Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Mutation and (R)-2-Hydroxyglutarate: From Basic Discovery to Therapeutics Development.

The identification of heterozygous mutations in the metabolic enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) in subsets of cancers, including secondary glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and chondrosarcomas, led to intense discovery efforts to delineate the mutations' involvement in carcinogenesis and to develop therapeutics, which we review here. The three IDH isoforms (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent IDH1 and IDH2, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent IDH3) contribute to regulating the circuitry of central metabolism. Several biochemical and genetic observations led to the discovery of the neomorphic production of the oncometabolite (R)-2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) by mutant IDH1 and IDH2 (mIDH). Heterozygous mutation of IDH1/2 and accumulation of 2-HG cause profound metabolic and epigenetic dysregulation, including inhibition of normal cellular differentiation, leading to disease. Crystallographic structural studies during the development of compounds targeting mIDH demonstrated common allosteric inhibition by distinct chemotypes. Ongoing clinical trials in patients with mIDH advanced hematologic malignancies have demonstrated compelling clinical proof-of-concept, validating the biology and drug discovery approach.

LKB1, Salt-Inducible Kinases, and MEF2C Are Linked Dependencies in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

The lineage-specific transcription factor (TF) MEF2C is often deregulated in leukemia. However, strategies to target this TF have yet to be identified. Here, we used a domain-focused CRISPR screen to reveal an essential role for LKB1 and its Salt-Inducible Kinase effectors (SIK3, in a partially redundant manner with SIK2) to maintain MEF2C function in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A key phosphorylation substrate of SIK3 in this context is HDAC4, a repressive cofactor of MEF2C. Consequently, targeting of LKB1 or SIK3 diminishes histone acetylation at MEF2C-bound enhancers and deprives leukemia cells of the output of this essential TF. We also found that MEF2C-dependent leukemias are sensitive to on-target chemical inhibition of SIK activity. This study reveals a chemical strategy to block MEF2C function in AML, highlighting how an oncogenic TF can be disabled by targeting of upstream kinases.

CBL family E3 ubiquitin ligases control JAK2 ubiquitination and stability in hematopoietic stem cells and myeloid malignancies.

Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) is a central kinase in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), and its uncontrolled activation is a prominent oncogenic driver of hematopoietic neoplasms. However, molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of JAK2 have remained elusive. Here we report that the Casitas B-cell lymphoma (CBL) family E3 ubiquitin ligases down-regulate JAK2 stability and signaling via the adaptor protein LNK/SH2B3. We demonstrated that depletion of CBL/CBL-B or LNK abrogated JAK2 ubiquitination, extended JAK2 half-life, and enhanced JAK2 signaling and cell growth in human cell lines as well as primary murine HSPCs. Built on these findings, we showed that JAK inhibitor (JAKi) significantly reduced aberrant HSPCs and mitigated leukemia development in a mouse model of aggressive myeloid leukemia driven by loss of Cbl and Cbl-b Importantly, primary human CBL mutated (CBLmut ) leukemias exhibited increased JAK2 protein levels and signaling and were hypersensitive to JAKi. Loss-of-function mutations in CBL E3 ubiquitin ligases are found in a wide range of myeloid malignancies, which are diseases without effective treatment options. Hence, our studies reveal a novel signaling axis that regulates JAK2 in normal and malignant HSPCs and suggest new therapeutic strategies for treating CBLmut myeloid malignancies.

