rates. CONCLUSION VEN-AZA was associated with a better response rate and a longer survival than AZA monotherapy in AML patients who relapsed after or were refractory to intensive chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Petit
- Département d'hématologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - C Saillard
- Département d'hématologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - B Mohty
- Département d'hématologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Y Hicheri
- Département d'hématologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - F Villetard
- Département d'hématologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - V Maisano
- Département d'hématologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - A Charbonnier
- Département d'hématologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - J Rey
- Département d'hématologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - E D'Incan
- Département d'hématologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - C Rouzaud
- Département d'hématologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - V Gelsi-Boyer
- Département de Biologie des Tumeurs CRCM, Inserm, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | - A Murati
- Département de Biologie des Tumeurs, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - A C Lhoumeau
- Département de Biologie des Tumeurs, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - A Ittel
- Département de Biologie des Tumeurs, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - M J Mozziconacci
- Département de Biologie des Tumeurs, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - A S Alary
- Département de Biologie des Tumeurs, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - M-A Hospital
- Département d'hématologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - N Vey
- Département d'hématologie, CRCM, Inserm, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | - S Garciaz
- Département d'hématologie, CRCM, Inserm, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
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16
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Diekmann B, Timmerman M, Hempenius L, van Roon E, Franken B, Hoogendoorn M. New treatment opportunities for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia and the increasing importance of frailty assessment - An oncogeriatric perspective. J Geriatr Oncol 2024; 15:101631. [PMID: 37783588 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgo.2023.101631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
With the introduction of targeted chemotherapy drugs, a new age of treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has begun. The promotion of the azacitidine+venetoclax combination regimen to first line of treatment in patients deemed ineligible for intensive chemotherapy marks the first of many novel combination regimens becoming part of national treatment guidelines. We review recent phase II and III clinical trials and conclude that these novel regimens offer significant increases in response rates, remission rates, and overall survival. The incidence of adverse events, the accrued time toxicity, and the healthcare costs, however, are increasing as well. Compared with clinical trials, older patients in the real world frequently present with an inferior baseline health status, which is associated with an increased risk of experiencing side effects. The key to reaping the maximum benefit of the new agents and their combination regimens therefore lies in sufficient attention being given to a patients' preexisting comorbidities, potential frailty, and quality of life. A systematic collaboration between hemato-oncologists and geriatricians can be a potent first step towards addressing the increased treatment intensity patients with AML experience under the novel regimens. In this narrative review article we provide an overview of recent and ongoing clinical trials, highlight encountered adverse events, discuss frailty assessment options, and outline an oncogeriatic care path for older patients with AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benno Diekmann
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Henri Dunantweg 2, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Henry Dunantweg 2, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; Unit of Pharmacotherapy, Epidemiology and Economics, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, the Netherlands; MCL Academy, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Henri Dunantweg 2, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands.
| | - Marjolijn Timmerman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Henri Dunantweg 2, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; Department of Geriatric Care, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Henry Dunantweg 2, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Liesbeth Hempenius
- Department of Geriatric Care, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Henry Dunantweg 2, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Eric van Roon
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Henry Dunantweg 2, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; Unit of Pharmacotherapy, Epidemiology and Economics, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, the Netherlands; MCL Academy, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Henri Dunantweg 2, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Bas Franken
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Henri Dunantweg 2, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | - Mels Hoogendoorn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Henri Dunantweg 2, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
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17
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Wei TH, Zhou Y, Yang J, Zhang MY, Wang JJ, Tong ZJ, Wu JZ, Wang YB, Sha JK, Chen M, Ding N, Yu YC, Dai WC, Leng XJ, Xue X, Sun SL, Wang XL, Li NG, Shi ZH. Design and synthesis 1H-Pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives as FLT3 inhibitors for the treatment of Acute myeloid Leukemia. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 100:117631. [PMID: 38330848 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of blood cancer and has been strongly correlated with the overexpression of Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3), a member of the class III receptor tyrosine kinase family. With the emergence of FLT3 internal tandem duplication alteration (ITD) and tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) mutations, the development of FLT3 small molecule inhibitors has become an effective medicinal chemistry strategy for AML. Herein, we have designed and synthesized two series of 1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives CM1-CM24, as FLT3 inhibitors based on F14, which we previously reported, that can target the hydrophobic FLT3 back pocket. Among these derivates, CM5 showed significant inhibition of FLT3 and FLT3-ITD, with inhibitory percentages of 57.72 % and 53.77 % respectively at the concentration of 1 μΜ. Furthermore, CM5 demonstrated potent inhibition against FLT3-dependent human AML cell lines MOLM-13 and MV4-11 (both harboring FLT3-ITD mutant), with IC50 values of 0.75 μM and 0.64 μM respectively. In our cellular mechanistic studies, CM5 also effectively induces apoptosis by arresting cell cycle progression in the G0/G1 phase. In addition, the amide and urea linker function were discussed in detail based on computational simulations studies. CM5 will serve as a novel lead compound for further structural modification and development of FLT3 inhibitors specifically targeting AML with FLT3-ITD mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Hua Wei
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yun Zhou
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Jin Yang
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Meng-Yuan Zhang
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Jing-Jing Wang
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Zhen-Jiang Tong
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Jia-Zhen Wu
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yi-Bo Wang
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Jiu-Kai Sha
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Min Chen
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Ning Ding
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yan-Cheng Yu
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Wei-Chen Dai
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China; Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, China
| | - Xue-Jiao Leng
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Xin Xue
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Shan-Liang Sun
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
| | - Xiao-Long Wang
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
| | - Nian-Guang Li
- National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
| | - Zhi-Hao Shi
- Laboratory of Molecular Design and Drug Discovery, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, China.
