The BCR-ABL35INS insertion/truncation mutant is kinase-inactive and does not contribute to tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Chronic myeloid leukemia is effectively treated with imatinib, but reactivation of BCR-ABL frequently occurs through acquisition of kinase domain mutations. The additional approved ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) nilotinib and dasatinib, along with investigational TKIs such as ponatinib (AP24534) and DCC-2036, support the possibility that mutation-mediated resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia can be fully controlled; however, the molecular events underlying resistance in patients lacking BCR-ABL point mutations are largely unknown. We previously reported on an insertion/truncation mutant, BCR-ABL(35INS), in which structural integrity of the kinase domain is compromised and all ABL sequence beyond the kinase domain is eliminated. Although we speculated that BCR-ABL(35INS) is kinase-inactive, recent reports propose this mutant contributes to ABL TKI resistance. We present cell-based and biochemical evidence establishing that BCR-ABL(35INS) is kinase-inactive and does not contribute to TKI resistance, and we find that detection of BCR-ABL(35INS) does not consistently track with or explain resistance in clinical samples from chronic myeloid leukemia patients.

SGX393 inhibits the CML mutant Bcr-AblT315I and preempts in vitro resistance when combined with nilotinib or dasatinib.

Imatinib inhibits Bcr-Abl, the oncogenic tyrosine kinase that causes chronic myeloid leukemia. The second-line inhibitors nilotinib and dasatinib are effective in patients with imatinib resistance resulting from Bcr-Abl kinase domain mutations. Bcr-Abl(T315I), however, is resistant to all Abl kinase inhibitors in clinical use and is emerging as the most frequent cause of salvage therapy failure. SGX393 is a potent inhibitor of native and T315I-mutant Bcr-Abl kinase that blocks the growth of leukemia cell lines and primary hematopoietic cells expressing Bcr-Abl(T315I), with minimal toxicity against Bcr-Abl-negative cell lines or normal bone marrow. A screen for Bcr-Abl mutants emerging in the presence of SGX393 revealed concentration-dependent reduction in the number and range of mutations. Combining SGX393 with nilotinib or dasatinib preempted emergence of resistant subclones, including Bcr-Abl(T315I). These findings suggest that combination of a T315I inhibitor with the current clinically used inhibitors may be useful for reduction of Bcr-Abl mutants in Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemia.

Absence of SKP2 expression attenuates BCR-ABL-induced myeloproliferative disease.

BCR-ABL is proposed to impair cell-cycle control by disabling p27, a tumor suppressor that inhibits cyclin-dependent kinases. We show that in cell lines p27 expression is inversely correlated with expression of SKP2, the F-box protein of SCF(SKP2) (SKP1/Cul1/F-box), the E3 ubiquitin ligase that promotes proteasomal degradation of p27. Inhibition of BCR-ABL kinase causes G(1) arrest, down-regulation of SKP2, and accumulation of p27. Ectopic expression of wild-type SKP2, but not a mutant unable to recognize p27, partially rescues cell-cycle progression. A similar regulation pattern is seen in cell lines transformed by FLT3-ITD, JAK2(V617F), and TEL-PDGFRbeta, suggesting that the SKP2/p27 conduit may be a universal target for leukemogenic tyrosine kinases. Mice that received transplants of BCR-ABL-infected SKP2(-/-) marrow developed a myeloproliferative syndrome but survival was significantly prolonged compared with recipients of BCR-ABL-expressing SKP2(+/+) marrow. SKP2(-/-) leukemic cells demonstrated higher levels of nuclear p27 than SKP2(+/+) counterparts, suggesting that the attenuation of leukemogenesis depends on increased p27 expression. Our data identify SKP2 as a crucial mediator of BCR-ABL-induced leukemogenesis and provide the first in vivo evidence that SKP2 promotes oncogenesis. Hence, stabilization of p27 by inhibiting its recognition by SCF(SKP2) may be therapeutically useful.

Targeted CML therapy: controlling drug resistance, seeking cure.

