Concomitant targeting of FLT3 and BTK overcomes FLT3 inhibitor resistance in acute myeloid leukemia through the inhibition of autophagy.

Strategies to overcome resistance to FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)-targeted therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are urgently needed. We identified autophagy as one of the resistance mechanisms, induced by hypoxia and the bone marrow microenvironment via activation of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK). Suppressing autophagy/BTK sensitized FLT3- mutated AML to FLT3 inhibitor-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, co-targeting FLT3/BTK/aurora kinases with a novel multikinase inhibitor CG-806 (luxeptinib) induced profound apoptosis in FLT3-mutated AML by co-suppressing FLT3/BTK, antagonizing autophagy, and causing leukemia cell death in FLT3-wildtype AML by aurora kinase-mediated G2/M arrest and polyploidy, in addition to FLT3 inhibition. Thus, CG-806 exerted profound anti-leukemia activity against AML regardless of FLT3 mutation status. CG-806 also significantly reduced AML burden and extended survival in an in vivo patient-derived xenograft leukemia murine model of FLT3 inhibitor-resistant FLT3-ITD/TKD double-mutant primary AML. Taken together, these findings indicate that CG-806 has a unique mechanistic action and pre-clinical activity, which is presently undergoing clinical evaluation in both FLT3 wildtype and mutant AML.

Targeting MCL-1 dysregulates cell metabolism and leukemia-stroma interactions and resensitizes acute myeloid leukemia to BCL-2 inhibition.

MCL-1 and BCL-2 are both frequently overexpressed in acute myeloid leukemia and critical for the survival of acute myeloid leukemia cells and acute myeloid leukemia stem cells. MCL-1 is a key factor in venetoclax resistance. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, we discovered that MCL-1 regulates leukemia cell bioenergetics and carbohydrate metabolisms, including the TCA cycle, glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway and modulates cell adhesion proteins and leukemia-stromal interactions. Inhibition of MCL-1 sensitizes to BCL-2 inhibition in acute myeloid leukemia cells and acute myeloid leukemia stem/progenitor cells, including those with intrinsic and acquired resistance to venetoclax through cooperative release of pro-apoptotic BIM, BAX, and BAK from binding to anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins and inhibition of cell metabolism and key stromal microenvironmental mechanisms. The combined inhibition of MCL-1 by MCL-1 inhibitor AZD5991 or CDK9 inhibitor AZD4573 and BCL-2 by venetoclax greatly extended survival of mice bearing patient-derived xenografts established from an acute myeloid leukemia patient who acquired resistance to venetoclax/decitabine. These results demonstrate that co-targeting MCL-1 and BCL-2 improves the efficacy of and overcomes preexisting and acquired resistance to BCL-2 inhibition. Activation of metabolomic pathways and leukemia-stroma interactions are newly discovered functions of MCL-1 in acute myeloid leukemia, which are independent from canonical regulation of apoptosis by MCL-1. Our data provide new mechanisms of synergy and rationale for co-targeting MCL-1 and BCL-2 clinically in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and potentially other cancers.

AXL/MERTK inhibitor ONO-7475 potently synergizes with venetoclax and overcomes venetoclax resistance to kill FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia.

FMS-like Tyrosine Kinase 3 (FLT3) mutation is associated with poor survival in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The specific Anexelekto/MER Tyrosine Kinase (AXL) inhibitor, ONO-7475, kills FLT3-mutant AML cells with targets including Extracellular- signal Regulated Kinase (ERK) and Myeloid Cell Leukemia 1 (MCL1). ERK and MCL1 are known resistance factors for Venetoclax (ABT-199), a popular drug for AML therapy, prompting the investigation of the efficacy of ONO-7475 in combination with ABT-199 in vitro and in vivo. ONO-7475 synergizes with ABT-199 to potently kill FLT3-mutant acute myeloid leukemia cell lines and primary cells. ONO-7475 is effective against ABT-199-resistant cells including cells that overexpress MCL1. Proteomic analyses revealed that ABT-199-resistant cells expressed elevated levels of pro-growth and anti-apoptotic proteins compared to parental cells, and that ONO-7475 reduced the expression of these proteins in both the parental and ABT-199-resistant cells. ONO-7475 treatment significantly extended survival as a single in vivo agent using acute myeloid leukemia cell lines and PDX models. Compared to ONO-7474 monotherapy, the combination of ONO-7475/ABT-199 was even more potent in reducing leukemic burden and prolonging the survival of mice in both model systems. These results suggest that the ONO-7475/ABT-199 combination may be effective for AML therapy.

