Phosphoproteomic Landscaping Unveils Constitutive cKIT Activation in Human Erythroblasts from Polycythemia Vera (PV) Patients

Abstract PV is characterized by the gain-of-function V617F mutation in JAK2, the gene encoding the first signaling element of the cytokine receptor superfamily. Progenitor cells from PV are more sensitive in vitro to Imatinib, which also inhibits the SCF receptor cKIT, than those from normal sources (Gaikwad, Exp Hemat 2007;35:931) and clinical trials with similar tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been reported to have some efficacy in PV (Nussenzveig, Int J Hematol 2009;90:58; Silver, Leuk Res 2012;36:156). These data led us to examine the mechanism by which this tyrosine kinase inhibitor affects erythropoiesis in PV. We observed that in cultures containing SCF PV progenitor cells generated similar numbers of erythroid cells (Ery) as those from adult (AB) and cord (CB) blood by day 10 [fold increase (FI) ~1-2] but by day 13 PV cells generated significantly greater numbers of Ery than AB and CB [PV FI=11±0.2, p=0.021 vs AB; CB FI=6.2±1.9, p=0.025 vs PV and 0.0055 vs AB; AB FI=2.6±0.5]. Since by day 10 progenitor cells were no longer detected, we hypothesized that increases in Ery at day 13 reflect intrinsically greater Ery proliferation potentials. To test this hypothesis, we compared the phosphoproteomic landscaping of day 10 Ery from 3 PV, 3 AB and 3 CB by Reverse Phase Protein Array (RPPA) using as target >160 signaling events (data are at http://capmm.gmu.edu/data). Overall, 40 proteins were statistically different between PV and AB and 30 proteins were statistically different between CB and AB. Pathway analyses of significant hits identified that PV and CB Ery differ from the AB ones in the activation states of 1-2 proteins involved in stemness and cell cycle control inferring that there is no major change in their cycling or differentiation state. By contrast, the 3 populations showed numerous differences in cKIT signaling. PV Ery differed from AB cells by expressing greater levels of cKITY719 and cKIT703, which were reduced to barely detectable levels by the pan-JAK inhibitor Ruxolitinib, and of elements of PI3K (eNOS/NosIII, PDK1 and PKCd) and MAPK (pMARCKS, MSK1, AMPKα1 and β1 and p38 MAPK) signaling downstream, respectively, to cKITY719 and cKIT703. PV Ery expressed also greater levels of JAK2Y1007/1008 and of its downstream target STAT3Y705. CB Ery showed lower levels of cKIT, cKITY703, cKITY719 and CD63, a member of tetraspanin superfamily that binds cKITY719 switching its intracellular fate from recycling to lysosome degradation, greater phosphorylation of proteins of MAPK (pMARCKS, MSK1, PTEN and Src) and PI3K (PKCd, mTOR, p70S6K and panPKC/βII) signaling than AB Ery. These results were stoichiometrically validated by WB and indicate that PV Ery express greater degrees of cKIT activation than AB Ery suggesting that greater response to SCF might account for their greater amplification in culture. This hypothesis was tested by RPPA analyses (and stoichiometric validation by WB) of Ery from PV, AB and CB growth factor deprived (GFD) for 4h and then stimulated with SCF for 15' and 2h. GFD altered the activation state of 25 proteins (22 de-activated and 3 activated) in PV, of 12 proteins (10 de-activated and 2 activated) in AB and 8 proteins (4 de-activated and 4 activated) in CB. SCF altered the activation state of 36 proteins in PV (18 activated and 18 de-activated), 23 proteins in CB (all activations) and 6 proteins in AB (all activations). In PV and CB Ery, GFD decreased cKITY719 and cKITY703 and the activation state of their downstream targets JAK2Y1007/1008, MAPKs and mTOR while SCF increased the stoichiometric levels of cKITY719 and cKITY703 and the activation of mTOR. SCF also increased cKITY703 and cKITY719 but did not activate mTOR in Ery from AB. In agreement with the hypothesis that Ery from PV and CB respond more readily to SCF than those from AB, SCF induced greater cell-surface cKIT down-modulation (by flow cytometry) and lower intra-cytoplasmic cKIT/CD63 association (by confocal microscopy and WB) in PV and CB Ery than in AB Ery. Screening of 97 inhibitors against targets analysed by RPPA which are approved for clinical use by FDA revealed that growth of PV Ery was more sensitive than that of AB only to JAK and cKIT inhibitors. In addition, shRNA-CD63 reduced the growth of PV Ery (FI=0.9 vs 1.3 p=0.012) while increased by 2-fold (p=0.02) that of AB Ery. These results provide the first phosphoproteomic landscaping of cKIT signalling in Ery from PV and normal sources and confirm that cKIT is an important therapeutic target for PV. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Targeting USP47 overcomes tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance and eradicates leukemia stem/progenitor cells in chronic myelogenous leukemia