Targeted cancer therapy with imatinib (Gleevec) has the capability to drive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) into clinical remission. Some patients, particularly those with advanced disease, develop resistance to imatinib. To counteract this problem, two new BCR-ABL kinase inhibitors for imatinib-refractory disease are currently in clinical trials: the imatinib derivative AMN107 and the dual-specificity SRC/ABL inhibitor dasatinib. Using imatinib to reduce leukemic burden also facilitates the detailed investigation into how the persistence of CML disease depends on BCR-ABL signaling, particularly within the leukemic stem cell compartment. Mathematical models of drug resistance and disease relapse, in addition to experimental systems that recapitulate crucial aspects of advanced disease have deepened our understanding of CML biology. Together, these advances are contributing to a high level of disease control, and might ultimately lead to disease eradication.

Kinase domain mutants of Bcr-Abl exhibit altered transformation potency, kinase activity, and substrate utilization, irrespective of sensitivity to imatinib.

Kinase domain (KD) mutations of Bcr-Abl interfering with imatinib binding are the major mechanism of acquired imatinib resistance in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemia. Mutations of the ATP binding loop (p-loop) have been associated with a poor prognosis. We compared the transformation potency of five common KD mutants in various biological assays. Relative to unmutated (native) Bcr-Abl, the ATP binding loop mutants Y253F and E255K exhibited increased transformation potency, M351T and H396P were less potent, and the performance of T315I was assay dependent. The transformation potency of Y253F and M351T correlated with intrinsic Bcr-Abl kinase activity, whereas the kinase activity of E255K, H396P, and T315I did not correlate with transforming capabilities, suggesting that additional factors influence transformation potency. Analysis of the phosphotyrosine proteome by mass spectroscopy showed differential phosphorylation among the mutants, a finding consistent with altered substrate specificity and pathway activation. Mutations in the KD of Bcr-Abl influence kinase activity and signaling in a complex fashion, leading to gain- or loss-of-function variants. The drug resistance and transformation potency of mutants may determine the outcome of patients on therapy with Abl kinase inhibitors.

Dasatinib (BMS-354825), a dual SRC/ABL kinase inhibitor, inhibits the kinase activity of wild-type, juxtamembrane, and activation loop mutant KIT isoforms associated with human malignancies.

Activating mutations of the activation loop of KIT are associated with certain human neoplasms, including the majority of patients with systemic mast cell disorders, as well as cases of seminoma, acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). The small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate is a potent inhibitor of wild-type (WT) KIT and certain mutant KIT isoforms and has become the standard of care for treating patients with metastatic GIST. However, KIT activation loop mutations involving codon D816 that are typically found in AML, systemic mastocytosis, and seminoma are insensitive to imatinib mesylate (IC50 > 5-10 micromol/L), and acquired KIT activation loop mutations can be associated with imatinib mesylate resistance in GIST. Dasatinib (formerly BMS-354825) is a small-molecule, ATP-competitive inhibitor of SRC and ABL tyrosine kinases with potency in the low nanomolar range. Some small-molecule SRC/ABL inhibitors also have potency against WT KIT kinase. Therefore, we hypothesized that dasatinib might inhibit the kinase activity of both WT and mutant KIT isoforms. We report herein that dasatinib potently inhibits WT KIT and juxtamembrane domain mutant KIT autophosphorylation and KIT-dependent activation of downstream pathways important for cell viability and cell survival, such as Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt, and Janus-activated kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription. Furthermore, dasatinib is a potent inhibitor of imatinib-resistant KIT activation loop mutants and induces apoptosis in mast cell and leukemic cell lines expressing these mutations (potency against KIT D816Y >> D816F > D816V). Our studies suggest that dasatinib may have clinical efficacy against human neoplasms that are associated with gain-of-function KIT mutations.

Characterization of murine JAK2V617F-positive myeloproliferative disease.