Enhanced cytarabine-induced killing in OGG1-deficient acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Human clinical trials suggest that inhibition of enzymes in the DNA base excision repair (BER) pathway, such as PARP1 and APE1, can be useful in anticancer strategies when combined with certain DNA-damaging agents or tumor-specific genetic deficiencies. There is also evidence suggesting that inhibition of the BER enzyme 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase-1 (OGG1), which initiates repair of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) and 2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5-formamidopyrimidine (Fapy-dG), could be useful in treating certain cancers. Specifically, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), both the RUNX1-RUNX1T1 fusion and the CBFB-MYH11 subtypes have lower levels of OGG1 expression, which correlate with increased therapeutic-induced cell cytotoxicity and good prognosis for improved, relapse-free survival compared with other AML patients. Here we present data demonstrating that AML cell lines deficient in OGG1 have enhanced sensitivity to cytarabine (cytosine arabinoside [Ara-C]) relative to OGG1-proficient cells. This enhanced cytotoxicity correlated with endogenous oxidatively-induced DNA damage and Ara-C-induced DNA strand breaks, with a large proportion of these breaks occurring at common fragile sites. This lethality was highly specific for Ara-C treatment of AML cells deficient in OGG1, with no other replication stress-inducing agents showing a correlation between cell killing and low OGG1 levels. The mechanism for this preferential toxicity was addressed using in vitro replication assays in which DNA polymerase δ was shown to insert Ara-C opposite 8-oxo-dG, resulting in termination of DNA synthesis. Overall, these data suggest that incorporation of Ara-C opposite unrepaired 8-oxo-dG may be the fundamental mechanism conferring selective toxicity and therapeutic effectiveness in OGG1-deficient AML cells.

Inhibitors of cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase 4 with antitumor potential.

Cullin-RING (really intersting new gene) E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs) are the largest E3 family and direct numerous protein substrates for proteasomal degradation, thereby impacting a myriad of physiological and pathological processes including cancer. To date, there are no reported small-molecule inhibitors of the catalytic activity of CRLs. Here, we describe high-throughput screening and medicinal chemistry optimization efforts that led to the identification of two compounds, 33-11 and KH-4-43, which inhibit E3 CRL4 and exhibit antitumor potential. These compounds bind to CRL4's core catalytic complex, inhibit CRL4-mediated ubiquitination, and cause stabilization of CRL4's substrate CDT1 in cells. Treatment with 33-11 or KH-4-43 in a panel of 36 tumor cell lines revealed cytotoxicity. The antitumor activity was validated by the ability of the compounds to suppress the growth of human tumor xenografts in mice. Mechanistically, the compounds' cytotoxicity was linked to aberrant accumulation of CDT1 that is known to trigger apoptosis. Moreover, a subset of tumor cells was found to express cullin4 proteins at levels as much as 70-fold lower than those in other tumor lines. The low-cullin4-expressing tumor cells appeared to exhibit increased sensitivity to 33-11/KH-4-43, raising a provocative hypothesis for the role of low E3 abundance as a cancer vulnerability.

Jmjd2/Kdm4 demethylases are required for expression of Il3ra and survival of acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) with a rearrangement of the mixed-linage leukemia (MLL) gene are aggressive hematopoietic malignancies. Here, we explored the feasibility of using the H3K9- and H3K36-specific demethylases Jmjd2/Kdm4 as putative drug targets in MLL-AF9 translocated leukemia. Using Jmjd2a, Jmjd2b, and Jmjd2c conditional triple-knockout mice, we show that Jmjd2/Kdm4 activities are required for MLL-AF9 translocated AML in vivo and in vitro. We demonstrate that expression of the interleukin 3 receptor α (Il3ra also known as Cd123) subunit is dependent on Jmjd2/Kdm4 through a mechanism involving removal of H3K9me3 from the promoter of the Il3ra gene. Importantly, ectopic expression of Il3ra in Jmjd2/Kdm4 knockout cells alleviates the requirement of Jmjd2/Kdm4 for the survival of AML cells, showing that Il3ra is a critical downstream target of Jmjd2/Kdm4 in leukemia. These results suggest that the JMJD2/KDM4 proteins are promising drug targets for the treatment of AML.

[Research progress on DNMT3A gene expression in Acute myeloid leukemia].

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic regulatory mechanism which plays a crucial role in cell differentiation and development. Its function is closely related to DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha (DNMT3A), which can affect gene expression and stem cell differentiation. The mutation rate of the DNMT3A gene is relatively high in Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but its type and pathogenic mechanism are not yet clear. Further research on DNMT3A may help to identify its pathogenic targets and provide a basis for precise treatment of AML. This article has provided a review for the research progress on the expression of the DNMT3A gene in AML.

Discovery of novel furanylbenzamide inhibitors that target oncogenic tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 in leukemia cells.