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18
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Yu S, Zhang Y, Yu G, Wang Y, Shao R, Du X, Xu N, Lin D, Zhao W, Zhang X, Xiao J, Sun Z, Deng L, Liang X, Zhang H, Guo Z, Dai M, Shi P, Huang F, Fan Z, Liu Q, Lin R, Jiang X, Xuan L, Liu Q, Jin H. Sorafenib plus triplet therapy with venetoclax, azacitidine and homoharringtonine for refractory/relapsed acute myeloid leukemia with FLT3-ITD: A multicenter phase 2 study. J Intern Med 2024; 295:216-228. [PMID: 37899297 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) and FLT3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) respond infrequently to salvage chemotherapy. OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy of sorafenib plus triplet therapy with venetoclax, azacitidine, and homoharringtonine (VAH) as a salvage therapy in this population. METHODS This multicenter, single-arm, phase 2 study was conducted at 12 hospitals across China. Eligible patients had R/R AML with FLT3-ITD (aged 18-65 years) who were treated with VAH. The primary endpoint was composite complete remission (CRc) after two cycles. Secondary outcomes included the overall response rate (ORR), safety, and survival. RESULTS Between July 9, 2020, and March 19, 2022, 58 patients were assessed for eligibility, 51 of whom were enrolled. The median patient age was 47 years (interquartile range [IQR] 31-57). CRc was 76.5% with ORR of 82.4%. At a median follow-up of 17.7 months (IQR, 8.7-24.7), the median duration of CRc was not reached (NR), overall survival was 18.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.8-NR) and event-free survival was 11.4 months (95% CI, 5.6-NR). Grade 3 or 4 adverse events occurring in ≥10% of patients included neutropenia in 47 (92.2%), thrombocytopenia in 41 (80.4%), anemia in 35 (68.6%), febrile neutropenia in 29 (56.9%), pneumonia in 13 (25.5%), and sepsis in 6 (11.8%) patients. Treatment-related death occurred in two (3.9%) patients. CONCLUSIONS The sorafenib plus VAH regimen was well tolerated and highly active against R/R AML with FLT3-ITD. This regimen may be a suitable therapeutic option for this population, but larger population trials are needed to be explored. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trials Registry: NCT04424147.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijian Yu
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guopan Yu
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Peking University Institute of Hematology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ruoyang Shao
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Du
- Peking Department of Hematology and Shenzhen Bone Marrow Transplantation Public Service Platform, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Na Xu
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dongjun Lin
- Department of Hematology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Weihua Zhao
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiong Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Maoming People's Hospital, Maoming, China
| | - Jie Xiao
- Department of Hematology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiqiang Sun
- Department of Hematology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lan Deng
- Department of Hematology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinquan Liang
- Department of Hematology, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, Chenzhou, China
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ziwen Guo
- Department of Hematology, Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, China
| | - Min Dai
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pengcheng Shi
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fen Huang
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiping Fan
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ren Lin
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuejie Jiang
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Xuan
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qifa Liu
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hua Jin
- Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Clinical Medical Research Center of Hematology Diseases of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
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19
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Joshi SK, Piehowski P, Liu T, Gosline SJC, McDermott JE, Druker BJ, Traer E, Tyner JW, Agarwal A, Tognon CE, Rodland KD. Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteogenomics: New Therapeutic Opportunities for Precision Medicine. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2024; 64:455-479. [PMID: 37738504 PMCID: PMC10950354 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-022723-113921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Proteogenomics refers to the integration of comprehensive genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic measurements from the same samples with the goal of fully understanding the regulatory processes converting genotypes to phenotypes, often with an emphasis on gaining a deeper understanding of disease processes. Although specific genetic mutations have long been known to drive the development of multiple cancers, gene mutations alone do not always predict prognosis or response to targeted therapy. The benefit of proteogenomics research is that information obtained from proteins and their corresponding pathways provides insight into therapeutic targets that can complement genomic information by providing an additional dimension regarding the underlying mechanisms and pathophysiology of tumors. This review describes the novel insights into tumor biology and drug resistance derived from proteogenomic analysis while highlighting the clinical potential of proteogenomic observations and advances in technique and analysis tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil K Joshi
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA;
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Paul Piehowski
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Tao Liu
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Sara J C Gosline
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Jason E McDermott
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Brian J Druker
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA;
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Elie Traer
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA;
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Jeffrey W Tyner
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA;
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Anupriya Agarwal
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA;
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Cristina E Tognon
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA;
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Karin D Rodland
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA;
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
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20
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Yu X, Wang Y, Tan J, Li Y, Yang P, Liu X, Lai J, Zhang Y, Cai L, Gu Y, Xu L, Li Y. Inhibition of NRF2 enhances the acute myeloid leukemia cell death induced by venetoclax via the ferroptosis pathway. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:35. [PMID: 38238299 PMCID: PMC10796764 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01800-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Venetoclax, an inhibitor that selectively targets B cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) that has been approved for treating adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in combination with hypomethylating agents. However, its short duration of response and emergence of resistance are significant issues. In this study, we found that the sensitivity of AML cells to venetoclax was considerably enhanced by ML385, an inhibitor of the ferroptosis factor nuclear transcription factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2). Using AML samples, we verified that NRF2 and its target gene ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1) were highly expressed in patients with AML and correlated with poor prognosis. Downregulation of NRF2 could inhibit FTH1 expression and significantly enhance the venetoclax-induced labile iron pool and lipid peroxidation. By contrast, NRF2 overexpression or administration of the reactive oxygen species inhibitor N-acetylcysteine and vitamin E could effectively suppress the anti-AML effects of ML385+venetoclax. Furthermore, the ferroptosis inducer erastin increased the anti-AML effects of venetoclax. Our study demonstrated that NRF2 inhibition could enhance the AML cell death induced by venetoclax via the ferroptosis pathway. Thus, the combination of ML385 with venetoclax may offer a favorable strategy for AML treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xibao Yu
- The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangzhou Municipality Tianhe Nuoya Bio-engineering Co. Ltd, Guangzhou, 510663, China
| | - Yan Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jiaxiong Tan
