1
|
Zhang Y, Shan L, Tang W, Ge Y, Li C, Zhang J. Recent Discovery and Development of Inhibitors that Target CDK9 and Their Therapeutic Indications. J Med Chem 2024; 67:5185-5215. [PMID: 38564299 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
CDK9 is a cyclin-dependent kinase that plays pivotal roles in multiple cellular functions including gene transcription, cell cycle regulation, DNA damage repair, and cellular differentiation. Targeting CDK9 is considered an attractive strategy for antitumor therapy, especially for leukemia and lymphoma. Several potent small molecule inhibitors, exemplified by TG02 (4), have progressed to clinical trials. However, many of them face challenges such as low clinical efficacy and multiple adverse reactions and may necessitate the exploration of novel strategies to lead to success in the clinic. In this perspective, we present a comprehensive overview of the structural characteristics, biological functions, and preclinical status of CDK9 inhibitors. Our focus extends to various types of inhibitors, including pan-inhibitors, selective inhibitors, dual-target inhibitors, degraders, PPI inhibitors, and natural products. The discussion encompasses chemical structures, structure-activity relationships (SARs), biological activities, selectivity, and therapeutic potential, providing detailed insight into the diverse landscape of CDK9 inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuming Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Neuro-system and Multimorbidity Laboratory and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 Sichuan, China
- West China College of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 Sichuan, China
| | - Lianhai Shan
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031 Sichuan, China
| | - Wentao Tang
- Department of Neurology, Neuro-system and Multimorbidity Laboratory and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 Sichuan, China
| | - Yating Ge
- Department of Neurology, Neuro-system and Multimorbidity Laboratory and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 Sichuan, China
| | - ChengXian Li
- Department of Neurology, Neuro-system and Multimorbidity Laboratory and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 Sichuan, China
| | - Jifa Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Neuro-system and Multimorbidity Laboratory and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 Sichuan, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhao T, He Q, Xie S, Zhan H, Jiang C, Lin S, Liu F, Wang C, Chen G, Zeng H. A novel Mcl-1 inhibitor synergizes with venetoclax to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Mol Med 2023; 29:10. [PMID: 36658493 PMCID: PMC9854187 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-022-00565-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evading apoptosis by overexpression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins is a hallmark of cancer cells and the Bcl-2 selective inhibitor venetoclax is widely used in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Mcl-1, another anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member, is recognized as the primary cause of resistance to venetoclax treatment. However, there is currently no Mcl-1 inhibitor approved for clinical use. METHODS Paired parental and Mcl-1 knockout H1299 cells were used to screen and identify a small molecule named MI-238. Immunoprecipitation (IP) and flow cytometry assay were performed to analyze the activation of pro-apoptotic protein Bak. Annexin V staining and western blot analysis of cleaved caspase 3 were employed to measure the cell apoptosis. Mouse xenograft AML model using luciferase-expressing Molm13 cells was employed to evaluate in vivo therapeutic efficacy. Bone marrow samples from newly diagnosed AML patients were collected to evaluate the therapeutic potency. RESULTS Here, we show that MI-238, a novel and specific Mcl-1 inhibitor, can disrupt the association of Mcl-1 with BH3-only pro-apoptotic proteins, selectively leading to apoptosis in Mcl-1 proficient cells. Moreover, MI-238 treatment also potently induces apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Notably, the combined treatment of MI-238 with venetoclax exhibited strong synergistic anti-cancer effects in AML cells in vitro, MOLM-13 xenografts mouse model and AML patient samples. CONCLUSIONS This study identified a novel and selective Mcl-1 inhibitor MI-238 and demonstrated that the development of MI-238 provides a novel strategy to improve the outcome of venetoclax therapy in AML.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianming Zhao
- grid.412601.00000 0004 1760 3828Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630 China
| | - Qiang He
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632 China
| | - Shurong Xie
- grid.412601.00000 0004 1760 3828Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630 China
| | - Huien Zhan
- grid.412601.00000 0004 1760 3828Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630 China
| | - Cheng Jiang
- grid.254147.10000 0000 9776 7793Jiang Su Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Shengbin Lin
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632 China
| | - Fangshu Liu
- grid.412601.00000 0004 1760 3828Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630 China
| | - Cong Wang
- grid.254147.10000 0000 9776 7793School of Biopharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198 China
| | - Guo Chen
- grid.258164.c0000 0004 1790 3548Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632 China ,grid.254147.10000 0000 9776 7793School of Biopharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198 China
| | - Hui Zeng
- grid.412601.00000 0004 1760 3828Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630 China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Canali A, Vergnolle I, Bertoli S, Largeaud L, Nicolau ML, Rieu JB, Tavitian S, Huguet F, Picard M, Bories P, Vial JP, Lechevalier N, Béné MC, Luquet I, Mansat-De Mas V, Delabesse E, Récher C, Vergez F. Prognostic Impact of Unsupervised Early Assessment of Bulk and Leukemic Stem Cell Measurable Residual Disease in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:134-142. [PMID: 36318706 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-2237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Acute myeloid leukemias (AML) are clonal diseases that develop from leukemic stem cells (LSC) that carry an independent prognostic impact on the initial response to induction chemotherapy, demonstrating the clinical relevance of LSC abundance in AML. In 2018, the European LeukemiaNet published recommendations for the detection of measurable residual disease (Bulk MRD) and suggested the exploration of LSC MRD and the use of multiparametric displays. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We evaluated the performance of unsupervised clustering for the post-induction assessment of bulk and LSC MRD in 155 patients with AML who received intensive conventional chemotherapy treatment. RESULTS The median overall survival (OS) for Bulk+ MRD patients was 16.7 months and was not reached for negative patients (HR, 3.82; P < 0.0001). The median OS of LSC+ MRD patients was 25.0 months and not reached for negative patients (HR, 2.84; P = 0.001). Interestingly, 1-year (y) and 3-y OS were 60% and 39% in Bulk+, 91% and 52% in Bulk-LSC+ and 92% and 88% in Bulk-LSC-. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we confirm the prognostic impact of post-induction multiparametric flow cytometry Bulk MRD in patients with AML. Focusing on LSCs, we identified a group of patients with negative Bulk MRD but positive LSC MRD (25.8% of our cohort) with an intermediate prognosis, demonstrating the interest of MRD analysis focusing on leukemic chemoresistant subpopulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alban Canali
- Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Inès Vergnolle
- Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Sarah Bertoli
- Service d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
- Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Laetitia Largeaud
- Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
- Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Marie-Laure Nicolau
- Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Rieu
- Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Suzanne Tavitian
- Service d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Françoise Huguet
- Service d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Muriel Picard
- Service d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Pierre Bories
- Service d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean Philippe Vial
- Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Pessac, France
| | - Nicolas Lechevalier
- Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Pessac, France
| | - Marie Christine Béné
- Laboratoire d'Hématologie, CHU de Nantes, Nantes, CRCI²NA INSERM UMR1307, CNRS UMR 6075, France
| | - Isabelle Luquet
- Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Véronique Mansat-De Mas
- Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
- Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Eric Delabesse
- Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
- Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Christian Récher
- Service d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
- Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - François Vergez
- Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
- Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lim FQ, Chan ASY, Yokomori R, Huang XZ, Theardy MS, Yeoh AEJ, Tan SH, Sanda T. Targeting dual oncogenic machineries driven by TAL1 and PI3K-AKT pathways in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Haematologica 2022; 108:367-381. [PMID: 36073513 PMCID: PMC9890034 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2022.280761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a malignancy of thymic T-cell precursors. Overexpression of oncogenic transcription factor TAL1 is observed in 40-60% of human T-ALL cases, frequently together with activation of the NOTCH1 and PI3K-AKT pathways. In this study, we performed chemical screening to identify small molecules that can inhibit the enhancer activity driven by TAL1 using the GIMAP enhancer reporter system. Among approximately 3,000 compounds, PIK- 75, a known inhibitor of PI3K and CDK, was found to strongly inhibit the enhancer activity. Mechanistic analysis demonstrated that PIK-75 blocks transcriptional activity, which primarily affects TAL1 target genes as well as AKT activity. TAL1-positive, AKT-activated T-ALL cells were very sensitive to PIK-75, as evidenced by growth inhibition and apoptosis induction, while T-ALL cells that exhibited activation of the JAK-STAT pathway were insensitive to this drug. Together, our study demonstrates a strategy targeting two types of core machineries mediated by oncogenic transcription factors and signaling pathways in T-ALL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fang Qi Lim
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore
| | | | - Rui Yokomori
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore
| | - Xiao Zi Huang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore
| | | | - Allen Eng Juh Yeoh
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore,VIVA-NUS CenTRAL, Department of Pediatrics, National University of Singapore
| | - Shi Hao Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore
| | - Takaomi Sanda
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore; Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117599.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) plays a vital role in transcription through regulation of short-lived anti-apoptotic genes required for cancer cell survival. Therefore, targeting CDK9 with small molecule inhibitors has emerged as a potential cancer therapy. This article reviews the most recent CDK9 patent literature (2012-2020) related to small molecule inhibitors in cancer along with their selectivity profile and biological results in preclinical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aisha Alsfouk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mittal P, Singh S, Sinha R, Shrivastava A, Singh A, Singh IK. Myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1): Structural characteristics and application in cancer therapy. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 187:999-1018. [PMID: 34339789 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.07.166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Apoptosis, a major hallmark of cancer cells, regulates cellular fate and homeostasis. BCL-2 (B-cell CLL/Lymphoma 2) protein family is popularly known to mediate the intrinsic mode of apoptosis, of which MCL-1 is a crucial member. Myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1) is an anti-apoptotic oncoprotein and one of the most investigated members of the BCL-2 family. It is commonly known to be genetically altered, aberrantly overexpressed, and primarily associated with drug resistance in various human cancers. Recent advancements in the development of selective MCL-1 inhibitors and evaluating their effectiveness in cancer treatment establish its popularity as a molecular target. The overall aim is the selective induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by using a single or combination of BCL-2 family inhibitors. Delineating the precise molecular mechanisms associated with MCL-1-mediated cancer progression will certainly improve the efficacy of clinical interventions aimed at MCL-1 and hence patient survival. This review is structured to highlight the structural characteristics of MCL-1, its specific interactions with NOXA, MCL-1-regulatory microRNAs, and at the same time focus on the emerging therapeutic strategies targeting our protein of interest (MCL-1), alone or in combination with other treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Mittal
- Molecular Biology Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India
| | - Sujata Singh
- Molecular Biology Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India
| | - Rajesh Sinha
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35205, United States of America
| | - Anju Shrivastava
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Archana Singh
- Department of Botany, Hans Raj College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India.
