In-Vitro and in-Vivo Synergistic Effect of Melphalan and Dual DNA Repair Inhibition in Multiple Myeloma

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 3301-3301
Author(s):  
Pritesh R. Patel ◽  
Annie L. Oh ◽  
Vitalyi Senyuk ◽  
Dolores Mahmud ◽  
Nadim Mahmud ◽  
...  

Abstract High dose melphalan is commonly used in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Resistance to melphalan has been linked to the ability to repair DNA damage. To test whether DNA repair inhibitors overcome resistance to melphalan and and also have a direct anti-MM effect, we tested MM cell lines RPMI8226 and U266 in-vitro and in-vivo, using a NOD/SCID/ gamma null (NSG) xenograft model. RPMI8226 and U266 cells were initially treated in-vitro with the PARP inhibitor ABT-888. Using a proliferative assay, myeloma cells appeared sensitive to ABT-888 with low GI50 values (8.7μM for RPMI8226 cells, 49μM for U266 cells) and increased γH2AX foci, which persisted at 24 hours after treatment. This was confirmed in methycellulose colony assay where ABT-888 treatment reduced RPMI8226 colonies by 35% (p=0.002). Next we showed synergistic cytotoxicity between ABT-888 and melphalan. In both RPMI8226 and U266 cells strong synergy was displayed with a combination index (CI) less than 1 in proliferative assays (CI 0.5 and 0.3 at 50% proliferation respectively). Combination ABT-888 and melphalan treated cells underwent accelerated senescence compared to cells treated by melphalan alone (27% versus 51% βGal+ staining at 24 hours, p=0.02). This was confirmed by upregulation of senescence related genes p16 (1.6 fold increase) and p21 (1.5 fold increase). We did not find significant difference in apoptosis by Annexin V/ PI staining. Given that increased non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) activity has been shown to lead to resistance to melphalan, we tested whether an inhibitor of NHEJ could be synergistic with PARP inhibition and melphalan. Treatment with the DNA-PK inhibitor NU7026 at 10μM in addition to ABT-888 at 4μM resulted in 46% reduction in proliferation in RPMI8226 cells and 52% in U266 cells. When used in combination with melphalan chemotherapy, the dual DNA repair inhibitor therapy showed marked synergy in RPMI8226 cells with a combination index of 0.39. Finally we tested the ability of the combination of ABT-888 and melphalan to treat myeloma in-vivo. NSG mice were injected via tail vein with 5x106 RPMI8226 cells. Control (untreated) mice subsequently developed myeloma infiltrating the marrow, spleen and axial skeleton, with hind limb paralysis occurring at a median of 42 days. Treated mice received intraperitoneal injections of ABT-888 (3 times a week), or melphalan (weekly) or a combination of both agents starting on day 28 post-injection of MM cells for a total of 3 weeks. Using ABT-888, melphalan and a combination of both agents, median survival of mice was progressively prolonged (44 vs. 67 vs. 107 days, respectively) (p=0.02). Here we show that PARP and DNA-PK inhibition synergizes with melphalan in myeloma cells lines, providing a rationale for the addition of these agents to conditioning chemotherapy. In addition, we also show a direct anti-myeloma activity of these agents without the use of alkylator chemotherapy. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 550-550
Author(s):  
Addolorata M.L. Coluccia ◽  
Teresa Cirulli ◽  
Paola Neri ◽  
Franco Dammacco ◽  
Pierfrancesco Tassone ◽  
...  

Abstract Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by a clonal proliferation of immunoglobulin-secreting plasma cells in the bone-marrow (BM) and remains an incurable disease, despite the use of high-dose chemotherapies. Since a marked (BM)-angiogenesis is the hallmark of MM, but not of monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance (MGUS), validation of novel agents targeting MM tumor cells and their permissive BM-stroma is crucial to improve patient outcome. Patients fulfilling the International Myeloma Working Group diagnostic criteria for MM (n = 21) and MGUS (n = 14) were studied. Healthy donors or patients with benign anemia (due to vitamin B12 deficiency) were also incuded as controls. In plasma cells and endothelial cells (ECs) isolated from BM-aspirates by anti-CD138 and Ulex Europaeus agglutinin-1 (UEA-1) coated-beads, we dissected the contribution of activity against individual targets such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-receptor beta (PDGF-Rb) and c-Src tyrosine kinases (TKs), to the anti-tumor/vessel efficacy of dasatinib (BMS-354825), a novel orally bioavailable TK inhibitor. The PDGF-BB/PDGF-Rb kinase-axis was found constitutively activated in plasma cells from patients with MM but not with MGUS or benign anemias, thus supporting its pathophysiological role in MM. PDGF-Rb activated, independently of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-receptors (VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2), the mitogen-activated protein kinases (ERK1/2) and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/AKT-dependent cascade, thereby increasing MM plasma cell growth. Expression of PDGF-Rb, at both mRNA and protein levels, was also increased in MMECs compared to MGECs, correlating with AKT phosphorylation. Exposure to recombinant PDGF-BB or conditioned media from MM plasma cells triggered PDGF-Rb phosphorylation and MMEC migration and spontaneous sprouting in vitro (both being mandatory for angiogenesis). Dasatinib abrogated PDGF-elicited tumor/vessel growth and impaired VEGF-signaling via c-Src TK-inhibition (IC50=25–100nM) in both MM-patient tumor and ECs. The use of small-interfering (si)-RNAs validated c-Src as a key VEGF-downstream effector of MMEC proliferation, migration and capillarogenesis in vitro. Nevertheless, the inhibitory effect elicited by siSrc was partially rescued by recombinant PDGF-BB which sustained the expression of pro-angiogenic factors such as VEGF, interleukin (IL)-8, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in MMECs. Dasatinib reversed all these transcriptional effects, thereby abrogating MMEC angiogenesis in the CAM assay as well as the neovascularization and tumor growth of MM-xenografts in vivo. More importantly, low-dose dasatinib showed synergistic cytotoxicity in vitro when tested in combination with conventional MM drugs (i.e. bortezomib and thalidomide), thereby increasing therapeutic efficacy and overcoming drug resistance. These findings indicate that: the PDGF-BB/PDGF-Rb kinase-axis elicits direct effects on MM plasma cells and could promote the MM “angiogenic switch”, hence disease progression; the inhibition of this pathway could provide the rationale for clinical trials with dasatinib which interferes with shared growth-signaling cascades in MM-patient isolated plasma cells and ECs, involving PDGF-Rb and cytosolic c-Src TKs.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 3461-3461
Author(s):  
Angela Dispenzieri ◽  
Keith C. Bible ◽  
Martha Q. Lacy ◽  
Tom R. Fitch ◽  
Susan M. Geyer ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose: Flavopiridol is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor with preclinical activity against multiple myeloma cells in vitro and ex vivo. It can induce apoptosis in non-cycling human cell lines, including RPMI-8226, a myeloma cell line. Suggested mechanisms of cytotoxicity include down regulation of anti-apoptotic regulators, direct binding to duplex DNA, disruption of transcription factor/DNA binding, upregulation of p53, inhibition of transcription, and inhibition of angiogenesis. A Phase II multicenter trial was conducted to determine the activity of flavopiridol in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Experimental Design: Eighteen patients were treated with 1 hour flavopiridol infusions (50 mg/m(2)/day) for 3 consecutive days every 21 days. Responses were assessed according to IBMTR criteria each cycle. Serial bone marrow aspirates were collected before and immediately after flavopiridol treatment to measure in vivo and ex vivo effects of flavopiridol on patient plasma cells. Immunoblotting for Mcl-1, Bcl-2, p53, cyclin D, phosphoRNA polymerase II and phosphoSTAT 3 was conducted on total cellular proteins isolated from sorted plasma/myeloma cells. Ex vivo assessment of flavopiridol sensitivity of freshly collected myeloma cells was performed for 5 patients pre-therapy. Results: Median age of patients ranged from 49 to 81 years, with a median of 65 years. Patients had received a median of 3 (range, 1–5) treatment regimens prior to enrollment. Sixty-one percent of patients were refractory to prior therapy and fifty-five percent had received prior high dose therapy with hematopoietic stem cell support. The immunoglobulin isotypes of the patients were as follows: IgG (10), IgA (4), light chain (3), and non-secretory (1). At enrollment, 13 patients had a beta-2 microglobulin greater than 3.5. Seven had a plasma cell labeling index greater than or equal to 1%. Four had an elevated LDH. The trial was stopped at time of interim analysis due to a lack of clinical efficacy. Of eighteen treated patients, 15 progressed (including 1 death on study) and 3 discontinued due to toxicity. All patients have ended the active treatment phase, and the mean number of cycles administered for all enrolled patients was 1.6 cycles (range 1–3). No objective responses were observed. The most frequent adverse events were leukopenia and diarrhea (83% each), followed by thrombocytopenia, nausea, and fatigue (61% each). Ex vivo flavopiridol treatment of pre-therapy patient plasma/myeloma cells led to cytotoxicity, but only after longer exposure times at higher flavopiridol concentrations than were anticipated to be achieved in vivo. Further, immunoblotting demonstrated no indication that known in vitro cellular effects of flavopiridol were recapitulated in vivo. Conclusions: Flavopiridol has little single-agent activity in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma when administered at this dose and schedule, which is likely due to the inability to achieve biologically relevant concentrations in patients. .


