scholarly journals Acid Ceramidase (ASAH1) Mediates Intrinsic and Intercellular Transfer of Proteasome Inhibitor Resistance in Multiple Myeloma

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1206-1206
Author(s):  
Ryan T Bishop ◽  
Tao Li ◽  
Raghunandan R Alugubelli ◽  
Oliver Hampton ◽  
Ariosto Siqueira Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Resistant Cell ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Acid Ceramidase ◽  
Advisory Committees

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Despite proteasome inhibitors (PIs) improving multiple MM (MM) outcomes, patients often become resistant. Identifying mechanisms of resistance with translational potential are an urgent unmet clinical need. Preliminary studies from our group have identified that the therapeutically targetable acid ceramidase, ASAH1, is a key mediator of PI resistance and its presence in extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from resistant MM cells, confers PI resistance on drug naïve MM cells. METHODS: Nanosight technology, transmission electron microscopy and immunoblot were used to define EVs. Viability and apoptosis assays were used to determine the effects of EVs and inhibitors on resistance acquisition/sensitization to PIs. LC-MS was used to interrogate EV cargo contents. Clinical relevance of ASAH1 was determined in multiple human data cohorts (M2GEN and MMRF CoMMpass). Genetic (shRNA) and pharmacological (ceranib-2) approaches were used to assess the role of ASAH1 mechanistically in vitro and in vivo using multiple isogenic naïve and PI resistant cell lines, patient derived CD138+ MM cells and NSG mouse models. RESULTS: Co-culture of sensitive MM cells with resistant MM-EVs alone significantly protected against PI cytotoxicity. Proteomic profiling revealed high levels of ASAH1 in EVs derived from PI resistant MM cells. Further, we observed ASAH1 is abundant in lysates of multiple PI resistant cell lines compared to their isogenic drug sensitive counterparts. In human datasets, high ASAH1 expression was noted in PI resistant MM patients compared to those newly diagnosed and correlated with significantly shorter survival times. Mechanistically, knockdown of ASAH1 led to reduced conversion of ceramide to sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1-P) and decreased expression/activity of the anti-apoptotic proteins MCL-1, BCL2 and BCL-xL and increases in pro-apoptotic BIM and NOXA. Notably, ASAH1 knockdown also significantly sensitized the cells to PI treatment and this effect was rescued by addition of exogenous S1-P. Pharmacological inhibition of ASAH1 with ceranib-2 also sensitized resistant cells to PI treatment and prevented EV mediated resistance transfer in vitro. This was recapitulated ex vivo with human clinical samples. Our orthotopic in vivo model using PI-resistant U266-PSR cells show that ceranib-2 is highly effective in limiting the growth of PI-resistant disease, protecting against MM induced bone disease, and increasing overall survival compared to both bortezomib and vehicle controls. CONCLUSION: We define the ceramidase ASAH1 as a novel, druggable target for the treatment of PI resistant MM. Disclosures Hampton: M2Gen: Current Employment. Siqueira Silva: AbbVie Inc.: Research Funding; Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.: Research Funding. Shain: Janssen oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi Genzyme: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy; GlaxoSmithLine, LLC: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amgen Inc: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

scholarly journals Targeting Wnt/β-Catenin and BCL-2, Two Critical Survival Factors, Synergistically Induces Apoptosis in AML Via Rac1-Mediated MCL-1 Inhibition

Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1442-1442
Author(s):  
Xiangmeng Wang ◽  
Po Yee Mak ◽  
Wencai Ma ◽  
Xiaoping Su ◽  
Hong Mu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Single Agent ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Equity Ownership ◽  
Critical Survival

Abstract Wnt/β-catenin signaling regulates self-renewal and proliferation of AML cells and is critical in AML initiation and progression. Overexpression of β-catenin is associated with poor prognosis. We previously reported that inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by C-82, a selective inhibitor of β-catenin/CBP, exerts anti-leukemia activity and synergistically potentiates FLT3 inhibitors in FLT3-mutated AML cells and stem/progenitor cells in vitro and in vivo (Jiang X et al., Clin Cancer Res, 2018, 24:2417). BCL-2 is a critical survival factor for AML cells and stem/progenitor cells and ABT-199 (Venetoclax), a selective BCL-2 inhibitor, has shown clinical activity in various hematological malignancies. However, when used alone, its efficacy in AML is limited. We and others have reported that ABT-199 can induce drug resistance by upregulating MCL-1, another key survival protein for AML stem/progenitor cells (Pan R et al., Cancer Cell 2017, 32:748; Lin KH et al, Sci Rep. 2016, 6:27696). We performed RNA Microarrays in OCI-AML3 cells treated with C-82, ABT-199, or the combination and found that both C-82 and the combination downregulated multiple genes, including Rac1. It was recently reported that inhibition of Rac1 by the pharmacological Rac1 inhibitor ZINC69391 decreased MCL-1 expression in AML cell line HL-60 cells (Cabrera M et al, Oncotarget. 2017, 8:98509). We therefore hypothesized that inhibiting β-catenin by C-82 may potentiate BCL-2 inhibitor ABT-199 via downregulating Rac1/MCL-1. To investigate the effects of simultaneously targeting β-catenin and BCL-2, we treated AML cell lines and primary patient samples with C-82 and ABT-199 and found that inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling significantly enhanced the potency of ABT-199 in AML cell lines, even when AML cells were co-cultured with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). The combination of C-82 and ABT-199 also synergistically killed primary AML cells (P<0.001 vs control, C-82, and ABT-199) in 10 out of 11 samples (CI=0.394±0.063, n=10). This synergy was also shown when AML cells were co-cultured with MSCs (P<0.001 vs control, C-82, and ABT-199) in all 11 samples (CI=0.390±0.065, n=11). Importantly, the combination also synergistically killed CD34+ AML stem/progenitor cells cultured alone or co-cultured with MSCs. To examine the effect of C-82 and ABT-199 combination in vivo, we generated a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model from an AML patient who had mutations in NPM1, FLT3 (FLT3-ITD), TET2, DNMT3A, and WT1 genes and a complex karyotype. The combination synergistically killed the PDX cells in vitro even under MSC co-culture conditions. After PDX cells had engrafted in NSG (NOD-SCID IL2Rgnull) mice, the mice were randomized into 4 groups (n=10/group) and treated with vehicle, C-82 (80 mg/kg, daily i.p injection), ABT-199 (100 mg/kg, daily oral gavage), or the combination for 30 days. Results showed that all treatments decreased circulating blasts (P=0.009 for C-82, P<0.0001 for ABT-199 and the combination) and that the combination was more effective than each single agent (P<0.001 vs C-82 or ABT-199) at 2 weeks of therapy. The combination also significantly decreased the leukemia burden in mouse spleens compared with controls (P=0.0046) and single agent treated groups (P=0.032 or P=0.020 vs C-82 or ABT-199, respectively) at the end of the treatment. However, the combination did not prolong survival time, likely in part due to toxicity. Dose modifications are ongoing. These results suggest that targeting Wnt/β-catenin and BCL-2, both essential for AML cell and stem cell survival, has synergistic activity via Rac1-mediated MCL-1 inhibition and could be developed into a novel combinatorial therapy for AML. Disclosures Andreeff: SentiBio: Equity Ownership; Oncolyze: Equity Ownership; Oncoceutics: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharma: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Eutropics: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi-Sankyo: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties: MDM2 inhibitor activity patent, Research Funding; Aptose: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Reata: Equity Ownership; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; United Therapeutics: Patents & Royalties: GD2 inhibition in breast cancer . Carter:novartis: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding.