| | - Indrakant Kumar Singh
- Molecular Biology Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Arcucci S, Ramos-delgado F, Cayron C, Therville N, Gratacap M, Basset C, Thibault B, Guillermet-guibert J. Organismal roles for the PI3Kα and β isoforms: their specificity, redundancy or cooperation is context-dependent. Biochem J 2021; 478:1199-225. [DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PI3Ks are important lipid kinases that produce phosphoinositides phosphorylated in position 3 of the inositol ring. There are three classes of PI3Ks: class I PI3Ks produce PIP3 at plasma membrane level. Although D. melanogaster and C. elegans have only one form of class I PI3K, vertebrates have four class I PI3Ks called isoforms despite being encoded by four different genes. Hence, duplication of these genes coincides with the acquisition of coordinated multi-organ development. Of the class I PI3Ks, PI3Kα and PI3Kβ, encoded by PIK3CA and PIK3CB, are ubiquitously expressed. They present similar putative protein domains and share PI(4,5)P2 lipid substrate specificity. Fifteen years after publication of their first isoform-selective pharmacological inhibitors and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) that mimic their complete and specific pharmacological inhibition, we review the knowledge gathered in relation to the redundant and selective roles of PI3Kα and PI3Kβ. Recent data suggest that, further to their redundancy, they cooperate for the integration of organ-specific and context-specific signal cues, to orchestrate organ development, physiology, and disease. This knowledge reinforces the importance of isoform-selective inhibitors in clinical settings.
Collapse
|
8
|
Floros KV, Jacob S, Kurupi R, Fairchild CK, Hu B, Puchalapalli M, E Koblinski J, Dozmorov MG, Boikos SA, Scaltriti M, Faber AC. Targeting transcription of MCL-1 sensitizes HER2-amplified breast cancers to HER2 inhibitors. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:179. [PMID: 33589591 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03457-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 gene (HER2) is focally amplified in approximately 20% of breast cancers. HER2 inhibitors alone are not effective, and sensitizing agents will be necessary to move away from a reliance on heavily toxic chemotherapeutics. We recently demonstrated that the efficacy of HER2 inhibitors is mitigated by uniformly low levels of the myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1) endogenous inhibitor, NOXA. Emerging clinical data have demonstrated that clinically advanced cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors are effective MCL-1 inhibitors in patients, and, importantly, well tolerated. We, therefore, tested whether the CDK inhibitor, dinaciclib, could block MCL-1 in preclinical HER2-amplified breast cancer models and therefore sensitize these cancers to dual HER2/EGFR inhibitors neratinib and lapatinib, as well as to the novel selective HER2 inhibitor tucatinib. Indeed, we found dinaciclib suppresses MCL-1 RNA and is highly effective at sensitizing HER2 inhibitors both in vitro and in vivo. This combination was tolerable in vivo. Mechanistically, liberating the effector BCL-2 protein, BAK, from MCL-1 results in robust apoptosis. Thus, clinically advanced CDK inhibitors may effectively combine with HER2 inhibitors and present a chemotherapy-free therapeutic strategy in HER2-amplified breast cancer, which can be tested immediately in the clinic.
Collapse
|
9
|
Larrue C, Guiraud N, Mouchel PL, Dubois M, Farge T, Gotanègre M, Bosc C, Saland E, Nicolau-Travers ML, Sabatier M, Serhan N, Sahal A, Boet E, Mouche S, Heydt Q, Aroua N, Stuani L, Kaoma T, Angenendt L, Mikesch JH, Schliemann C, Vergez F, Tamburini J, Récher C, Sarry JE. Adrenomedullin-CALCRL axis controls relapse-initiating drug tolerant acute myeloid leukemia cells. Nat Commun 2021; 12:422. [PMID: 33462236 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20717-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug tolerant/resistant leukemic stem cell (LSC) subpopulations may explain frequent relapses in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), suggesting that these relapse-initiating cells (RICs) persistent after chemotherapy represent bona fide targets to prevent drug resistance and relapse. We uncover that calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CALCRL) is expressed in RICs, and that the overexpression of CALCRL and/or of its ligand adrenomedullin (ADM), and not CGRP, correlates to adverse outcome in AML. CALCRL knockdown impairs leukemic growth, decreases LSC frequency, and sensitizes to cytarabine in patient-derived xenograft models. Mechanistically, the ADM-CALCRL axis drives cell cycle, DNA repair, and mitochondrial OxPHOS function of AML blasts dependent on E2F1 and BCL2. Finally, CALCRL depletion reduces LSC frequency of RICs post-chemotherapy in vivo. In summary, our data highlight a critical role of ADM-CALCRL in post-chemotherapy persistence of these cells, and disclose a promising therapeutic target to prevent relapse in AML. Leukemic stem cells which are resistant to chemotherapy are proposed as relapse-initiating cells (RICs). Here, the authors show that targeting the adrenomedullin-calcitonin receptor-like receptor decreases RICs frequency improving chemotherapy response in AML preclinical models.
Collapse
|
10
|
Bheemanaboina RR. Isoform-Selective PI3K Inhibitors for Various Diseases. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 20:1074-1092. [DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200106141717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are a family of ubiquitously distributed lipid kinases that
control a wide variety of intracellular signaling pathways. Over the years, PI3K has emerged as an attractive
target for the development of novel pharmaceuticals to treat cancer and various other diseases.
In the last five years, four of the PI3K inhibitors viz. Idelalisib, Copanlisib, Duvelisib, and Alpelisib
were approved by the FDA for the treatment of different types of cancer and several other PI3K inhibitors
are currently under active clinical development. So far clinical candidates are non-selective kinase
inhibitors with various off-target liabilities due to cross-reactivities. Hence, there is a need for the discovery
of isoform-selective inhibitors with improved efficacy and fewer side-effects. The development
of isoform-selective inhibitors is essential to reveal the unique functions of each isoform and its corresponding
therapeutic potential. Although the clinical effect and relative benefit of pan and isoformselective
inhibition will ultimately be determined, with the development of drug resistance and the demand
for next-generation inhibitors, it will continue to be of great significance to understand the potential
mechanism of isoform-selectivity. Because of the important role of type I PI3K family members in
various pathophysiological processes, isoform-selective PI3K inhibitors may ultimately have considerable
efficacy in a wide range of human diseases. This review summarizes the progress of isoformselective
PI3K inhibitors in preclinical and early clinical studies for anticancer and other various diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rammohan R.Y. Bheemanaboina
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Sokol Institute for Pharmaceutical Life Sciences, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Vergez F, Nicolau-Travers ML, Bertoli S, Rieu JB, Tavitian S, Bories P, Luquet I, Mas V, Largeaud L, Sarry A, Huguet F, Delabesse E, Bérard E, Récher C. CD34 +CD38 -CD123 + Leukemic Stem Cell Frequency Predicts Outcome in Older Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients Treated by Intensive Chemotherapy but Not Hypomethylating Agents. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1174. [PMID: 32384744 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12051174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The prognostic impact of immunophenotypic CD34+CD38−CD123+ leukemic stem cell (iLSC) frequency at diagnosis has been demonstrated in younger patients treated by intensive chemotherapy, however, this is less clear in older patients. Furthermore, the impact of iLSC in patients treated by hypomethylating agents is unknown. In this single-center study, we prospectively assessed the CD34+CD38−CD123+ iLSC frequency at diagnosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients aged 60 years or older. In a cohort of 444 patients, the median percentage of iLSC at diagnosis was 4.3%. Significant differences were found between treatment groups with a lower median in the intensive chemotherapy group (0.6%) compared to hypomethylating agents (8.0%) or supportive care (11.1%) (p <0.0001). In the intensive chemotherapy group, the median overall survival was 34.5 months in patients with iLSC ≤0.10% and 14.6 months in patients with >0.10% (p = 0.031). In the multivariate analyses of this group, iLSC frequency was significantly and independently associated with the incidence of relapse, event-free, relapse-free, and overall survival. However, iLSC frequency had no prognostic impact on patients treated by hypomethylating agents. Thus, the iLSC frequency at diagnosis is an independent prognostic factor in older acute myeloid patients treated by intensive chemotherapy but not hypomethylating agents.