Oncogene ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinyin Xu ◽  
Jing Guo ◽  
Jing Liu ◽  
Ying Xie ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
...  

AbstractMyeloma cells produce excessive levels of dickkopf-1 (DKK1), which mediates the inhibition of Wnt signaling in osteoblasts, leading to multiple myeloma (MM) bone disease. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms underlying DKK1 overexpression in myeloma remain incompletely understood. Herein, we provide evidence that hypoxia promotes DKK1 expression in myeloma cells. Under hypoxic conditions, p38 kinase phosphorylated cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) and drove its nuclear import to activate DKK1 transcription. In addition, high levels of DKK1 were associated with the presence of focal bone lesions in patients with t(4;14) MM, overexpressing the histone methyltransferase MMSET, which was identified as a downstream target gene of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α. Furthermore, we found that CREB could recruit MMSET, leading to the stabilization of HIF-1α protein and the increased dimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 36 on the DKK1 promoter. Knockdown of CREB in myeloma cells alleviated the suppression of osteoblastogenesis by myeloma-secreted DKK1 in vitro. Combined treatment with a CREB inhibitor and the hypoxia-activated prodrug TH-302 (evofosfamide) significantly reduced MM-induced bone destruction in vivo. Taken together, our findings reveal that hypoxia and a cytogenetic abnormality regulate DKK1 expression in myeloma cells, and provide an additional rationale for the development of therapeutic strategies that interrupt DKK1 to cure MM.


2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 1927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bingqian Xie ◽  
Zhijian Xu ◽  
Liangning Hu ◽  
Gege Chen ◽  
Rong Wei ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 1654-1664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dharminder Chauhan ◽  
Ajita Singh ◽  
Mohan Brahmandam ◽  
Klaus Podar ◽  
Teru Hideshima ◽  
...  

AbstractOur recent study demonstrated that a novel proteasome inhibitor NPI-0052 triggers apoptosis in multiple myeloma (MM) cells, and importantly, that is distinct from bortezomib (Velcade) in its chemical structure, effects on proteasome activities, and mechanisms of action. Here, we demonstrate that combining NPI-0052 and bortezomb induces synergistic anti-MM activity both in vitro using MM cell lines or patient CD138+ MM cells and in vivo in a human plasmacytoma xenograft mouse model. NPI-0052 plus bortezomib–induced synergistic apoptosis is associated with: (1) activation of caspase-8, caspase-9, caspase-3, and PARP; (2) induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response and JNK; (3) inhibition of migration of MM cells and angiogenesis; (4) suppression of chymotrypsin-like (CT-L), caspase-like (C-L), and trypsin-like (T-L) proteolytic activities; and (5) blockade of NF-κB signaling. Studies in a xenograft model show that low dose combination of NPI-0052 and bortezomib is well tolerated and triggers synergistic inhibition of tumor growth and CT-L, C-L, and T-L proteasome activities in tumor cells. Immununostaining of MM tumors from NPI-0052 plus bortezomib–treated mice showed growth inhibition, apoptosis, and a decrease in associated angiogenesis. Taken together, our study provides the preclinical rationale for clinical protocols evaluating bortezomib together with NPI-0052 to improve patient outcome in MM.


Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 84 (9) ◽  
pp. 3017-3025 ◽  
Author(s):  
VS Goldmacher ◽  
LA Bourret ◽  
BA Levine ◽  
RA Rasmussen ◽  
M Pourshadi ◽  
...  

Abstract We report the development of a potent anti-CD38 immunotoxin capable of killing human myeloma and lymphoma cell lines. The immunotoxin is composed of an anti-CD38 antibody HB7 conjugated to a chemically modified ricin molecule wherein the binding sites of the B chain have been blocked by covalent attachment of affinity ligands (blocked ricin). Conjugation of blocked ricin to the HB7 antibody has minimal effect on the apparent affinity of the antibody and no effect on the ribosome-inactivating activity of the ricin A-chain moiety. Four to six logs of CD38+ tumor cell line kill was achieved at concentrations of HB7-blocked ricin in the range of 0.1 to 3 nmol/L. Low level of toxicity for normal bone marrow (BM) granulocyte-macrophage colony- forming units (CFU-GM), burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E), colony- forming units-granulocyte/erythroid/monocyte/macrophage (CFU-GEMM) cells was observed. Greater than two logs of CD38+ multiple myeloma cells were depleted from a 10-fold excess of normal BM mononuclear cells (BMMCs) after an exposure to HB7-blocked ricin under conditions (0.3 nmol/L) that were not very toxic for the normal BM precursors. HB7- blocked ricin was tested for its ability to inhibit protein synthesis in fresh patients' multiple myeloma cells and in normal BMMCs isolated from two healthy volunteers; tumor cells from four of five patients were 100-fold to 500-fold more sensitive to the inhibitory effect of HB7-blocked ricin than the normal BM cells. HB7 antibody does not activate normal resting peripheral blood lymphocytes, and HB7-blocked ricin is not cytotoxic toward these cells at concentrations of up to 1 nmol/L. The potent killing of antigen-bearing tumor cells coupled with a lack of effects on peripheral blood T cells or on hematopoietic progenitor cells suggests that HB7-blocked ricin may have clinical utility for the in vivo or in vitro purging of human multiple myeloma cells.


Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (12) ◽  
pp. 1915-1925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jagadish Kummetha Venkata ◽  
Ningfei An ◽  
Robert Stuart ◽  
Luciano J. Costa ◽  
Houjian Cai ◽  
...  

Key Points SK2 is overexpressed in myeloma cells and contributes to myeloma cell survival and proliferation. SK2-specific inhibitor promotes proteasome degradation of Mcl-1 and c-Myc and inhibits myeloma growth in vitro and in vivo.


Blood ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
XG Zhang ◽  
B Klein ◽  
R Bataille

Abstract It has recently been demonstrated that interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a potent myeloma-cell growth factor in the majority of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Using an anti-bromodeoxyuridine monoclonal antibody (MoAb) to specifically count myeloma cells in the S-phase (ie, labeling index, LI), we demonstrate that the IL-6 responsiveness of myeloma cells in vitro is directly correlated with their LI in vivo. Myeloma cells from all 13 patients with high LIs in vivo (greater than or equal to 1%) responded in vitro to IL-6, the strongest response occurring in cells from five patients with plasma-cell leukemia. In contrast, the cells of only two of eight patients with low myeloma-cell LIs in vivo (less than 1%) responded to IL-6 in vitro. After seven days of culturing with 1,000 U/mL recombinant IL-6 (rIL-6), the median LI value in the first group of patients (in vivo LI greater than or equal to 1%) was 11%, ie 11 times higher (P less than .01) than the median LI value (1%) in the second group of patients (in vivo LI less than 1%). Thus, the in vitro IL-6 responsiveness of myeloma cells is directly related to their in vivo proliferative status, and hence to the severity of the disease.


2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (16) ◽  
pp. 5311-5321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dharminder Chauhan ◽  
Ze Tian ◽  
Bin Zhou ◽  
Deborah Kuhn ◽  
Robert Orlowski ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 3254-3254
Author(s):  
Francesco Mazziotta ◽  
Gabriele Buda ◽  
Nadia Cecconi ◽  
Giulia Cervetti ◽  
Lorenzo Iovino ◽  
...  