The JAK2(V617F) mutation is present in almost all patients with polycythemia vera (PV), large proportions of patients with essential thrombocythemia and idiopathic myelofibrosis, and less frequently in atypical myeloproliferative disorders (MPD). We show that transplantation of JAK2(V617F)-transduced bone marrow into BALB/c mice induces MPD reminiscent of human PV, characterized by erythrocytosis, granulocytosis, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and bone marrow fibrosis, but not thrombocytosis. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting of bone marrow and spleen showed proportional expansion of common myeloid progenitors, granulocyte-monocyte and megakaryocyte-erythrocyte progenitors. Megakaryocyte and late erythroid progenitors were dramatically increased, with only modest expansion of early erythroid progenitors. Erythropoietin (Epo) receptor expression was reduced on early, but normal on late erythroblasts. Serum levels of Epo and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, but not granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, were reduced, whereas tumor necrosis factor-alpha was increased, possibly exerting a negative effect on JAK2(V617F)-negative hematopoiesis. These data suggest that erythrocytosis and granulocytosis in JAK2(V617F) mice are the net result of a complex interplay between cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors. There were no thromboembolic events and no animals succumbed to their disease, implicating additional factors in the manifestation of human disease. The disease was not transplantable and prolonged observation showed normalization of blood counts in most JAK2(V617F) mice, suggesting that the mutation may not confer self-renewal capacity.

Synergistic interactions between DMAG and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 inhibitors in Bcr/abl+ leukemia cells sensitive and resistant to imatinib mesylate.

PURPOSE: To characterize interactions between the heat shock protein 90 antagonist 17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (DMAG) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase 1/2 inhibitor PD184352 in Bcr/abl(+) leukemia cells sensitive and resistant to imatinib mesylate. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: K562 and LAMA 84 cells were exposed to varying concentrations of DMAG and PD184352 for 48 hours; after which, mitochondrial integrity, caspase activation, and apoptosis were monitored. Parallel studies were done in imatinib mesylate-resistant cells, including BaF3 cells transfected with plasmids encoding clinically relevant Bcr/abl mutations conferring imatinib mesylate resistance (e.g., E255K, M351T, and T315I) and primary CD34(+) bone marrow cells from patients refractory to imatinib mesylate. RESULTS: Cotreatment of Bcr/abl(+) cells with minimally toxic concentrations of DMAG and PD184352 resulted in synergistic induction of mitochondrial injury (cytochrome c release and Bax conformational change), events associated with the pronounced and sustained inactivation of ERK1/2 accompanied by down-regulation of Bcl-x(L). Conversely, cells ectopically expressing Bcl-x(L) displayed significant protection against PD184352/DMAG-mediated lethality. This regimen effectively induced apoptosis in K562 cells overexpressing Bcr/abl, in BaF3 cells expressing various clinically relevant Bcr/abl mutations, and in primary CD34(+) cells from patients resistant to imatinib mesylate, but was relatively sparing of normal CD34(+) bone marrow cells. CONCLUSIONS: A regimen combining the heat shock protein 90 antagonist DMAG and the mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase 1/2 inhibitor potently induces apoptosis in Bcr/abl(+) cells, including those resistant to imatinib mesylate through various mechanisms including Bcr/abl kinase mutations, through a process that may involve sustained ERK1/2 inactivation and Bcl-x(L) down-regulation. This strategy warrants further attention in Bcr/abl(+) hematopoietic malignancies, particularly those resistant to Bcr/abl kinase inhibitors.

Activity of the Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitor PD180970 against clinically relevant Bcr-Abl isoforms that cause resistance to imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, STI571).

Imatinib mesylate, a selective inhibitor of the Abl tyrosine kinase, is effective as a single-agent therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia. However, resistance has been reported, particularly in patients with advanced-stage disease. Mutations within the Abl kinase domain are a major cause of resistance, demonstrating that Bcr-Abl remains a critical drug target. Recently, a novel pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivative, PD180970, has been shown to potently inhibit Bcr-Abl and induce apoptosis in Bcr-Abl-expressing leukemic cells. We analyzed the inhibitory activity of PD180970 against Abl kinase domain mutations and cells expressing clinically relevant mutations. Our data indicate that PD180970 is active against several Bcr-Abl mutations that are resistant to imatinib and support the notion that developing additional Abl kinase inhibitors would be useful as a treatment strategy for chronic myelogenous leukemia.