Collapse
|
12
|
Wei AH, Roberts AW, Spencer A, Rosenberg AS, Siegel D, Walter RB, Caenepeel S, Hughes P, McIver Z, Mezzi K, Morrow PK, Stein A. Targeting MCL-1 in hematologic malignancies: Rationale and progress. Blood Rev 2020; 44:100672. [PMID: 32204955 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2020.100672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (MCL-1) is an antiapoptotic protein that plays a key role in promoting cell survival in multiple myeloma (MM), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Overexpression of MCL-1 is associated with treatment resistance and poor prognosis; thus, MCL-1 inhibitors are rational therapeutic options for malignancies depending on MCL-1. Several MCL-1 inhibitors have entered clinical trials, including AZD5991, S64315, AMG 176, and AMG 397. A key area of investigation is whether MCL-1 inhibitors will complement the activity of BCL-2 inhibitors, such as venetoclax, and synergistically enhance anti-tumor efficacy when given in combination with other anti-cancer drugs. Another important question is whether a safe therapeutic window can be found for this new class of inhibitors. In summary, inhibition of MCL-1 shows potential as a treatment for hematologic malignancies and clinical evaluation of MCL-1 inhibitors is currently underway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew H Wei
- Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Andrew W Roberts
- University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew Spencer
- Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - David Siegel
- John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, USA
| | - Roland B Walter
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Anthony Stein
- Gehr Family Center for Leukemia, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Chou J, Quigley DA, Robinson TM, Feng FY, Ashworth A. Transcription-Associated Cyclin-Dependent Kinases as Targets and Biomarkers for Cancer Therapy. Cancer Discov 2020; 10:351-370. [DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-19-0528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
14
|
Liu X, Hu P, Li H, Yu XX, Wang XY, Qing YJ, Wang ZY, Wang HZ, Zhu MY, Guo QL, Hui H. LW-213, a newly synthesized flavonoid, induces G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2020; 41:249-259. [PMID: 31316178 PMCID: PMC7468447 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-019-0270-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal hematopoietic stem cell neoplasm characterized by an uncontrolled proliferation of moderately and well differentiated cells of the granulocytic lineage. LW-213, a newly synthesized flavonoid compound, was found to exert antitumor effects against breast cancer through inducing G2/M phase arrest. We investigated whether LW-213 exerted anti-CML effects and the underlying mechanisms. We showed that LW-213 inhibited the growth of human CML cell lines K562 and imatinid-resistant K562 (K562r) in dose- and time-dependent manners with IC50 values at the low μmol/L levels. LW-213 (5, 10, 15 μM) caused G2/M phase arrest of K562 and K562r cells via reducing the activity of G2/M phase transition-related proteins Cyclin B1/CDC2 complex. LW-213 treatment induced apoptosis of K562 and K562r cells via inhibiting the expression of CDK9 through lysosome degradation, thus leading to the suppression of RNAPII phosphorylation, down-regulation of a short-lived anti-apoptic protein MCL-1. The lysosome inhibitor, NH4Cl, could reverse the anti-CML effects of LW-213 including CDK9 degradation and apoptosis. LW-213 treatment also degraded the downstream proteins of BCR-ABL1, such as oncoproteins AKT, STAT3/5 in CML cells, which was blocked by NH4Cl. In primary CML cells and CD34+ stem cells, LW-213 maintained its pro-apoptotic activity. In a K562 cells-bearing mice model, administration of LW-213 (2.5, 5.0 mg/kg, ip, every other day for 4 weeks) dose-dependently prolonged the survival duration, and significantly suppressed huCD45+ cell infiltration and expression of MCL-1 in spleens. Taken together, our results demonstrate that LW-213 may be an efficient agent for CML treatment.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
- Female
- Flavonoids/administration & dosage
- Flavonoids/pharmacology
- G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints/drug effects
- Humans
- Imatinib Mesylate/pharmacology
- Inhibitory Concentration 50
- K562 Cells
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/pathology
- M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints/drug effects
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, Nude
- Mice, SCID
- Time Factors
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Po Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xiao-Xuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xiang-Yuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Ying-Jie Qing
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Zhan-Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hong-Zheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Meng-Yuan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Qing-Long Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Hui Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Xu X, Eshima S, Kato S, Fisher DE, Sakurai H, Hayakawa Y, Yokoyama S. Rational Combination Therapy for Melanoma with Dinaciclib by Targeting BAK-Dependent Cell Death. Mol Cancer Ther 2019; 19:627-636. [PMID: 31744894 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-19-0451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Mutation of the oncogene BRAF is among the most common genetic alterations in melanoma. BRAF inhibitors alone or in combination with MEK inhibitors fail to eradicate the tumor in most patients due to combinations of intrinsic or acquired resistance. Therefore, novel strategies are needed to improve the therapeutic efficacy of BRAF inhibition. We demonstrated that dinaciclib has potent antimelanoma effects by inducing BAK-dependent apoptosis through MCL1 reduction. Contrary to dinaciclib, the inhibitors of BRAF/MEK/CDK4/6 induced apoptosis dominantly through a BAX-dependent mechanism. Although the combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors did not exhibit additive antimelanoma effects, their combination with dinaciclib synergistically inhibited melanoma growth both in vitro and in vivo Collectively, our present findings suggest dinaciclib to be an effective complementary drug of BAX-dependent antimelanoma drugs by targeting BAK-mediated apoptosis, and other such rational drug combinations can be determined by identifying complementary drugs activating either BAK or BAX.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoou Xu
- Division of Pathogenic Biochemistry, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Shizuka Eshima
- Division of Pathogenic Biochemistry, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Kato
- Division of Pathogenic Biochemistry, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.,Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts
| | - David E Fisher
- Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts
| | - Hiroaki Sakurai
- Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Hayakawa
- Division of Pathogenic Biochemistry, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Satoru Yokoyama
- Division of Pathogenic Biochemistry, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan. .,Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Menzl I, Zhang T, Berger-Becvar A, Grausenburger R, Heller G, Prchal-Murphy M, Edlinger L, Knab VM, Uras IZ, Grundschober E, Bauer K, Roth M, Skucha A, Liu Y, Hatcher JM, Liang Y, Kwiatkowski NP, Fux D, Hoelbl-Kovacic A, Kubicek S, Melo JV, Valent P, Weichhart T, Grebien F, Zuber J, Gray NS, Sexl V. A kinase-independent role for CDK8 in BCR-ABL1 + leukemia. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4741. [PMID: 31628323 PMCID: PMC6802219 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12656-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are frequently deregulated in cancer and represent promising drug targets. We provide evidence that CDK8 has a key role in B-ALL. Loss of CDK8 in leukemia mouse models significantly enhances disease latency and prevents disease maintenance. Loss of CDK8 is associated with pronounced transcriptional changes, whereas inhibiting CDK8 kinase activity has minimal effects. Gene set enrichment analysis suggests that the mTOR signaling pathway is deregulated in CDK8-deficient cells and, accordingly, these cells are highly sensitive to mTOR inhibitors. Analysis of large cohorts of human ALL and AML patients reveals a significant correlation between the level of CDK8 and of mTOR pathway members. We have synthesized a small molecule YKL-06-101 that combines mTOR inhibition and degradation of CDK8, and induces cell death in human leukemic cells. We propose that simultaneous CDK8 degradation and mTOR inhibition might represent a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ALL patients. Cyclin-dependent kinases are deregulated in blood cancers. Here, the authors show that CDK8, independent of its kinase activity, regulates mTOR signalling for the maintenance of BCR-ABL1+ leukemia, and that the dual inhibition of CDK8 and mTOR signalling induces apoptosis in these cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ingeborg Menzl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tinghu Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Angelika Berger-Becvar
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Reinhard Grausenburger
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerwin Heller
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michaela Prchal-Murphy
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leo Edlinger
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vanessa M Knab
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Iris Z Uras
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Grundschober
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Bauer
- Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mareike Roth
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Skucha
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research, Vienna, Austria.,Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John M Hatcher
- Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yanke Liang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nicholas P Kwiatkowski
- Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniela Fux
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Hoelbl-Kovacic
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Kubicek
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Junia V Melo
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia.,Department of Hematology, Imperial College London, Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Peter Valent
- Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Weichhart
- Center of Pathobiochemistry and Genetics, Institute of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Grebien
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research, Vienna, Austria.,Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes Zuber
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Campus-Vienna-Biocenter 1, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Pedini F, De Luca G, Felicetti F, Puglisi R, Boe A, Arasi MB, Fratini F, Mattia G, Spada M, Caporali S, Biffoni M, Giuliani A, Carè A, Felli N. Joint action of miR-126 and MAPK/PI3K inhibitors against metastatic melanoma. Mol Oncol 2019; 13:1836-1854. [PMID: 31115969 PMCID: PMC6717748 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging data support the rationale of combined therapies in advanced melanoma. Specifically, the combined use of drugs with different mechanisms of action can reduce the probability of selecting resistant clones. To identify agents active against melanoma cells, we screened a library of 349 anti‐cancer compounds, currently in clinical use or trials, and selected PIK‐75, an inhibitor of the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway, as the ‘top active’ drug. PIK‐75 was then used alone or in combination with vemurafenib, the first BRAF inhibitor approved for patients with melanoma harboring BRAF mutations. We identified a combined dose of PIK‐75 and vemurafenib that inhibited both the PI3K/AKT and mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways, thereby overcoming any compensatory activation. In view of the important tumor suppressor function induced by restoring expression of microRNA (miR)‐126 in metastatic melanoma cells, we examined whether miR‐126 has a synergistic role when included in a triple combination alongside PIK‐75 and vemurafenib. We found that enforced expression of miR‐126 (which alone can reduce tumorigenicity) significantly increased PIK‐75 activity when used as either a single agent or in combination with vemurafenib. Interestingly, PIK‐75 proved to be effective against early passage cell lines derived from patients’ biopsies and on melanoma cell lines resistant to either vemurafenib or dabrafenib, thus suggesting that it potentially has the capability to overcome drug resistance. Finally, the synergistic role played by miR‐126 in combination with vemurafenib and/or PIK‐75 was demonstrated in vivo in mouse xenograft models, in which tumor growth inhibition was associated with increased apoptosis. These results not only show the efficacy of PIK‐75 and vemurafenib co‐treatment but also indicate that restoration of miR‐126 expression in advanced melanoma can enhance their antitumor activity, which may possibly allow dose reduction to decrease adverse events without reducing the therapeutic benefits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Pedini
