scholarly journals EXTH-61. COMBINATION OF DISULFIRAM AND COPPER INDUCES NPL4 AGGREGATION, TARGETS CD133-NESTIN CELLS AND EXTENDS SURVIVAL IN MEDULLOBLASTOMA GROUP 3 MODELS

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii100-ii100
Author(s):  
Riccardo Serra ◽  
Tianna Zhao ◽  
Sakibul Huq ◽  
Noah Gorelick ◽  
Joshua Casaos ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Medulloblastoma (MB), the most common brain malignancy among children, is classified into four molecular subtypes, WNT-driven, Shh-driven, Group 3 and 4. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the combination of Disulfiram, an inhibitor of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, and Copper in Shh-driven and Group 3 MB, in vitro and in vivo. METHODS The mechanisms of action and anti-cancer stem-cell effects of disulfiram were evaluated with clonogenic assays, flow-cytometry (FC), western blotting (WB), and immunofluorescence (IF) using established MB cell-lines - ONS76, UW228, D425med, D341 and D283- representing the main molecular subtypes. Survival, tumor volume, nuclear protein localization protein-4-expression (NPL4) and markers of proliferation/apoptosis were assessed in multiple models of Group 3 MB in vivo and ex vivo with WB and immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS Significant in vitro cytotoxicity was demonstrated at nanomolar concentrations of DSF in all lines. DSF/Cu++ induced cell death (increased AnnV/PI, cleaved-Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase fraction, and Apoptosis Inducing Factor on WB/FC/IF, in vitro and ex vivo) through NPL4 accumulation in cell nucleus and intracellular buildup of poly-ubiquitylated proteins. DNA damage was also detected with WB and H2AX foci on immunofluorescence. Flow-cytometry analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in ALDH, Nestin- and CD133-positive cells in Group 3 lines, confirmed with WB in vitro and ex vivo. DSF/Cu++-toxicity was tested in vivo in multiple dose-escalating trials, and the combination significantly prolonged survival and reduced tumor volume in D425 and D341 xenografts. IHC showed lower Ki67 and increased Cleaved-Caspase-3 expression, higher NPL4-positive cells and no difference in NeuN and GFAP-positive cells after treatment. CONCLUSIONS DSF/Cu++ demonstrated a potent therapeutic effect on Shh-driven and Group 3 MB cell lines by determining apoptosis, targeting cancer stem cells and inducing DNA damage. Our data suggest that this combination may serve as a novel treatment, alone or with existing therapies, for pediatric MB.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0251957
Author(s):  
Riccardo Serra ◽  
Tianna Zhao ◽  
Sakibul Huq ◽  
Noah Leviton Gorelick ◽  
Joshua Casaos ◽  
...  

Background Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common brain malignancy in children, and is still responsible for significant mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of Disulfiram (DSF), an FDA-approved inhibitor of Aldehyde-Dehydrogenase (ALDH), and Copper (Cu++) in human SSH-driven and Group 3 MB. The molecular mechanisms, effect on cancer-stem-cells (CSC) and DNA damage were investigated in xenograft models. Methods The cytotoxic and anti-CSC effects of DSF/Cu++ were evaluated with clonogenic assays, flow-cytometry, immunofluorescence, western-blotting. ONS76, UW228 (SHH-driven with Tp53m), D425med, D283 and D341 (Group 3) cell-lines were used. In vivo survival and nuclear protein localization protein-4 (NPL4), Ki67, Cleaved-Caspase-3, GFAP and NeuN expression were assessed in two Group 3 MB xenografts with immunohistochemistry and western-blotting. Results Significant in vitro cytotoxicity was demonstrated at nanomolar concentrations. DSF/Cu++ induced cell-death through NPL4 accumulation in cell-nucleus and buildup of poly-ubiquitylated proteins. Flow-cytometry demonstrated a significant decrease in ALDH+, Nestin+ and CD133+ following treatment, anti-CSC effect was confirmed in vitro and in vivo. DSF/Cu++ prolonged survival, and increased nuclear NPL4 expression in vivo. Conclusions Our data suggest that this combination may serve as a novel treatment, as monotherapy or in combination with existing therapies, for aggressive subtypes of pediatric MB.