scholarly journals In Vitro and inVivo Activity of Melflufen in Amyloidosis

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 3100-3100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Flanagan ◽  
Muntasir M Majumder ◽  
Romika Kumari ◽  
Juho Miettinen ◽  
Ana Slipicevic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Plasma Cell ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Plasma Cells ◽  
Al Amyloidosis ◽  
Advisory Committees

Background: Immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare disease caused by plasma cell secretion of misfolded light chains that assemble as amyloid fibrils and deposit on vital organs including the heart and kidneys, causing organ dysfunction. Plasma cell directed therapeutics, aimed at preferentially eliminating the clonal population of amyloidogenic cells in bone marrow are expected to reduce production of toxic light chain and alleviate deposition of amyloid thereby restoring healthy organ function. Melphalan flufenamide ethyl ester, melflufen, is a peptidase potentiated alkylating agent with potent toxicity in myeloma cells. Melflufen is highly lipophilic, permitting rapid cellular uptake, and is subsequently enzymatically cleaved by aminopeptidases within cells resulting in augmented intracellular concentrations of toxic molecules, providing a more targeted and localized treatment. Previous data demonstrating multiple myeloma plasma cell sensitivity for melflufen suggests that the drug might be useful to directly eliminate amyloidogenic plasma cells, thereby reducing the amyloid load in patients. Furthermore, the increased intracellular concentrations of melflufen in myeloma cells indicates a potential reduction in systemic toxicity in patients, an important factor in the fragile amyloidosis patient population. To assess potential efficacy in amyloidosis patients and to explore the mechanism of action, we examined effects of melflufen on amyloidogenic plasma cells invitro and invivo. Methods: Cellular toxicity and apoptosis were measured in response to either melflufen or melphalan in multiple malignant human plasma cell lines, including the amyloidosis patient derived light chain secreting ALMC-1 and ALMC-2 cells, as well as primary bone marrow cells from AL amyloidosis patients, using annexin V and live/dead cell staining by multicolor flow cytometry, and measurement of cleaved caspases. Lambda light chain was measured in supernatant by ELISA, and intracellular levels were detected by flow cytometry. To assess efficacy of melflufen in vivo, the light chain secreting human myeloma cell line, JJN3, was transduced with luciferase and adoptively transferred into NSG mice. Cell death in response to melflufen or melphalan was measured by in vivo bioluminescence, and serum light chain was monitored. Results: Melflufen demonstrated increased potency against multiple myeloma cell lines compared to melphalan, inducing malignant plasma cell death at lower doses on established light chain secreting plasma cell lines. While ALMC-1 cells were sensitive to both melphalan and melflufen, the IC50 for melphalan at 960 nM was approximately 3-fold higher than melflufen (334 nM). However, ALMC-2 cells were relatively insensitive to melphalan (12600 nM), but maintained a 100-fold increase in sensitivity to melflufen (121 nM). Furthermore, while 40% of primary CD138+ plasma cells from patients with diagnosed AL amyloidosis responded to melflufen treatment in vitro, only 20% responded to melphalan with consistently superior IC50 values for melflufen (Figure 1). Light chain secreting cell lines and AL amyloidosis patient samples were further analyzed by single cell sequencing. We further examined differential effects on apoptosis and the unfolded protein response in vitro in response to either melflufen or melphalan. This is of particular interest in amyloidosis, where malignant antibody producing plasma cells possess an increased requirement for mechanisms to cope with the amplified load of unfolded protein and associated ER stress. As AL amyloidosis is ultimately a disease mediated by secretion of toxic immunoglobulin, we assessed the effects of melflufen on the production of light chain invitro, measuring a decrease in production of light chain in response to melflufen treatment. Finally, we took advantage of a recently described adoptive transfer mouse model of amyloidosis to assess the efficacy of melflufen and melphalan in eliminating amyloidogenic clones and reducing the levels of toxic serum light chain in vivo. Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that melflufen mediated toxicity, previously described in myeloma cells, extends to amyloidogenic plasma cells and further affects the ability of these cells to produce and secrete toxic light chain. This data supports the rationale for the evaluation of melflufen in patients with AL amyloidosis. Figure 1 Disclosures Flanagan: Oncopeptides AB: Employment. Slipicevic:Oncopeptides AB: Employment. Holstein:Celgene: Consultancy; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Consultancy; Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sorrento: Consultancy. Lehmann:Oncopeptides AB: Employment. Nupponen:Oncopeptides AB: Employment. Heckman:Celgene: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Research Funding; Orion Pharma: Research Funding.