Disturbance of the dynamic balance between tyrosine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of signaling molecules, controlled by protein tyrosine kinases and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), is known to lead to the development of cancer. While most approved targeted cancer therapies are tyrosine kinase inhibitors, PTPs have long been stigmatized as undruggable and have only recently gained renewed attention in drug discovery. One PTP target is the Src-homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2). SHP2 is implicated in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and treatment resistance, primarily because of its role as a signaling nexus of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway, acting upstream of the small GTPase Ras. Efforts to develop small molecules that target SHP2 are ongoing, and several SHP2 allosteric inhibitors are currently in clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors. However, while the reported allosteric inhibitors are highly effective against cells expressing WT SHP2, none have significant activity against the most frequent oncogenic SHP2 variants that drive leukemogenesis in several juvenile and acute leukemias. Here, we report the discovery of novel furanylbenzamide molecules as inhibitors of both WT and oncogenic SHP2. Importantly, these inhibitors readily cross cell membranes, bind and inhibit SHP2 under physiological conditions, and effectively decrease the growth of cancer cells, including triple-negative breast cancer cells, acute myeloid leukemia cells expressing either WT or oncogenic SHP2, and patient-derived acute myeloid leukemia cells. These novel compounds are effective chemical probes of active SHP2 and may serve as starting points for therapeutics targeting WT or mutant SHP2 in cancer.

Targeting AXL kinase sensitizes leukemic stem and progenitor cells to venetoclax treatment in acute myeloid leukemia.

The abundance of genetic abnormalities and phenotypic heterogeneities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) poses significant challenges to the development of improved treatments. Here, we demonstrated that a key growth arrest-specific gene 6/AXL axis is highly activated in cells from patients with AML, particularly in stem/progenitor cells. We developed a potent selective AXL inhibitor that has favorable pharmaceutical properties and efficacy against preclinical patient-derived xenotransplantation (PDX) models of AML. Importantly, inhibition of AXL sensitized AML stem/progenitor cells to venetoclax treatment, with strong synergistic effects in vitro and in PDX models. Mechanistically, single-cell RNA-sequencing and functional validation studies uncovered that AXL inhibition, alone or in combination with venetoclax, potentially targets intrinsic metabolic vulnerabilities of AML stem/progenitor cells and shows a distinct transcriptomic profile and inhibits mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Inhibition of AXL or BCL-2 also differentially targets key signaling proteins to synergize in leukemic cell killing. These findings have a direct translational impact on the treatment of AML and other cancers with high AXL activity.

Discovery of a first-in-class CDK2 selective degrader for AML differentiation therapy.

The discovery of effective therapeutic treatments for cancer via cell differentiation instead of antiproliferation remains a great challenge. Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) inactivation, which overcomes the differentiation arrest of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, may be a promising method for AML treatment. However, there is no available selective CDK2 inhibitor. More importantly, the inhibition of only the enzymatic function of CDK2 would be insufficient to promote notable AML differentiation. To further validate the role and druggability of CDK2 involved in AML differentiation, a suitable chemical tool is needed. Therefore, we developed first-in-class CDK2-targeted proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), which promoted rapid and potent CDK2 degradation in different cell lines without comparable degradation of other targets, and induced remarkable differentiation of AML cell lines and primary patient cells. These data clearly demonstrated the practicality and importance of PROTACs as alternative tools for verifying CDK2 protein functions.

Promoter-bound METTL3 maintains myeloid leukaemia by m6A-dependent translation control.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an abundant internal RNA modification in both coding and non-coding RNAs that is catalysed by the METTL3-METTL14 methyltransferase complex. However, the specific role of these enzymes in cancer is still largely unknown. Here we define a pathway that is specific for METTL3 and is implicated in the maintenance of a leukaemic state. We identify METTL3 as an essential gene for growth of acute myeloid leukaemia cells in two distinct genetic screens. Downregulation of METTL3 results in cell cycle arrest, differentiation of leukaemic cells and failure to establish leukaemia in immunodeficient mice. We show that METTL3, independently of METTL14, associates with chromatin and localizes to the transcriptional start sites of active genes. The vast majority of these genes have the CAATT-box binding protein CEBPZ present at the transcriptional start site, and this is required for recruitment of METTL3 to chromatin. Promoter-bound METTL3 induces m6A modification within the coding region of the associated mRNA transcript, and enhances its translation by relieving ribosome stalling. We show that genes regulated by METTL3 in this way are necessary for acute myeloid leukaemia. Together, these data define METTL3 as a regulator of a chromatin-based pathway that is necessary for maintenance of the leukaemic state and identify this enzyme as a potential therapeutic target for acute myeloid leukaemia.

