Identification of a c-MYB-directed therapeutic for acute myeloid leukemia.
Leukemia
; 36(6): 1541-1549, 2022 06.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35368048
ABSTRACT
A significant proportion of patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cannot be cured by conventional chemotherapy, relapsed disease being a common problem. Molecular targeting of essential oncogenic mediators is an attractive approach to improving outcomes for this disease. The hematopoietic transcription factor c-MYB has been revealed as a central component of complexes maintaining aberrant gene expression programs in AML. We have previously screened the Connectivity Map database to identify mebendazole as an anti-AML therapeutic targeting c-MYB. In the present study we demonstrate that another hit from this screen, the steroidal lactone withaferin A (WFA), induces rapid ablation of c-MYB protein and consequent inhibition of c-MYB target gene expression, loss of leukemia cell viability, reduced colony formation and impaired disease progression. Although WFA has been reported to have pleiotropic anti-cancer effects, we demonstrate that its anti-AML activity depends on c-MYB modulation and can be partially reversed by a stabilized c-MYB mutant. c-MYB ablation results from disrupted HSP/HSC70 chaperone protein homeostasis in leukemia cells following induction of proteotoxicity and the unfolded protein response by WFA. The widespread use of WFA in traditional medicines throughout the world indicates that it represents a promising candidate for repurposing into AML therapy.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute
/
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Leukemia
Journal subject:
HEMATOLOGIA
/
NEOPLASIAS
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Reino Unido