A NOVEL Aurora A Kinase INHIBITOR MLN8237 Induces Cytotoxicity and CELL Cycle Arrest IN MULTIPLE MYELOMA.

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 3830-3830
Author(s):  
Gullu Gorgun ◽  
Elisabetta Calabrese ◽  
Teru Hideshima ◽  
Jeffrey Ecsedy ◽  
Giada Bianchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Mitotic Spindle ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Thymidine Incorporation ◽  
Aurora A Kinase ◽  
Advisory Committees

Abstract Abstract 3830 Poster Board III-766 Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable bone marrow derived plasma cell malignancy. Despite significant improvements in treating patients suffering from this disease, MM remains uniformly fatal due to intrinsic or acquired drug resistance. Thus, additional modalities for treating MM are required. Targeting cell cycle progression proteins provides such a novel treatment strategy. Here we assess the in vivo and in vitro anti-MM activity of MLN8237, a small molecule Aurora A kinase (AURKA) inhibitor. AURKA is a mitotic kinase that localizes to centrosomes and the proximal mitotic spindle, where it functions in mitotic spindle formation and in regulating chromatid congression and segregation. In MM, increased AURKA gene expression has been correlated with centrosome amplification and a worse prognosis; thus, inhibition of AURKA in MM may prove to be therapeutically beneficial. Here we show that AURKA protein is highly expressed in eight MM cell lines and primary patient MM cells. The affect of AURKA inhibition was examined using cytotoxicity (MTT viability) and proliferation (3[H]thymidine incorporation) assays after treatment of these cell lines and primary cells with MLN8237 (0.0001 μM – 4 μM) for 24, 48 and 72h Although there was no significant inhibition of cell viability and proliferation at 24h, a marked effect on both viability and proliferation occurred after 48 and 72h treatment at concentrations as low as 0.01 μM. Moreover, MLN8237 inhibits cell growth and proliferation of primary MM cells and cell lines even in the presence of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) or cytokines IL-6 and IGF1. Similar experiments revealed that MLN8237 did not induce cytotoxicity in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as measured by MTT assay, but did inhibit proliferation at 48 and 72h, as measured by the 3[H]thymidine incorporation assay. To delineate the mechanisms of cytotoxicity and growth inhibitory activity of MLN8237, apoptotic markers and cell cycle profiles were examined in both MM cell lines and primary MM cells. Annexin V and propidium iodide staining of MM cell lines cultured in the presence or absence of MLN8237 (1 μM) for 24, 48 and 72h demonstrated apoptosis, which was further confirmed by increased cleavage of PARP, capase-9, and caspase-3 by immunoblotting. In addition, MLN8237 upregulated p53-phospho (Ser 15) and tumor suppressor genes p21 and p27. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that MLN8237 treatment induces an accumulation of tetraploid cells by abrogating G2/M progression. We next determined whether combining MLN8237 with conventional (melphalan, doxorubucin, dexamethasone) and other novel (VELCADE®) therapeutic agents elicited synergistic/additive anti-MM activity by isobologram analysis using CalcuSyn software. Combining MLN8237 with melphalan, dexamethasone, or VELCADE® induces synergistic/additive anti-MM activity against MM cell lines in vitro (p≤0.05, CI<1). To confirm in vivo anti-MM effects of MLN8237, MM.1S cells were injected s.c. into g-irradiated CB-17 SCID mice (n=40, 10 mice EA group). When tumors were measurable (>100 mm3), mice were treated with daily oral doses of vehicle alone or 7.5mg/kg, 15mg/kg, 30mg/kg MLN8237 for 21 days. Overall survival (defined as time between initiation of treatment and sacrifice or death) was compared in vehicle versus- MLN8237- treated mice by Kaplan-Meier method. Tumor burden was significantly reduced (p=0.02) and overall survival was significantly increased (p=0.02, log-rank test) in animals treated with 30mg/kg MLN8237. In vivo anti-MM effects of MLN8237 were further validated by performing TUNEL apoptosis-cell death assay in tumor tissues excised from control or treated animals. Importantly, a significant dose-related increase in apoptotic cells was observed in tumors from animals that received MLN8237 versus controls. These results suggest that MLN8237 represents a promising novel targeted therapy in MM. Disclosures: Ecsedy: Millennium Pharmaceutical: Employment. Munshi:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Millennium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Richardson:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Millennium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Anderson:Millennium: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding.

scholarly journals Exploring the Possibility of Using Herpes Simplex Virus in Oncolytic Virotherapy of Multiple Myeloma

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 4467-4467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayeeta Ghose ◽  
Luke Russell ◽  
Enrico Caserta ◽  
Ramasamy Santhanam ◽  
Alena Cristina Jaime-Ramirez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Vero Cells ◽  
Oncolytic Virotherapy ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Simplex Virus