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-020-20259-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hu Lei ◽

Han-Zhang Xu ◽

Hui-Zhuang Shan ◽

Meng Liu ◽

Ying Lu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tyrosine Kinase ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia ◽

Drug Targets ◽

Kinase Inhibitors ◽

Kinase Inhibitor ◽

Myelogenous Leukemia ◽

Tki Resistance

AbstractIdentifying novel drug targets to overcome resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and eradicating leukemia stem/progenitor cells are required for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Here, we show that ubiquitin-specific peptidase 47 (USP47) is a potential target to overcome TKI resistance. Functional analysis shows that USP47 knockdown represses proliferation of CML cells sensitive or resistant to imatinib in vitro and in vivo. The knockout of Usp47 significantly inhibits BCR-ABL and BCR-ABLT315I-induced CML in mice with the reduction of Lin−Sca1+c-Kit+ CML stem/progenitor cells. Mechanistic studies show that stabilizing Y-box binding protein 1 contributes to USP47-mediated DNA damage repair in CML cells. Inhibiting USP47 by P22077 exerts cytotoxicity to CML cells with or without TKI resistance in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, P22077 eliminates leukemia stem/progenitor cells in CML mice. Together, targeting USP47 is a promising strategy to overcome TKI resistance and eradicate leukemia stem/progenitor cells in CML.

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Targeting Mcl-1 Enhances the Activity of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Gilteritinib in FLT3 Mutated AML

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-141399 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 30-31

Author(s):

Bing Z Carter ◽

Po Yee Mak ◽

Vivian Ruvolo ◽

Wenjing Tao ◽

Paul Hughes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tyrosine Kinase ◽

Signaling Pathways ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Research Funding ◽

Kinase Inhibitors ◽

Kinase Inhibitor ◽

Mapk Signaling ◽

Culture Conditions ◽

Beta Catenin ◽

Adaptive Resistance

Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins play critical roles in AML cell and AML stem/progenitor cell survival and drug resistance, hence are relevant therapeutic targets. Indeed, the combination of the selective Bcl-2 inhibitor venetoclax (VEN) with a hypomethylating agent elicits CR/CRi rates of > 65%, is well tolerated by elderly AML patients, and obtained FDA approval. However, despite of the major improvement in response rates, survival extension was limited and most patients ultimately relapsed largely due to the development of resistant disease. Molecular analysis of treated patients revealed that primary and adaptive resistance to VEN-based combinations was frequently characterized by acquisition or enrichment of clones activating signaling pathways such as FLT3 or RAS (DiNardo CD et al., Blood 2020). FLT3 is one of the most frequently mutated gene in AML, resulting in constitutive activation of FLT3 tyrosine kinase and its downstream signaling pathways such as RAS/MAPK, which can be targeted by FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, patients treated with TKIs ultimately relapse and adapt to TKI therapy by reactivating the MAPK signaling pathway (Bruner JK et al., Cancer Res 2017), which is known to stabilize Mcl-1 levels. Furthermore, deregulated Mcl-1 expression was identified as a novel mechanism of primary TKI resistance in a subset of FLT3-ITD mutated AML patients (Breitenbuecher F et al., Blood 2009). Importantly, Mcl-1 expression can be induced by VEN treatment and is a major resistance factor to VEN (Pan R et al., Cancer Discover 2014; Carter BZ et al., ASH 2018). Hence, Mcl-1 inhibition may enhance the efficacy of TKIs in FLT3 mutated AML, targeting AML cells and stem/progenitor cells. To determine if targeting Mcl-1 enhances the activity of TKIs in FLT3 mutated AML, we treated MV4-11 and Molm13 cells with Mcl-1 inhibitor AMG176 and TKI gilteritinib (GIL) and observed synergism, as defined by combination index < 1 in both cells. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that GIL markedly decreased Mcl-1 and antagonized AMG176-induced Mcl-1 induction. GIL and its combination with AMG176 also decreased Bcl-xL. Although Bcl-2 protein levels were largely not changed in MV4-11 cells, we found both single treatment and the combination greatly decreased Bcl-2 associated athanogene (BAG) proteins BAG1, BAG3, and BAG4 at the RNA level, which needs to be confirmed at the protein level. The BAG proteins are a family of chaperone regulators and BAG1 was reported to bind and enhance the activity of multiple proteins known to support cells survival, including Bcl-2 (Takayama S et al., Cell 1995). Interestingly, GIL treatment greatly diminished the levels of beta-catenin and its target protein c-Myc, consistent with our previous report that FLT3 regulates beta-catenin signaling (Xiang et al., CCR, 2018). We have generated Mcl-1 overexpressing (OE) and VEN-resistance (VEN-R) MV4-11 and Molm13 cells. The Mcl-1 OE cells are highly resistant to VEN and the VEN-R cells expressed high levels of Mcl-1. Combined inhibition of AMG176 and GIL synergistically induced cell death in Mcl-1 OE and VEN-R resistant cells. Although the expression is low in AML cells we tested, BCL2A1 is also known as a resistant factor to VEN. We generated BCL2A1 OE MV4-11 and Molm13 cells and demonstrated that combined inhibition of FLT3 and Mcl-1 was highly effective in these cells as well. Western blot analysis revealed that GIL effectively decreased Mcl-1 in Mcl-1 OE and VEN-R and BCL2A1 in BCL2A1 OE MV4-11 cells. Next, we treated FLT3 mutated AML patient samples harboring both, ITD and D835 mutations, from 2 patients who had both failed VEN-based therapy and from 1 patient with ITD mutation, with AMG176 and GIL under MSC co-culture conditions. Synergy was observed in all samples in AML blasts and AML stem/progenitor cells. Collectively, our data demonstrate that targeting Mcl-1 enhances the activity of GIL in FLT3 mutated AML, including those resistant to/relapsed from VEN-based therapy, findings that may warrant clinical evaluation. Disclosures Carter: Syndax: Research Funding; Ascentage: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding. Hughes:Amgen: Current Employment. Chen:Amgen: Current Employment. Morrow:Amgen: Current Employment. Andreeff:Amgen: Research Funding; Centre for Drug Research & Development; Cancer UK; NCI-CTEP; German Research Council; Leukemia Lymphoma Foundation (LLS); NCI-RDCRN (Rare Disease Clin Network); CLL Founcdation; BioLineRx; SentiBio; Aptose Biosciences, Inc: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi-Sankyo; Breast Cancer Research Foundation; CPRIT; NIH/NCI; Amgen; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo; Jazz Pharmaceuticals; Celgene; Amgen; AstraZeneca; 6 Dimensions Capital: Consultancy.