- The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention & Therapy of Tianjin, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Yuchen Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Pengyue Yang
- The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jing Lai
- The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Letong Cai
- The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yinfeng Gu
- The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Ling Xu
- The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Yangqiu Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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21
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Hara R, Machida S, Hashimoto N, Ogiya D, Kawai H, Kawakami S, Shiraiwa S, Onizuka M, Ogawa Y, Kawada H, Ando K. Impact of previous anthracycline therapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia receiving venetoclax. Int J Hematol 2023; 118:711-717. [PMID: 37728705 DOI: 10.1007/s12185-023-03664-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Venetoclax (VEN) combination regimens are now recognized as effective against acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the prognosis of patients who do not attain a composite complete response (cCR) is extremely poor, and clinical determinants of response remain unknown. Medical records of 57 patients with AML treated with VEN combination regimens from April 2021 to March 2022 at six institutions were retrospectively analyzed. The primary endpoint was cCR, complete remission, or complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery after one cycle of VEN combination regimen. Five patients had previously relapsed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). The treatment regimen was azacitidine-VEN in 48 patients (84%) and low-dose cytarabine-VEN in 9 patients (16%). Thirty patients (53%) achieved cCR after one cycle of a VEN regimen. In univariate analysis, the number of prior chemotherapy regimens, post-allo-SCT relapse, and cytogenetic risk category were associated with a decreased likelihood of achieving cCR. In multivariate analysis, second-line chemotherapy remained a significant predictor of response. Patients who received anthracycline immediately before the VEN regimen had a higher cCR rate than patients who did not receive anthracycline. In this study, prior chemotherapy/allo-SCT and cytogenetic risk were associated with VEN treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryujiro Hara
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan.
- Department of Hematology, Ebina General Hospital, Ebina, Kanagawa, Japan.
- Department of Hematology, Ozawa Hospital, Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Shinichiro Machida
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
| | - Norisato Hashimoto
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Tokai University Hachioji Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ogiya
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
- Department of Hematology, Isehara Kyodo Hospital, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hidetsugu Kawai
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
- Department of Hematology, Hiratsuka Kyosai Hospital, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shohei Kawakami
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
- Department of Hematology, Ozawa Hospital, Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Sawako Shiraiwa
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
| | - Makoto Onizuka
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Ogawa
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kawada
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Ando
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
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22
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Popescu B, Stahlhut C, Tarver TC, Wishner S, Lee BJ, Peretz CAC, Luck C, Phojanakong P, Camara Serrano JA, Hongo H, Rivera JM, Xirenayi S, Chukinas JA, Steri V, Tasian SK, Stieglitz E, Smith CC. Allosteric SHP2 inhibition increases apoptotic dependency on BCL2 and synergizes with venetoclax in FLT3- and KIT-mutant AML. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101290. [PMID: 37992684 PMCID: PMC10694768 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) FLT3 and KIT are frequent and associated with poor outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Although selective FLT3 inhibitors (FLT3i) are clinically effective, remissions are short-lived due to secondary resistance characterized by acquired mutations constitutively activating the RAS/MAPK pathway. Hereby, we report the pre-clinical efficacy of co-targeting SHP2, a critical node in MAPK signaling, and BCL2 in RTK-driven AML. The allosteric SHP2 inhibitor RMC-4550 suppresses proliferation of AML cell lines with FLT3 and KIT mutations, including cell lines with acquired resistance to FLT3i. We demonstrate that pharmacologic SHP2 inhibition unveils an Achilles' heel of RTK-driven AML, increasing apoptotic dependency on BCL2 via MAPK-dependent mechanisms, including upregulation of BMF and downregulation of MCL1. Consequently, RMC-4550 and venetoclax are synergistically lethal in AML cell lines and in clinically relevant xenograft models. Our results provide mechanistic rationale and pre-clinical evidence for co-targeting SHP2 and BCL2 in RTK-driven AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan Popescu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Theodore C Tarver
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sydney Wishner
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bianca J Lee
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Cheryl A C Peretz
- Department of Pediatrics, Benioff Children's Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Cuyler Luck
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Paul Phojanakong
- Preclinical Therapeutics Core, Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Juan Antonio Camara Serrano
- Preclinical Therapeutics Core, Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Henry Hongo
- Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jose M Rivera
- Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Simayijiang Xirenayi
- Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - John A Chukinas
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Veronica Steri
- Preclinical Therapeutics Core, Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sarah K Tasian
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elliot Stieglitz
- Department of Pediatrics, Benioff Children's Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Catherine C Smith
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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23
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Santinelli E, Pascale MR, Xie Z, Badar T, Stahl MF, Bewersdorf JP, Gurnari C, Zeidan AM. Targeting apoptosis dysregulation in myeloid malignancies - The promise of a therapeutic revolution. Blood Rev 2023; 62:101130. [PMID: 37679263 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2023.101130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the therapeutic landscape of myeloid malignancies has been completely revolutionized by the introduction of several new drugs, targeting molecular alterations or pathways crucial for leukemia cells survival. Particularly, many agents targeting apoptosis have been investigated in both pre-clinical and clinical studies. For instance, venetoclax, a pro-apoptotic agent active on BCL-2 signaling, has been successfully used in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The impressive results achieved in this context have made the apoptotic pathway an attractive target also in other myeloid neoplasms, translating the experience of AML. Therefore, several drugs are now under investigation either as single or in combination strategies, due to their synergistic efficacy and capacity to overcome resistance. In this paper, we will review the mechanisms of apoptosis and the specific drugs currently used and under investigation for the treatment of myeloid neoplasia, identifying critical research necessities for the upcoming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Santinelli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, PhD in Immunology, Molecular Medicine and Applied Biotechnology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Pascale
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, PhD in Immunology, Molecular Medicine and Applied Biotechnology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Zhuoer Xie
- Department of Malignant Hematology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Talha Badar
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Maximilian F Stahl
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jan P Bewersdorf
- Department of Medicine, Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carmelo Gurnari
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, PhD in Immunology, Molecular Medicine and Applied Biotechnology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Amer M Zeidan
- Section of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, USA.