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele De Luca
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Felicetti
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Puglisi
- Center for Gender Medicine, Oncology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Boe
- Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Beatrice Arasi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Gianfranco Mattia
- Center for Gender Medicine, Oncology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Spada
- Center of Animal Research and Welfare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Caporali
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Biffoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Giuliani
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Carè
- Center for Gender Medicine, Oncology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Nadia Felli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Moujalled DM, Pomilio G, Ghiurau C, Ivey A, Salmon J, Rijal S, Macraild S, Zhang L, Teh TC, Tiong IS, Lan P, Chanrion M, Claperon A, Rocchetti F, Zichi A, Kraus-Berthier L, Wang Y, Halilovic E, Morris E, Colland F, Segal D, Huang D, Roberts AW, Maragno AL, Lessene G, Geneste O, Wei AH. Combining BH3-mimetics to target both BCL-2 and MCL1 has potent activity in pre-clinical models of acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 2019; 33:905-917. [PMID: 30214012 PMCID: PMC6484700 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-018-0261-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Improving outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a major clinical challenge. Overexpression of pro-survival BCL-2 family members rendering transformed cells resistant to cytotoxic drugs is a common theme in cancer. Targeting BCL-2 with the BH3-mimetic venetoclax is active in AML when combined with low-dose chemotherapy or hypomethylating agents. We now report the pre-clinical anti-leukemic efficacy of a novel BCL-2 inhibitor S55746, which demonstrates synergistic pro-apoptotic activity in combination with the MCL1 inhibitor S63845. Activity of the combination was caspase and BAX/BAK dependent, superior to combination with standard cytotoxic AML drugs and active against a broad spectrum of poor risk genotypes, including primary samples from patients with chemoresistant AML. Co-targeting BCL-2 and MCL1 was more effective against leukemic, compared to normal hematopoietic progenitors, suggesting a therapeutic window of activity. Finally, S55746 combined with S63845 prolonged survival in xenograft models of AML and suppressed patient-derived leukemia but not normal hematopoietic cells in bone marrow of engrafted mice. In conclusion, a dual BH3-mimetic approach is feasible, highly synergistic, and active in diverse models of human AML. This approach has strong clinical potential to rapidly suppress leukemia, with reduced toxicity to normal hematopoietic precursors compared to chemotherapy.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Biomimetics
- Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/pharmacology
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Female
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, SCID
- Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein/antagonists & inhibitors
- Peptide Fragments
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/antagonists & inhibitors
- Pyrimidines/pharmacology
- Sulfonamides/pharmacology
- Thiophenes/pharmacology
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donia M Moujalled
- Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Clinical Haematology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Giovanna Pomilio
- Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Clinical Haematology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Corina Ghiurau
- R&D Unit, Institut de Recherches Servier Oncology, Croissy Sur Seine, France
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Adam Ivey
- Department of Pathology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jessica Salmon
- Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Clinical Haematology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sewa Rijal
- Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sarah Macraild
- Department of Pathology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Haematology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tse-Chieh Teh
- Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Clinical Haematology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ing-Soo Tiong
- Department of Clinical Haematology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ping Lan
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
| | - Maia Chanrion
- R&D Unit, Institut de Recherches Servier Oncology, Croissy Sur Seine, France
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Audrey Claperon
- R&D Unit, Institut de Recherches Servier Oncology, Croissy Sur Seine, France
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Rocchetti
- R&D Unit, Institut de Recherches Servier Oncology, Croissy Sur Seine, France
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Adrien Zichi
- R&D Unit, Institut de Recherches Servier Oncology, Croissy Sur Seine, France
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Laurence Kraus-Berthier
- R&D Unit, Institut de Recherches Servier Oncology, Croissy Sur Seine, France
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Youzhen Wang
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Ensar Halilovic
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Erick Morris
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 250 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Frédéric Colland
- R&D Unit, Institut de Recherches Servier Oncology, Croissy Sur Seine, France
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - David Segal
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
| | - David Huang
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Andrew W Roberts
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ana Leticia Maragno
- R&D Unit, Institut de Recherches Servier Oncology, Croissy Sur Seine, France
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Guillaume Lessene
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Olivier Geneste
- R&D Unit, Institut de Recherches Servier Oncology, Croissy Sur Seine, France
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andrew H Wei
- Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
- Department of Clinical Haematology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
- Department of Pathology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Li G, Zhang X, Ou H, Wang H, Liu D, Yang H, Wu Z. PIK-75 promotes homology-directed DNA repair. J Genet Genomics 2019; 46:141-144. [PMID: 30935856 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 01/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guoling Li
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Xianwei Zhang
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Hao Ou
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Haoqiang Wang
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Dewu Liu
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Huaqiang Yang
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Zhenfang Wu
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Xu J, Xu S, Fang Y, Chen T, Xie X, Lu W. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 promotes cervical cancer development via AKT2/p53 pathway. IUBMB Life 2018; 71:347-356. [PMID: 30536701 DOI: 10.1002/iub.1983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 10/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is widespread in human cancers. However, the underlying mechanisms of CDK9 activation and the therapeutic potential of CDK9 inhibition in cervical cancer remain largely unknown. Here, we report that CDK9 is gradually upregulated during cervical lesion progression and regulated by HPV16 E6. CDK9 levels are highly correlated with FIGO stage, pathological grade, deep-stromal invasion, tumor size, and lymph nodes metastasis. Knockdown of CDK9 by specific siRNA inhibits cervical cancer cell proliferation in vitro, as well as tumorigenesis in vivo. CDK9 inhibition causes a significant decreased AKT2 and increased p53 protein expression revealing novel CDK9-regulatory mechanisms. Overexpression of AKT2 rescued the suppressive effects caused by CDK9 knockdown, suggesting that AKT2 induction is essential for CDK9-induced transformation. Moreover, CDK9 expression was positively correlated with AKT2 and negatively correlated with p53 in cervical cancer tissues with HPV16 infection. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that CDK9 acts as a proto-oncogene in cervical cancer, modulating cell proliferation and apoptosis through AKT2/p53 pathway. Therefore, our data provide novel mechanistic insights into the role of CDK9 in cervical cancer development. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 71(3):347-356, 2019.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junfen Xu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shanshan Xu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yifeng Fang
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Chen
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xing Xie
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weiguo Lu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Center of Uterine Cancer Diagnosis & Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Anstee NS, Bilardi RA, Ng AP, Xu Z, Robati M, Vandenberg CJ, Cory S. Impact of elevated anti-apoptotic MCL-1 and BCL-2 on the development and treatment of MLL-AF9 AML in mice. Cell Death Differ 2019; 26:1316-31. [PMID: 30470795 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-018-0209-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many acute myeloid leukaemias (AMLs) express high levels of BCL-2 and MCL-1, especially after therapy. To test the impact of these anti-apoptotic proteins on AML development and treatment, we used haemopoietic reconstitution to generate MLL-AF9 AMLs expressing BCL-2 or Mcl-1 transgenes. AMLs with elevated BCL-2 or MCL-1 had a higher proportion of mature myeloid cells but, like conventional MLL-AF9 AMLs, were readily transplantable. Short-term cell lines established from multiple primary AMLs of each genotype were tested in vitro for susceptibility to chemotherapeutics currently used for treating AML (daunorubicin, etoposide, cytarabine); the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib; CDK7/9 inhibitors; and BH3 mimetics, which bind and inhibit pro-survival proteins. The BH3 mimetics tested, alone and in combination with the other drugs, were: ABT-737 which, like its clinical counterpart navitoclax, targets BCL-2, BCL-XL and BCL-W; BCL-2-specific ABT-199 (venetoclax); BCL-XL-specific A-1331852; and S63845, a new MCL-1-specific BH3 mimetic. As single agents, daunorubicin and bortezomib had the greatest efficacy. Elevated MCL-1 or BCL-2 reduced sensitivity to daunorubicin but, surprisingly, not to bortezomib. MCL-1 markedly enhanced resistance to ABT-737 and ABT-199 but not S63845, and BCL-2 increased resistance to S63845 but not to ABT-737 or ABT-199. Notable synergies were achieved by combining BH3 mimetics with daunorubicin: S63845 increased the sensitivity of both MCL-1 and BCL-2 overexpressing MLL-AF9 AMLs, and ABT-737 aided in killing those overexpressing BCL-2. Synergy between daunorubicin and ABT-199 was also apparent in vivo, although not curative. Impressive synergistic responses were achieved for human MLL-fusion AML cell lines treated with daunorubicin plus either ABT-737, ABT-199 or S63845, and with ABT-199 plus S63845, with or without daunorubicin. Our data suggest that AML patients may benefit from combining conventional cytotoxic drugs with BH3 mimetics targeting BCL-2 or MCL-1 or, if tolerated, both these agents.