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Inhibition of Bcl-2/Bcl-XL Promotes Apoptosis in Blast Crisis CML Including Quiescent Primitive Progenitor Cells Regardless of Cellular Responses to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v114.22.646.646 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 114 (22) ◽

pp. 646-646

Author(s):

Duncan H. Mak ◽

Wendy D. Schober ◽

Marina Konopleva ◽

Jorge Cortes ◽

Hagop M. Kantarjian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tyrosine Kinase ◽

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Kinase Inhibitors ◽

Kinase Inhibitor ◽

Blast Crisis ◽

Antiapoptotic Proteins ◽

Cell Compartments ◽

Cd34 Cells

Abstract Abstract 646 The advent of imatinib, a Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor revolutionized the treatment for patients with CML. Development of resistance, limited activity in blast crisis CML, and more importantly, insensitivity of quiescent primitive CD34+ CML progenitor cells are evolving problems facing this therapy. Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins were known to be highly expressed in Bcr-Abl expressing cells and inhibition of Bcl-2/Bcl-XL by the selective inhibitor ABT-737 was reported to augment the killing of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in CML cells. However, its effect on quiescent primitive CD34+ CML progenitor cells is unknown. To investigate the effect of activating the apoptotic machinery in quiescent primitive CD34+CML progenitor cells, which are resistant to current therapies, we first compared the expression of antiapoptotic proteins in proliferating and quiescent primitive CD34+CML progenitor cells. Cells obtained from patients with blast crisis CML were stained with the fluorescent 5-(and 6-) carboxy-fluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester, a cell proliferation tracking dye, and cultured in vitro for 4-6 days. Cells were then stained with CD34 antibody and FACS sorted into proliferating and quiescent CD34+/PI- CML progenitor cells. RNA levels of antiapoptotic proteins in these two cell populations (n=8) were determined by real-time RT-PCR: quiescent and proliferating primitive CD34+ CML progenitor cells expressed similar levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, Mcl-1, and XIAP implying that like total blast cells, quiescent primitive CD34+CML progenitor cells may also be sensitive to agents targeting these proteins. We next treated 5 samples obtained from patients with blast crisis CML with ABT-737 and measured apoptosis in total CD34+ cells, proliferating CD34+ cells, and quiescent CD34+ cells. All 5 patients were resistant to or relapsed from imatinib and nilotinib and/or dasatinib treatments and they were insensitive to imatinib in vitro as expected. However, cells from 4 patients were sensitive to ABT-737, in bulk blasts and in both proliferating and quiescent CD34+ CML cell compartments: % specific apoptosis with 100 nM of ABT-737=40.8±7.7, 38.4±8.5, 40.0±5.1, respectively at 24 hours. Interestingly, when ABT-737 was combined with imatinib, cell death was greatly enhanced in cells from all 5 patients in all cell compartments (combination index=0.059±0.032, 0.041±0.025, 0.111±0.042, respectively). Furthermore, we showed previously, that triptolide, an antitumor agent from a Chinese herb, induces apoptosis in both proliferating and quiescent primitive CD34+CML progenitor cells by decreasing Mcl-1 which is a resistant factor for ABT-737, XIAP, and Bcr-Abl protein levels (Mak D. et al., MCT in press). When ABT-737 was combined with triptolide, a significant increase of cell death was found in total CD34+ and proliferating as well as quiescent primitive CD34+CML cells with combination index at EC50=0.57, 0.55, and 0.56, respectively in cells from the 5 patients suggesting a high degree of synergism. In summary, Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, Mcl-1, and XIAP are equally expressed in proliferating and quiescent primitive CML cells and targeting Bcl-2/Bcl-XL promotes death of blast crisis CML cells, tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistant CML cells, and quiescent primitive CD34+ CML progenitor cells. Researches suggest that the combination of apoptosis inducing agents and tyrosine kinase inhibitor is a novel strategy to overcome tyrosine kinase resistance, eradicate quiescent primitive CML progenitor cells, and improve current therapy for patients with CML. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Clarithromycin Targeting Autophagy Potentiates Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Induced Cell Death in Resistant Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Patients