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 5354-5354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Alicia López-Iglesias ◽  
Ana Belen Herrero ◽  
Laura San-Segundo ◽  
Susana Hernández-García ◽  
Lorena González-Méndez ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction. EDO-S101 is a hybrid molecule of bendamustine plus vorinostat, new in its class. Our group has previously demonstrated that EDO-S101 is effective in vitro in MM cell lines independently of p53 state, and also in a murine plasmacytoma model where it decreases tumor growth and prolongs survival with respect to bendamustine and/or vorinostat treatment. The objective of this work was to gain further insights into the efficacy of EDO-S101, its mechanism of action and its combination with other drugs used in MM. Methods. The mechanism of action was assessed by western blot, comet assay, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Homologous recombination (HR) efficiency was calculated using chromosomally integrated green fluorescent protein reporter construct-based assay. The efficacy of different combinations was studied in vitro (HMCLs), in vivo (murine plasmacytoma model CB-17 SCID mice) and ex vivo (cells from patients). Results. In addition to the activity of EDO-S101 in MM cell lines we demonstrated that it was active ex vivo in cells isolated from 7 MM patients, with median IC50 of 5 µM (ranging from 1,8 to 8 µM), some of them previously exposed and resistant to alkylators such as melphalan. Interestingly, EDO-S101 could also overcome alkylators-resistance in vitro, as it was active in melphalan resistant cells (U266-LR7 and RPMI8226-LR5). EDO-S01 was also effective in the presence of factors that confer proliferative advantage to plasma cells, like IL-6, IGF or co-culture with mesenchimal cells hMSC-TERT. Regarding its mechanism of action, we found that the apoptosis induced by EDO-S101 was caspase-independent but calpain-dependent, since PD150606, an inhibitor of this protein could overcome EDO-S101-induced apoptosis, whereas the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD -FMK did not. This data was consistent with the finding that under treatment with EDO-S101, MM1S cells showed AIF (apoptotic inducing factor) translocation from the mitochondria into the nucleus. Interestingly, the release of this pro-apoptotic protein from the mitochondria could be mediated by calpains, as it has been described in literature. We subsequently demonstrated that EDO-S101 causes DNA damage, as revealed by the phosphorylation and subsequent activation of several components of the DNA Damage Response (DDR) such as ATM, H2AX, chk1, chk2 or p53, and the induction of DNA fragmentation, that was detected by the comet assay. EDO-S101 was also found to induce cell cycle arrest in different phases depending on the dose and cell line. It has previously been suggested that DACi may impair DNA repair by inhibiting homologous recombination (HR), a pathway related with genomic instability and progression, very active in MM. Therefore we next evaluated the efficiency of HR using a reported construct that was chromosomally integrated in two MM cell lines, JJN3 and U266. Treatment with EDO-S101 significantly reduced the efficiency of HR in both cell lines, by 50% and 20% of untreated controls respectively. Finally, we tested potential combinations with other antimyeloma agents like lenalidomide and thalidomide; and also with proteasome inhibitors (bortezomib, carfilzomib and oprozomib). EDO-S101 potentiated the activity of all these agents, but the most synergistic combination was that including Bortezomib + Dexamethasone (CI 0,4). This combination was also evaluated in vivo, where it significantly decreased tumor growth and prolonged survival compared to agents in monotherapy and in double combinations. We are currently deepening into the mechanism of action of this combination. Conclusions. EDO S101 is active ex vivo in cells isolated from patients and is able to overcome resistance to alkylators. It induces caspase-independent apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest in MM cell lines. These effects are due to the potent DNA damage which is enhanced by HR impairment induced by the hybrid molecule. Moreover, the combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone is especially attractive to be taken into the clinical setting. Disclosures Mehrling: 4Mundipharma-EDO GmbH, Basel, Switzerland: Employment. Mateos:Takeda: Consultancy; Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Onyx: Consultancy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Liu ◽  
Jingyin Zhang ◽  
Shuyun Feng ◽  
Tingli Zhao ◽  
Zhengzheng Li ◽  
...  