Abstract Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most prevalent hematologic malignancy. Approximately, 80,000 people have died of the disease in the United States and 25,000 new cases are registered every year. Majority of patients develop resistance to current therapeutic treatments and die within 5-10 years of diagnosis. Thus, need of novel therapeutic intervention is extremely urgent. Although the field of oncolytic virotherapy (OV) based on using viruses with natural or engineered tumor selective replication to intentionally infect and kill tumor cells has been extensively explored for the treatment of solid tumors, only few data are available for the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies. Our laboratory was one of the first to show that OV using Reovirus can be an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of MM in vitro and in MM patients. In this work we aim at exploring the possibility of using genetically engineered HSV1 (Herpes Simplex Virus) for the treatment of MM. HSV1 is an enveloped, double stranded DNA virus. Engineered HSV1 (HSVQ) has both copies of viral gene important in viral replication in normal cells viz., ICP 34.5 gene deleted and has one copy of GFP inserted into viral ICP6 gene. Such engineered virus has been used for cancer cell selective killing in preclinical and clinical studies for the treatment of several types of solid tumors including melanoma and glioblastoma multiforme. In this study, we investigated the biological and preclinical impact of HSVQ on MM cell in vitro and in vivo. Method: Recombinant HSVQ was amplified in African green monkey kidney epithelial Vero cells, purified by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and titrated by plaque assay on Vero cells. Several MM cell lines (MM1.S, U266, RPMI8226, L363, NIH-H929) were infected with HSVQ at Multiplicity of Infection (MOI) 0.01 to 5. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analysis were used to assess MM cell infectivity with the virus. RT-PCR was performed to detect presence of viral genome in MM cell lines. Viral replication assays were also performed. Cell proliferation and apoptotic assays including MTT Assay, Tryphan Blue exclusion test, LIVE/DEAD cell viability staining and Annexin/7-AAD assays were done to determine viability of virus infected MM cells. Western Blot analysis was carried out to determine endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response mediated by ERK, Hsp90, Bip/GRP78, Hsp40 and apoptosis in HSVQ treated MM cells. Total bone marrow (BM) cells obtained from MM patients were infected with HSVQ and multi parametric flow analysis was performed to determine infectivity and specific killing of CD138+ MM cells by the virus. To study in vivo anti-tumorigenic properties of HSVQ, 12.5 x106 GFP/Luc + MM1.S or NIH-H929 cells were subcutaneously injected into the right flank of 20 NOD-SCID mice. Two weeks after injection, mice with comparable size tumors were randomly divided (5 animal for each treatment group) and treated twice with 1x107PFU (Plaque Forming Unit) HSVQ for 2 weeks or with saline. Tumor growth was measured to determine anti tumorigenic effect of HSVQ on MM tumors. Results and Conclusion: Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry revealed that MM cell lines can be effectively infected with and killed by HSVQ even at MOI as low as 0.1. Under such conditions, Western Blot analysis revealed increased BAX expression, decreased BCL2 expression and cleavage of Caspase 3 and PARP indicating apoptosis of virus infected cells. Interestingly, multi parametric flow analysis revealed that HSVQ specifically infects and kills CD138+ MM plasma cells in a total population of BM cellular fraction isolated from MM patients. Moreover in vivo preclinical data show that HSVQ dramatically reduces tumor volume (p<0.001) in both MM.1S and NIH-H929 xenograft mouse models. Thus, from the preliminary observations, it can be concluded that HSVQ can selectively infect and induce apoptosis in myeloma cells. Mechanisms of HSVQ replication in MM cells and induced MM cell killing are being currently investigated. Here for the first time we are providing clear evidences that HSVQ can infect and specifically kill MM cells supporting the idea of the use of HSV for the treatment of MM. Moreover, since the backbone of HSVQ can be further engineered, it can be used to specifically deliver anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory genes to MM cells for the treatment of MM. Disclosures Hofmeister: Arno Therapeutics, Inc.: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Research Funding; Incyte, Corp: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson: Research Funding; Signal Genetics, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda Pharmaceutical Company: Research Funding; Teva: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

POU2AF1 As a Master Regulator of Oncogenic Transcription Factor Networks in Myeloma

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 18-19
Author(s):  
Ricardo De Matos Simoes ◽  
Ryosuke Shirasaki ◽  
Huihui Tang ◽  
Shizuka Yamano ◽  
Benjamin G Barwick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Growth ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Genome Scale ◽  
Crispr Activation

Background: Functional genomics studies based on CRISPR and shRNA have documented that multiple myeloma (MM) cells are preferentially dependent (compared to other neoplasias) on a series of TFs, including IKZF1 and IKZF3 (which are targeted by thalidomide derivatives) and others that are not amenable to degradation or small molecule inhibition. Transcriptional co-factors have been therapeutically targeted, for example, inhibitors of BRD4, a co-factor for pTEFB, can be used to down-regulate c-myc. Aim: To identify new transcriptional vulnerabilities in MM with an emphasis on transcriptional co-factors Methods: We integrated results from genome-scale studies using the AVANA library for loss-of-function by gene editing (in 19 MM lines) and the Calabrese library for CRISPR-mediated gene activation (in 5 MM lines) to identify critical transcriptional co-factors (co-TFs). RNA-Seq analysis was used to identify critical pathways affected by POU2AF1 activation and existing ChIP-Seq tracks in MM cells were reanalyzed. Results: POU2AF1 (OCA-B) was the most preferentially essential TF co-factor in MM cell lines vs. non-MM and one of top genes which, upon CRISPR activation in genome-scale studies, increased MM cell fitness in vitro. We further confirmed the role of this gene using focused libraries of sgRNAs against POU2AF1 in vitro and in an in vivo model of MM cell growth in bone marrow-like scaffolds "functionalized" with humanized mesenchymal bone marrow stromal cells to simulate the human BM. CRISPR activation of POU2AF1 is associated with increased MM cell growth. RNA-Seq of POU2AF1 activation in LP1 cells a transcriptional program characterized by upregulation of other genes that are preferentially essential for MM including PRDM1, SUPT7L, UBE2G2 and TSC1; broad-spectrum oncogenic dependencies (e.g KRAS) and genes known or proposed to be involved in the pathophysiology of MM or other neoplasias (e.g. RUNX2, FGFR3, SMO, CREB5, TNFRSF13B, MEF2D, PCGF2). POU2AF1 overexpression was also associated with down-regulation of CDKN1C; of MHC class II molecules and their transcriptional activator CIITA, suggesting that POU2AF1 activation could also contribute to increased MM growth in vivo by allowing escape from immune surveillance. ATAC-Seq data and genome-wide ChIPseq for H3K27Ac in MM cell lines indicate that chromatin surrounding the POU2AF1 locus was highly accessible, concordant with the consistent expression of this TF in MM cell lines and patient-derived cells. CoMMpass data showed that POU2AF1 expression was enhanced in a subset of MM patients at relapse compared to diagnosis. Motif analysis of ChIP-seq data for POU2AF1 identified significant overlap with motifs for TFs relevant to the POU family (e.g. Oct11, Oct2, Oct4); members of the ETS family (e.g. ELF1, Elf4, GABPA); and other TFs with roles in MM including c-myc; IRF4; NF-kappaB, PRDM1, RUNX2 and the POU2AF1 target CREB5. These data suggest a functional interaction between POU2AF1 and other MM-relevant TFs. The transcriptional signature of POU2AF1 activation is enriched for genes downregulated by suppression/inhibition of MM-preferential TFs or epigenetic regulators including IRF4, PRDM1, IKZF1/3 and DOT1L. POU2AF1 binding motifs are also enriched in the promoter regions of MM-preferential dependencies including several MM-preferential TFs. Conclusions: POU2AF1 is essential for MM cells in vitro and in vivo; has a significantly more pronounced and recurrent role as a dependency in MM compared to most other neoplasias; and can further drive MM cell growth, through its ability to interact with several TFs critical for MM, forming multi-protein functional complexes. These results establish POU2AF1 as a central component in the regulatory network of oncogenic TFs in MM and highlight the value of further exploring POU2AF1 as a therapeutic target in MM. Disclosures Downey-Kopyscinski: Rancho BioSciences, LLC: Current Employment. Tsherniak:Cedilla Therapeutics: Consultancy; Tango Therapeutics: Consultancy. Boise:AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genetech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mitsiades:FIMECS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria; Arch Oncology: Research Funding; Janssen/Johnson & Johnson: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; TEVA: Research Funding; Takeda: Other: employment of a relative; Fate Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; EMD Serono: Research Funding.

