Immunotherapy in Acute Leukemias: Past Success Paves the Way for Future Progress.

Immunotherapy as a cancer treatment modality has undergone recent widespread proliferation across all cancer types, especially amongst patients with solid tumors. However, the longest tenured immunotherapy approach to cancer is allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) for two hematologic malignancies: acute myeloid and acute lymphoid leukemia (AML and ALL, respectively). While allo-SCT remains a standard of care for eligible patients, recent advances/applications of monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs), and CAR T-cell therapy are changing the treatment landscape for these acute leukemias by either direct to tumor immune targeting or through decreased toxicities that expand patient eligibility. Pre-clinical data and clinical trials have shown promising results for novel immunotherapies in acute leukemia, and multiple ongoing trials are investigating these novel approaches. While there have been promising results with these approaches, particularly in the relapsed/refractory setting, there remain challenges in optimizing the use of these therapies, such as managing cytokine release syndrome and other immune-related toxicities. Immunotherapy is a rapidly evolving field in the treatment of acute leukemia and has the potential to significantly impact the management of both AML and ALL. This review highlights the history of immunotherapy in the treatment of acute leukemias, the evolution of immunotherapy into more targeted approaches, the potential benefits and limitations of different immune targeting approaches, and ongoing research and development in the field.

Splenic Laceration: A Rare Complication of Abdominal Paracentesis.

Abdominal paracentesis is a commonly performed diagnostic and therapeutic procedure with a low complication rate. Previously described complications include injury to the abdominal wall, small bowel perforation, and abdominal hemorrhage. Splenic injury has also been described as a complication from bedside procedures including colonoscopy, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, thoracentesis, and pleural biopsy. This case highlights a previously unreported complication from an abdominal paracentesis, splenic laceration.

Differential Efficacy of Anti-VEGF Antibodies Based on Sex and Race in a Diverse Cohort of Advanced Nonsquamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Bevacizumab with chemotherapy improved overall survival (OS) in the E4599 trial in metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NS-NSCLC). A meta-analysis demonstrated an OS benefit with bevacizumab only in a subset of nonwhite patients. We explored the efficacy of antivascular endothelial growth factor antibodies (AVA) in a diverse cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced (stage IIIB/IV, American Joint Committee Cancer 7th edition) recurrent or metastatic NS-NSCLC diagnosed January 2006 to December 2017 at a single medical center were included. Survival analysis was performed with log-rank testing of the Kaplan-Meier estimator. Univariate models were constructed, and significant variables, age, sex, race were incorporated into a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. Data analysis was performed on SAS. RESULTS: A total of 171 patients, 80 were treated with AVA and 91 were untreated. Median age: 63 years, 55% females, 19% non-Hispanic whites, 44% blacks and 32% Hispanic whites; median 40 pack-years of smoking; 11.7% had sensitizing epidermal growth factor receptor mutations. Patients who received AVA had a survival benefit (26.6 vs. 19 mo, P=0.025). Adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, epidermal growth factor receptor mutations, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status and number of metastases; AVA therapy was associated with improved OS (adjusted hazard ratio=0.62; P=0.049). In a subgroup analysis, females had survival benefit with AVA (median survival: 29.1 vs. 14.2 mo, log-rank P=0.02) which was significant in the adjusted model (adjusted hazard ratio=0.52; P=0.049). CONCLUSIONS: In a diverse cohort of patients with advanced NS-NSCLC, a survival benefit was confirmed with AVA. The greatest magnitude of benefit was in blacks and non-Hispanic whites. A significant survival benefit was limited to female patients.

Identification of Natural Products That Inhibit the Catalytic Function of Human Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase (TDP1).

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1) is an enzyme crucial for cleavage of the covalent topoisomerase 1-DNA complex, an intermediate in DNA repair. TDP1 plays a role in reversing inhibition of topoisomerase I by camptothecins, a series of potent and effective inhibitors used in the treatment of colorectal, ovarian, and small-cell lung cancers. It is hypothesized that inhibition of TDP1 activity may enhance camptothecin sensitivity in tumors. Here, we describe the design, development, and execution of a novel assay to identify inhibitors of TDP1 present in natural product extracts. The assay was designed to address issues with fluorescent "nuisance" molecules and to minimize the detection of false-positives caused by polyphenolic molecules known to nonspecifically inhibit enzyme activity. A total of 227,905 purified molecules, prefractionated extracts, and crude natural product extracts were screened. This yielded 534 initial positives (0.23%). Secondary prioritization reduced this number to 117 (0.05% final hit rate). Several novel inhibitors have been identified showing micromolar affinity for human TDP1, including halenaquinol sulfate, a pentacyclic hydroquinone from the sponge Xestospongia sp.