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effect of camptothecin derivative 3j on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLCs) cells and the potential anti-tumor mechanisms. Background: Camptothecin compounds are considered as the third largest natural drugs which are widely investigated in the world and they suffered restriction because of serious toxicity, such as hemorrhagic cystitis and bone marrow suppression. Methods: Using cell proliferation assay and S180 tumor mice model, a series of 20(S)-O-substituted benzoyl 7- ethylcamptothecin compounds were screened and evaluated the antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo. Camptothecin derivative 3j was selected for further study using flow cytometry in NSCLCs cells. Cell cycle related protein cyclin A2, CDK2, cyclin D and cyclin E were detected by Western Blot. Then, computer molecular docking was used to confirm the interaction between 3j and Topo I. Also, DNA relaxation assay and alkaline comet assay were used to investigate the mechanism of 3j on DNA damage. Results: Our results demonstrated that camptothecin derivative 3j showed a greater antitumor effect in eleven 20(S)-O-substituted benzoyl 7-ethylcamptothecin compounds in vitro and in vivo. The IC50 of 3j was 1.54± 0.41 µM lower than irinotecan with an IC50 of 13.86±0.80 µM in NCI-H460 cell, which was reduced by 8 fold. In NCI-H1975 cell, the IC50 of 3j was 1.87±0.23 µM lower than irinotecan (IC50±SD, 5.35±0.38 µM), dropped by 1.8 fold. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that 3j induced significant accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. After 24h of 3j (10 µM) treatment, the percentage of NCI-H460 cell in S-phase significantly increased (to 93.54 ± 4.4%) compared with control cells (31.67 ± 3.4%). Similarly, the percentage of NCI-H1975 cell in Sphase significantly increased (to 83.99 ± 2.4%) compared with control cells (34.45 ± 3.9%) after treatment with 10µM of 3j. Moreover, increased levels of cyclin A2, CDK2, and decreased levels of cyclin D, cyclin E further confirmed that cell cycle arrest was induced by 3j. Furthermore, molecular docking studies suggested that 3j interacted with Topo I-DNA and DNA-relaxation assay simultaneously confirmed that 3j suppressed the activity of Topo I. Research on the mechanism showed that 3j exhibited anti-tumour activity via activating the DNA damage response pathway and suppressing the repair pathway in NSCLC cells. Conclusion: Novel camptothecin derivative 3j has been demonstrated as a promising antitumor agent and remains to be assessed in further studies.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0246197
Author(s):  
Jorge Marquez ◽  
Jianping Dong ◽  
Chun Dong ◽  
Changsheng Tian ◽  
Ginette Serrero

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) are effective antibody-based therapeutics for hematopoietic and lymphoid tumors. However, there is need to identify new targets for ADCs, particularly for solid tumors and cancers with unmet needs. From a hybridoma library developed against cancer cells, we selected the mouse monoclonal antibody 33B7, which was able to bind to, and internalize, cancer cell lines. This antibody was used for identification of the target by immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometric analysis, followed by target validation. After target validation, 33B7 binding and target positivity were tested by flow cytometry and western blot analysis in several cancer cell lines. The ability of 33B7 conjugated to saporin to inhibit in vitro proliferation of PTFRN positive cell lines was investigated, as well as the 33B7 ADC in vivo effect on tumor growth in athymic mice. All flow cytometry and in vitro internalization assays were analyzed for statistical significance using a Welsh’s T-test. Animal studies were analyzed using Two-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) utilizing post-hoc Bonferroni analysis, and/or Mixed Effects analysis. The 33B7 cell surface target was identified as Prostaglandin F2 Receptor Negative Regulator (PTGFRN), a transmembrane protein in the Tetraspanin family. This target was confirmed by showing that PTGFRN-expressing cells bound and internalized 33B7, compared to PTGFRN negative cells. Cells able to bind 33B7 were PTGFRN-positive by Western blot analysis. In vitro treatment PTGFRN-positive cancer cell lines with the 33B7-saporin ADC inhibited their proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion. 33B7 conjugated to saporin was also able to block tumor growth in vivo in mouse xenografts when compared to a control ADC. These findings show that screening antibody libraries for internalizing antibodies in cancer cell lines is a good approach to identify new cancer targets for ADC development. These results suggest PTGFRN is a possible therapeutic target via antibody-based approach for certain cancers.


Gut ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 727-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cun Wang ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Cor Lieftink ◽  
Aimee du Chatinier ◽  
Dongmei Gao ◽  
...  

ObjectivesHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent malignancies and a major leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Several therapeutic options like sorafenib and regorafenib provide only modest survival benefit to patients with HCC. This study aims to identify novel druggable candidate genes for patients with HCC.DesignA non-biased CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) loss-of-function genetic screen targeting all known human kinases was performed to identify vulnerabilities of HCC cells. Whole-transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) and bioinformatics analyses were performed to explore the mechanisms of the action of a cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) inhibitor in HCC cells. Multiple in vitro and in vivo assays were used to study the synergistic effects of the combination of CDK12 inhibition and sorafenib.ResultsWe identify CDK12 as critically required for most HCC cell lines. Suppression of CDK12 using short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) or its inhibition by the covalent small molecule inhibitor THZ531 leads to robust proliferation inhibition. THZ531 preferentially suppresses the expression of DNA repair-related genes and induces strong DNA damage response in HCC cell lines. The combination of THZ531 and sorafenib shows striking synergy by inducing apoptosis or senescence in HCC cells. The synergy between THZ531 and sorafenib may derive from the notion that THZ531 impairs the adaptive responses of HCC cells induced by sorafenib treatment.ConclusionOur data highlight the potential of CDK12 as a drug target for patients with HCC. The striking synergy of THZ531 and sorafenib suggests a potential combination therapy for this difficult to treat cancer.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii36-iii36
Author(s):  
V Laspidea ◽  
M Puigdelloses ◽  
M García-Moure ◽  
I Iñigo-Marco ◽  
J Gallego ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is an aggressive brain tumor, being the leading cause of pediatric death caused by cancer. We previously showed that administration of the oncolytic virus Delta-24-RGD to DIPG murine models was safe and led to an increase in the median survival of these animals. However, not all the animals responded, underscoring the need to improve this therapy. In order to increase the antitumoral effect of the virus, we have engineered Delta-24-RGD with the costimulatory ligand 4-1BBL (Delta24-ACT). 4-1BB is a costimulatory receptor that promotes the survival and expansion of activated T cells, and the generation and maintenance of memory CD8+ T cells. In this project, we evaluated the oncolytic effect of Delta24-ACT and the antitumor immune response in DIPG murine models. MATERIALS AND METHODS We use the NP53 and XFM murine DIPG cell lines. Flow cytometry was used to assess cell infectivity and ligand expression. We analyzed viral replication using a method based in hexon detection, and viral cytotoxic effect using the MTS assay. For immunogenic cell death analysis, we measured ATP secretion by a luminometric assay and calreticulin location by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. For in vivo studies, cells and virus were injected in the pons of the mice, using the screw-guided system. RESULTS In vitro, Delta24-ACT was able to infect and induce cell death in a dose-dependent manner in murine DIPG cell lines. In addition, Delta24-ACT was able to replicate in these tumor cells and to express viral proteins. Moreover, infected cells expressed 41BBL in their membranes. Delta24-ACT could induce immunogenic cell death due to an increased secretion of ATP and calreticulin translocation to the membrane of infected cells (in no-infected cells it located in the ER), DAMPs that can trigger the immune response activation. In vivo, Delta24-ACT demonstrated to be safe in all the tested doses and was able to induce a significant increase in the median survival of the treated animals. Moreover, long-term survivors display immunological memory. CONCLUSIONS Delta24-ACT treatment led to antitumoral effect in DIPG murine cell lines in vitro. Of significance, we have demonstrated that in vivo administration of Delta24-ACT is safe and results in an enhanced antitumor effect. Future in vivo studies will explore the underlying immune mechanism of the virus.


2018 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 125-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seoyoung Kim ◽  
Gil-im Mun ◽  
Eun Choi ◽  
Minjeong Kim ◽  
Ji Seong Jeong ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 3773-3773
Author(s):  
Nina Mohell ◽  
Charlotta Liljebris ◽  
Jessica Alfredsson ◽  
Ylva Lindman ◽  