BCAT1 restricts αKG levels in AML stem cells leading to IDHmut-like DNA hypermethylation.

The branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) pathway and high levels of BCAA transaminase 1 (BCAT1) have recently been associated with aggressiveness in several cancer entities. However, the mechanistic role of BCAT1 in this process remains largely uncertain. Here, by performing high-resolution proteomic analysis of human acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) stem-cell and non-stem-cell populations, we find the BCAA pathway enriched and BCAT1 protein and transcripts overexpressed in leukaemia stem cells. We show that BCAT1, which transfers α-amino groups from BCAAs to α-ketoglutarate (αKG), is a critical regulator of intracellular αKG homeostasis. Further to its role in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, αKG is an essential cofactor for αKG-dependent dioxygenases such as Egl-9 family hypoxia inducible factor 1 (EGLN1) and the ten-eleven translocation (TET) family of DNA demethylases. Knockdown of BCAT1 in leukaemia cells caused accumulation of αKG, leading to EGLN1-mediated HIF1α protein degradation. This resulted in a growth and survival defect and abrogated leukaemia-initiating potential. By contrast, overexpression of BCAT1 in leukaemia cells decreased intracellular αKG levels and caused DNA hypermethylation through altered TET activity. AML with high levels of BCAT1 (BCAT1high) displayed a DNA hypermethylation phenotype similar to cases carrying a mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDHmut), in which TET2 is inhibited by the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate. High levels of BCAT1 strongly correlate with shorter overall survival in IDHWTTET2WT, but not IDHmut or TET2mut AML. Gene sets characteristic for IDHmut AML were enriched in samples from patients with an IDHWTTET2WTBCAT1high status. BCAT1high AML showed robust enrichment for leukaemia stem-cell signatures, and paired sample analysis showed a significant increase in BCAT1 levels upon disease relapse. In summary, by limiting intracellular αKG, BCAT1 links BCAA catabolism to HIF1α stability and regulation of the epigenomic landscape, mimicking the effects of IDH mutations. Our results suggest the BCAA-BCAT1-αKG pathway as a therapeutic target to compromise leukaemia stem-cell function in patients with IDHWTTET2WT AML.

Human DIMT1 generates N26,6A-dimethylation-containing small RNAs.

Dimethyladenosine transferase 1 (DIMT1) is an evolutionarily conserved RNA N6,6-dimethyladenosine (m26,6A) methyltransferase. DIMT1 plays an important role in ribosome biogenesis, and the catalytic activity of DIMT1 is indispensable for cell viability and protein synthesis. A few RNA-modifying enzymes can install the same modification in multiple RNA species. However, whether DIMT1 can work on RNA species other than 18S rRNA is unclear. Here, we describe that DIMT1 generates m26,6A not only in 18S rRNA but also in small RNAs. In addition, m26,6A in small RNAs were significantly decreased in cells expressing catalytically inactive DIMT1 variants (E85A or NLPY variants) compared with cells expressing wildtype DIMT1. Both E85A and NLPY DIMT1 variant cells present decreased protein synthesis and cell viability. Furthermore, we observed that DIMT1 is highly expressed in human cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia. Our data suggest that downregulation of DIMT1 in acute myeloid leukemia cells leads to a decreased m26,6A level in small RNAs. Together, these data suggest that DIMT1 not only installs m26,6A in 18S rRNA but also generates m26,6A-containing small RNAs, both of which potentially contribute to the impact of DIMT1 on cell viability and gene expression.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 3a2 protects AML cells from oxidative death and the synthetic lethality of ferroptosis inducers.