Collapse
|
22
|
Rahaman MH, Yu Y, Zhong L, Adams J, Lam F, Li P, Noll B, Milne R, Peng J, Wang S. CDKI-73: an orally bioavailable and highly efficacious CDK9 inhibitor against acute myeloid leukemia. Invest New Drugs 2019; 37:625-35. [PMID: 30194564 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-018-0661-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukemia with dismal long-term prognosis with age. The most aggressive subtype of AML is MLL-AML that is characterized by translocations of the mixed-lineage leukemia gene (MLL) and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Cyclin dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) plays a crucial role in the MLL-driven oncogenic transcription, and hence, inhibiting activity of CDK9 has been proposed as a promising strategy for treatment of AML. We investigated the therapeutic potential of CDKI-73, one of the most potent CDK9 inhibitors, against a panel of AML cell lines and samples derived from 97 patients. CDKI-73 induced cancer cells undergoing apoptosis through transcriptional downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and XIAP by majorly targeting CDK9. Contrastively, it was relatively low toxic to the bone marrow cells of healthy donors. In MV4-11 xenograft mouse models, oral administration of CDKI-73 resulted in a marked inhibition of tumor growth (p < 0.0001) and prolongation of animal life span (P < 0.001) without causing body weight loss and other overt toxicities. The study suggests that CDKI-73 can be developed as a highly efficacious and orally deliverable therapeutic agent for treatment of AML.
Collapse
|
23
|
Ying M, Shao X, Jing H, Liu Y, Qi X, Cao J, Chen Y, Xiang S, Song H, Hu R, Wei G, Yang B, He Q. Ubiquitin-dependent degradation of CDK2 drives the therapeutic differentiation of AML by targeting PRDX2. Blood 2018; 131:2698-711. [PMID: 29720484 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2017-10-813139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A distinct hallmark of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the arrest of leukemic myeloblasts at an immature stage of development. Therapies that overcome differentiation arrest have emerged as a powerful strategy for treating AML, but targeting leukemia differentiation remains challenging, mainly because of an incomplete mechanistic understanding of the process. Here, we unveil a new role for cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) in blocking myeloid differentiation in AML. We show that among several interphase CDK, only CDK2 undergoes ubiquitin-dependent proteasome degradation, which is accompanied by AML cell differentiation. By using the yeast 2-hybrid system and functional analyses, KLHL6 was identified as a specific E3 ubiquitin ligase regulating the degradation of CDK2. Importantly, inhibiting CDK2, but not other cyclin-dependent kinases CDK1/4/6, effectively induced granulocytic differentiation in AML cell lines and 5 major subtypes of primary patient-derived AML samples. Mechanistically, CDK2 depletion led to the reactivation of differentiation pathway translation, and the differentiation blockade function of CDK2 may be achieved directly by maintaining the activity of PRDX2. Finally, CDK2 depletion arrested tumor growth of AML cells in nude mice and extended survival in both AML cell line and PDX-AML cells derived xenograft mouse models. Thus, our work not only provides experimental evidence for validating CDK2 as a potential therapeutic target for differentiation, but also uncovers the biological function of the CDK2-PRDX2 axis in blocking AML differentiation.
Collapse
|
24
|
Abstract
Current treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is less than optimal, but increased understanding of disease pathobiology and genomics has led to clinical investigation of novel targeted therapies and rational combinations. Targeting the cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) pathway, which is dysregulated in AML, is an attractive approach. Inhibition of CDK9 leads to downregulation of cell survival genes regulated by super enhancers such as MCL-1, MYC, and cyclin D1. As CDK9 inhibitors are nonselective, predictive biomarkers that may help identify patients most likely to respond to CDK9 inhibitors are now being utilized, with the goal of improving efficacy and safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Boffo
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biology, Temple University, 1900 N. 12th St., Room 431, Philadelphia, PA 19122-6017 USA
| | - Angela Damato
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biology, Temple University, 1900 N. 12th St., Room 431, Philadelphia, PA 19122-6017 USA
- Medical Oncology Unit, Clinical Cancer Centre, IRCCS–Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Luigi Alfano
- Oncology Research Center of Mercogliano (CROM), Istituto Nazionale Per Lo Studio E La Cura Dei Tumori “Fondazione Giovanni Pascale”, IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Giordano
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biology, Temple University, 1900 N. 12th St., Room 431, Philadelphia, PA 19122-6017 USA
- Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Huang X, Cao M, Wu S, Wang L, Hu J, Mehran RJ, Roth JA, Swisher SG, Wang RY, Kantarjian HM, Andreeff M, Sun X, Fang B. Anti-leukemia activity of NSC-743380 in SULT1A1-expressing acute myeloid leukemia cells is associated with inhibitions of cFLIP expression and PI3K/AKT/mTOR activities. Oncotarget 2017; 8:102150-102160. [PMID: 29254232 PMCID: PMC5731942 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Our recent study showed that acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells expressing SULT1A1 are highly sensitive to NSC-743380, a small molecule that inhibits STAT3 activity and induces SULT1A1-dependent apoptosis of various cancer cell lines. In this study, we characterized the molecular mechanisms of NSC-743380-mediated anti-leukemia activity in AML cell lines and antileukemia activity of NSC-743380 in patient-derived primary leukemia cells from AML patients. Our results showed that treatment with NSC-743380 triggered robust apoptosis in SULT1A1-positive AML cells. Treatment with NSC-743380 did not increase intracellular reactive oxygen species or change of STAT3 activity in AML cells, but did dramatically and rapidly decrease cFLIP expression. Proteomic analysis with reverse phase protein microarray revealed that treatment of U937 and THP-1 AML cells with NSC-743380 led to drastic and time-dependent suppression of phosphorylation of several key nodes in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, including AKT and mTOR. Moreover, primary AML cells expressed SULT1A1 were highly sensitive to treatment with NSC-743380, which was not affected by co-culture with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Thus, our results provide proof-of-concept evidence that AML cells expressing SULT1A1 can be targeted by small molecules that induce apoptosis through inhibiting the expression or activities of multiple targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Huang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Mengru Cao
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Shuhong Wu
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jing Hu
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Reza J. Mehran
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jack A. Roth
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Stephen G. Swisher
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Rui-Yu Wang
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Hagop M. Kantarjian
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Michael Andreeff
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Xiaoping Sun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Bingliang Fang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
McArthur K, D'Cruz AA, Segal D, Lackovic K, Wilks AF, O'Donnell JA, Nowell CJ, Gerlic M, Huang DCS, Burns CJ, Croker BA. Defining a therapeutic window for kinase inhibitors in leukemia to avoid neutropenia. Oncotarget 2017; 8:57948-57963. [PMID: 28938529 PMCID: PMC5601625 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutropenia represents one of the major dose-limiting toxicities of many current cancer therapies. To circumvent the off-target effects of cytotoxic chemotherapeutics, kinase inhibitors are increasingly being used as an adjunct therapy to target leukemia. In this study, we conducted a screen of leukemic cell lines in parallel with primary neutrophils to identify kinase inhibitors with the capacity to induce apoptosis of myeloid and lymphoid cell lines whilst sparing primary mouse and human neutrophils. We have utilized a high-throughput live cell imaging platform to demonstrate that cytotoxic drugs have limited effects on neutrophil viability but are toxic to hematopoietic progenitor cells, with the exception of the topoisomerase I inhibitor SN-38. The parallel screening of kinase inhibitors revealed that mouse and human neutrophil viability is dependent on cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity but surprisingly only partially dependent on PI3 kinase and JAK/STAT signaling, revealing dominant pathways contributing to neutrophil viability. Mcl-1 haploinsufficiency sensitized neutrophils to CDK inhibition, demonstrating that Mcl-1 is a direct target for CDK inhibitors. This study reveals a therapeutic window for the kinase inhibitors BEZ235, BMS-3, AZD7762, and (R)-BI-2536 to induce apoptosis of leukemia cell lines whilst maintaining immunocompetence and hemostasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate McArthur
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Akshay A D'Cruz
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Segal
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kurt Lackovic
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew F Wilks
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Joanne A O'Donnell
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Cameron J Nowell
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Motti Gerlic
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - David C S Huang
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Christopher J Burns
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,School of Chemistry, Bio21, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ben A Croker
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Teh TC, Nguyen NY, Moujalled DM, Segal D, Pomilio G, Rijal S, Jabbour A, Cummins K, Lackovic K, Blombery P, Thompson E, Ekert PG, Lessene G, Glaser SP, Huang DCS, Roberts AW, Guthridge MA, Wei AH. Enhancing venetoclax activity in acute myeloid leukemia by co-targeting MCL1. Leukemia 2018; 32:303-12. [PMID: 28751770 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2017.243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2017] [Revised: 07/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Targeted therapies are frequently combined with standard cytotoxic drugs to enhance clinical response. Targeting the B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) family of proteins is an attractive option to combat chemoresistance in leukemia. Preclinical and clinical studies indicate modest single-agent activity with selective BCL-2 inhibitors (for example, venetoclax). We show that venetoclax synergizes with cytarabine and idarubicin to increase antileukemic efficacy in a TP53-dependent manner. Although TP53 deficiency impaired sensitivity to combined venetoclax and chemotherapy, higher-dose idarubicin was able to suppress MCL1 and induce cell death independently of TP53. Consistent with an MCL1-specific effect, cell death from high-dose idarubicin was dependent on pro-apoptotic Bak. Combining higher-dose idarubicin with venetoclax was able to partially overcome resistance in Bak-deficient cells. Using inducible vectors and venetoclax to differentially target anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family members, BCL-2 and MCL1 emerged as critical and complementary proteins regulating cell survival in acute myeloid leukemia. Dual targeting of BCL-2 and MCL1, but not either alone, prolonged survival of leukemia-bearing mice. In conclusion, our findings support the further investigation of venetoclax in combination with standard chemotherapy, including intensified doses of idarubicin. Venetoclax should also be investigated in combination with direct inhibitors of MCL1 as a chemotherapy-free approach in the future.