Preclinical Studies of Salinomycin In Multiple Myeloma (MM) Models: Targeting of Side Population (SP) Cells In the Context of Tumor – Microenvironment Interactions.

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 1574-1574
Author(s):  
Efstathios Kastritis ◽  
Jana Jakubikova ◽  
Jake Delmore ◽  
Steffen Klippel ◽  
Douglas W. McMillin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Ic50 Values

Abstract Abstract 1574 Cancer cells with stem cell-like features are a topic of intense research because their resistance to existing drugs is considered a culprit for relapses, even in patients with complete remission defined by clinical, biochemical and imaging parameters or by sensitive molecular techniques. Salinomycin, an antibacterial and coccidiodostatic ionophore, is reported (Cell 2009;138(4):645-59) to be >100-fold more potent against breast cancer cells with stem cell-like phenotype after mesenchymal transdifferentiation due to stable transfection with shRNA against CDH1 than against the parental cells. We evaluated whether salinomycin could also exhibit a similar activity against stem cell-like cells in multiple myeloma (MM). To establish a comparative reference for such potential activity, we first tested salinomycin (0-10 uM for up to 72hrs) against a panel of 15 MM cell lines and observed IC50 values <1 uM in 10/15 cell lines tested, including >80% reduction of tumor cell viability in 6/15 cell lines tested at 0.5 uM, i.e. levels lower than the IC50 values for in vitro activity of salinomycin against breast cancer cells with (HMLE-shCDH1, IC50 ∼1 uM) or without (HMLE-shControl, IC50 >>10 uM) stem cell-like features. CD138+ purified primary tumor cells from 3 MM patients responded to salinomycin with IC50 values (105, 332 and 750 nM, respectively) in the same range as MM cell lines. In vitro combinations with bortezomib, doxorubicin, melphalan, and dexamethasone showed overall no antagonism, while evidence of additive or even synergistic effect could be identified in certain dose ranges. Because MM cell lines and primary tumor cells responded concordantly to salinomycin and with higher sensitivity than breast cancer stem cell-like cells, we hypothesized that MM cells may in general be more responsive to salinomycin than other tumors. Since tumor-stromal interactions can increase the expression of transcriptional signatures of “stemness” in MM cells, we embarked on characterizing the anti-MM properties of salinomycin using compartment-specific bioluminescence imaging (CSBLI) assays. These showed that co-culture with stromal cells did not confer resistance to salinomycin in 5 MM cell lines (MM.1S, OCI-My5, KMS-11, KMS-18, NCI-H929) and in fact enhanced its activity against 4 of them. Side population (SP) cells, defined by their ability to efflux Hoechst stain, represent a stem cell-like population which was identified in MM cell lines and could represent the functional equivalent of the mesenchymally transdifferentiated breast cancer stem cell-like cells. We observed that salinomycin reduces the SP fraction of MM cell lines at doses >20 times lower than those required for in vitro effect against the bulk <<main population>> of the respective cell lines. Interestingly, the anti-SP effect of salinomycin was more pronounced in the presence of stroma, similarly to the CSBLI studies on the entire MM cell population and consistent with our prior observation that tumor-stroma interaction enhances transcriptional signatures of ≪stemness≫ in the tumor compartment. However, when we tested the in vivo anti-MM activity of salinomycin in an orthotopic model of i.v. injected Luc+ MM cells, no anti-MM activity (in terms of tumor burden decrease or overall survival prolongation) was observed at the maximum tolerated dose (1 mg/kg i.p. daily, which is consistent with most studies reported thus far in the literature). Ex vivo treatment of KMS-11 cells with salinomycin doses (100 nM for 72 hrs) selectively targeting SP cells was followed by s.c. injection of these cells or vehicle-treated controls in sublethallly irradiated SCID/NOD mice, but no statistically significant improvement in tumor burden or overall survival was observed. Our in vitro results indicate that salinomycin exhibits intriguing in vitro anti-MM activity, not only against SP cells but also against the bulk ≪main≫ MM cell population, even in the presence of stromal support. In contrast, the in vivo activity of salinomycin is compromised by side effects in the orthotopic model of MM lesions, while short term ex vivo exposure of tumor cells is conceivably insufficient to eradicate clonogenic cells and lead to appreciable delay in tumor growth in vivo. Our studies point to intriguing features as well as notable challenges that have to overcome before salinomycin or other more selective agents of this class can be safely tested in clinical trials in MM. Disclosures: McMillin: Axios Biosciences: Equity Ownership. Richardson:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Millenium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Anderson:Millennium Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Mitsiades:Millennium: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Merck &Co.: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kosan Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pharmion: Consultancy, Honoraria; Centrocor: Consultancy, Honoraria; PharmaMar: Patents & Royalties; OSI Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Amgen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; AVEO Pharma: Research Funding; EMD Serono: Research Funding; Sunesis: Research Funding; Gloucester Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding.