Metabolic alterations in cancer represent convergent effects of oncogenic mutations. We hypothesized that a metabolism-restricted genetic screen, comparing normal primary mouse hematopoietic cells and their malignant counterparts in an ex vivo system mimicking the bone marrow microenvironment, would define distinctive vulnerabilities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Leukemic cells, but not their normal myeloid counterparts, depended on the aldehyde dehydrogenase 3a2 (Aldh3a2) enzyme that oxidizes long-chain aliphatic aldehydes to prevent cellular oxidative damage. Aldehydes are by-products of increased oxidative phosphorylation and nucleotide synthesis in cancer and are generated from lipid peroxides underlying the non-caspase-dependent form of cell death, ferroptosis. Leukemic cell dependence on Aldh3a2 was seen across multiple mouse and human myeloid leukemias. Aldh3a2 inhibition was synthetically lethal with glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPX4) inhibition; GPX4 inhibition is a known trigger of ferroptosis that by itself minimally affects AML cells. Inhibiting Aldh3a2 provides a therapeutic opportunity and a unique synthetic lethality to exploit the distinctive metabolic state of malignant cells.

MiR-185-5p suppresses acute myeloid leukemia by inhibiting GPX1.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been characterized by the swift development of abnormal cells in the bone marrow. This research aimed to examine the impacts of the miR-185-5p-GPX1 axis on AML progression and differentiation. Findings indicated that miR-185-5p and GPX1 levels were significantly reduced and elevated, respectively. The upregulation of miR-185-5p was observed to restrict the proliferation and invasion abilities of AML cells, and promote differentiate and apoptosis. Moreover, the overexpression of GPX1 was noticed to enhance the growth of AML cells. In conclusion, this research suggested that by targeting GPX1, miR-185-5p inhibited AML progression and downregulated AML cells' proliferation and invasion.

Improved outcomes among newly diagnosed patients with FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 internal tandem duplication mutated acute myeloid leukemia treated with contemporary therapy: Revisiting the European LeukemiaNet adverse risk classification.

Mutations in fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene are common genomic alterations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). FLT3 internal tandem duplication mutations (FLT3-ITD) have consistently been shown to be adversely prognostic, particularly those with high allelic ratio (AR). Current AML treatment strategies, including high dose cytarabine, purine analogs, FLT3 inhibitors (FLT3i), and with or without allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) have been shown to improve the outcomes in patients with FLT3 mutations. We analyzed a consecutive cohort of newly diagnosed patients with AML treated at a large academic medical center from January 2012 to January 2020. A total of 1576 patients with a new diagnosis of AML were reviewed. Among these, 1438 (91%) had molecular testing for FLT3 mutations and 21% (304/1438) had an FLT3 mutation, including 17% with an FLT3-ITD mutation. We show that FLT3-ITD high AR with NPM1 wild-type have significantly improved survival compared with other European LeukemiaNet (ELN) adverse risk disease. In multivariable cox proportional hazards model of patients receiving intensive or low-intensity induction regimens, FLT3 mutations did not have prognostic significance. The use of allogeneic SCT in CR1 for patients with FLT3 mutations appears to improve survival, particularly in those with ELN adverse risk disease. Overall, this data highlights the changing prognostic impact of FLT3 mutations in a contemporary era with appropriate use of induction therapy combined with targeted agents and allogenic SCT.

Gilteritinib clinical activity in relapsed/refractory FLT3 mutated acute myeloid leukemia previously treated with FLT3 inhibitors.

Gilteritinib is approved for the treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with an FLT3-mutation (FLT3mut+ ). However, the gilteritinib phase 3 ADMIRAL study (Perl et al NEJM 2019) was conducted prior to widespread adoption of either midostaurin as a component of standard intensive induction and consolidation or posttransplant FLT3 inhibitor maintenance. We performed a retrospective analysis using data from 11 US centers and where we identified 113 patients who received gilteritinib alone or as combination therapy for the treatment of R/R FLT3mut+ AML. The composite complete remission (CR) rate (CRc, defined as CR + CRi + CR with incomplete platelet recovery [CRp]) was 48.7% (n = 55). The CRc rate after treatment with gilteritinib in patients who were treated with only prior 7+3 and midostaurin with or without consolidation was 58% with a median survival of 7.8 months. Survival was longest in patients who obtained a CR, particularly a cMRD (clinical minimal or measurable residual disease) negative response; this remained significant after censoring at the time of stem cell transplant. The mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activating mutations that are known for gilteritinib resistance (NRAS, KRAS, and PTPN11) had lower CRc (35% vs. 60.5%) and lower median overall survival than patients' whose leukemia did not express these mutations (4.9 months vs. 7.8 months) (HR 2.4; 95% CI 1. 5.4) p value <.01.