KIT signaling governs differential sensitivity of mature and primitive CML progenitors to tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Imatinib and other BCR-ABL1 inhibitors are effective therapies for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), but these inhibitors target additional kinases including KIT, raising the question of whether off-target effects contribute to clinical efficacy. On the basis of its involvement in CML pathogenesis, we hypothesized that KIT may govern responses of CML cells to imatinib. To test this, we assessed the growth of primary CML progenitor cells under conditions of sole BCR-ABL1, sole KIT, and dual BCR-ABL1/KIT inhibition. Sole BCR-ABL1 inhibition suppressed mature CML progenitor cells, but these effects were largely abolished by stem cell factor (SCF) and maximal suppression required dual BCR-ABL1/KIT inhibition. In contrast, KIT inhibition did not add to the effects of BCR-ABL1 inhibition in primitive progenitors, represented by CD34(+)38(-) cells. Long-term culture-initiating cell assays on murine stroma revealed profound depletion of primitive CML cells by sole BCR-ABL1 inhibition despite the presence of SCF, suggesting that primitive CML cells are unable to use SCF as a survival factor upon BCR-ABL1 inhibition. In CD34(+)38(+) cells, SCF strongly induced pAKT(S473) in a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent manner, which was further enhanced by inhibition of BCR-ABL1 and associated with increased colony survival. In contrast, pAKT(S473) levels remained low in CD34(+)38(-) cells cultured under the same conditions. Consistent with reduced response to SCF, KIT surface expression was significantly lower on CD34(+)38(-) compared with CD34(+)38(+) CML cells, suggesting a possible mechanism for the differential effects of SCF on mature and primitive CML progenitor cells.

Human chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells are insensitive to imatinib despite inhibition of BCR-ABL activity.

Imatinib therapy, which targets the oncogene product BCR-ABL, has transformed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) from a life-threatening disease into a chronic condition. Most patients, however, harbor residual leukemia cells, and disease recurrence usually occurs when imatinib is discontinued. Although various mechanisms to explain leukemia cell persistence have been proposed, the critical question from a therapeutic standpoint--whether disease persistence is BCR-ABL dependent or independent--has not been answered. Here, we report that human CML stem cells do not depend on BCR-ABL activity for survival and are thus not eliminated by imatinib therapy. Imatinib inhibited BCR-ABL activity to the same degree in all stem (CD34+CD38-, CD133+) and progenitor (CD34+CD38+) cells and in quiescent and cycling progenitors from newly diagnosed CML patients. Although short-term in vitro imatinib treatment reduced the expansion of CML stem/progenitors, cytokine support permitted growth and survival in the absence of BCR-ABL activity that was comparable to that of normal stem/progenitor counterparts. Our findings suggest that primitive CML cells are not oncogene addicted and that therapies that biochemically target BCR-ABL will not eliminate CML stem cells.

A BCR-ABL mutant lacking direct binding sites for the GRB2, CBL and CRKL adapter proteins fails to induce leukemia in mice.

The BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase is the defining feature of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and its kinase activity is required for induction of this disease. Current thinking holds that BCR-ABL forms a multi-protein complex that incorporates several substrates and adaptor proteins and is stabilized by multiple direct and indirect interactions. Signaling output from this highly redundant network leads to cellular transformation. Proteins known to be associated with BCR-ABL in this complex include: GRB2, c-CBL, p62(DOK), and CRKL. These proteins in turn, link BCR-ABL to various signaling pathways indicated in cellular transformation. In this study we show that a triple mutant of BCR-ABL with mutations of the direct binding sites for GRB2, CBL, p62(DOK) and CRKL, is defective for transformation of primary hematopoietic cells in vitro and in a murine CML model, while it retains the capacity to induce IL-3 independence in 32D cells. Compared to BCR-ABL, the triple mutant's ability to activate the MAP kinase and PI3-kinase pathways is severely compromised, while STAT5 phosphorylation is maintained, suggesting that the former are crucial for the transformation of primary cells, but dispensable for transformation of factor dependent cell lines. Our data suggest that inhibition of BCR-ABL-induced leukemia by disrupting protein interactions could be possible, but would require blocking of multiple sites.