Collapse
|
28
|
Okumu DO, East MP, Levine M, Herring LE, Zhang R, Gilbert TSK, Litchfield DW, Zhang Y, Graves LM. BIRC6 mediates imatinib resistance independently of Mcl-1. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177871. [PMID: 28520795 PMCID: PMC5433768 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Baculoviral IAP repeat containing 6 (BIRC6) is a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), a family of functionally and structurally related proteins that inhibit apoptosis. BIRC6 has been implicated in drug resistance in several different human cancers, however mechanisms regulating BIRC6 have not been extensively explored. Our phosphoproteomic analysis of an imatinib-resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cell line (MYL-R) identified increased amounts of a BIRC6 peptide phosphorylated at S480, S482, and S486 compared to imatinib-sensitive CML cells (MYL). Thus we investigated the role of BIRC6 in mediating imatinib resistance and compared it to the well-characterized anti-apoptotic protein, Mcl-1. Both BIRC6 and Mcl-1 were elevated in MYL-R compared to MYL cells. Lentiviral shRNA knockdown of BIRC6 in MYL-R cells increased imatinib-stimulated caspase activation and resulted in a ~20-25-fold increase in imatinib sensitivity, without affecting Mcl-1. Treating MYL-R cells with CDK9 inhibitors decreased BIRC6 mRNA, but not BIRC6 protein levels. By contrast, while CDK9 inhibitors reduced Mcl-1 mRNA and protein, they did not affect imatinib sensitivity. Since the Src family kinase Lyn is highly expressed and active in MYL-R cells, we tested the effects of Lyn inhibition on BIRC6 and Mcl-1. RNAi-mediated knockdown or inhibition of Lyn (dasatinib/ponatinib) reduced BIRC6 protein stability and increased caspase activation. Inhibition of Lyn also increased formation of an N-terminal BIRC6 fragment in parallel with reduced amount of the BIRC6 phosphopeptide, suggesting that Lyn may regulate BIRC6 phosphorylation and stability. In summary, our data show that BIRC6 stability is dependent on Lyn, and that BIRC6 mediates imatinib sensitivity independently of Mcl-1 or CDK9. Hence, BIRC6 may be a novel target for the treatment of drug-resistant CML where Mcl-1 or CDK9 inhibitors have failed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denis O. Okumu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Michael P. East
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Merlin Levine
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Laura E. Herring
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Raymond Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Thomas S. K. Gilbert
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - David W. Litchfield
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yanping Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Lee M. Graves
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Powell JA, Lewis AC, Zhu W, Toubia J, Pitman MR, Wallington-Beddoe CT, Moretti PA, Iarossi D, Samaraweera SE, Cummings N, Ramshaw HS, Thomas D, Wei AH, Lopez AF, D'Andrea RJ, Lewis ID, Pitson SM. Targeting sphingosine kinase 1 induces MCL1-dependent cell death in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood 2017; 129:771-82. [PMID: 27956387 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2016-06-720433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive malignancy where despite improvements in conventional chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation, overall survival remains poor. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) generates the bioactive lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and has established roles in tumor initiation, progression, and chemotherapy resistance in a wide range of cancers. The role and targeting of SPHK1 in primary AML, however, has not been previously investigated. Here we show that SPHK1 is overexpressed and constitutively activated in primary AML patient blasts but not in normal mononuclear cells. Subsequent targeting of SPHK1 induced caspase-dependent cell death in AML cell lines, primary AML patient blasts, and isolated AML patient leukemic progenitor/stem cells, with negligible effects on normal bone marrow CD34+ progenitors from healthy donors. Furthermore, administration of SPHK1 inhibitors to orthotopic AML patient-derived xenografts reduced tumor burden and prolonged overall survival without affecting murine hematopoiesis. SPHK1 inhibition was associated with reduced survival signaling from S1P receptor 2, resulting in selective downregulation of the prosurvival protein MCL1. Subsequent analysis showed that the combination of BH3 mimetics with either SPHK1 inhibition or S1P receptor 2 antagonism triggered synergistic AML cell death. These results support the notion that SPHK1 is a bona fide therapeutic target for the treatment of AML.
Collapse
|
30
|
Cerella C, Gaigneaux A, Mazumder A, Lee JY, Saland E, Radogna F, Farge T, Vergez F, Récher C, Sarry JE, Kim KW, Shin HY, Dicato M, Diederich M. Bcl-2 protein family expression pattern determines synergistic pro-apoptotic effects of BH3 mimetics with hemisynthetic cardiac glycoside UNBS1450 in acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 2017; 31:755-9. [PMID: 27872497 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2016.341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
|
31
|
Lee JS, Tang SS, Ortiz V, Vo TT, Fruman DA. MCL-1-independent mechanisms of synergy between dual PI3K/mTOR and BCL-2 inhibition in diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Oncotarget 2016; 6:35202-17. [PMID: 26460954 PMCID: PMC4742099 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis promotes survival and is a frequently mutated pathway in cancer. Yet, inhibitors targeting this pathway are insufficient to induce cancer cell death as single agents in some contexts, including diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In these situations, combinations with inhibitors targeting BCL-2 survival proteins (ABT-199 and ABT-263) may hold potential. Indeed, studies have demonstrated marked synergy in contexts where PI3K/mTOR inhibitors suppress expression of the pro-survival protein, MCL-1. In this study, we use BH3 profiling to confirm that BCL-2 and BCL-XL support survival following PI3K pathway inhibition, and that the dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 strongly synergizes with BCL-2 antagonists in DLBCL. However, we identify an alternative mechanism of synergy between PI3K/mTOR and BCL-2 inhibitors, independent of MCL-1 down-regulation. Instead, we show that suppression of AKT activation by BEZ235 can induce the mitochondrial accumulation of pro-apoptotic BAD and BIM, and that expression of a constitutively active form of AKT prevents sensitization to BCL-2 antagonism. Thus, our work identifies an additional mechanism of synergy between PI3K pathway inhibitors and BCL-2 antagonists that strengthens the rationale for testing this combination in DLBCL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Scott Lee
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Sarah S Tang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Veronica Ortiz
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Thanh-Trang Vo
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - David A Fruman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Noren DP, Long BL, Norel R, Rrhissorrakrai K, Hess K, Hu CW, Bisberg AJ, Schultz A, Engquist E, Liu L, Lin X, Chen GM, Xie H, Hunter GA, Boutros PC, Stepanov O, Norman T, Friend SH, Stolovitzky G, Kornblau S, Qutub AA; DREAM 9 AML-OPC Consortium. A Crowdsourcing Approach to Developing and Assessing Prediction Algorithms for AML Prognosis. PLoS Comput Biol 2016; 12:e1004890. [PMID: 27351836 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a fatal hematological cancer. The genetic abnormalities underlying AML are extremely heterogeneous among patients, making prognosis and treatment selection very difficult. While clinical proteomics data has the potential to improve prognosis accuracy, thus far, the quantitative means to do so have yet to be developed. Here we report the results and insights gained from the DREAM 9 Acute Myeloid Prediction Outcome Prediction Challenge (AML-OPC), a crowdsourcing effort designed to promote the development of quantitative methods for AML prognosis prediction. We identify the most accurate and robust models in predicting patient response to therapy, remission duration, and overall survival. We further investigate patient response to therapy, a clinically actionable prediction, and find that patients that are classified as resistant to therapy are harder to predict than responsive patients across the 31 models submitted to the challenge. The top two performing models, which held a high sensitivity to these patients, substantially utilized the proteomics data to make predictions. Using these models, we also identify which signaling proteins were useful in predicting patient therapeutic response.