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24
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Milnerowicz S, Maszewska J, Skowera P, Stelmach M, Lejman M. AML under the Scope: Current Strategies and Treatment Involving FLT3 Inhibitors and Venetoclax-Based Regimens. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15849. [PMID: 37958832 PMCID: PMC10647248 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease that mainly affects elderly patients who are more often unfit for intensive chemotherapy (median age of diagnosis is 68). The regimens, including venetoclax, a highly specific BCL-2 (B-cell lymphoma-2) inhibitor, are a common alternative because of their safer profile and fewer side effects. However, the resistance phenomenon of leukemic cells necessitates the search for drugs that would help to overcome the resistance and improve treatment outcomes. One of the resistance mechanisms takes place through the upregulation of MCL-1 and BCL-XL, preventing BAX/BAK-driven MOMP (mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization), thus stopping the apoptosis process. Possible partners for BCL-2 inhibitors may include inhibitors from the FLT3i (FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 inhibitor) group. They resensitize cancer cells through the downregulation of MCL-1 expression in the FLT3 mutated cells, resulting in the stronger efficacy of BCL-2 inhibitors. Also, they provide an additional pathway for targeting the clonal cell. Both preclinical and clinical data suggest that the combination might show a synergistic effect and improve patients' outcomes. The aim of this review is to determine whether the combination of venetoclax and FLT3 inhibitors can impact the therapeutic approaches and what other agents they can be combined with.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szymon Milnerowicz
- Student Scientific Society, Laboratory of Genetic Diagnostics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (S.M.); (J.M.)
| | - Julia Maszewska
- Student Scientific Society, Laboratory of Genetic Diagnostics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (S.M.); (J.M.)
| | - Paulina Skowera
- Independent Laboratory of Genetic Diagnostics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (P.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Magdalena Stelmach
- Independent Laboratory of Genetic Diagnostics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (P.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Monika Lejman
- Independent Laboratory of Genetic Diagnostics, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (P.S.); (M.S.)
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25
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Lang TJL, Damm F, Bullinger L, Frick M. Mechanisms of Resistance to Small Molecules in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4573. [PMID: 37760544 PMCID: PMC10526197 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, great progress has been made in the therapy of AML by targeting cellular processes associated with specific molecular features of the disease. Various small molecules inhibiting FLT3, IDH1/IDH2, and BCL2 have already gained approval from the respective authorities and are essential parts of personalized therapeutic regimens in modern therapy of AML. Unfortunately, primary and secondary resistance to these inhibitors is a frequent problem. Here, we comprehensively review the current state of knowledge regarding molecular processes involved in primary and secondary resistance to these agents, covering both genetic and nongenetic mechanisms. In addition, we introduce concepts and strategies for how these resistance mechanisms might be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonio Johannes Lukas Lang
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Frederik Damm
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lars Bullinger
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mareike Frick
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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26
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Short NJ, Nguyen D, Ravandi F. Treatment of older adults with FLT3-mutated AML: Emerging paradigms and the role of frontline FLT3 inhibitors. Blood Cancer J 2023; 13:142. [PMID: 37696819 PMCID: PMC10495326 DOI: 10.1038/s41408-023-00911-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
FLT3 is the most frequently mutated gene in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations being associated with a more aggressive clinical course. While two large, randomized clinical trials have shown a survival benefit with the frontline use of an oral FLT3 inhibitor (midostaurin or quizartinib) in patients with FLT3-mutated AML, the role of FLT3 inhibitors in older adults with newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML remains unclear. A definitive improvement in survival has not been observed in intensively treated patients over 60 years of age receiving frontline FLT3 inhibitors. Furthermore, many patients with FLT3-mutated AML are unsuitable for intensive chemotherapy due to age and/or comorbidities, and this population represents a particular unmet need. For these older patients who are unfit for intensive approaches, azacitidine + venetoclax is a new standard of care and is used by many clinicians irrespective of FLT3 mutation status. However, FLT3-ITD mutations confer resistance to venetoclax and are a well-established mechanism of relapse to lower-intensity venetoclax-based regimens, leading to short durations of remission and poor survival. Preclinical and clinical data suggest synergy between FLT3 inhibitors and venetoclax, providing rationale for their combination. Novel strategies to safely incorporate FLT3 inhibitors into the standard hypomethylating agent + venetoclax backbone are now being explored in this older, less fit population with newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML, with encouraging early results. Herein, we discuss the frontline use of FLT3 inhibitors in older adults with FLT3-mutated AML, including the potential role of FLT3 inhibitors in combination with intensive chemotherapy and as part of novel, lower-intensity doublet and triplet regimens in this older population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Short
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Daniel Nguyen
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Farhad Ravandi
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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27