Concomitant targeting of BCL2 with venetoclax and MAPK signaling with cobimetinib in acute myeloid leukemia models.

The pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) involves serial acquisition of mutations controlling several cellular processes, requiring combination therapies affecting key downstream survival nodes in order to treat the disease effectively. The BCL2 selective inhibitor venetoclax has potent anti-leukemia efficacy; however, resistance can occur due to its inability to inhibit MCL1, which is stabilized by the MAPK pathway. In this study, we aimed to determine the anti-leukemia efficacy of concomitant targeting of the BCL2 and MAPK pathways by venetoclax and the MEK1/2 inhibitor cobimetinib, respectively. The combination demonstrated synergy in seven of 11 AML cell lines, including those resistant to single agents, and showed growth-inhibitory activity in over 60% of primary samples from patients with diverse genetic alterations. The combination markedly impaired leukemia progenitor functions, while maintaining normal progenitors. Mass cytometry data revealed that BCL2 protein is enriched in leukemia stem/progenitor cells, primarily in venetoclax-sensitive samples, and that cobimetinib suppressed cytokine-induced pERK and pS6 signaling pathways. Through proteomic profiling studies, we identified several pathways inhibited downstream of MAPK that contribute to the synergy of the combination. In OCI-AML3 cells, the combination downregulated MCL1 protein levels and disrupted both BCL2:BIM and MCL1:BIM complexes, releasing BIM to induce cell death. RNA sequencing identified several enriched pathways, including MYC, mTORC1, and p53 in cells sensitive to the drug combination. In vivo, the venetoclax-cobimetinib combination reduced leukemia burden in xenograft models using genetically engineered OCI-AML3 and MOLM13 cells. Our data thus provide a rationale for combinatorial blockade of MEK and BCL2 pathways in AML.

Role of MSC-derived galectin 3 in the AML microenvironment.

In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), high Galectin 3 (LGALS3) expression is associated with poor prognosis. The role of LGALS3 derived from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) in the AML microenvironment is unclear; however, we have recently found high LGALS3 expression in MSC derived from AML patients is associated with relapse. In this study, we used reverse phase protein analysis (RPPA) to correlate LGALS3 expression in AML MSC with 119 other proteins including variants of these proteins such as phosphorylated forms or cleaved forms to identify biologically relevant pathways. RPPA revealed that LGALS3 protein was positively correlated with expression of thirteen proteins including MYC, phosphorylated beta-Catenin (p-CTNNB1), and AKT2 and negatively correlated with expression of six proteins including integrin beta 3 (ITGB3). String analysis revealed that proteins positively correlated with LGALS3 showed strong interconnectivity. Consistent with the RPPA results, LGALS3 suppression by shRNA in MSC resulted in decreased MYC and AKT expression while ITGB3 was induced. In co-culture, the ability of AML cell to adhere to MSC LGALS3 shRNA transductants was reduced compared to AML cell adhesion to MSC control shRNA transductants. Finally, use of novel specific LGALS3 inhibitor CBP.001 in co-culture of AML cells with MSC reduced viable leukemia cell populations with induced apoptosis and augmented the chemotherapeutic effect of AraC. In summary, the current study demonstrates that MSC-derived LGALS3 may be critical for important biological pathways for MSC homeostasis and for regulating AML cell localization and survival in the leukemia microenvironmental niche.

Atg7 suppression enhances chemotherapeutic agent sensitivity and overcomes stroma-mediated chemoresistance in acute myeloid leukemia.