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v118.21.4450.4450 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 118 (21) ◽

pp. 4450-4450

Author(s):

A. M. Carella ◽

Gioacchino Catania ◽

G. Beltrami ◽

G. Pica

Keyword(s):

Tyrosine Kinase ◽

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor ◽

Kinase Inhibitors ◽

Kinase Inhibitor ◽

De Novo ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Blast Crisis ◽

Cytogenetic Response ◽

Ifn Alpha

Abstract Abstract 4450 M-TOR is a key regulator of autophagy. Rapamycin and clarithromycin (structurally similar to rapamycin), have been demonstrated to have in vitro activity in blocking autophagy. In four patients with advanced CML, remarkable response to the combination of clarithromycin and a tyrosine kinase inhibitor was observed. Here we present the results achieved by the combination. A 43-year-old woman was diagnosed with high-risk Sokal CML in February 2000. She was treated with IFN-alpha and imatinib (400 mg/day) with persistence of 100% Ph-positive metaphases. In March 2006, WBC was no longer controlled and she was treated with nilotinib. Complete hematologic response (CHR) was achieved by the end of April 2006, but there was no cytogenetic response (CyR). She was given dasatinib (70 mg b.i.d.) without complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and after 7 months the bcr-abl/abl ratio was 6.1% in March 2011. At that time, the patient had an infection (otits/pharyngitis) sensitive to clarithromycin, which was added to dasatinib at a dose of 500 mg b.i.d. April 2011 there was a surprising reduction in the transcript to 0.5%. As of June 2011, the value was 0.05%, and the patient continues to receive clarithromycin (500 mg/day) and dasatinib (100 mg/day). Nowadays (August 1), the patient is in CHR, CCyR and major molecular remission (MMR) (bcr-abl/abl ratio 0.001%). The patient stopped clarithromycin and he is continuing on dasatinib. A 53-year-old man was diagnosed with de novo lymphoid blast crisis CML in August 2010; bcr-abl/abl ratio was 95.2%. He had a sibling donor. In October 2010 bcr-abl/abl ratio was reduced to 0.2% after chemo + imatinib. In November 2010, bcr-abl/abl ratio was 22% and he was treated with dasatinib (70 mg b.i.d.) with WBC control and a small reduction of bcr-abl/abl ratio (18% in February 2011). Soon thereafter, he underwent allogeneic transplant. Two months after transplant (May 2011) the disease progressed and bcr-abl/abl value had increased to 47%. He was restarted on dasatinib (100 mg/day) but the transcript increased in 4 weeks to 143%. Because of our previous experience, we added clarithromycin to dasatinib on June 2, 2011. Two weeks later, bcr-abl/abl value was reduced to 3.2%, and to 1.5% after another week. We stopped clarithromycin and three weeks later under dasatinib alone the transcript increased to 20%. From one week we added newly clarithromycin to dasatinib. A 68 year old man was diagnosed with CML in October 1999. A CCyR was achieved after autografting and soon after IFN-alpha was given as maintenance. In October 2000 the patient relapsed. A second CCyR was achieved in December 2001 after imatinib (400 mg/day), which lasted for six years. In October 2006 bcr-abl/abl ratio was 4.5%. He was treated with dasatinib (70 mg. b.i.d.) with WBC control but with no CyR. In March 2011, bcr-abl/abl ratio was 42.5%. Nilotinib (600 mg. b.i.d.) was begun with no change in bcr-abl/abl ratio after 2 months. In June 2011, clarithromycin (500 mg. b.i.d.) was added; 3 weeks later, the bcr-abl/abl ratio had decreased to 17% and two weeks later (July 13, 2011) to 4%. On July 28, bcr-abl/abl is 0,00022%. A 70 year old woman was diagnosed with CML in November 1998. She was treated with IFN-alpha but only partial CyR was achieved. In January 2001, 100% Ph-positive metaphases were found in BM. She was begun on imatinib (400 mg/day) but the karyotype did not change. In May 2005 she was started on nilotinib (600 mg/daily) since bcr-abl/abl ratio was 26.5%. Blood counts were controlled but there was no change in cytogenetics. In August 2010 WBC increased to 100×103/l. Dasatinib (70 mg. b.i.d.) was begun. Because blood count control was inadequate, hydroxyurea was added. In December 2010, bcr-abl/abl ratio had increased to 140%, and E255V mutation was found. In May 2011, clarithromycin (500 mg. b.i.d.) was added. In 2 weeks, the WBC had decreased from 76×103/l to 10×103/l and bcr-abl/abl ratio was 30% (June 4, 2011). One month later (July 4, 2011) bcr-abl/abl ratio was 3% and the mutation was no longer found in bone marrow. In the last evaluation (July 13, 2011) bcr-abl/abl ratio was 0.00096%. The patient stopped clarithromycin and she is on dasatinib alone. In conclusion, no patients have gone off study for toxicity. In no case we observed grade 3–4 myelosuppression. The remarkable responses obtained in these 4 patients support the hypothesis that inhibition of autophagy may make CML cells sensitive to killing by tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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TEL/PDGFβR Induces Hematologic Malignancies in Mice That Respond to a Specific Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v93.5.1707 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 93 (5) ◽

