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Al Sayed MF, Amrein MA, Bührer ED, Huguenin AL, Radpour R, Riether C, Ochsenbein AF. T-cell–Secreted TNFα Induces Emergency Myelopoiesis and Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Differentiation in Cancer. Cancer Res 2018; 79:346-359. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-3026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Murone M, Radpour R, Attinger A, Chessex AV, Huguenin AL, Schürch CM, Banz Y, Sengupta S, Aguet M, Rigotti S, Bachhav Y, Massière F, Ramachandra M, McAllister A, Riether C. The Multi-kinase Inhibitor Debio 0617B Reduces Maintenance and Self-renewal of Primary Human AML CD34 + Stem/Progenitor Cells. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 16:1497-1510. [PMID: 28468777 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [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: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is initiated and maintained by leukemia stem cells (LSC). LSCs are therapy-resistant, cause relapse, and represent a major obstacle for the cure of AML. Resistance to therapy is often mediated by aberrant tyrosine kinase (TK) activation. These TKs primarily activate downstream signaling via STAT3/STAT5. In this study, we analyzed the potential to therapeutically target aberrant TK signaling and to eliminate LSCs via the multi-TK inhibitor Debio 0617B. Debio 0617B has a unique profile targeting key kinases upstream of STAT3/STAT5 signaling such as JAK, SRC, ABL, and class III/V receptor TKs. We demonstrate that expression of phospho-STAT3 (pSTAT3) in AML blasts is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. Furthermore, phospho-STAT5 (pSTAT5) signaling is increased in primary CD34+ AML stem/progenitors. STAT3/STAT5 activation depends on tyrosine phosphorylation, mediated by several upstream TKs. Inhibition of single upstream TKs did not eliminate LSCs. In contrast, the multi-TK inhibitor Debio 0617B reduced maintenance and self-renewal of primary human AML CD34+ stem/progenitor cells in vitro and in xenotransplantation experiments resulting in long-term elimination of human LSCs and leukemia. Therefore, inhibition of multiple TKs upstream of STAT3/5 may result in sustained therapeutic efficacy of targeted therapy in AML and prevent relapses. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(8); 1497-510. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ramin Radpour
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Anne-Laure Huguenin
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Yara Banz
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Saumitra Sengupta
- Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Michel Aguet
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Carsten Riether
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Medical Oncology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Riether C, Schürch CM, Bührer ED, Hinterbrandner M, Huguenin AL, Hoepner S, Zlobec I, Pabst T, Radpour R, Ochsenbein AF. CD70/CD27 signaling promotes blast stemness and is a viable therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia. J Exp Med 2016; 214:359-380. [PMID: 28031480 PMCID: PMC5294846 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20152008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [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: 12/24/2015] [Revised: 09/18/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Riether et al. show that CD70/CD27 signaling activates stem cell gene expression programs in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Blocking the CD70/CD27 interaction inhibits self-renewal and induces differentiation of AML blasts and stem/progenitor cells. Aberrant proliferation, symmetric self-renewal, increased survival, and defective differentiation of malignant blasts are key oncogenic drivers in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Stem cell gene signatures predict poor prognosis in AML patients; however, with few exceptions, these deregulated molecular pathways cannot be targeted therapeutically. In this study, we demonstrate that the TNF superfamily ligand–receptor pair CD70/CD27 is expressed on AML blasts and AML stem/progenitor cells. CD70/CD27 signaling in AML cells activates stem cell gene expression programs, including the Wnt pathway, and promotes symmetric cell divisions and proliferation. Soluble CD27, reflecting the extent of CD70/CD27 interactions in vivo, was significantly elevated in the sera of newly diagnosed AML patients and is a strong independent negative prognostic biomarker for overall survival. Blocking the CD70/CD27 interaction by mAb induced asymmetric cell divisions and differentiation in AML blasts and AML stem/progenitor cells, inhibited cell growth and colony formation, and significantly prolonged survival in murine AML xenografts. Importantly, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from healthy BM donors express neither CD70 nor CD27 and were unaffected by blocking mAb treatment. Therefore, targeting CD70/CD27 signaling represents a promising therapeutic strategy for AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Riether
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Medical Oncology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christian M Schürch
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland.,Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Elias D Bührer
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Anne-Laure Huguenin
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Hoepner
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Inti Zlobec
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Pabst
- Department of Medical Oncology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ramin Radpour
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Adrian F Ochsenbein
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland .,Department of Medical Oncology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
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Riether C, Schürch CM, Flury C, Hinterbrandner M, Drück L, Huguenin AL, Baerlocher GM, Radpour R, Ochsenbein AF. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor-induced CD70 expression mediates drug resistance in leukemia stem cells by activating Wnt signaling. Sci Transl Med 2016. [PMID: 26223302 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aab1740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), oncogenic BCR-ABL1 activates the Wnt pathway, which is fundamental for leukemia stem cell (LSC) maintenance. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment reduces Wnt signaling in LSCs and often results in molecular remission of CML; however, LSCs persist long term despite BCR-ABL1 inhibition, ultimately causing disease relapse. We demonstrate that TKIs induce the expression of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family ligand CD70 in LSCs by down-regulating microRNA-29, resulting in reduced CD70 promoter DNA methylation and up-regulation of the transcription factor specificity protein 1. The resulting increase in CD70 triggered CD27 signaling and compensatory Wnt pathway activation. Combining TKIs with CD70 blockade effectively eliminated human CD34(+) CML stem/progenitor cells in xenografts and LSCs in a murine CML model. Therefore, targeting TKI-induced expression of CD70 and compensatory Wnt signaling resulting from the CD70/CD27 interaction is a promising approach to overcoming treatment resistance in CML LSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Riether
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christian M Schürch
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Bern, Switzerland. Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 31, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Flury
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Magdalena Hinterbrandner
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Linda Drück
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Laure Huguenin
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gabriela M Baerlocher
- Experimental Hematology, Department of Clinical Research, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland. Department of Hematology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ramin Radpour
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Adrian F Ochsenbein
- Tumor Immunology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Bern, Switzerland. Department of Medical Oncology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
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