Autophagy is a cellular adaptive mechanism to stress, including that induced by chemotherapeutic agents. Reverse phase protein array suggested that high expression of the essential autophagy-related protein, Atg7, was associated with shorter remission in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient samples, indicating a role in chemoresistance. Knockdown of Atg7 in AML cells using short hairpin RNA markedly increased apoptosis and DNA damage following treatment with cytarabine and idarubicin. Interestingly, coculture of AML cells with stromal cells increased autophagy and chemoresistance in the AML cells exposed to chemotherapeutic agents, and this was reversed following Atg7 knockdown. This effect was further enhanced by concomitant knockdown of Atg7 in both AML and stromal cells. These findings strongly suggest that Atg7, and likely microenvironment autophagy in general, plays an important role in AML chemoresistance. Mechanistic studies revealed that Atg7 knockdown induced a proapoptotic phenotype in AML cells, which was manifested by an increased NOXA expression at the transcriptional level. Finally, in a mouse model of human leukemia, Atg7 knockdown extended overall survival after chemotherapy. Thus, the inhibition of Atg7 appears to be a valid strategy to enhance chemosensitivity, and it could indeed improve outcomes in AML therapy.

Combinatorial targeting of XPO1 and FLT3 exerts synergistic anti-leukemia effects through induction of differentiation and apoptosis in FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemias: from concept to clinical trial.

Targeted therapies against FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemias have shown limited clinical efficacy primarily because of the acquisition of secondary mutations in FLT3 and persistent activation of downstream pro-survival pathways such as MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT, and STAT5. Activation of these additional kinases may also result in phosphorylation of tumor suppressor proteins promoting their nuclear export. Thus, co-targeting nuclear export proteins (e.g., XPO1) and FLT3 concomitantly may be therapeutically effective. Here we report on the combinatorial inhibition of XPO1 using selinexor and FLT3 using sorafenib. Selinexor exerted marked cell killing of human and murine FLT3-mutant acute myeloid leukemia cells, including those harboring internal tandem duplication and/or tyrosine kinase domain point mutations. Interestingly, selinexor treatment of murine FLT3-mutant acute myeloid leukemia cells activated FLT3 and its downstream MAPK or AKT signaling pathways. When combined with sorafenib, selinexor triggered marked synergistic pro-apoptotic effects. This was preceded by elevated nuclear levels of ERK, AKT, NFκB, and FOXO3a. Five days of in vitro combination treatment using low doses (i.e., 5 to 10 nM) of each agent promoted early myeloid differentiation of MOLM13 and MOLM14 cells without noticeable cell killing. The combinatorial therapy demonstrated profound in vivo anti-leukemia efficacy in a human FLT3-mutated xenograft model. In an ongoing phase IB clinical trial the selinexor/sorafenib combination induced complete/partial remissions in six of 14 patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia, who had received a median of three prior therapies (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02530476). These results provide pre-clinical and clinical evidence for an effective combinatorial treatment strategy targeting XPO1 and FLT3 in FLT3- mutated acute myeloid leukemias.

Distinct protein signatures of acute myeloid leukemia bone marrow-derived stromal cells are prognostic for patient survival.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) support acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell survival in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. Protein expression profiles of AML-derived MSC are unknown. Reverse phase protein array analysis was performed to compare expression of 151 proteins from AML-MSC (n=106) with MSC from healthy donors (n=71). Protein expression differed significantly between the two groups with 19 proteins over-expressed in leukemia stromal cells and 9 over-expressed in normal stromal cells. Unbiased hierarchical clustering analysis of the samples using these 28 proteins revealed three protein constellations whose variation in expression defined four MSC protein expression signatures: Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, and Class 4. These cell populations appear to have clinical relevance. Specifically, patients with Class 3 cells have longer survival and remission duration compared to other groups. Comparison of leukemia MSC at first diagnosis with those obtained at salvage (i.e. relapse/refractory) showed differential expression of 9 proteins reflecting a shift toward osteogenic differentiation. Leukemia MSC are more senescent compared to their normal counterparts, possibly due to the overexpressed p53/p21 axis as confirmed by high ß-galactosidase staining. In addition, overexpression of BCL-XL in leukemia MSC might give survival advantage under conditions of senescence or stress and overexpressed galectin-3 exerts profound immunosuppression. Together, our findings suggest that the identification of specific populations of MSC in AML patients may be an important determinant of therapeutic response.