pp. 1707-1714 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

Michael H. Tomasson ◽

Ifor R. Williams ◽

Robert Hasserjian ◽

Chirayu Udomsakdi ◽

Shannon M. McGrath ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tyrosine Kinase ◽

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor ◽

Tyrosine Kinases ◽

Kinase Inhibitors ◽

Kinase Inhibitor ◽

Transgenic Animals ◽

Myeloid Lineage ◽

Protein Tyrosine

Abstract The TEL/PDGFβR fusion protein is expressed as the consequence of a recurring t(5;12) translocation associated with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Unlike other activated protein tyrosine kinases associated with hematopoietic malignancies, TEL/PDGFβR is invariably associated with a myeloid leukemia phenotype in humans. To test the transforming properties of TEL/PDGFβR in vivo, and to analyze the basis for myeloid lineage specificity in humans, we constructed transgenic mice with TEL/PDGFβR expression driven by a lymphoid-specific immunoglobulin enhancer-promoter cassette. These mice developed lymphoblastic lymphomas of both T and B lineage, demonstrating that TEL/PDGFβR is a transforming protein in vivo, and that the transforming ability of this fusion is not inherently restricted to the myeloid lineage. Treatment of TEL/PDGFβR transgenic animals with a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor with in vitro activity against PDGFβR (CGP57148) resulted in suppression of disease and a prolongation of survival. A therapeutic benefit was apparent both in animals treated before the development of overt clonal disease and in animals transplanted with clonal tumor cells. These results suggest that small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors may be effective treatment for activated tyrosine kinase–mediated malignancies both early in the course of disease and after the development of additional transforming mutations.

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Novel Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Trigger Drug Sensitivity of Primary CLL Cells by Controlling Glucosylation of Ceramides

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v120.21.3905.3905 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 120 (21) ◽

pp. 3905-3905

Author(s):

Janine Schwamb ◽

Valeska Feldhaus ◽

Michael Baumann ◽

Michaela Patz ◽

Susanne Brodesser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tyrosine Kinase ◽

Kinase Inhibitors ◽

Kinase Inhibitor ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Cell Receptor ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Published Data ◽

The Novel ◽

Apoptosis Resistance

Abstract Abstract 3905 Background: Apoptosis resistance of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells is mediated by several pro-survival stimuli. In particular, engagement of the B-cell receptor (BCR), CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) interaction or stimulation by interleukin-(IL)-4 were identified as major factors to regulate chemoresistance. Sphingolipids are known to be involved in several metabolic pathways involved in chemoresitance. Therefore, we focused on ceramide as pro-apoptotic molecule and its counterpart glucosylceramide, which rather contributes to proliferation and survival. Methods and Results: Applying liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, we revealed a significant decrease of pro-apoptotic ceramide in BCR/IL-4/CD40L-stimulated primary CLL cells compared to untreated controls (p=0.0258, p=0.0478, p=0.0114). Anti-apoptotic glucosylceramide levels were significantly increased after BCR cross-linking (p=0.0435) while other stimuli caused no relevant change in glucosylceramide expression. We identified BCR engagement to catalyze the crucial modification of ceramide to glucosylceramide via the enzyme UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) (p=0.0001). Besides specific UGCG inhibitors, we could show for the first time that IgM-mediated UGCG expression was significantly inhibited by the novel and highly effective PI3Kδ and BTK inhibitors CAL-101 and PCI-32765, which were able to revert IgM-induced apoptosis resistance of CLL cells. Recently published data revealed sphingolipids to be essential for mediation of apoptosis via mitochondria. Therefore, we chose ABT-737 – a well-known and also mitochondria-targeting drug – as candidate partner for PI3Kδ and BTK inhibition. When combining each tyrosine kinase inhibitor with ABT-737, a synergistic apoptotic effect could be documented, even under protection by BCR stimulation. Conclusion: In summary, we could demonstrate that sphingolipids are critically involved in CLL pathogenesis. UGCG could be identified as drugable target by the novel kinase inhibitors CAL-101 and PCI-32765 resulting in even synergistic apoptosis following additional application of ABT-737. Sphingolipids seem to offer further targets providing novel treatment options in CLL. C.M.W. and L.P.F. contributed equally to this work. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Therapeutic Immune Monitoring of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients Treated with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: Focus on CD4+ CD25+ t Cells