The methyltransferase G9a regulates HoxA9-dependent transcription in AML.

Chromatin modulators are emerging as attractive drug targets, given their widespread implication in human cancers and susceptibility to pharmacological inhibition. Here we establish the histone methyltransferase G9a/EHMT2 as a selective regulator of fast proliferating myeloid progenitors with no discernible function in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). In mouse models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), loss of G9a significantly delays disease progression and reduces leukemia stem cell (LSC) frequency. We connect this function of G9a to its methyltransferase activity and its interaction with the leukemogenic transcription factor HoxA9 and provide evidence that primary human AML cells are sensitive to G9A inhibition. Our results highlight a clinical potential of G9A inhibition as a means to counteract the proliferation and self-renewal of AML cells by attenuating HoxA9-dependent transcription.

An aberrantly sustained emergency granulopoiesis response accelerates postchemotherapy relapse in MLL1-rearranged acute myeloid leukemia in mice.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with mixed lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1) gene rearrangement is characterized by increased expression of a set of homeodomain transcription factors, including homeobox A9 (HOXA9) and HOXA10. The target genes for these regulators include fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and Ariadne RBR E3 ubiquitin ligase 2 (ARIH2). FGF2 induces leukemia stem cell expansion in MLL1-rearranged AML. ARIH2 encodes TRIAD1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase required for termination of emergency granulopoiesis and leukemia suppressor function in MLL1-rearranged AML. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), including the FGF receptor, are TRIAD1 substrates that are possibly relevant to these activities. Using transcriptome analysis, we found increased activity of innate immune response pathways and RTK signaling in bone marrow progenitors from mice with MLL1-rearranged AML. We hypothesized that sustained RTK signaling, because of decreased TRIAD1 activity, impairs termination of emergency granulopoiesis during the innate immune response and contributes to leukemogenesis in this AML subtype. Consistent with this, we found aberrantly sustained emergency granulopoiesis in a murine model of MLL1-rearranged AML, associated with accelerated leukemogenesis. Treating these mice with an inhibitor of TRIAD1-substrate RTKs terminated emergency granulopoiesis, delayed leukemogenesis during emergency granulopoiesis, and normalized innate immune responses when combined with chemotherapy. Emergency granulopoiesis also hastened postchemotherapy relapse in mice with MLL1-rearranged AML, but remission was sustained by ongoing RTK inhibition. Our findings suggest that the physiological stress of infectious challenges may drive AML progression in molecularly defined subsets and identify RTK inhibition as a potential therapeutic approach to counteract this process.

CCT245718, a dual FLT3/Aurora A inhibitor overcomes D835Y-mediated resistance to FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukaemia cells.

BACKGROUND: Activating mutations in the Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) are among the most prevalent oncogenic mutations in acute myeloid leukaemia. Inhibitors selectively targeting FLT3 kinase have shown promising clinical activity; their success in the clinic, however, has been limited due to the emergence of acquired resistance. METHODS: CCT245718 was identified and characterised as a dual Aurora A/FLT3 inhibitor through cell-based and biochemical assays. The ability of CCT245718 to overcome TKD-mediated resistance was evaluated in a cell line-based model of drug resistance to FLT3 inhibitors. RESULTS: CCT245718 exhibits potent antiproliferative activity towards FLT3-ITD + AML cell lines and strongly binds to FLT3-ITD and TKD (D835Y) mutants in vitro. Activities of both FLT3-ITD and Aurora A are also inhibited in cells. Inhibition of FLT3 results in reduced phosphorylation of STAT5, downregulation of survivin and induction of apoptotic cell death. Moreover, CCT245718 overcomes TKD-mediated resistance in a MOLM-13-derived cell line containing FLT3 with both ITD and D835Y mutations. It also inhibits FLT3 signalling in both parental and resistant cell lines compared to FLT3-specific inhibitor MLN518, which is only active in the parental cell line. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that CCT245718 is a potent dual FLT3/Aurora A inhibitor that can overcome TKD-mediated acquired resistance.