AP24534, a pan-BCR-ABL inhibitor for chronic myeloid leukemia, potently inhibits the T315I mutant and overcomes mutation-based resistance.

Inhibition of BCR-ABL by imatinib induces durable responses in many patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but resistance attributable to kinase domain mutations can lead to relapse and a switch to second-line therapy with nilotinib or dasatinib. Despite three approved therapeutic options, the cross-resistant BCR-ABL(T315I) mutation and compound mutants selected on sequential inhibitor therapy remain major clinical challenges. We report design and preclinical evaluation of AP24534, a potent, orally available multitargeted kinase inhibitor active against T315I and other BCR-ABL mutants. AP24534 inhibited all tested BCR-ABL mutants in cellular and biochemical assays, suppressed BCR-ABL(T315I)-driven tumor growth in mice, and completely abrogated resistance in cell-based mutagenesis screens. Our work supports clinical evaluation of AP24534 as a pan-BCR-ABL inhibitor for treatment of CML.

RNAi screening of the tyrosine kinome identifies therapeutic targets in acute myeloid leukemia.

Despite vast improvements in our understanding of cancer genetics, a large percentage of cancer cases present without knowledge of the causative genetic events. Tyrosine kinases are frequently implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous types of cancer, but identification and validation of tyrosine kinase targets in cancer can be a time-consuming process. We report the establishment of an efficient, functional screening assay using RNAi technology to directly assess and compare the effect of individually targeting each member of the tyrosine kinase family. We demonstrate that siRNA screening can identify tyrosine kinase targets containing activating mutations in Janus kinase (JAK) 3 (A572V) in CMK cells and c-KIT (V560G) in HMC1.1 cells. In addition, this assay identifies targets that do not contain mutations, such as JAK1 and the focal adhesion kinases (FAK), that are crucial to the survival of the cancer cells. This technique, with additional development, might eventually offer the potential to match specific therapies with individual patients based on a functional assay.

In vitro and in vivo activity of ATP-based kinase inhibitors AP23464 and AP23848 against activation-loop mutants of Kit.

Oncogenic mutations of the Kit receptor tyrosine kinase occur in several types of malignancy. Juxtamembrane domain mutations are common in gastrointestinal stromal tumors, whereas mutations in the kinase activation loop, most commonly D816V, are seen in systemic mastocytosis and acute myelogenous leukemia. Kit activation-loop mutants are insensitive to imatinib mesylate and have been largely resistant to targeted inhibition. We determined the sensitivities of both Kit mutant classes to the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-based inhibitors AP23464 and AP23848. In cell lines expressing activation-loop mutants, low-nM concentrations of AP23464 inhibited phosphorylation of Kit and its downstream targets Akt and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). This was associated with cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Wild-type Kit-and juxtamembrane-mutant-expressing cell lines required considerably higher concentrations for equivalent inhibition, suggesting a therapeutic window in which cells harboring D816V Kit could be eliminated without interfering with normal cellular function. Additionally, AP23464 did not disrupt normal hematopoietic progenitor-cell growth at concentrations that inhibited activation-loop mutants of Kit. In a murine model, AP23848 inhibited activation-loop mutant Kit phosphorylation and tumor growth. Thus, AP23464 and AP23848 potently and selectively target activation-loop mutants of Kit in vitro and in vivo and could have therapeutic potential against D816V-expressing malignancies.

Analysis of the structural basis of specificity of inhibition of the Abl kinase by STI571.