Maria Uustalu ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 3773 Poster Board III-709 Introduction The tumor suppressor protein p53 induces cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis in response to various forms of cellular stress, through transcriptional regulation of a large number of down stream target genes. p53 is frequently mutated in cancer, and cancer cells carrying defects in the p53 protein are often more resistant to conventional chemotherapy. Thus, restoration of the wild type function to mutant p53 appears to be a new attractive strategy for cancer therapy. APR-246 is a novel small molecule quinuclidinone compound that has been shown to reactivate non-functional p53 and induce apoptosis. Although the exact molecular mechanism remains to be determined, recent results suggest that an active metabolite of APR-246 alkylates thiol groups in the core domain of p53, which promotes correct folding of p53 and induces apoptosis (Lambert et al., Cancer Cell 15, 2009). Currently, APR-246 is in Phase I/IIa clinical trials for hematological malignancies and prostate cancer. In the present abstract results from in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo preclinical studies with APR-246 are presented. Results The lead compound of APR-246, PRIMA-1 (p53 reactivation and induction of massive apoptosis), was originally identified by a cellular screening of the NCI library for low molecular weight compounds (Bykov et al., Nat. Med., 8, 2002). Further development and optimization of PRIMA-1 led to the discovery of the structural analog APR-246 (PRIMA-1MET), with improved drug like and preclinical characteristics. In in vitro experiments APR-246 reduced cell viability (WST-1 assay) in a large number of human cancer cell lines with various p53 status, including several leukemia (CCRF-CEM, CEM/VM-1, KBM3), lymphoma (U-937 GTP, U-937-vcr), and myeloma (RPMI 8226/S, 8226/dox40, 8226/LR5) cell lines, as well as many solid cancer cell lines, including osteosarcoma (SaOS-2, SaOS-2-His273,U-2OS), prostate (PC3, PC3-His175, 22Rv1), breast (BT474, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231), lung (H1299, H1299-His175) and colon cancer (HT-29). In human osteosarcoma cell lines APR-246 reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis (FLICA caspase assay) in a concentration dependent manner being more potent in the p53 mutant (SaOS-2-His273) than in the parental p53 null (SaOS-2) cells. The IC50 values (WST-1 assay) were 14 ± 3 and 27 ± 5 μM, respectively (n=35). In in vivo subcutaneous xenograft studies in SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency) mice APR-246 reduced growth of p53 mutant SaOS-2-His273 cells in a dose-dependent manner, when injected i.v. twice daily with 20 -100 mg/kg (64 – 76% inhibition). An in vivo anticancer effect of APR-246 was also observed in hollow-fiber test with NMRI mice using the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell line MV-4-11. An ex vivo cytotoxic effect of APR-246 and/or its lead compound PRIMA-1 has also been shown in primary cells from AML and CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) patients, harbouring both hemizygously deleted p53 as well as normal karyotype (Nahi et al., Br. J. Haematol., 127, 2004; Nahi et al., Br. J. Haematol., 132, 2005; Jonsson-Videsater et al., abstract at this meeting). APR-246 was also tested in a FMCA (fluorometric microculture assay) test using normal healthy lymphocytes (PBMC) and cancer lymphocytes (CLL). It was 4-8 fold more potent in killing cancer cells than normal cells, indicating a favorable therapeutic index. This is in contrast to conventional cytostatics that often show negative ratio in this test. Furthermore, when tested in a well-defined panel of 10 human cancer cell lines consisting of both hematological and solid cancer cell lines, the cytotoxicity profile/activity pattern of APR-246 differed from common chemotherapeutic drugs (correlation coefficient less than 0.4), suggesting a different mechanism of action. Conclusion In relevant in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo cancer models, APR-246 showed unique pharmacological properties in comparison with conventional cytostatics, by being effective also in cancer cells with p53 mutations and by demonstrating tumor specificity. Moreover, in experimental safety/toxicology models required to start clinical trials, APR-246 was non toxic at the predicted therapeutic plasma concentrations. Thus, APR-246 appears to be a promising novel anticancer compound that may specifically target cancer cells in patients with genetic abnormality associated with poor prognosis. Disclosures: Mohell: Aprea AB: Employment. Liljebris:Aprea AB: Employment. Alfredsson:Aprea AB: Employment. Lindman:Aprea AB: Employment. Uustalu:Aprea AB: Employment. Wiman:Aprea AB: Co-founder, shareholder, and member of the board. Uhlin:Aprea AB: Employment.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 3728-3728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shruti Bhatt ◽  
Brittany Ashlock ◽  
Yaso Natkunam ◽  
Juan Carlos Ramos ◽  
Enrique Mesri ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 3728 Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a distinct and aggressive subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) commonly presenting with pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial malignant effusions usually without a contiguous tumor mass. PEL is most commonly diagnosed in HIV-positive patients, accounting for 4% of all NHLs in this population, yet may also develop in immunosuppressed HIV-negative individuals. While Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV8 or Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus) is directly implicated in the oncogenesis of this lymphoma, most PEL cases are also associated with Epstein-Barr virus and the combination of the two may facilitate transformation. The tumor cells exhibit plasmablastic features and express CD45, CD38, CD138, HHV8 and CD30. PEL is an aggressive tumor characterized by a short median survival of only 6 months with current therapeutic approaches underscoring the urgent need for development of new therapeutics. Brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) comprised of