Biochemical assays for the discovery of TDP1 inhibitors.

Drug screening against novel targets is warranted to generate biochemical probes and new therapeutic drug leads. TDP1 and TDP2 are two DNA repair enzymes that have yet to be successfully targeted. TDP1 repairs topoisomerase I-, alkylation-, and chain terminator-induced DNA damage, whereas TDP2 repairs topoisomerase II-induced DNA damage. Here, we report the quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS) of the NIH Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository using recombinant human TDP1. We also developed a secondary screening method using a multiple loading gel-based assay where recombinant TDP1 is replaced by whole cell extract (WCE) from genetically engineered DT40 cells. While developing this assay, we determined the importance of buffer conditions for testing TDP1, and most notably the possible interference of phosphate-based buffers. The high specificity of endogenous TDP1 in WCE allowed the evaluation of a large number of hits with up to 600 samples analyzed per gel via multiple loadings. The increased stringency of the WCE assay eliminated a large fraction of the initial hits collected from the qHTS. Finally, inclusion of a TDP2 counter-screening assay allowed the identification of two novel series of selective TDP1 inhibitors.

Discovery and structure-activity relationship of novel 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-7-carboxamide and 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-3(2H)-one-7-carboxamide derivatives as poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 inhibitors.

Novel substituted 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-7-carboxamide (DHBF-7-carboxamide) and 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-3(2H)-one-7-carboxamide (DHBF-3-one-7-carboxamide) derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP-1). A structure-based design strategy resulted in lead compound 3 (DHBF-7-carboxamide; IC50 = 9.45 µM). To facilitate synthetically feasible derivatives, an alternative core was designed, DHBF-3-one-7-carboxamide (36, IC50 = 16.2 µM). The electrophilic 2-position of this scaffold was accessible for extended modifications. Substituted benzylidene derivatives at the 2-position were found to be the most potent, with 3',4'-dihydroxybenzylidene 58 (IC50 = 0.531 µM) showing a 30-fold improvement in potency. Various heterocycles attached at the 4'-hydroxyl/4'-amino of the benzylidene moiety resulted in significant improvement in inhibition of PARP-1 activity (e.g., compounds 66-68, 70, 72, and 73; IC50 values from 0.718 to 0.079 µM). Compound 66 showed selective cytotoxicity in BRCA2-deficient DT40 cells. Crystal structures of three inhibitors (compounds (-)-13c, 59, and 65) bound to a multidomain PARP-1 structure were obtained, providing insights into further development of these inhibitors.

Identification of novel PARP inhibitors using a cell-based TDP1 inhibitory assay in a quantitative high-throughput screening platform.

Anti-cancer topoisomerase I (Top1) inhibitors (camptothecin and its derivatives irinotecan and topotecan, and indenoisoquinolines) induce lethal DNA lesions by stabilizing Top1-DNA cleavage complex (Top1cc). These lesions are repaired by parallel repair pathways including the tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1)-related pathway and homologous recombination. As TDP1-deficient cells in vertebrates are hypersensitive to Top1 inhibitors, small molecules inhibiting TDP1 should augment the cytotoxicity of Top1 inhibitors. We developed a cell-based high-throughput screening assay for the discovery of inhibitors for human TDP1 using a TDP1-deficient chicken DT40 cell line (TDP1-/-) complemented with human TDP1 (hTDP1). Any compounds showing a synergistic effect with the Top1 inhibitor camptothecin (CPT) in hTDP1 cells should either be a TDP1-related pathway inhibitor or an inhibitor of alternate repair pathways for Top1cc. We screened the 400,000-compound Small Molecule Library Repository (SMLR, NIH Molecular Libraries) against hTDP1 cells in the absence or presence of CPT. After confirmation in a secondary screen using both hTDP1 and TDP1-/- cells in the absence or presence of CPT, five compounds were confirmed as potential TDP1 pathway inhibitors. All five compounds showed synergistic effect with CPT in hTDP1 cells, but not in TDP1-/- cells, indicating that the compounds inhibited a TDP1-related repair pathway. Yet, in vitro gel-based assay revealed that the five compounds did not inhibit TDP1 catalytic activity directly. We tested the compounds for their ability to inhibit poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) because PARP inhibitors are known to potentiate the cytotoxicity of CPT by inhibiting the recruitment of TDP1 to Top1cc. Accordingly, we found that the five compounds inhibit catalytic activity of PARP by ELISA and Western blotting. We identified the most potent compound (Cpd1) that offers characteristic close to veliparib, a leading clinical PARP inhibitor. Cpd1 may represent a new scaffold for the development of PARP inhibitors.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new carbohydrate-substituted indenoisoquinoline topoisomerase I inhibitors and improved syntheses of the experimental anticancer agents indotecan (LMP400) and indimitecan (LMP776).