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Kelvin JM, Jain J, Thapa A, Qui M, Birnbaum LA, Moore SG, Zecca H, Summers RJ, Switchenko JM, Costanza E, Uricoli B, Wang X, Jui NT, Fu H, Du Y, DeRyckere D, Graham DK, Dreaden EC. Constitutively Synergistic Multiagent Drug Formulations Targeting MERTK, FLT3, and BCL-2 for Treatment of AML. Pharm Res 2023; 40:2133-2146. [PMID: 37704893 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-023-03596-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although high-dose, multiagent chemotherapy has improved leukemia survival rates, treatment outcomes remain poor in high-risk subsets, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in infants. The development of new, more effective therapies for these patients is therefore an urgent, unmet clinical need. METHODS The dual MERTK/FLT3 inhibitor MRX-2843 and BCL-2 family protein inhibitors were screened in high-throughput against a panel of AML and MLL-rearranged precursor B-cell ALL (infant ALL) cell lines. A neural network model was built to correlate ratiometric drug synergy and target gene expression. Drugs were loaded into liposomal nanocarriers to assess primary AML cell responses. RESULTS MRX-2843 synergized with venetoclax to reduce AML cell density in vitro. A neural network classifier based on drug exposure and target gene expression predicted drug synergy and growth inhibition in AML with high accuracy. Combination monovalent liposomal drug formulations delivered defined drug ratios intracellularly and recapitulated synergistic drug activity. The magnitude and frequency of synergistic responses were both maintained and improved following drug formulation in a genotypically diverse set of primary AML bone marrow specimens. CONCLUSIONS We developed a nanoscale combination drug formulation that exploits ectopic expression of MERTK tyrosine kinase and dependency on BCL-2 family proteins for leukemia cell survival in pediatric AML and infant ALL cells. We demonstrate ratiometric drug delivery and synergistic cell killing in AML, a result achieved by a systematic, generalizable approach of combination drug screening and nanoscale formulation that may be extended to other drug pairs or diseases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Kelvin
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Juhi Jain
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona College of Medicine, and Banner University Medical Center Tucson, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
| | - Aashis Thapa
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Min Qui
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Lacey A Birnbaum
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Samuel G Moore
- Systems Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Henry Zecca
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Ryan J Summers
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Switchenko
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Emma Costanza
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Biaggio Uricoli
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Nathan T Jui
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Haian Fu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Yuhong Du
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Deborah DeRyckere
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Douglas K Graham
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Erik C Dreaden
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
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28
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Weidenauer K, Schmidt C, Rohde C, Pauli C, Blank MF, Heid D, Waclawiczek A, Corbacioglu A, Göllner S, Lotze M, Vierbaum L, Renders S, Krijgsveld J, Raffel S, Sauer T, Trumpp A, Pabst C, Müller-Tidow C, Janssen M. The ribosomal protein S6 kinase alpha-1 (RPS6KA1) induces resistance to venetoclax/azacitidine in acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 2023; 37:1611-1625. [PMID: 37414921 PMCID: PMC10400424 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-023-01951-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Venetoclax/azacitidine combination therapy is effective in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and tolerable for older, multimorbid patients. Despite promising response rates, many patients do not achieve sustained remission or are upfront refractory. Identification of resistance mechanisms and additional therapeutic targets represent unmet clinical needs. By using a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 library screen targeting 18,053 protein- coding genes in a human AML cell line, various genes conferring resistance to combined venetoclax/azacitidine treatment were identified. The ribosomal protein S6 kinase A1 (RPS6KA1) was among the most significantly depleted sgRNA-genes in venetoclax/azacitidine- treated AML cells. Addition of the RPS6KA1 inhibitor BI-D1870 to venetoclax/azacitidine decreased proliferation and colony forming potential compared to venetoclax/azacitidine alone. Furthermore, BI-D1870 was able to completely restore the sensitivity of OCI-AML2 cells with acquired resistance to venetoclax/azacitidine. Analysis of cell surface markers revealed that RPS6KA1 inhibition efficiently targeted monocytic blast subclones as a potential source of relapse upon venetoclax/azacitidine treatment. Taken together, our results suggest RPS6KA1 as mediator of resistance towards venetoclax/azacitidine and additional RPS6KA1 inhibition as strategy to prevent or overcome resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Weidenauer
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- University of Heidelberg Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christina Schmidt
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- University of Heidelberg Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Rohde
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), University of Heidelberg and European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cornelius Pauli
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Mechanisms Regulating Gene Expression, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maximilian F Blank
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), University of Heidelberg and European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Proteomics of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel Heid
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), University of Heidelberg and European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Waclawiczek
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anika Corbacioglu
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- University of Heidelberg Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Göllner
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michelle Lotze
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lisa Vierbaum
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simon Renders
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jeroen Krijgsveld
- University of Heidelberg Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Proteomics of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simon Raffel
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tim Sauer
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Trumpp
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Caroline Pabst
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), University of Heidelberg and European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carsten Müller-Tidow
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), University of Heidelberg and European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maike Janssen
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), University of Heidelberg and European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany.