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v126.23.4036.4036 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 126 (23) ◽

pp. 4036-4036

Author(s):

Ziyuan Lu ◽

Na Xu ◽

Xuan Zhou ◽

Guanlun Gao ◽

Lin Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia ◽

Tyrosine Kinase ◽

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors ◽

Myeloid Leukemia ◽

Kinase Inhibitors ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

Similar Proportion

Abstract Background and Objectives: In clinical, conventional Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) including imatinib, dasatinib, and nilotinib are remarkably effective forms of therapy for certain types of solid cancers as well as Ph+ leukemias. In addition to the BCR-ABL target oncoprotein, they also inhibit certain off-target kinases (Eph, c-KIT, TEC, SRC). Some TKIs affect immune reconstitution as well as the proliferation, function, and activation of T cells. Certain TKIs have been known to have an especially strong effect on CD4+CD25+ T cells, also known as regulatory T Cells (Tregs). There is currently a gap in the clinical data available about on this area of study. Patients and methods: In this study, we collected 108 Peripheral Blood (PB) samples from patients in the Chronic Phase (CP) of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) at the time of diagnosis (n=31) and also the TKIs treatment. Groups consisted of individuals treated with TKIs like imatinib (n=12), dasatinib (n=11) and nilotinib (n=8), as well as healthy controls (n=15). We evaluated the quantity and function of Tregs from patients in the CML-CP at the time of diagnosis and during treatment with TKIs. Results: It was found that at diagnosis, patients with CML had a similar proportion and absolute number of lymphocytes compared to healthy donors. After TKIs treatment, proportions and absolute numbers of total T cellsACD4+ T cells and Tregs decreased at different degree. Moreover, thedecrease would be more and more significant as time goes on.Our results indicated that although these three TKIs show similar inhibitory effects in the proportion and number of Tregs in vivo, they have differential effects on the functions of Tregs in vitro. The proliferation, suppression, and expression of suppressive cytokines (IL-4,IL-10 and TGF-β) as well as suppression-associated molecules (FoxP3, GITR, and CTLA-4) of Tregs decreased in groups treated with imatinib and dasatinib. The decrease was not significant in the nilotinib-treated group. Conclusions: The results showed that imatinib and dasatinib have stronger inhibitory roles than nilotinib when it comes to regulating the number and functions of Tregs. These findings can be used to argue in favor of calls for personalized treatment and follow-up of CML patients during TKIs treatment, particularly for those patients who received combination therapy with allo-transplantation and post-transplant TKIs. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and the MCL1 inhibitor S63845 exerts synergistic antitumorigenic effects on CML cells

Cell Death and Disease ◽

10.1038/s41419-021-04154-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

Author(s):

Alena Malyukova ◽

Dorina Ujvari ◽

Elham Yektaei-Karin ◽

Ana Zovko ◽

Harsha S. Madapura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tyrosine Kinase ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Kinase Inhibitors ◽

Kinase Inhibitor ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

Myeloid Cell ◽

Hematologic Malignancies ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Tki Treatment

AbstractTyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment has dramatically improved the survival of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients, but measurable residual disease typically persists. To more effectively eradicate leukemia cells, simultaneous targeting of BCR-ABL1 and additional CML-related survival proteins has been proposed. Notably, several highly specific myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL1) inhibitors have recently entered clinical trials for various hematologic malignancies, although not for CML, reflecting the insensitivity of CML cell lines to single MCL1 inhibition. Here, we show that combining TKI (imatinib, nilotinib, dasatinib, or asciminib) treatment with the small-molecule MCL1 inhibitor S63845 exerted strong synergistic antiviability and proapoptotic effects on CML lines and CD34+ stem/progenitor cells isolated from untreated CML patients in chronic phase. Using wild-type BCR-ABL1-harboring CML lines and their T315I-mutated sublines (generated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homologous recombination), we prove that the synergistic proapoptotic effect of the drug combination depended on TKI-mediated BCR-ABL1 inhibition, but not on TKI-related off-target mechanisms. Moreover, we demonstrate that colony formation of CML but not normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells became markedly reduced upon combination treatment compared to imatinib monotherapy. Our results suggest that dual targeting of MCL1 and BCR-ABL1 activity may efficiently eradicate residual CML cells without affecting normal hematopoietic stem/progenitors.