scholarly journals Interactions with a "Humanized" Mesenchymal Bone Marrow Stromal Niche In Vivo Modify the Patterns of Essential Genes for Myeloma Cells: Therapeutic Implications

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 40-40
Author(s):  
Ryosuke Shirasaki ◽  
Sondra L. Downey-Kopyscinski ◽  
Ricardo De Matos Simoes ◽  
Olga Dashevsky ◽  
Sara Gandolfi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Stromal Compartment ◽  
Oncology Research

Background: The biology and treatment response of human multiple myeloma (MM) cells in vivo is influenced by interactions with mesenchymal bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). For several key BMSC-derived cytokines (including IL-6) only the human, not murine, form optimally interacts with their respective receptor(s) on human MM cells. To better simulate the treatment responses of human MM cells in the BM, "humanized" BM-like niches in vivo have been engineered with biocompatible ceramic scaffolds "functionalized" via osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal BMSCs and implanted subcutaneously in immunocompromised mice. Aim: To determine if the patterns of genetic dependencies elucidated through in vitro CRISPR-based functional genomic studies are recapitulated when human MM cells are grown in mice within BM-like scaffolds with "humanized" mesenchymal stromal compartment. Methods: Cas9+ MM cell lines KMS11 and XG7 were transduced with a library of 1372 single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) targeting 184 genes of interest (4 sgRNAs/gene), including 89 genes preferentially essential for MM cell lines compared to other neoplasms in vitro; broad-spectrum oncogenic targets (e.g. KRAS, MYC); tumor suppressor genes (e.g. PTEN); genes with limited in vitro essentiality in MM cells, but significantly higher expression vs. non-MM lines (e.g. ZFP91, ZBP1); and 155 olfactory receptor (OR) genes (typically not expressed or biologically inactive in tumor cells) as "DNA cutting" control sgRNAs. MM cells transduced with this focused CRISPR knockout (KO) library were injected into "humanized" scaffolds implanted subcutaneously (s.c.) in NSG mice. Tumors were collected when mice reached criteria for euthanasia and next-generation sequencing quantified the changes in sgRNA distribution at the end vs. start of experiment. Results: A large majority of genes defined by in vitro CRISPR KO screens as MM-preferential dependencies were also essential for MM cells in BM-like scaffolds. Among 57 MM-preferential dependencies in vitro which were plausible dependencies for KMS11 cells (e.g. CERES scores &lt;-0.4), 50 genes were essential for KMS11 cells in BM-like scaffolds in vivo (average log2fold change&lt;-1.0 and depletion of 3+ of 4 sgRNAs relative to the 99% confidence interval for control sgRNAs). These genes included key transcription factors/cofactors (e.g. IRF4, PRDM1, POU2AF1, RELB, MAF); epigenetic regulators (e.g. CARM1, MTA2, DOT1L); kinases upstream of NFkappaB (CHUK, IKBKB); ER regulators (e.g. SYVN1). Most "core-essential" or broad-spectrum oncogenic dependencies (e.g. MYC, CFLAR, CDK7 on both lines; KRAS in XG7) of this sgRNA library remained essential in vivo; while PTEN KO cells were enriched. Notably, several genes had more pronounced essentiality in vivo vs. invitro (e.g. BCL2, PIM2); or converted from non-essential in vitro to essential in vivo. For instance, among 95 genes of this library which are not likely dependencies in vitro (CERES scores &gt;-0.4) for KMS11 cells, 29 genes exhibited in vivo essentiality for both KMS11 and XG7 cells: several of these latter "in vivo dependencies" are recurrently essential for other MM lines in vitro (e.g. ZBTB38, UBE2J1, TCF3, DNAJB11), while also others have limited if any in vitro essentiality (e.g. ZBP1, PYGO2) across MM despite significantly higher transcript levels vs. other neoplasias. Notably, several genes with increased essentiality in the "humanized" BM scaffolds vs. in vitro also had stronger in vivo dependency in the BM scaffolds vs. when growth of the same MM cells as s.c. plasmacytomas (e.g. BCL2, PIM2, UBE2J1, SYVN1, ALG9, AMFR). Co-culture with BMSCs or IL-6 treatment induces several of these transcripts in MM cells suggesting that increased dependency of MM on these genes in the "humanized" BM model is due at least partly to its human cytokines. Conclusions: This study provides evidence for significant impact of the "humanized" BM-like niche on the patterns of genetic dependencies for human MM cells. Most genes preferentially essential for MM cells in vitro remain essential for their in vivo growth in the "humanized" BM model. Notably, several genes that do not meet criteria for dependency in vitro show such metrics in "humanized" BM scaffolds, but not sc plasmacytomas. These observations highlight important implications of the "humanized" BM-like in vivo model for current and future efforts to define and prioritize therapeutic targets for MM. Disclosures Downey-Kopyscinski: Rancho BioSciences, LLC: Current Employment. Tsherniak:Tango Therapeutics: Consultancy; Cedilla Therapeutics: Consultancy. Boise:AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genetech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mitsiades:FIMECS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Other: employment of a relative; Fate Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen/Johnson & Johnson: Research Funding; Arch Oncology: Research Funding; TEVA: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; EMD Serono: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria.

scholarly journals Development of Cirmtuzumab Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) Targeting Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-like Orphan Receptor 1 (ROR1)

Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1862-1862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousaf A. Mian ◽  
George F. Widhopf II ◽  
Thanh-Trang Vo ◽  
Katti Jessen ◽  
Laura Z. Rassenti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Leukemia Cell ◽  
Volume Distribution ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
High Affinity