Combination of galectin inhibitor GCS-100 and BH3 mimetics eliminates both p53 wild type and p53 null AML cells.

Galectin 3 (LGALS3) expression is prognostic for poor survival in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. GCS-100 is a novel galectin inhibitor that may prove useful for AML therapy. In this study, we found that GCS-100 induced apoptosis in AML cells. The agent reduced MCL-1 expression suggesting that GCS-100 could be more effective when combined with a BH3 mimetic. Indeed, potent synergistic cytotoxicity was achieved when GCS-100 was combined with ABT-737 or ABT-199. Furthermore, the GCS-100/ABT-199 combination was effective against primary AML blast cells from patients with FLT3 ITD mutations, which is another prognostic factor for poor outcome in AML. This activity may involve wild-type p53 as shRNA knockdown of LGALS3 or galectin 1 (LGALS1) sensitized wild-type p53 OCI-AML3 cells to GCS-100/ABT-737-induced apoptosis to a much greater extent than p53 null THP-1 cells. Suppression of LGALS3 by shRNA inhibited MCL-1 expression in OCI-AML3 cells, but not THP-1 cells, suggesting the induced sensitivity to ABT-737 may involve a MCL-1 mediated mechanism. OCI-AML3 cells with LGALS1 shRNA were also sensitized to ABT-737. However, these cells exhibited increased MCL-1 expression, so MCL-1 reduction is apparently not required in this process. A role for p53 appears important as GCS-100 induces p53 expression and shRNA knockdown of p53 protected OCI-AML3 cells from the cytotoxic effects of the GCS-100/ABT-737 treatment combination. Our results suggest that galectins regulate a survival axis in AML cells, which may be targeted via combined inhibition with drugs such as GCS-100 and ABT-199.

Inhibition of Mcl-1 with the pan-Bcl-2 family inhibitor (-)BI97D6 overcomes ABT-737 resistance in acute myeloid leukemia.

Overexpression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Mcl-1 is widely associated with tumor initiation, progression, and chemoresistance. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that Mcl-1 upregulation renders several types of cancers resistant to the Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors ABT-737 and ABT-263. The emerging importance of Mcl-1 in pathogenesis and drug resistance makes it a high-priority therapeutic target. In this study, we showed that inhibition of Mcl-1 with a novel pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor (-)BI97D6 potently induced apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. (-)BI97D6 induced hallmarks of mitochondrial apoptosis, disrupted Mcl-1/Bim and Bcl-2/Bax interactions, and stimulated cell death via the Bak/Bax-dependent mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, suggesting on-target mechanisms. As a single agent, this pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor effectively overcame AML cell apoptosis resistance mediated by Mcl-1 or by interactions with bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells. (-)BI97D6 was also potent in killing refractory primary AML cells. Importantly, (-)BI97D6 killed AML leukemia stem/progenitor cells while largely sparing normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. These findings demonstrate that pan-Bcl-2 inhibition by an Mcl-1-targeting inhibitor not only overcomes intrinsic drug resistance ensuing from functional redundancy of Bcl-2 proteins, but also abrogates extrinsic resistance caused by the protective tumor microenvironment.

Anexelekto/MER tyrosine kinase inhibitor ONO-7475 arrests growth and kills FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication mutant acute myeloid leukemia cells by diverse mechanisms.

Nearly one-third of patients with acute myeloid leukemia have FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 mutations and thus have poor survival prospects. Receptor tyrosine kinase anexelekto is critical for FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 signaling and participates in FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 inhibitor resistance mechanisms. Thus, strategies targeting anexelekto could prove useful for acute myeloid leukemia therapy. ONO-7475 is an inhibitor with high specificity for anexelekto and MER tyrosine kinase. Herein, we report that ONO-7475 potently arrested growth and induced apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia with internal tandem duplication mutation of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3. MER tyrosine kinase-lacking MOLM13 cells were sensitive to ONO-7475, while MER tyrosine kinase expressing OCI-AML3 cells were resistant, suggesting that the drug acts via anexelekto in acute myeloid leukemia cells. Reverse phase protein analysis of ONO-7475 treated cells revealed that cell cycle regulators like cyclin dependent kinase 1, cyclin B1, polo-like kinase 1, and retinoblastoma were suppressed. ONO-7475 suppressed cyclin dependent kinase 1, cyclin B1, polo-like kinase 1 gene expression suggesting that anexelekto may regulate the cell cycle, at least in part, via transcriptional mechanisms. Importantly, ONO-7475 was effective in a human FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 with internal tandem duplication mutant murine xenograft model. Mice fed a diet containing ONO-7475 exhibited significantly longer survival and, interestingly, blocked leukemia cell infiltration in the liver. In summary, ONO-7475 effectively kills acute myeloid leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo by mechanisms that involve disruption of diverse survival and proliferation pathways.

The protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit B55α is a modulator of signaling and microRNA expression in acute myeloid leukemia cells.

We recently discovered that the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) B55α subunit (PPP2R2A) is under-expressed in primary blast cells and is unfavorable for remission duration in AML patients. In this study, reverse phase protein analysis (RPPA) of 230 proteins in 511 AML patient samples revealed a strong correlation of B55α with a number of proteins including MYC, PKC α, and SRC. B55α suppression in OCI-AML3 cells by shRNA demonstrated that the B subunit is a PKCα phosphatase. B55α does not target SRC, but rather the kinase suppresses protein expression of the B subunit. Finally, the correlation between B55α and MYC levels reflected a complex stoichiometric competition between B subunits. Loss of B55α in OCI-AML3 cells did not change global PP2A activity and the only isoform that is induced is the one containing B56α. In cells containing B55α shRNA, MYC was suppressed with concomitant induction of the competing B subunit B56α (PPP2R5A). A recent study determined that FTY-720, a drug whose action involves the activation of PP2A, resulted in the induction of B55α In AML cells, and a reduction of the B subunit rendered these cells resistant to FTY-720. Finally, reduction of the B subunit resulted in an increase in the expression of miR-191-5p and a suppression of miR-142-3p. B55α regulation of these miRs was intriguing as high levels of miR-191 portend poor survival in AML, and miR-142-3p is mutated in 2% of AML patient samples. In summary, the suppression of B55α activates signaling pathways that could support leukemia cell survival.

Prognostic impact and targeting of CRM1 in acute myeloid leukemia.

Chromosomal region maintenance 1 (CRM1) is a nuclear export receptor recognizing proteins bearing a leucine-rich nuclear export signal. CRM1 is involved in nuclear export of tumor suppressors such as p53. We investigated the prognostic significance of CRM1 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and effects of a novel small-molecule selective inhibitor of CRM1. CRM1 protein expression was determined in 511 newly diagnosed AML patients and was correlated with mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) and p53 levels. High CRM1 expression was associated with short survival of patients and remained an adverse prognostic factor in multivariate analysis. CRM1 inhibitor KPT-185 induced mainly full-length p53 and apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner, whereas inhibition of proliferation was p53 independent. Patient samples with p53 mutations showed low sensitivity to KPT-185. Nuclear retention of p53 induced by CRM1 inhibition synergized with increased levels of p53 induced by MDM2 inhibition in apoptosis induction. KPT-185 and Nutlin-3a, alone and in combination, induced synergistic apoptosis in patient-derived CD34(+)/CD38(-) AML, but not in normal progenitor cells. Data suggest that CRM1 exerts an antiapoptotic function and is highly prognostic in AML. We propose a novel combinatorial approach for the therapy of AML, aimed at maximal activation of p53-mediated apoptosis by concomitant MDM2 and CRM1 inhibition.

Connective tissue growth factor regulates adipocyte differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells and facilitates leukemia bone marrow engraftment.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a major component of the leukemia bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is highly expressed in MSCs, but its role in the BM stroma is unknown. Therefore, we knocked down (KD) CTGF expression in human BM-derived MSCs by CTGF short hairpin RNA. CTGF KD MSCs exhibited fivefold lower proliferation compared with control MSCs and had markedly fewer S-phase cells. CTGF KD MSCs differentiated into adipocytes at a sixfold higher rate than controls in vitro and in vivo. To study the effect of CTGF on engraftment of leukemia cells into BM, an in vivo model of humanized extramedullary BM (EXM-BM) was developed in NOD/SCID/IL-2rg(null) mice. Transplanted Nalm-6 or Molm-13 human leukemia cells engrafted at a threefold higher rate in adipocyte-rich CTGF KD MSC-derived EXM-BM than in control EXM-BM. Leptin was found to be highly expressed in CTGF KD EXM-BM and in BM samples of patients with acute myeloid and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, whereas it was not expressed in normal controls. Given the established role of the leptin receptor in leukemia cells, the data suggest an important role of CTGF in MSC differentiation into adipocytes and of leptin in homing and progression of leukemia.