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Oyogoa E, Traer E, Tyner J, Lachowiez C. Building on Foundations: Venetoclax-Based Combinations in the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3589. [PMID: 37509251 PMCID: PMC10377106 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Frontline acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment is determined by a combination of patient and genetic factors. This includes patient fitness (i.e., comorbidities that increase the risk of treatment-related mortality) and genetic characteristics, including cytogenetic events and gene mutations. In older unfit patients, the standard of care treatment is typically venetoclax (VEN) combined with hypomethylating agents (HMA). Recently, several drugs have been developed targeting specific genomic subgroups of AML patients, enabling individualized therapy. This has resulted in investigations of doublet and triplet combinations incorporating VEN aimed at overcoming known resistance mechanisms and improving outcomes in older patients with AML. These combinations include isocitrate dehydrogenase-1/2 (IDH1/2) inhibitors (i.e., ivosidenib and enasidenib), fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitors (i.e., gilteritinib), anti-CD47 antibodies (i.e., magrolimab), mouse double minute-2 (MDM2) inhibitors, and p53 reactivators (i.e., eprenetapopt). This review summarizes ongoing trials aimed at overcoming known VEN resistance mechanisms and improving outcomes beyond that observed with HMA + VEN combinations in the treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuella Oyogoa
- Department of Internal Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Elie Traer
- Knight Cancer Institute, Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Jeffrey Tyner
- Knight Cancer Institute, Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Curtis Lachowiez
- Knight Cancer Institute, Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
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Zhang H, Wu G, Chen B. Knockdown of neurotrophin receptor-interacting melanoma-associated antigen homolog inhibits acute myeloid leukemia cell growth via the ERK pathway. CHINESE J PHYSIOL 2023; 66:276-283. [PMID: 37635487 DOI: 10.4103/cjop.cjop-d-22-00162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurotrophin receptor-interacting melanoma-associated antigen homolog (NRAGE), a type II melanoma-associated antigen, plays a critical role in cell processes that are involved in the tumorigenesis of various cancers. However, the effect of NRAGE on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is rarely reported. The expression of NRAGE in AML tissues and the survival rates between different AML groups were obtained from the GEPIA tool. Human AML cell lines were cultured and transfected with siRNA targeting NRAGE. The ability of AML cells to proliferate and cell cycle were examined. Western blotting was performed to detect the activity of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in AML cells. NRAGE expression was enhanced in AML tissues relative to control tissues, and the high NRAGE expression in AML patients is associated with a poor prognosis. The capacity of AML cells to survive and proliferate was significantly decreased and its cell cycle was arrested at the G1 phase after NRAGE was silenced. Furthermore, silencing NRAGE induced the inactivation of the ERK signaling pathway. Furthermore, supplement of tert-Butylhydroquinone, an ERK activator, improved the reduced ability of AML cell survival and proliferation as well as cell cycle arrest induced by NRAGE knockdown. In this study, NRAGE was identified as a tumor promoter in AML, which had an effect on cell proliferation, cell survival, and cell cycle through the ERK signaling pathway in AML cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Zhang
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Guangsheng Wu
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Beili Chen
- Department of Hematological, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangxi, China
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Kagan AB, Moses BS, Lapidus R, Mott BT, Rai G, Anders NM, Hoag SW, Rudek MA, Civin CI. ART714 is a best-in-class antileukemic 2-carbon-linked dimeric artemisinin derivative. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2023; 92:39-50. [PMID: 37249624 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-023-04539-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE It has become increasingly clear that new multiagent combination regimens are required to improve survival rates in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We recently reported that ART631, a first-in-class 2-carbon-linked artemisinin-derived dimer (2C-ART), was not only efficacious as a component of a novel three-drug combination regimen to treat AML, but, like other synthetic artemisinin derivatives, demonstrated low clinical toxicity. However, we ultimately found ART631 to have suboptimal solubility and stability properties, thus limiting its potential for clinical development. METHODS We assessed 22 additional 2C-ARTs with documented in vivo antimalarial activity for antileukemic efficacy and physicochemical properties. Our strategy involved culling out 2C-ARTs inferior to ART631 with respect to potency, stability, and solubility in vitro, and then validating in vivo pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy of one 2C-ART lead compound. RESULTS Of the 22 2C-ARTs, ART714 was found to have the most optimal in vitro solubility, stability, and antileukemic efficacy, both alone and in combination with the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax (VEN) and the kinase inhibitor sorafenib (SOR). ART714 was also highly effective in combination with VEN and the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 inhibitor gilteritinib (GILT) against MOLM14 AML xenografts. CONCLUSION We identified ART714 as our best-in-class antileukemic 2C-ART, based on in vitro potency and pharmacologic properties. We established its in vivo pharmacokinetics and demonstrated its in vitro cooperativity with VEN and SOR and in vivo activities of combinations of ART714, VEN, and GILT. Additional research is indicated to define the optimal niche for the use of ART714 in treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda B Kagan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, 1650 Orleans Street, CRB1 Room 1M52, Baltimore, MD, 21231-1000, USA
| | - Blake S Moses
- Departments of Pediatrics and Physiology, School of Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, BRB14-021, 655 W Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Keros Therapeutics, Inc., Lexington, MA, USA
| | - Rena Lapidus
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bryan T Mott
- Department of Neurosurgery, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Ganesha Rai
- Department of Pre-clinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nicole M Anders
- Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, 1650 Orleans Street, CRB1 Room 1M52, Baltimore, MD, 21231-1000, USA
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Stephen W Hoag
- School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michelle A Rudek
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, 1650 Orleans Street, CRB1 Room 1M52, Baltimore, MD, 21231-1000, USA.
| | - Curt I Civin
- Departments of Pediatrics and Physiology, School of Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland, BRB14-021, 655 W Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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32
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Bruzzese A, Martino EA, Mendicino F, Lucia E, Olivito V, Neri A, Morabito F, Vigna E, Gentile M. Venetoclax in acute myeloid leukemia. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2023; 32:271-276. [PMID: 36933006 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2023.2193679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Eugenio Lucia
- Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Annunziata, Cosenza, Italy
| | | | - Antonino Neri
- Scientific Directorate IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | | | - Ernesto Vigna
- Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Annunziata, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Massimo Gentile
- Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Annunziata, Cosenza, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Science, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
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33
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Kelvin JM, Jain J, Thapa A, Qui M, Birnbaum LA, Moore SG, Zecca H, Summers RJ, Costanza E, Uricoli B, Wang X, Jui NT, Fu H, Du Y, DeRyckere D, Graham DK, Dreaden EC. Constitutively synergistic multiagent drug formulations targeting MERTK, FLT3, and BCL-2 for treatment of AML. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.13.531236. [PMID: 36993676 PMCID: PMC10054973 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.13.531236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Although high-dose, multi-agent chemotherapy has improved leukemia survival rates in recent years, treatment outcomes remain poor in high-risk subsets, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in infants. Development of new, more effective therapies for these patients is therefore an urgent, unmet clinical need. To address this challenge, we developed a nanoscale combination drug formulation that exploits ectopic expression of MERTK tyrosine kinase and dependency on BCL-2 family proteins for leukemia cell survival in pediatric AML and MLL- rearranged precursor B-cell ALL (infant ALL). In a novel, high-throughput combination drug screen, the MERTK/FLT3 inhibitor MRX-2843 synergized with venetoclax and other BCL-2 family protein inhibitors to reduce AML cell density in vitro . Neural network models based on drug exposure and target gene expression were used to identify a classifier predictive of drug synergy in AML. To maximize the therapeutic potential of these findings, we developed a combination monovalent liposomal drug formulation that maintains ratiometric drug synergy in cell-free assays and following intracellular delivery. The translational potential of these nanoscale drug formulations was confirmed in a genotypically diverse set of primary AML patient samples and both the magnitude and frequency of synergistic responses were not only maintained but were improved following drug formulation. Together, these findings demonstrate a systematic, generalizable approach to combination drug screening, formulation, and development that maximizes therapeutic potential, was effectively applied to develop a novel nanoscale combination therapy for treatment of AML, and could be extended to other drug combinations or diseases in the future.