Abstract ROR1 is an onco-embryonic surface antigen expressed on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and a variety of other cancers, but not on most normal adult tissues. We generated a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) cirmtuzumab (formerly UC-961) that binds with high affinity to a specific extracellular epitope of human ROR1 and that can block Wnt5a-induced ROR1 signaling (Yu, J et al, J Clin Invest126:585, 2016; Yu, J et al, Leukemia31:1333, 2017). Preclinical studies found that cirmtuzumab did not react with normal post-partem cells and had a pharmacokinetic (PK) volume distribution in primates consistent with a lack of off-target binding to normal tissues. We evaluated cirmtuzumab in a phase I clinical trial involving patients with relapsed-refractory CLL (Choi MY, et al, Cell Stem Cell22:951, 2018); the drug was well-tolerated at doses ≤20 mg/kg (highest dose tested) without dose-limiting toxicity. PK studies showed cirmtuzumab had a half-life of 32.4 days with no evidence for development of neutralizing antibodies or off-target sequestration of infused antibody. Furthermore, cirmtuzumab effected partial down-modulation of leukemia-cell ROR1 in patients treated with doses ≥2 mg/kg. In vitro confocal microscopy studies showed that this down-modulation was caused by internalization of cirmtuzumab-ROR1 complexes into lysosomal compartments and concomitant steady-state re-expression of nascent surface ROR1. Because of its high specificity, in vivo stability, long serum half-life, and potential capacity to concentrate conjugated drugs into lysosomal compartments, cirmtuzumab appeared ideally suited to serve as the targeting moiety in anti-ROR1 ADCs. We therefore examined cirmtuzumab-based ADCs in collaboration with VelosBio Inc., evaluating multiple linker/payload chemistries, both as single agents and in combinations. We selected for further testing cirmtuzumab-ADC-7, a cirmtuzumab-linker-monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) ADC that preserves the high-affinity binding specificity of cirmtuzumab and allows for ROR1-targeted intracellular release of MMAE. We found cirmtuzumab-ADC-7 was selectively cytotoxic for ROR1+ CLL and mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL) cell lines at nM concentrations in vitro. Moreover, cirmtuzumab-ADC-7 caused dramatic and sustained in vivo clearance of adoptively-transferred ROR1+ leukemia cells generated from ROR1xTCL1 transgenic mice (Widhopf G, et al, PNAS111:793, 2014), ROR1+ MCL-xenografts, or ROR1+ cancer patient-derived xenografts (PDX). Further, treatment caused dose-dependent and statistically significant decreases in total cancer burden with complete regressions of tumor in multiple animals; no effect on tumor-clearance was observed in mice treated with a control MMAE-ADC of irrelevant specificity. Recently we identified that miR-15a/16-1, which commonly are deleted/downregulated in CLL, target both BCL2 and ROR1, thereby accounting in part for the direct relationship we observed between the levels of BCL2 and levels of surface ROR1 expressed by CLL of different patients (Rassenti, LZ, et al,PNAS114:10731, 2017). Because high level expression of BCL2/ROR1 may mitigate the cytotoxic activity of the BCL2-antagonist venetoclax, but potentially enhance the cytotoxicity of cirmtuzumab-ADC-7, we treated ROR1+ leukemia/lymphoma cell lines with venetoclax and/or cirmtuzumab-ADC-7. Chou-Talalay combination indices were <0.5 in all ROR1+ cell lines tested, indicating strong antitumor synergy with these two agents. Collectively these data support the rationale for clinical development of a cirmtuzumab-based ADC for treatment of patients with ROR1+ malignancies. Disclosures Vo: VelosBio: Employment. Jessen:VelosBio: Employment. Kipps:Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Verastem: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy; Verastem: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genentech Inc: Consultancy, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

A Novel Acanthoic Acid Analog NPI-1342 Blocks IκB Kinase-α and Trigger In Vitro and In Vivo cytotoxicity in Multiple Myeloma Cells

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 1841-1841
Author(s):  
Dharminder Chauhan ◽  
Ajita V. Singh ◽  
Arghya Ray ◽  
Teru Hideshima ◽  
Paul G. Richardson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Cell Growth ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Acid Analog