Collapse
|
33
|
Abstract
![]()
Cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors
have been the topic of intense research for nearly 2 decades due to
their widely varied and critical functions within the cell. Recently
CDK9 has emerged as a druggable target for the development of cancer
therapeutics. CDK9 plays a crucial role in transcription regulation;
specifically, CDK9 mediated transcriptional regulation of short-lived
antiapoptotic proteins is critical for the survival of transformed
cells. Focused chemical libraries based on a plethora of scaffolds
have resulted in mixed success with regard to the development of selective
CDK9 inhibitors. Here we review the regulation of CDK9, its cellular
functions, and common core structures used to target CDK9, along with
their selectivity profile and efficacy in vitro and in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yogesh A Sonawane
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6805, United States
| | - Margaret A Taylor
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6805, United States
| | - John Victor Napoleon
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6805, United States
| | - Sandeep Rana
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6805, United States
| | - Jacob I Contreras
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6805, United States
| | - Amarnath Natarajan
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6805, United States
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Nogami A, Oshikawa G, Okada K, Fukutake S, Umezawa Y, Nagao T, Kurosu T, Miura O. FLT3-ITD confers resistance to the PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitors by protecting the mTOR/4EBP1/Mcl-1 pathway through STAT5 activation in acute myeloid leukemia. Oncotarget 2016; 6:9189-205. [PMID: 25826077 PMCID: PMC4496211 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
FLT3-ITD and FLT3-TKD are the most frequent tyrosine kinase mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with the former associated with poor prognosis. Here, we show that the PI3K inhibitor GDC-0941 or the Akt inhibitor MK-2206 induced apoptosis through the mitochondria-mediated intrinsic pathway more efficiently in hematopoietic 32D cells driven by FLT3-TKD (32D/TKD) than FLT3-ITD (32D/ITD), which robustly activated STAT5. The resistance to GDC-0941 and MK-2206 was gained by expression of the constitutively activated STAT5 mutant STAT5A1*6 in 32D/TKD cells, while it was abrogated by the STAT5 inhibitor pimozide in 32D/ITD cells or FLT3-ITD-expressing human leukemic MV4-11 cells. GDC-0941 or MK-2206 induced dephosphorylation of 4EBP1 more conspicuously in 32D/TKD than in 32D/ITD, which was prevented or augmented by STAT5A1*6 or pimozide, respectively, and correlated with downregulation of the eIF4E/eIF4G complex formation and Mcl-1 expression. Furthermore, exogenous expression of Mcl-1 endowed resistance to GDC-0941 and MK-2206 on 32D/TKD cells. Finally, it was confirmed in primary AML cells with FLT3-ITD that pimozide enhanced 4EBP1 dephosphorylation and Mcl-1 downregulation to augment cytotoxicity of GDC-0941. These data suggest that the robust STAT5 activation by FLT3-ITD protects cells treated with the PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitors from apoptosis by maintaining Mcl-1 expression through the mTORC1/4EBP1/eIF4E pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Nogami
- Department of Hematology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gaku Oshikawa
- Department of Hematology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keigo Okada
- Department of Hematology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shusaku Fukutake
- Department of Hematology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Umezawa
- Department of Hematology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshikage Nagao
- Department of Hematology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Kurosu
- Department of Hematology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Osamu Miura
- Department of Hematology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Kong X, Sun H, Pan P, Tian S, Li D, Li Y, Hou T. Molecular principle of the cyclin-dependent kinase selectivity of 4-(thiazol-5-yl)-2-(phenylamino) pyrimidine-5-carbonitrile derivatives revealed by molecular modeling studies. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016; 18:2034-46. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cp05622e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Due to the high sequence identity of the binding pockets of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), designing highly selective inhibitors towards a specific CDK member remains a big challenge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotian Kong
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM)
- Soochow University
- Suzhou
- P. R. China
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| | - Huiyong Sun
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Zhejiang University
- Hangzhou
- P. R. China
| | - Peichen Pan
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Zhejiang University
- Hangzhou
- P. R. China
| | - Sheng Tian
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM)
- Soochow University
- Suzhou
- P. R. China
| | - Dan Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Zhejiang University
- Hangzhou
- P. R. China
| | - Youyong Li
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM)
- Soochow University
- Suzhou
- P. R. China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM)
- Soochow University
- Suzhou
- P. R. China
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Baker A, Gregory GP, Verbrugge I, Kats L, Hilton JJ, Vidacs E, Lee EM, Lock RB, Zuber J, Shortt J, Johnstone RW. The CDK9 Inhibitor Dinaciclib Exerts Potent Apoptotic and Antitumor Effects in Preclinical Models of MLL-Rearranged Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancer Res 2015; 76:1158-69. [PMID: 26627013 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-1070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Translocations of the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene occur in 60% to 80% of all infant acute leukemias and are markers of poor prognosis. MLL-AF9 and other MLL fusion proteins aberrantly recruit epigenetic regulatory proteins, including histone deacetylases (HDAC), histone methyltransferases, bromodomain-containing proteins, and transcription elongation factors to mediate chromatin remodeling and regulate tumorigenic gene expression programs. We conducted a small-molecule inhibitor screen to test the ability of candidate pharmacologic agents targeting epigenetic and transcriptional regulatory proteins to induce apoptosis in leukemic cells derived from genetically engineered mouse models of MLL-AF9-driven acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We found that the CDK inhibitor dinaciclib and HDAC inhibitor panobinostat were the most potent inducers of apoptosis in short-term in vitro assays. Treatment of MLL-rearranged leukemic cells with dinaciclib resulted in rapidly decreased expression of the prosurvival protein Mcl-1, and accordingly, overexpression of Mcl-1 protected AML cells from dinaciclib-induced apoptosis. Administration of dinaciclib to mice bearing MLL-AF9-driven human and mouse leukemias elicited potent antitumor responses and significantly prolonged survival. Collectively, these studies highlight a new therapeutic approach to potentially overcome the resistance of MLL-rearranged AML to conventional chemotherapies and prompt further clinical evaluation of CDK inhibitors in AML patients harboring MLL fusion proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adele Baker
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Gareth P Gregory
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. Monash Haematology, Monash Health, Clayton, Australia
| | - Inge Verbrugge
- Division of Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lev Kats
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Joshua J Hilton
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Eva Vidacs
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Erwin M Lee
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Richard B Lock
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Johannes Zuber
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jake Shortt
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. Monash Haematology, Monash Health, Clayton, Australia. School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.
| | - Ricky W Johnstone
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Wölwer CB, Pase LB, Pearson HB, Gödde NJ, Lackovic K, Huang DCS, Russell SM, Humbert PO. A Chemical Screening Approach to Identify Novel Key Mediators of Erythroid Enucleation. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142655. [PMID: 26569102 PMCID: PMC4646491 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Erythroid enucleation is critical for terminal differentiation of red blood cells, and involves extrusion of the nucleus by orthochromatic erythroblasts to produce reticulocytes. Due to the difficulty of synchronizing erythroblasts, the molecular mechanisms underlying the enucleation process remain poorly understood. To elucidate the cellular program governing enucleation, we utilized a novel chemical screening approach whereby orthochromatic cells primed for enucleation were enriched ex vivo and subjected to a functional drug screen using a 324 compound library consisting of structurally diverse, medicinally active and cell permeable drugs. Using this approach, we have confirmed the role of HDACs, proteasomal regulators and MAPK in erythroid enucleation and introduce a new role for Cyclin-dependent kinases, in particular CDK9, in this process. Importantly, we demonstrate that when coupled with imaging analysis, this approach provides a powerful means to identify and characterize rate limiting steps involved in the erythroid enucleation process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina B. Wölwer
- Cell Cycle and Cancer Genetics, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Luke B. Pase
- Cell Cycle and Cancer Genetics, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Helen B. Pearson
- Cell Cycle and Cancer Genetics, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nathan J. Gödde
- Cell Cycle and Cancer Genetics, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kurt Lackovic
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David C. S. Huang
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sarah M. Russell
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Immune Signaling Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Micro-Photonics, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia
| | - Patrick O. Humbert
- Cell Cycle and Cancer Genetics, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Phillipson LJ, Segal DH, Nero TL, Parker MW, Wan SS, de Silva M, Guthridge MA, Wei AH, Burns CJ. Discovery and SAR of novel pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines as inhibitors of CDK9. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23:6280-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.08.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
|
39
|
Larrue C, Saland E, Vergez F, Serhan N, Delabesse E, Mansat-De Mas V, Hospital MA, Tamburini J, Manenti S, Sarry JE, Récher C. Antileukemic Activity of 2-Deoxy-d-Glucose through Inhibition of N-Linked Glycosylation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia with FLT3-ITD or c-KIT Mutations. Mol Cancer Ther 2015. [PMID: 26206337 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-15-0163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We assessed the antileukemic activity of 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) through the modulation of expression of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) commonly mutated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We used human leukemic cell lines cells, both in vitro and in vivo, as well as leukemic samples from AML patients to demonstrate the role of 2-DG in tumor cell growth inhibition. 2-DG, through N-linked glycosylation inhibition, affected the cell-surface expression and cellular signaling of both FTL3-ITD and mutated c-KIT and induced apoptotic cell death. Leukemic cells harboring these mutated RTKs (MV4-11, MOLM-14, Kasumi-1, and TF-1 c-KIT D816V) were the most sensitive to 2-DG treatment in vitro as compared with nonmutated cells. 2-DG activity was also demonstrated in leukemic cells harboring FLT3-TKD mutations resistant to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) quizartinib. Moreover, the antileukemic activity of 2-DG was particularly marked in c-KIT-mutated cell lines and cell samples from core binding factor-AML patients. In these cells, 2-DG inhibited the cell-surface expression of c-KIT, abrogated STAT3 and MAPK-ERK pathways, and strongly downregulated the expression of the receptor resulting in a strong in vivo effect in NOD/SCID mice xenografted with Kasumi-1 cells. Finally, we showed that 2-DG decreases Mcl-1 protein expression in AML cells and induces sensitization to both the BH3 mimetic inhibitor of Bcl-xL, Bcl-2 and Bcl-w, ABT-737, and cytarabine. In conclusion, 2-DG displays a significant antileukemic activity in AML with FLT3-ITD or KIT mutations, opening a new therapeutic window in a subset of AML with mutated RTKs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clément Larrue
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France. Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Estelle Saland