Induction of p53-mediated transcription and apoptosis by exportin-1 (XPO1) inhibition in mantle cell lymphoma.

The nuclear transporter exportin-1 (XPO1) is highly expressed in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cells, and is believed to be associated with the pathogenesis of this disease. XPO1-selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINE) compounds have been shown to induce apoptosis in MCL cells. Given that p53 is a cargo protein of XPO1, we sought to determine the significance of p53 activation through XPO1 inhibition in SINE-induced apoptosis of MCL cells. We investigated the prognostic impact of XPO1 expression in MCL cells using Oncomine analysis. The significance of p53 mutational/functional status on sensitivity to XPO1 inhibition in cell models and primary MCL samples, and the functional role of p53-mediated apoptosis signaling, were also examined. Increased XPO1 expression was associated with poor prognosis in MCL patients. The XPO1 inhibitor KPT-185 induced apoptosis in MCL cells through p53-dependent and -independent mechanisms, and p53 status was a critical determinant of its apoptosis induction. The KPT-185-induced, p53-mediated apoptosis in the MCL cells occurred in a transcription-dependent manner. Exportin-1 appears to influence patient survival in MCL, and the SINE XPO1 antagonist KPT-185 effectively activates p53-mediated transcription and apoptosis, which would provide a novel strategy for the therapy of MCL.

Apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain modulates second mitochondrial-derived activator of caspases mimetic-induced cell death through BIRC2/MAP3K14 signalling in acute myeloid leukaemia.

Overexpression of the apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC, also termed NOL3) protein predicts adverse outcome in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and confers drug resistance to AML cells. The second mitochondrial-derived activator of caspases (SMAC, also termed DIABLO) mimetic, birinapant, promotes extrinsic apoptosis in AML cells. SMAC mimetics induce cleavage of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis (cIAP) proteins, leading to stabilization of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-inducing kinase (MAP3K14, also termed NIK) and activation of non-canonical NF-κB signalling. To enhance the therapeutic potential of SMAC mimetics in AML, we investigated the regulation and role of ARC in birinapant-induced apoptosis. We showed that birinapant increases ARC in AML and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Downregulation of MAP3K14 by siRNA decreased ARC levels and suppressed birinapant-induced ARC increase. Reverse-phase protein array analysis of 511 samples from newly diagnosed AML patients showed that BIRC2 (also termed cIAP1) and ARC were inversely correlated. Knockdown of ARC sensitized, while overexpression attenuated, birinapant-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, ARC knockdown in MSCs sensitized co-cultured AML cells to birinapant-induced apoptosis. Our data demonstrate that ARC is regulated via BIRC2/MAP3K14 signalling and its overexpression in AML or MSCs can function as a resistant factor to birinapant-induced leukaemia cell death, suggesting that strategies to inhibit ARC will improve the therapeutic potential of SMAC mimetics.

Abrogation of nuclear receptors Nr4a3 and Nr4a1 leads to development of acute myeloid leukemia.