Abstract Abstract 1841 Introduction: The dimeric Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) transcription factor plays a key role during multiple myeloma (MM) cell adhesion-induced cytokine secretion in bone marrow stromal cells, which in turn triggers MM cell growth in a paracrine manner. NF-κB signaling pathway is mediated via canonical (IKK-α/IKK-β/NEMO-P50/65 or NF-κB1) and non-canonical (IKK-α/IKK-α/NIK-p52/RelB or NF-κB2) components. Prior studies have also linked constitutive activation of non-canonical NF-κB pathway to genetic abnormalities/mutation, allowing for an autocrine growth of MM cells. Other recent studies showed that constitutive NF-κB activity in tumor cells from MM patients renders these cells refractory to inhibition by bortezomib; and in fact, that bortezomib induces canonical NF-κB activity. These reports provided the impetus for the development of an agent with ability to modulate canonical and/or non-canonical NF-κB axis, allowing for a more robust and specific inhibition of NF-κB. Recent research and development efforts at Nereus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., have identified a novel small molecule acanthoic acid analog NPI-1342 as a potent NF-κB inhibitor. Here, we examined the effects of NPI-1342 on canonical versus non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathways, as well as its anti-tumor activity against MM cells using both in vitro and in vivo model systems. Methods: We utilized MM.1S, MM.1R, RPMI-8226, U266, KMS12PE, NCI-H929, OCI-MY5, LR5, Dox-40, OPM1, and OPM2 human MM cell lines, as well as purified tumor cells from patients with MM. Cell viability assays were performed using MTT and Trypan blue exclusion assays. Signal transduction pathways were evaluated using immunoblot analysis, ELISA, and enzymology assays. Animal model studies were performed using the SCID-hu model, which recapitulates the human BM milieu in vivo. Results: We first examined the effects of NPI-1342 on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced NF-κB activity. Results showed that NPI-1342 inhibits LPS-stimulated NF-κB activity in vitro, as measured by phosphorylation of IkBa. To determine whether NPI-1342 triggers a differential inhibitory effect on IKKβ versus IKKα, MM.1S MM cells were treated with NPI-1342 for 48 hours, and protein lysates were subjected to kinase activity assays. NPI-1342 blocked IKKα, but not IKKβ or IKKγ phosphorylation. We next assessed whether the inhibitory effect of NPI-1342 on NF-κB activity is associated with cytotoxicity in MM cells. We utilized a panel of MM cell lines: at least five of these have mutations of TRAF3 (MM.1S, MM.1R, DOX40 and U266); one has no known NF-κB mutations (OPM2), and one has amplification of NF-κB1 (OCI-MY5). Treatment of MM cell lines and primary patient (CD138 positive) MM cells for 48 hours significantly decreased their viability (IC50 range 15–20 μM) (P < 0.001; n=3) without affecting the viability of normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells, suggesting selective anti-MM activity and a favorable therapeutic index for NPI-1342. NPI-1342-induced a marked increase in Annexin V+ and PI- apoptotic cell population (P < 0.001, n=3). Mechanistic studies showed that NPI-1342-triggered apoptosis in MM cells is associated with activation of caspase-8, caspase-9, caspase-3, and PARP cleavage. We next examined the in vivo effects of NPI-1342 in human MM xenograft models. For these studies, we utilized the SCID-hu MM model, which recapitulates the human BM milieu in vivo. In this model, MM cells are injected directly into human bone chips implanted subcutaneously in SCID mice, and MM cell growth is assessed by serial measurements of circulating levels of soluble human IL-6R in mouse serum. Treatment of tumor-bearing mice with NPI-1342 (20 mg/kg intraperitoneally, QD1-5 for 2 weeks), but not vehicle alone, significantly inhibits MM tumor growth in these mice (10 mice each group; P = 0.004). The doses of NPI-1342 were well tolerated by the mice, without significant weight loss. Finally, immunostaining of implanted human bone showed robust apoptosis and blockade of NF-κB in mice treated with NPI-1342 versus vehicle alone. Conclusions: We demonstrate the efficacy of a novel small molecule inhibitor of NF-κB NPI-1342 in MM using both in vitro and in vivo models. NPI-1342 blocks NF-κB activity with a preferential inhibitory activity against IKK-α component of NF-κB signaling. Our preclinical studies support evaluation of NPI-1342 as a potential MM therapy. Disclosures: Hideshima: Acetylon: Consultancy. Richardson:Millennium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Johnson & Johnson: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Palladino:Nereus Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Anderson:Celgene: Consultancy; Millennium: Consultancy; Onyx: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Acetylon:; Nereus Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy.

Increasing Expression Of The Efflux Transporter ABCB1 May Predispose CML Cells To Overt TKI Resistance

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 5157-5157
Author(s):  
Laura Eadie ◽  
Timothy P. Hughes ◽  
Deborah L. White
Keyword(s):  
Disease Progression ◽  
Board Of Directors ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Molecular Response ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Tki Resistance ◽  
Additional Resistance

Abstract Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) result in excellent responses in most Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) patients. However, up to 35% of patients treated with imatinib (IM) exhibit resistance and more recently nilotinib (NIL) and dasatinib (DAS) resistance have also been observed. Mutations in the BCR-ABL kinase domain (KD) are the main cause of secondary TKI resistance. Other mechanisms include overexpression of BCR-ABL, LYN and ABCB1. Predicting patients with susceptibility to mutation development and disease progression is crucial, thus we investigated the kinetics of TKI resistance emergence in vitro and in vivo. ABCB1 is implicated in TKI efflux hence we postulated that overexpression of ABCB1 leads to reduced intracellular TKI concentrations, resulting in inferior inhibition of Bcr-Abl predisposing cells to resistance development. Accordingly, 3 CML blast crisis (BC) cell lines (K562, K562-Dox, KU812) were cultured in increasing concentrations of IM to 2 μM, NIL to 2 μM and DAS to 200 nM until we observed overt resistance defined as a significant increase in survival in cytotoxicity assays and p-Crkl dependent IC50. Mechanisms of resistance were investigated in cell line intermediates: BCR-ABL, ABCB1 and LYN mRNA expression levels were determined by RT-PCR and KD mutation sequencing was performed. In our TKI resistant cell lines (Table 1), an increase in ABCB1 mRNA was the initial change observed prior to the development of additional resistance mechanisms (KD mutations, ABCB1 BCR-ABL and LYN overexpression). Interestingly, in 4/6 cells lines ABCB1 mRNA reduced to basal levels or below following establishment of these additional resistance mechanisms. ABCB1 levels were assessed in 37 de novo CML patients treated with IM who achieved major molecular response (MMR) compared with patients who progressed to BC, lost MMR or developed KD mutations. ABCB1 levels were determined in blood at diagnosis and following therapy (selected patients summarized in Table 2). A sustained >2 fold rise in ABCB1 was observed prior to disease progression in 3/3 patients and in 13/16 patients who did not achieve MMR. Importantly, the same was not observed in patients who achieved MMR (1/6 patients). The fold change of ABCB1 mRNA at day 22 vs diagnosis in patients achieving MMR was significantly different to that in patients not achieving MMR (p=0.004). ABCB1 increased by >2 fold post therapy and decreased following mutation development in 3/12 patients, confirming observations made in vitro, while 6/12 patients demonstrated sustained increase in ABCB1 post mutation similar to results observed in progression patients. ABCB1 mRNA did not change during therapy in 3/12 patients with mutations. While we recognize the majority of cells present in patients who achieve MMR are normal rather than leukemic, it is important to note that in patients who do not achieve MMR, ABCB1 expression increases in the remaining leukemic cells. We conclude ABCB1 overexpression acts as an initial mediator of resistance, providing a favorable environment for development of further resistance. Sustained increased levels of ABCB1 may contribute to disease progression and lack of response to IM. Additionally, ABCB1 may serve as a prognostic indicator (eg: level at day 22) and potentially assist in development of treatment strategies using TKIs in combination with other medications to enhance intracellular TKI concentration. Disclosures: Hughes: Ariad: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; CSL: Research Funding. White:Novartis: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ariad: Research Funding; CSL: Research Funding.

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