INTRODUCTION Multiple myeloma (MM) is considered an incurable disease. Despite the introduction of novel agents allowed deeper response, high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remain the standard of care for patients (pts) in good clinical conditions. The most used strategies to mobilize stem cells from bone marrow (BM) into peripheral blood are high-dose cyclophosphamide (HD-CTX) plus G-CSF and G-CSF plus plerixafor (G-CSF+P). The goal of this retrospective study is to investigate whether the two different mobilization strategies have an impact on the clearance of monoclonal PCs in the apheresis products and on pts' outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS We analyzed 62 pts (median age 61, range 41-75, 37 males and 25 women) diagnosed with MM and treated with ASCT between Mar 2014 and Mar 2018 at our Hematology Division (Pisa, Italy). All pts received induction therapy with at least 4 cycles of bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone (VTD). 9/62 pts obtained a less than partial response (PR) and received lenalidomide-based regimens. After induction, 8 (12,9%) pts achieved complete remission (CR), 26 (41,9%) were in PR, 28 (45,2%) obtained a very good partial response (VGPR). 43/62 fit pts received HD-CTX (2-3 g/sqm) on day 1 followed by G-CSF (30 MU/day) started on day 4 until day 7, increased to 60 MU/day from day 8 until the end of apheresis. In 19/62 pts, after 4 days of G-CSF (60 MU/day) administration and not sufficient mobilization, we added plerixafor (0,24 mg/kgbw) for up to 4 consecutive days. In 43/62 pts we collected apheresis samples (10μl) analyzed through flow citometry to enumerate clonal residual PCs. The panel used to asses clonality included: CD138 Per-Cp, CD38 APC, CD19 PE-Cy7, CD45 APC-Cy7, cytoplasmic immunoglobulin K chain and L chain. RESULTS At the end of the peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection, pts treated with HD-CTX presented a higher CD34+ absolute count (p=0.0489) and achieved the threshold of 5x106 CD34+ cells/kgbw in a significantly (p=0.006) higher percentage. We found a nearly significant (p=0.0517) lower count of CD34+ PBSCs in pts who received lenalidomide-based regimens before the mobilization. Performing flow citometry on apheresis samples, we observed that the number of the harvested clonal PCs showed a significant correlation (p=0.0115) with the occurrence of post-ASCT relapse. ROC curve analysis investigating the predictive effect of the number of pathological PCs on disease relapse showed an area under the curve of 0,6978 (95% CI 0.5392-0.8564; p=0.0267). Neither BM residual PCs detectable on BM biopsies performed before apheresis (r=-0.1323; p=0.609) nor the type of mobilization scheme (p=0.707) had an impact on the proportion of clonal PCs in the graft. Additionally, we did not observe any statistically significant difference in progression free- (PFS) (p=0.8276) and overall survival (OS) (p=0.2475) between the HD-CTX and G-CSF+P groups. DISCUSSION PBSC mobilization has a succession rate > 85%. Despite the use of HD-CTX to increase PBSC yields and decrease tumor burden, there is not clear evidence of a superior mobilization strategy. Additionally, HD-CTX has a not negligible toxicity and approximately 10% of the pts require hospitalization. Conversely, G-CSF+P is a safe and effective approach also in poor mobilizers. In our study, we observed a significative difference in the apheresis yields (p=0.0489) and in the percentage of pts who achieved the threshold of 5x106 CD34+ cells/kgbw (p=0.006) in favor of HD-CTX. Additionally, the detection of harvested residual clonal PCs could be a promising strategy to recognise pts more likely to relapse after ASCT. Nonetheless, we failed to demonstrate a superior effect of HD-CTX in the clearance of harvested clonal PCs, in agreement with the absence of a different pts' outcome amongst the two mobilization strategies. In conclusion, the choice between the two regimens is challenging and requires careful consideration of multiple factors. Overall, young fit pts, especially in the high-risk setting, should be treated with all appropriate modalities including chemiomobilization followed by double-ASCT. Conversely, in pts candidate to a single-ASCT it is reasonable to use G-CSF+P, since HD-CTX does not improve PFS and OS and add toxicity. The absence of an in-vivo purging effect on apheresis products of chemiomobilization further strengthens a chemotherapy-free mobilization. Disclosures Galimberti: Roche: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau.


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