STI571, a selective inhibitor of Bcr-Abl, has been a successful therapeutic agent in clinical trials for chronic myelogenous leukemia. Chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia patients treated with STI571 have durable responses; however, most responding blast phase patients relapse despite continued therapy. Co-crystallization studies of Abl kinase and an STI571-related compound identify specific amino acid residues as critical to STI571 binding, one of which, T315, has been characterized as an acquired Thr to Ile mutation in relapsed patients. Other studies, however, suggest that mutations other than these predicted contact points are capable of conferring STI571 resistance in relapsed patients. Using a variety of models of STI571 binding to the Abl kinase, we have performed an extensive mutational analysis of sites that might alter the sensitivity of the Abl kinase to STI571. Although mutation of many of the predicted contact points between Abl and STI571 result in a kinase-inactive protein, additional mutations that render the Abl kinase less sensitive to STI571 demonstrate a broad range of possibilities for clinical resistance that are now becoming evident.

Several Bcr-Abl kinase domain mutants associated with imatinib mesylate resistance remain sensitive to imatinib.

Imatinib mesylate is a selective Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitor, effective in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Most patients in chronic phase maintain durable responses; however, many in blast crisis fail to respond, or relapse quickly. Kinase domain mutations are the most commonly identified mechanism associated with relapse. Many of these mutations decrease the sensitivity of the Abl kinase to imatinib, thus accounting for resistance to imatinib. The role of other mutations in the emergence of resistance has not been established. Using biochemical and cellular assays, we analyzed the sensitivity of several mutants (Met244Val, Phe311Leu, Phe317Leu, Glu355Gly, Phe359Val, Val379Ile, Leu387Met, and His396Pro/Arg) to imatinib mesylate to better understand their role in mediating resistance. While some Abl mutations lead to imatinib resistance, many others are significantly, and some fully, inhibited. This study highlights the need for biochemical and biologic characterization, before a resistant phenotype can be ascribed to a mutant.

In vitro efficacy of combined treatment depends on the underlying mechanism of resistance in imatinib-resistant Bcr-Abl-positive cell lines.

Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, formerly STI571) is an effective therapy for all stages of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). While responses in chronic-phase CML are generally durable, resistance develops in many patients with advanced disease. We evaluated novel antileukemic agents for their potential to overcome resistance in various imatinib-resistant cell lines. Using cell proliferation assays, we investigated whether different mechanisms of resistance to imatinib would alter the efficacy of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) or 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (decitabine) alone and in combination with imatinib. Our results indicate that resistance to imatinib induced by Bcr-Abl overexpression or by engineered expression of clinically relevant Bcr-Abl mutants does not induce cross-resistance to As2O3 or decitabine. Combined treatment with these agents and imatinib is beneficial in cell lines that have residual sensitivity to imatinib monotherapy, with synergistic growth inhibition achieved only at doses of imatinib that overcome resistance. In some imatinib-resistant cell lines, combination treatments that use low doses of imatinib lead to antagonism. Apoptosis studies suggest that this can be explained in part by the reduced proapoptotic activity of imatinib in resistant cell lines. These data underline the importance of resistance testing and provide a rational approach for dose-adjusted administration of imatinib when combined with other agents.

Sensitivity of oncogenic KIT mutants to the kinase inhibitors MLN518 and PD180970.

Oncogenic mutations of the receptor tyrosine kinase KIT occur in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), some cases of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and systemic mastocytosis (SM). GISTs commonly contain mutations of the KIT juxtamembrane region while SM and AML harbor active site KIT mutations. Imatinib, which potently inhibits juxtamembrane mutants, is effective for the treatment of GISTs but has no activity against active site mutants. We analyzed the inhibitory potential of 2 small molecule inhibitors, MLN518 and PD180970, against different classes of KIT mutants. Both compounds inhibit the growth of cell lines expressing juxtamembrane mutant KIT. MLN518 additionally targets active site mutant cell lines, inhibiting cell proliferation, KIT, and signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (Stat3) phosphorylation and inducing apoptosis at concentrations that may be clinically achievable. As phase 1 clinical trials of MLN518 in AML have shown little toxicity, our data suggest MLN518 is a promising candidate for the treatment of SM or AML with KIT mutations.