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Correlations between Mutations in Cancer-Related Genes, Therapy Responses and Outcomes of the 3 rd Generation Tyrosine Kinase-Inhibitor (TKI) in Persons with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Failing Prior TKI-Therapy

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2021-150020 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 308-308

Author(s):

Xiaoshuai Zhang ◽

Zongru Li ◽

Yazhen Qin ◽

Robert Peter Gale ◽

Xiaojun Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Tyrosine Kinase ◽

Kinase Inhibitors ◽

Kinase Inhibitor ◽

Chromosomal Abnormalities ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

Cytogenetic Response ◽

Functional Enrichment ◽

Molecular Response

Abstract Background Most, but not everyone with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) responds to imatinib or 2 nd-generation tyrosine kinase-inhibitors (TKIs). Mutations in cancer-related genes and in other than ABL1 may explain variable responses and outcomes to the 3 rd-generation TKIs including ponatinib and olverembatinib. Aim Interrogate correlations between mutations in cancer-related genes and therapy responses and outcomes to 3 rd-generation TKIs. Methods We used deep targeted sequencing for cancer-related mutations and Sanger sequencing for BCR::ABL1 on DNA samples from 167 subjects with CML failing to the prior imatinib and/or 2 nd-generation TKI-therapy and just before receiving a 3 rd-generation TKI. Gene ontology (GO) analysis was used to evaluate functional enrichment in GO terms among mutated genes. Optimal cut-offs for variant allele frequencies (VAFs) of the common mutations were determined by analyzing receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves. A Cox multi-variable regression model was used to identify correlations between mutations in cancer-related genes and therapy responses and outcomes of 3 rd-generation TKI-therapy. Results 167 subjects in chronic phase (n = 125) and accelerated phase (n = 42) received ponatinib (n = 28) or olverembatinib (n = 139) therapy. 27 subjects were exposed to imatinib; 79, a 2 nd-generation TKI; 61, imatinib and a 2 nd generation TKI. 142 (85%) subjects had ABL1 mutations including ABL1T315I (n = 116) or others (n = 26). 163 subjects had other cancer-related mutations which were evaluated in epigenetic regulators (n = 150), transcription factors (n = 84), cell signaling (n = 42), tumor suppressors (n = 39), protein kinases (n = 27), chromatin modification (n = 9) and DNA damage repair (n = 3) related-genes according to functional enrichment. The top 10 mutations were ASXL1 (n = 115), RUNX1 (n = 12), KMT2D (n = 12), PHF6 (n = 8), KMT2C (n = 8), IKZF1 (n = 8), STAT5A (n = 8), DNMT3A (n = 7), TET2 (n = 6) and BCOR (n = 6). 20 subjects had high-risk additional chromosomal abnormalities (ACAs). Frequency of BCR::ABL1 mutations was inversely- (p < 0.001) and of cancer-related mutations directly-related (p = 0.009) to increasing exposure to prior TKI therapies. These relationships were especially so for mutations in KMT2C (p = 0.06), DNMT3A (p = 0.09), KDM6A (p = 0.06) and TNFAIP3 (p = 0.08). BCR::ABL1 (82% vs. 95%, p = 0.03), RUNX1 (5% vs. 14%, p = 0.04), KMT2C (3% vs. 10%, p = 0.08) and IKZF1 (3% vs. 10%, p = 0.10) were more common in accelerated phase. With a median follow-up of 34 months (interquartile range [IQR], 12-40 months), 95 and 71 subjects achieved a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and major molecular response (MMR). 18 subjects transformed to accelerated (n = 8) or blast (n = 10) phases, 16 died of disease progression (n = 12) or other causes (n = 4). 3-year cumulative incidences of CCyR and MMRwere 65% (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 58, 71%) and 52% (43, 61%). 3-year probabilities of progression-free survival (PFS) and survival were 88% (81, 92%) and 91% (85, 95%). Mutations in tumor suppressor genes were more common in subjects not achieving a CCyR (27% vs. 19%, p = 0.01). In multi-variable analyses ASXL1 mutation with a VAF ≥ 17% and a PHF6 mutation were significantly associated with lower cumulative incidences of CCyR (p < 0.001 and p = 0.032) and MMR (p < 0.001 and p = 0.04). Moreover, subjects with BCR-ABL1T315I mutation had significantly higher cumulative incidences of CCyR (p = 0.07) and MMR (p = 0.04) than those with no BCR-ABL1 mutation and other BCR-ABL1 non-T315I mutation. Increasing age, more Ph 1-chromosome-positive cells, the best prior therapy-response < partial cytogenetic response (PCyR) and more TKI-therapies were associated with poor responses. STAT5A mutation was significantly associated with worse PFS (p = 0.002) and survival (p < 0.001), RUNX1 mutation (p = 0.006), high-risk ACAs (p = 0.07) and accelerated phase (p = 0.002) with worse PFS and increasing age (p = 0.05) and comorbidity(ies) (p = 0.05) with wosre survival. Conclusions ASXL1 mutations with a VAF ≥ 17% and PHF6 mutations were associated with poor responses of the 3 rd-generation TKI-therapy. STAT5A and RUNX1 mutations and high-risk ACAs were also associated with worse outcomes in persons receiving a 3 rd-generation TKI. These data should help physicians select people to receive 3 rd-generation TKIs. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Combined Targeting of BCR-ABL and JAK2 with ABL and JAK2 Inhibitors Is Effective Against CML Patients' Leukemic Stem/Progenitor Cells.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v116.21.3404.3404 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 116 (21) ◽