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34
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Xie X, Zhang W, Zhou X, Ye Z, Wang H, Qiu Y, Pan Y, Hu Y, Li L, Chen Z, Yang W, Lu Y, Zou S, Li Y, Bai X. Abemaciclib drives the therapeutic differentiation of acute myeloid leukaemia stem cells. Br J Haematol 2023; 201:940-953. [PMID: 36916190 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
Self-renewal and differentiation arrest are two features of leukaemia stem cells (LSCs) responsible for the high relapse rate of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). To screen drugs to overcome differentiation blockade for AML, we conducted screening of 2040 small molecules from a library of United States Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs and found that the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4/6 inhibitor, abemaciclib, exerts high anti-leukaemic activity. Abemaciclib significantly suppressed proliferation and promoted the differentiation of LSCs in vitro. Abemaciclib also efficiently induced differentiation and impaired self-renewal of LSCs, thus reducing the leukaemic cell burden and improving survival in various preclinical animal models, including patient-derived xenografts. Importantly, abemaciclib strongly enhanced anti-tumour effects in combination with venetoclax, a B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) inhibitor. This treatment combination led to a marked decrease in LSC-enriched populations and resulted in a synergistic anti-leukaemic effect. Target screening revealed that in addition to CDK4/6, abemaciclib bound to and inhibited CDK9, consequently attenuating the protein levels of global p-Ser2 RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) carboxy terminal domain (CTD), Myc, Bcl-2, and myeloid cell leukaemia-1 (Mcl-1), which was important for the anti-AML effect of abemaciclib. Collectively, these data provide a strong rationale for the clinical evaluation of abemaciclib to induce LSC differentiation and treat highly aggressive AML as well as other advanced haematological malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Xie
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wuju Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuan Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhixin Ye
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingqi Qiu
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yating Pan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuxing Hu
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Luyao Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhuanzhuan Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wanwen Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yao Lu
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuxin Zou
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhua Li
- Department of Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaochun Bai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bone and Joint Degenerative Diseases, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Peris I, Romero-Murillo S, Martínez-Balsalobre E, Farrington CC, Arriazu E, Marcotegui N, Jiménez-Muñoz M, Alburquerque-Prieto C, Torres-López A, Fresquet V, Martínez-Climent JA, Mateos MC, Cayuela ML, Narla G, Odero MD, Vicente C. Activation of the PP2A-B56α heterocomplex synergizes with venetoclax therapies in AML through BCL2 and MCL1 modulation. Blood 2023; 141:1047-1059. [PMID: 36455198 PMCID: PMC10023731 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022016466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Venetoclax combination therapies are becoming the standard of care in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the therapeutic benefit of these drugs in older/unfit patients is limited to only a few months, highlighting the need for more effective therapies. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a tumor suppressor phosphatase with pleiotropic functions that becomes inactivated in ∼70% of AML cases. PP2A promotes cancer cell death by modulating the phosphorylation state in a variety of proteins along the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. We therefore hypothesized that pharmacological PP2A reactivation could increase BCL2 dependency in AML cells and, thus, potentiate venetoclax-induced cell death. Here, by using 3 structurally distinct PP2A-activating drugs, we show that PP2A reactivation synergistically enhances venetoclax activity in AML cell lines, primary cells, and xenograft models. Through the use of gene editing tools and pharmacological approaches, we demonstrate that the observed therapeutic synergy relies on PP2A complexes containing the B56α regulatory subunit, of which expression dictates response to the combination therapy. Mechanistically, PP2A reactivation enhances venetoclax-driven apoptosis through simultaneous inhibition of antiapoptotic BCL2 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling, with the latter decreasing MCL1 protein stability. Finally, PP2A targeting increases the efficacy of the clinically approved venetoclax and azacitidine combination in vitro, in primary cells, and in an AML patient-derived xenograft model. These preclinical results provide a scientific rationale for testing PP2A-activating drugs with venetoclax combinations in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Peris
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Silvia Romero-Murillo
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Elena Martínez-Balsalobre
- Cancer and Aging Group, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria, Murcia, Spain
| | - Caroline C. Farrington
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Elena Arriazu
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nerea Marcotegui
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Marta Jiménez-Muñoz
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | | | - Vicente Fresquet
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose A. Martínez-Climent
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria C. Mateos
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Hematology Service, Hospital Universitario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maria L. Cayuela
- Cancer and Aging Group, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria, Murcia, Spain
| | - Goutham Narla
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Maria D. Odero
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Vicente
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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36