Carbohydrate moieties were strategically transported from the indolocarbazole topoisomerase I (Top1) inhibitor class to the indenoisoquinoline system in search of structurally novel and potent Top1 inhibitors. The syntheses and biological evaluation of 20 new indenoisoquinolines glycosylated with linear and cyclic sugar moieties are reported. Aromatic ring substitution with 2,3-dimethoxy-8,9-methylenedioxy or 3-nitro groups exerted strong effects on antiproliferative and Top1 inhibitory activities. While the length of the carbohydrate side chain clearly correlated with antiproliferative activity, the relationship between stereochemistry and biological activity was less clearly defined. Twelve of the new indenoisoquinolines exhibit Top1 inhibitory activity equal to or better than that of camptothecin. An advanced synthetic intermediate from this study was also used to efficiently prepare indotecan (LMP400) and indimitecan (LMP776), two anticancer agents currently under investigation in a Phase I clinical trial at the National Institutes of Health.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of indenoisoquinolines that inhibit both tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I (Tdp1) and topoisomerase I (Top1).

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I (Tdp1) plays a key role in the repair of damaged DNA resulting from the topoisomerase I (Top1) inhibitor camptothecin and a variety of other DNA-damaging anticancer agents. This report documents the design, synthesis, and evaluation of new indenoisoquinolines that are dual inhibitors of both Tdp1 and Top1. Enzyme inhibitory data and cytotoxicity data from human cancer cell cultures were used to establish structure-activity relationships. The potencies of the indenoisoquinolines against Tdp1 ranged from 5 µM to 111 µM, which places the more active compounds among the most potent known inhibitors of this target. The cytotoxicity mean graph midpoints ranged from 0.02 to 2.34 µM. Dual Tdp1-Top1 inhibitors are of interest because the Top1 and Tdp1 inhibitory activities could theoretically work synergistically to create more effective anticancer agents.

5-Arylidenethioxothiazolidinones as inhibitors of tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I.

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I (Tdp1) is a cellular enzyme that repairs the irreversible topoisomerase I (Top1)-DNA complexes and confers chemotherapeutic resistance to Top1 inhibitors. Inhibiting Tdp1 provides an attractive approach to potentiating clinically used Top1 inhibitors. However, despite recent efforts in studying Tdp1 as a therapeutic target, its inhibition remains poorly understood and largely underexplored. We describe herein the discovery of arylidene thioxothiazolidinone as a scaffold for potent Tdp1 inhibitors based on an initial tyrphostin lead compound 8. Through structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies we demonstrated that arylidene thioxothiazolidinones inhibit Tdp1 and identified compound 50 as a submicromolar inhibitor of Tdp1 (IC50 = 0.87 µM). Molecular modeling provided insight into key interactions essential for observed activities. Some derivatives were also active against endogenous Tdp1 in whole cell extracts. These findings contribute to advancing the understanding on Tdp1 inhibition.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of the first dual tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I (Tdp1)-topoisomerase I (Top1) inhibitors.

Substances with dual tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I-topoisomerase I inhibitory activity in one low molecular weight compound would constitute a unique class of anticancer agents that could potentially have significant advantages over drugs that work against the individual enzymes. The present study demonstrates the successful synthesis and evaluation of the first dual Top1-Tdp1 inhibitors, which are based on the indenoisoquinoline chemotype. One bis(indenoisoquinoline) had significant activity against human Tdp1 (IC(50) = 1.52 ± 0.05 µM), and it was also equipotent to camptothecin as a Top1 inhibitor. Significant insights into enzyme-drug interactions were gained via structure-activity relationship studies of the series. The present results also document the failure of the previously reported sulfonyl ester pharmacophore to confer Tdp1 inhibition in this indenoisoquinoline class of inhibitors even though it was demonstrated to work well for the steroid NSC 88915 (7). The current study will facilitate future efforts to optimize dual Top1-Tdp1 inhibitors.