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France. Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - François Vergez
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France. Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France. Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Nizar Serhan
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France. Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Eric Delabesse
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France. Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France. Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Véronique Mansat-De Mas
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France. Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France. Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Marie-Anne Hospital
- Institut Cochin, Département Développement, Reproduction, Cancer, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 8104, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1016, Paris, France. Université Paris Descartes, Faculté de Médecine Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Jérôme Tamburini
- Institut Cochin, Département Développement, Reproduction, Cancer, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 8104, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1016, Paris, France. Université Paris Descartes, Faculté de Médecine Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Manenti
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France. Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean Emmanuel Sarry
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France. Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Christian Récher
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), UMR1037 INSERM, ERL5294 CNRS, Toulouse, France. Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France. Service d'Hématologie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer de Toulouse Oncopole, Toulouse, France.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Perwitasari O, Yan X, O'Donnell J, Johnson S, Tripp RA. Repurposing Kinase Inhibitors as Antiviral Agents to Control Influenza A Virus Replication. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2015; 13:638-49. [PMID: 26192013 DOI: 10.1089/adt.2015.0003.drrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza A virus (IAV) infection causes seasonal epidemics of contagious respiratory illness that causes substantial morbidity and some mortality. Regular vaccination is the principal strategy for controlling influenza virus, although vaccine efficacy is variable. IAV antiviral drugs are available; however, substantial drug resistance has developed to two of the four currently FDA-approved antiviral drugs. Thus, new therapeutic approaches are being sought to reduce the burden of influenza-related disease. A high-throughput screen using a human kinase inhibitor library was performed targeting an emerging IAV strain (H7N9) in A549 cells. The inhibitor library contained 273 structurally diverse, active cell permeable kinase inhibitors with known bioactivity and safety profiles, many of which are at advanced stages of clinical development. The current study shows that treatment of human A549 cells with kinase inhibitors dinaciclib, flavopiridol, or PIK-75 exhibits potent antiviral activity against H7N9 IAV as well as other IAV strains. Thus, targeting host kinases can provide a broad-spectrum therapeutic approach against IAV. These findings provide a path forward for repurposing existing kinase inhibitors safely as potential antivirals, particularly those that can be tested in vivo and ultimately for clinical use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Perwitasari
- 1 Department of Infectious Diseases College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia , Athens, Georgia
| | - Xiuzhen Yan
- 1 Department of Infectious Diseases College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia , Athens, Georgia
| | - Jason O'Donnell
- 1 Department of Infectious Diseases College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia , Athens, Georgia .,2 Division of Biological Sciences, University of Georgia , Athens, Georgia
| | - Scott Johnson
- 1 Department of Infectious Diseases College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia , Athens, Georgia
| | - Ralph A Tripp
- 1 Department of Infectious Diseases College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia , Athens, Georgia
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Rijal S, Fleming S, Cummings N, Rynkiewicz NK, Ooms LM, Nguyen NN, Teh T, Avery S, Mcmanus JF, Papenfuss AT, Mclean C, Guthridge MA, Mitchell CA, Wei AH. Inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase II (INPP4B) is associated with chemoresistance and poor outcome in AML. Blood 2015; 125:2815-24. [DOI: 10.1182/blood-2014-09-603555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Key Points
INPP4B promotes chemoresistance in AML independent of phosphoinositide phosphatase function.
Collapse
|
42
|
Abstract
Despite modest improvements in survival over the last several decades, the treatment of AML continues to present a formidable challenge. Most patients are elderly, and these individuals, as well as those with secondary, therapy-related, or relapsed/refractory AML, are particularly difficult to treat, owing to both aggressive disease biology and the high toxicity of current chemotherapeutic regimens. It has become increasingly apparent in recent years that coordinated interruption of cooperative survival signaling pathways in malignant cells is necessary for optimal therapeutic results. The modest efficacy of monotherapy with both cytotoxic and targeted agents in AML testifies to this. As the complex biology of AML continues to be elucidated, many “synthetic lethal” strategies involving rational combinations of targeted agents have been developed. Unfortunately, relatively few of these have been tested clinically, although there is growing interest in this area. In this article, the preclinical and, where available, clinical data on some of the most promising rational combinations of targeted agents in AML are summarized. While new molecules should continue to be combined with conventional genotoxic drugs of proven efficacy, there is perhaps a need to rethink traditional philosophies of clinical trial development and regulatory approval with a focus on mechanism-based, synergistic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prithviraj Bose
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Massey Cancer Center Center, 1201 E Marshall St, MMEC 11-213, P.O. Box 980070, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Steven Grant
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Human and Molecular Genetics and the Institute for Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Massey Cancer Center, 401 College St, P.O. Box 980035, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +1-804-828-5211; Fax: +1-804-628-5920
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Abstract
Evidence for the cancer stem cell model was first demonstrated in xenotransplanted blood and bone marrow samples from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) almost two decades ago, supporting the concept that a rare clonal and mutated leukemic stem cell (LSC) population is sufficient to drive leukemic growth. The inability to eliminate LSCs with conventional therapies is thought to be the primary cause of disease relapse in AML patients, and as such, novel therapies with the ability to target this population are required to improve patient outcomes. An important step towards this goal is the identification of common immunophenotypic surface markers and biological properties that distinguish LSCs from normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) across AML patients. This work has resulted in the development of a large number of potential LSC-selective therapies that target cell surface molecules, intracellular signaling pathways, and the bone marrow microenvironment. Here, we will review the basic biology, immunophenotypic detection, and clinical relevance of LSCs, as well as emerging biological and small-molecule strategies that either directly target LSCs or indirectly target these cells through modulation of their microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Reinisch
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Cancer Institute, and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | - Steven M Chan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Cancer Institute, and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | - Daniel Thomas
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Cancer Institute, and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | - Ravindra Majeti
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Cancer Institute, and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Wichmann C, Quagliano-Lo Coco I, Yildiz Ö, Chen-Wichmann L, Weber H, Syzonenko T, Döring C, Brendel C, Ponnusamy K, Kinner A, Brandts C, Henschler R, Grez M. Activating c-KIT mutations confer oncogenic cooperativity and rescue RUNX1/ETO-induced DNA damage and apoptosis in human primary CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors. Leukemia 2015; 29:279-89. [PMID: 24897507 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2014.179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Revised: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The RUNX1/ETO (RE) fusion protein, which originates from the t(8;21) chromosomal rearrangement, is one of the most frequent translocation products found in de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In RE leukemias, activated forms of the c-KIT tyrosine kinase receptor are frequently found, thereby suggesting oncogenic cooperativity between these oncoproteins in the development and maintenance of t(8;21) malignancies. In this report, we show that activated c-KIT cooperates with a C-terminal truncated variant of RE, REtr, to expand human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitors ex vivo. CD34+ cells expressing both oncogenes resemble the AML-M2 myeloblastic cell phenotype, in contrast to REtr-expressing cells which largely undergo granulocytic differentiation. Oncogenic c-KIT amplifies REtr-depended clonogenic growth and protects cells from exhaustion. Activated c-KIT reverts REtr-induced DNA damage and apoptosis. In the presence of activated c-KIT, REtr-downregulated DNA-repair genes are re-expressed leading to an enhancement of DNA-repair efficiency via homologous recombination. Together, our results provide new mechanistic insight into REtr and c-KIT oncogenic cooperativity and suggest that augmented DNA repair accounts for the increased chemoresistance observed in t(8;21)-positive AML patients with activated c-KIT mutations. This cell-protective mechanism might represent a new therapeutic target, as REtr cells with activated c-KIT are highly sensitive to pharmacological inhibitors of DNA repair.
Collapse
|
45
|
Lemke J, von Karstedt S, Abd El Hay M, Conti A, Arce F, Montinaro A, Papenfuss K, El-Bahrawy MA, Walczak H. Selective CDK9 inhibition overcomes TRAIL resistance by concomitant suppression of cFlip and Mcl-1. Cell Death Differ 2014; 21:491-502. [PMID: 24362439 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2013.179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2013] [Revised: 10/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/05/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) can induce apoptosis in many cancer cells without causing toxicity in vivo. However, to date, TRAIL-receptor agonists have only shown limited therapeutic benefit in clinical trials. This can, most likely, be attributed to the fact that 50% of all cancer cell lines and most primary human cancers are TRAIL resistant. Consequently, future TRAIL-based therapies will require the addition of sensitizing agents that remove crucial blocks in the TRAIL apoptosis pathway. Here, we identify PIK-75, a small molecule inhibitor of the p110α isoform of phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K), as an exceptionally potent TRAIL apoptosis sensitizer. Surprisingly, PI3K inhibition was not responsible for this activity. A kinome-wide in vitro screen revealed that PIK-75 strongly inhibits a panel of 27 kinases in addition to p110α. Within this panel, we identified cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) as responsible for TRAIL resistance of cancer cells. Combination of CDK9 inhibition with TRAIL effectively induced apoptosis even in highly TRAIL-resistant cancer cells. Mechanistically, CDK9 inhibition resulted in downregulation of cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (cFlip) and Mcl-1 at both the mRNA and protein levels. Concomitant cFlip and Mcl-1 downregulation was required and sufficient for TRAIL sensitization by CDK9 inhibition. When evaluating cancer selectivity of TRAIL combined with SNS-032, the most selective and clinically used inhibitor of CDK9, we found that a panel of mostly TRAIL-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cell lines was readily killed, even at low concentrations of TRAIL. Primary human hepatocytes did not succumb to the same treatment regime, defining a therapeutic window. Importantly, TRAIL in combination with SNS-032 eradicated established, orthotopic lung cancer xenografts in vivo. Based on the high potency of CDK9 inhibition as a cancer cell-selective TRAIL-sensitizing strategy, we envisage the development of new, highly effective cancer therapies.
Collapse
|