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Garciaz S, Hospital MA. FMS-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 Inhibitors in the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia: An Update on the Emerging Evidence and Safety Profile. Onco Targets Ther 2023; 16:31-45. [PMID: 36698434 PMCID: PMC9869913 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s236740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is one of the most frequently mutated genes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Approximately 30% of the adult cases harbor an internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) and 5-10% a tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) amino acid substitution (FLT3-TKD). The treatment paradigm of AML patients harboring FLT3 mutations (30%) has been modified by the discovery of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. First- and second-generation inhibitors classify FLT3 inhibitors according to FLT3 specificity: first-generation FLT3 inhibitors include sorafenib and midostaurin and second-generation inhibitors are represented by quizartinib, gilteritinib and crenolanib, among others. Activity of these inhibitors depends on their mechanism of receptor binding (active vs inactive conformation) and efficacy against the FLT3-ITD and -TKD mutations (type 1 inhibitors are active both on FLT3-ITD and TKD, whereas type 2 inhibitors are active only on FLT3-ITD). The FLT3 inhibitors sorafenib, midostaurin, quizartinib and gilteritinib have been tested in monotherapy in several settings including refractory or relapsed AML (R/R AML), post-transplant maintenance as well as in combination with intensive chemotherapy (ICT) or non-intensity regimens. The results of published randomized studies support the use of sorafenib in a post-transplant setting (SORMAIN trial), midostaurin in combination with ICT based (RATIFY trial) and gilteritinib for R/R AML (ADMIRAL trial). Gilteritinib in combination with hypomethylating agent as well as quizartinib are not supported by solid randomized trial results for their use in FLT3-mutated AML patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Garciaz
- Department of Hematology, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7258, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM U1068, Marseille, France,Correspondence: Sylvain Garciaz, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Hematology Department, 232 Bd Sainte-Marguerite, Marseille, 13009, France, Tel + 33 4 91 22 37 54, Fax + 33 4 91 22 30 63, Email
| | - Marie-Anne Hospital
- Department of Hematology, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7258, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM U1068, Marseille, France
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An unexpected partnership targeting FLT3wt AML. Blood 2022; 140:2529-2530. [PMID: 36520473 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022017344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
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Dhakal P, Bates M, Tomasson MH, Sutamtewagul G, Dupuy A, Bhatt VR. Acute myeloid leukemia resistant to venetoclax-based therapy: What does the future hold? Blood Rev 2022; 59:101036. [PMID: 36549969 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2022.101036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Venetoclax is a highly selective B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) inhibitor, which, combined with a DNA hypomethylating agent or low dose cytarabine, results in high rates of initial responses in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the disease relapses in most patients. Mechanisms of resistance to venetoclax-based therapy include TP53 gene mutations or inactivation of p53 protein, activating kinase mutations such as FLT3 and RAS, and upregulation of other BCL-2 family apoptotic proteins. Current clinical trials are exploring strategies such as doublet or triplet regimens incorporating a p53 activator, an anti-CD47 antibody, or other novel agents that target genes and proteins responsible for resistance to venetoclax. Further studies should focus on identifying predictive biomarkers of response to venetoclax-based therapy and incorporating immunotherapeutic approaches such as checkpoint inhibitors, bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and CAR T-cell therapy to improve outcomes for patients with AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prajwal Dhakal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Dr. C 21GH, Iowa City, IA 52245, United States of America.
| | - Melissa Bates
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Dr. C 21GH, Iowa City, IA 52245, United States of America.
| | - Michael H Tomasson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Dr. C 21GH, Iowa City, IA 52245, United States of America.
| | - Grerk Sutamtewagul
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Dr. C 21GH, Iowa City, IA 52245, United States of America.
| | - Adam Dupuy
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Road, 3202 MERF, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States of America.
| | - Vijaya Raj Bhatt
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology and Hematology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, United States of America; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986840 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America.
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Pelosi E, Castelli G, Testa U. The Growing Role of the BH3 Mimetic Drug Venetoclax in the Therapy of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 2022; 14:e2022080. [PMID: 36425147 PMCID: PMC9652018 DOI: 10.4084/mjhid.2022.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite recent progress, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a disease associated with poor prognosis, particularly in older AML patients unfit to tolerate intensive chemotherapy treatment. The development and introduction in the therapy of Venetoclax (VEN), a potent BH3 mimetic targeting the antiapoptotic protein BCL-2, inducing apoptosis of leukemic cells, has shown to be a promising treatment for newly diagnosed, relapsed, and refractory AML patients ineligible for induction chemotherapy. Combination treatments using Ventoclax and a hypomethylating agent (azacitidine or decitabine) or low-intensity chemotherapy have shown in newly diagnosed patients variable response rates, with highly responsive patients with NPM1, IDH1-IDH2, TET2, and RUNX1 mutations and with scarcely responsive patients with FLT3, TP53 and ASXL1 mutations, complex karyotypes, and secondary AMLs. Patients with refractory/relapsing disease are less responsive to Venetoclax-based regimens. However, in the majority of patients, the responses have only a limited duration, and the development of resistance is frequently observed. Therefore, understanding the resistance mechanisms is crucial for developing new strategies and identifying rational drug combination regimens. In this context, two strategies seem to be promising: (i) triplet therapies based on the combined administration of Venetoclax, a hypomethylating agent (or low-dose chemotherapy), and an agent targeting a specific genetic alteration of leukemic cells (i.e., FLT3 inhibitors in FLT3-mutated AMLs) or an altered signaling pathway; (ii) combination therapies based on the administration of two BH3 mimetics (i.e., BCL-2 +MCL-1 mimetics) and a hypomethylating agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Pelosi
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy
| | - Germana Castelli
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy
| | - Ugo Testa
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy
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Joshi SK, Tognon CE, Druker BJ, Rodland KD. Oncoproteomic profiling of AML: moving beyond genomics. Expert Rev Proteomics 2022; 19:283-287. [PMID: 36734985 PMCID: PMC10505090 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2023.2176757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sunil K. Joshi
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Cristina E. Tognon
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Brian J. Druker
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Karin D. Rodland
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
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