pp. 3404-3404

Author(s):

Donna DeGeer ◽

Paolo Gallipoli ◽

Min Chen ◽

Ivan Sloma ◽

Heather Jorgensen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Progenitor Cells ◽

Kinase Inhibitor ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Integration Site ◽

Single Agent ◽

K562 Cells ◽

High Rate ◽

Jak2 Inhibitors

Abstract Abstract 3404 Imatinib mesylate (IM) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that induces clinical responses in most chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Nevertheless, early relapses and later emergence of IM-resistant disease pose serious concerns for many. The inadequacies of IM therapy are due, at least in part, to the unique properties of CML stem/progenitor cells that make them generally less responsive to IM and, indeed, other TKIs, and also confer on them a genetic instability that leads to a high rate of formation of BCR-ABL mutants. Improved treatment approaches to prevent the development of resistant subclones by targeting other key molecular elements active in CML stem/progenitor cells are thus clearly needed. One candidate is a complex that forms in CML stem/progenitor cells between the oncoproteins encoded by AHI-1 (Abelson helper integration site 1), BCR-ABL and the JAK2 kinase. This complex contributes to the transforming activity of BCR-ABL both in vitro and in vivo and also plays a role in the IM response/resistance of primary CML stem/progenitor cells. We now describe the results of experiments designed to test the ability of ABL and JAK2 inhibitors to block the activity of this protein complex in CML cells. K562 cells engineered to stably overexpress AHI-1 showed a significantly reduced sensitivity to both IM (at 1 and 5 μM) and TG101209, a JAK2 inhibitor, (at 0.5 and 1 μM), as determined by assays for cell viability, apopotosis, and colony-forming activity. K562 cells engineered to suppression AHI-1 showed an opposite effect, with a heightened sensitivity to IM at concentrations as low as 1 μM. In addition, IM together with TG101209 was more effective at killing AHI-1-overexpressing K562 cells, IM-resistant K562 cells and IM-resistant T315I-mutant cells than either treatment alone. Western blot and co-IP experiments demonstrated a significant reduction of p-BCR-ABL, p-JAK2 and p-STAT5 in cells treated with IM plus TG101209 compared to cells treated with IM or TG101209 alone. Importantly, treatment with 5 μM IM, 150 nM dasatinib (DA) or 5 μM nilotinib (NL) in combination with 100 nM TG101209 caused a significantly greater reduction in the viability of primary CD34+CD38− and CD34+CD38+ CML cells when these responses were compared to any of the TKIs or TG101209 alone (~2-4 fold, n=3). Apoptotic cells at 72 hours were also significantly increased for all drug combinations compared to single agent treatments (40%-52% for the combinations vs 15%-18% for the single agents). CFSE tracking analysis of cell division in these cells further demonstrated additive anti-proliferative activity from the TKI plus TG101219 combinations, although some rare undivided cells were not eliminated. Nevertheless, exposure of CD34+ CML cells from IM-nonresponders (n=4) to TG101209 plus IM or DA did cause a greater inhibition (81% and 85%) of patients' colony-forming cells as compared to the same cells treated with the combination of IM plus DA only, or IM or DA only (60%, 41% and 50% inhibition, p<0.05). Long-term culture-initiating cell assays were undertaken to compare the effect of these combination treatments versus the effects of TKIs or TG101209 alone on very primitive CML cells. The results again showed a more significant reduction of these cells treated with the combination (n=3). Intracellular staining revealed a greater reduction in the levels of p-CrKL and p-STAT5 in CD34+ CML cells treated for 24 hours with the combination of TKIs plus TG101219 as compared to single TKI-treated cells (~44% vs 65% for p-CrKL and 36% vs 57% for p-STAT5, n=3). Strikingly, the combination treatment produced an even greater inhibition of both p-CrKL and p-STAT5 after 72 hours while p-CrKL was almost fully reactivated with TKIs alone (~29% vs 89% for p-CrKL and 23% vs 50% for p-STAT5). These results point to the possibility of achieving improved therapeutic outcomes in CML patients by simultaneously targeting both BCR-ABL and JAK2 activities in the critical TKI-insensitive CML stem/progenitor reservoir. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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