an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody cAC10 conjugated by a protease-cleavable dipeptide linker to a potent cell killing agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). Following binding to CD30, brentuximab vedotin is rapidly internalized and is transported to lysosomes, where the peptide linker is selectively cleaved allowing binding of the released MMAE to tubulin and leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Brentuximab vedotin was recently reported to have promising antitumor activity in CD30 expressing tumors, such as Hodgkin and Anaplastic large cell lymphomas. Since PEL tumors are reported to express CD30, we have hypothesized that brentuximab vedotin might be effective in the treatment of this NHL subtype. Initially, we have confirmed by flow cytometry the expression of CD30 on PEL cell lines (UM-PEL 1, UM-PEL 3, BC-1 and BC-3), and by review of immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry results in patients with previous diagnosis of PEL at our institution. To examine in vitro potency of brentuximab vedotin, UM-PEL 1, UM-PEL 3, BC-1 and BC-3 PEL cell lines were treated with brentuximab vedotin at concentration ranging from 0–100 micrograms/ml. Staining with YO-PRO and Propidium Iodide (PI) demonstrated dose dependent cell apoptosis and death in all the cell lines at 72 hours post treatment. In contrast, control IgG conjugated with MMAE failed to induce apoptosis and cell death of PEL cell lines confirming specific brentuximab vedotin cytotoxicity. Furthermore, brentuximab vedotin decreased proliferation of PEL cells at 48 hours leading to a complete proliferation arrest at 72 hours, as measured by MTS assay. These effects were absent after equivalent doses of control IgG conjugated drug treatment. Supportive to this, labeling of cells with PI to detect active DNA content by flow cytometry showed that bretuximab vedotin induced growth arrest in G2/M phase. To further establish the anti-tumor potential of brentuximab vedotin in vivo, we used the direct xenograft UM-PEL 1 model, established in our laboratory (Sarosiek, PNAS 2010), which mimics human PEL tumors. UM-PEL 1 bearing mice were injected intraperitoneally 3 times a week with brentuximab vedotin or control IgG conjugated MMAE for 4 weeks. Brentuximab vedotin treatment markedly prolonged overall survival of UM-PEL-1 bearing mice compared to controls (p Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 3621-3621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan C Snedeker ◽  
Tamara M Burleson ◽  
Raoul Tibes ◽  
Christopher C. Porter

Abstract Introduction: Successful treatment of AML remains dependent upon cytotoxic chemotherapy. However, traditional regimens are not well tolerated by older patients who are at highest risk of disease, and salvage rates after relapse are low, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. Our groups identified Wee1 as a potential therapeutic target in AML, particularly in the context of concomitant treatment with cytarabine (Tibes et al, Blood, 2012; Porter et al, Leukemia, 2012). Wee1 inhibits CDK1&2 via phosphorylation thereby stalling cell cycle progression. One consequence of Wee1 inhibition/CDK1 activation is impairment of DNA repair via homologous recombination (Krajewska et al, Oncogene, 2013). Cells in which HR is impaired are dependent upon Parp1/2 function, and HR deficient cells are particularly sensitive to Parp1/2 inhibition. Therefore, we hypothesized that combined Wee1 and Parp1/2 inhibition may result in greater inhibition of AML cell proliferation and survival than either alone. Methods: Human AML cell lines, MV4-11 and Molm-13, and a mouse AML that expresses MLL-ENL/FLT3-ITD were cultured with various concentrations of a Wee1 inhibitor (AZ1775) and a Parp1/2 inhibitor (olaparib) and counted 72 hours later by propidium iodide exclusion and flow cytometry. In some experiments, cells were split into fresh media to recover for 72 more hours. Combination Index (CI) values were calculated by the method of Chou and Talalay. Apoptosis was measured using Annexin V/7AAD and flow cytometry. Western blots were used to confirm inhibition of CDK1/2 phosphorylation and to measure DNA damage induction (gamma-H2AX). Results: Combined inhibition of Wee1 and Parp1/2 was synergistic, as measured by cell numbers at 72 hours, in all 3 cell lines tested, with combination index values ranging from 0.3 to 0.9. When cells were allowed to recover after treatment, those treated by single agents were able to continue proliferating. However, those treated with the combination did not recover as well or at all, indicating greatly impaired proliferative capacity. Combined inhibition of Wee1 and Parp1/2 also resulted in a significant increase in apoptosis greater than either drug alone. Western blots for gamma-H2AX confirmed that the combination of Wee1 and Parp1/2 resulted in more DNA damage than either drug alone. Discussion: Combined inhibition of Wee1 and Parp1/2 results in greater inhibition of AML cell proliferation, DNA damage and apoptosis than either drug alone. Future studies will include experiments with primary patient samples, as well as in vivo trials combining Wee1 inhibition with Parp1/2 inhibition. These preliminary studies raise the possibility of rational combinations of targeted agents for leukemia in those for whom conventional chemotherapeutics may not be well tolerated. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


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