Nur77 (NR4A1) and Nor-1 (NR4A3) are highly homologous orphan nuclear receptors that regulate the transcription of overlapping target genes. The transcriptional activity of both proteins is regulated in a ligand-independent manner by cell- and stimulus-specific gene induction and protein phosphorylation. Nor-1 and Nur77 have been implicated in a variety of cellular processes, including the transduction of hormonal, inflammatory, mitogenic, apoptotic and differentiative signals. Cellular responses to these proteins suggest that they may function as homeostatic regulators of proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation, and thus may regulate cellular susceptibility to tumorigenesis. Their physiological functions, however, remain poorly understood. Here we describe a previously unsuspected function of Nor-1 and Nur77-as critical tumor suppressors of myeloid leukemogenesis. The abrogation of these proteins in mice led to rapidly lethal acute myeloid leukemia (AML), involving abnormal expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and myeloid progenitors, decreased expression of the AP-1 transcription factors JunB and c-Jun and defective extrinsic apoptotic (Fas-L and TRAIL) signaling. We found that downregulation of NR4A3 ( NOR-1 ) and NR4A1 ( NUR77 ) was a common feature in leukemic blasts from human AML patients, irrespective of karyotype. Thus Nor-1 and Nur77 may provide potential targets for therapeutic intervention in AML.

Mechanisms of apoptosis sensitivity and resistance to the BH3 mimetic ABT-737 in acute myeloid leukemia.

BCL-2 proteins are critical for cell survival and are overexpressed in many tumors. ABT-737 is a small-molecule BH3 mimetic that exhibits single-agent activity against lymphoma and small-cell lung cancer in preclinical studies. We here report that ABT-737 effectively kills acute myeloid leukemia blast, progenitor, and stem cells without affecting normal hematopoietic cells. ABT-737 induced the disruption of the BCL-2/BAX complex and BAK-dependent but BIM-independent activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. In cells with phosphorylated BCL-2 or increased MCL-1, ABT-737 was inactive. Inhibition of BCL-2 phosphorylation and reduction of MCL-1 expression restored sensitivity to ABT-737. These data suggest that ABT-737 could be a highly effective antileukemia agent when the mechanisms of resistance identified here are considered.

Chromatin Profiles Are Prognostic of Clinical Response to Bortezomib-Containing Chemotherapy in Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Results from the COG AAML1031 Trial.

The addition of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib to standard chemotherapy did not improve survival in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) when all patients were analyzed as a group in the Children's Oncology Group phase 3 trial AAML1031 (NCT01371981). Proteasome inhibition influences the chromatin landscape and proteostasis, and we hypothesized that baseline proteomic analysis of histone- and chromatin-modifying enzymes (HMEs) would identify AML subgroups that benefitted from bortezomib addition. A proteomic profile of 483 patients treated with AAML1031 chemotherapy was generated using a reverse-phase protein array. A relatively high expression of 16 HME was associated with lower EFS and higher 3-year relapse risk after AML standard treatment compared to low expressions (52% vs. 29%, p = 0.005). The high-HME profile correlated with more transposase-accessible chromatin, as demonstrated via ATAC-sequencing, and the bortezomib addition improved the 3-year overall survival compared with standard therapy (62% vs. 75%, p = 0.033). These data suggest that there are pediatric AML populations that respond well to bortezomib-containing chemotherapy.

Mitochondrial regulation of GPX4 inhibition-mediated ferroptosis in acute myeloid leukemia.

Resistance to apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells causes refractory or relapsed disease, associated with dismal clinical outcomes. Ferroptosis, a mode of non-apoptotic cell death triggered by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, has been investigated as potential therapeutic modality against therapy-resistant cancers, but our knowledge of its role in AML is limited. We investigated ferroptosis in AML cells and identified its mitochondrial regulation as a therapeutic vulnerability. GPX4 knockdown induced ferroptosis in AML cells, accompanied with characteristic mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, exerting anti-AML effects in vitro and in vivo. Electron transport chains (ETC) are primary sources of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) recycling for its function of anti-lipid peroxidation in mitochondria. We found that the mitochondria-specific CoQ potently inhibited GPX4 inhibition-mediated ferroptosis, suggesting that mitochondrial lipid redox regulates ferroptosis in AML cells. Consistently, Rho0 cells, which lack functional ETC, were more sensitive to GPX4 inhibition-mediated mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis than control cells. Furthermore, degradation of ETC through hyperactivation of a mitochondrial protease, caseinolytic protease P (ClpP), synergistically enhanced the anti-AML effects of GPX4 inhibition. Collectively, our findings indicate that in AML cells, GPX4 inhibition induces ferroptosis, which is regulated by mitochondrial lipid redox and ETC.