Pi3k Inhibition Synergizes With Glucocorticoids But Antagonizes With Methotrexate In T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

The PI3K pathway is frequently hyperactivated in primary T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells. Activation of the PI3K pathway has been suggested as one mechanism of glucocorticoid resistance in T-ALL, and patients harboring mutations in the PI3K negative regulator PTEN may be at increased risk of induction failure and relapse. By gene expression microarray analysis of T-ALL cells treated with the PI3K inhibitor AS605240, we identified Myc as a prominent downstream target of the PI3K pathway. A significant association was found between the AS605240 gene expression signature and that of glucocorticoid resistance and relapse in T-ALL. AS605240 showed anti-leukemic activity and strong synergism with glucocorticoids both in vitro and in a NOD/SCID xenograft model of T-ALL. In contrast, PI3K inhibition showed antagonism with methotrexate and daunorubicin, drugs that preferentially target dividing cells. This antagonistic interaction, however, could be circumvented by the use of correct drug scheduling schemes. Our data indicate the potential benefits and difficulties for the incorporation of PI3K inhibitors in T-ALL therapy.613105-1311

Structural basis of colchicine-site targeting acylhydrazones active against multidrug-resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Tubulin is one of the best validated anti-cancer targets, but most anti-tubulin agents have unfavorable therapeutic indexes. Here, we characterized the tubulin-binding activity, the mechanism of action, and the in vivo anti-leukemia efficacy of three 3,4,5-trimethoxy-N-acylhydrazones. We show that all compounds target the colchicine-binding site of tubulin and that none is a substrate of ABC transporters. The crystal structure of the tubulin-bound N-(1′-naphthyl)-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzohydrazide (12) revealed steric hindrance on the T7 loop movement of β-tubulin, thereby rendering tubulin assembly incompetent. Using dose escalation and short-term repeated dose studies, we further report that this compound class is well tolerated to >100 mg/kg in mice. We finally observed that intraperitoneally administered compound 12 significantly prolonged the overall survival of mice transplanted with both sensitive and multidrug-resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Taken together, this work describes promising colchicine-site-targeting tubulin inhibitors featuring favorable therapeutic effects against ALL and multidrug-resistant cell2195109CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP305896/2013-0; 301596/2017-414/08247-8; 17/14737-6We thank Ganadería Fernando Díaz for calf brains for tubulin purification. The authors acknowledge networking contribution by the COST Action CM1407 “Challenging organic syntheses inspired by nature - from natural products chemistry to drug discovery.” J.F.D. is a member of the CIB Intramural Program “Molecular Machines for Better Life” (MACBET). N.M.C. was supported by a fellowship from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, 14/08247-8, and 17/14737-6). J.A.Y. received a Productivity fellowship from the Brazilian National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq 305896/2013-0 and 301596/2017-4). This work was supported in part by grants BFU2016-75319-R (AEI/FEDER, UE) (J.F.D.) from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. The crystal structure work was supported by grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation (31003A_166608, to M.O.S.) and by the COST action CM1407 (to M.O.S.). Part of the in vivo work was supported by R01CA209829 and R01CA213912, Hyundai Hope On Wheels Scholar Grant, Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, the Four Diamonds Fund of the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, and the John Wawrynovic Leukemia Research Scholar Endowment (to S.D.

SB225002 induces cell death and cell cycle arrest in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells through the activation of GLIPR1

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most frequent childhood malignancy. In the effort to find new anti-leukemic agents, we evaluated the small drug SB225002 (N-(2-hydroxy-4-nitrophenyl)-N'-(2-bromophenyl)urea). Although initially described as a selective antagonist of CXCR2, later studies have identified other cellular targets for SB225002, with potential medicinal use in cancer. We found that SB225002 has a significant pro-apoptotic effect against both B- and T-ALL cell lines. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that treatment with SB225002 induces G2-M cell cycle arrest. Transcriptional profiling revealed that SB225002-mediated apoptosis triggered a transcriptional program typical of tubulin binding agents. Network analysis revealed the activation of genes linked to the JUN and p53 pathways and inhibition of genes linked to the TNF pathway. Early cellular effects activated by SB225002 included the up-regulation of GLIPR1 , a p53-target gene shown to have pro-apoptotic activities in prostate and bladder cancer. Silencing of GLIPR1 in B- and T-ALL cell lines resulted in increased resistance to SB225002. Although SB225002 promoted ROS increase in ALL cells, antioxidant N-Acetyl Cysteine pre-treatment only modestly attenuated cell death, implying that the pro-apoptotic effects of SB225002 are not exclusively mediated by ROS. Moreover, GLIPR1 silencing resulted in increased ROS levels both in untreated and SB225002-treated cells. In conclusion, SB225002 induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in different B- and T-ALL cell lines. Inhibition of tubulin function with concurrent activation of the p53 pathway, in particular, its downstream target GLIPR1 , seems to underlie the anti-leukemic effect of SB225002

Bone marrow stroma modulates the expression of several drug resistance/sensitivity genes in pediatric acute limphoblastic leukemia

Orientador: Jose Andres YunesDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: A resistência intrínseca ou adquirida aos compostos quimioterápicos é uma das mais importantes causas dos insucessos no tratamento das LLAs pediátricas. A interação da LLA com o microambiente da medula óssea contribui para a proliferação e resistência ao regime quimioterápico das células leucêmicas através de uma grande variedade de mecanismos celulares que provavelmente incluem: aumento da expressão de transportadores celulares, aumento no processo de reparo do DNA, diminuição na regulação dos alvos das drogas, mudanças na regulação do ciclo celular e alteração nas vias apoptóticas. No presente estudo observou-se que a interação estabelecida entre células estromais e células de LLA-B, promoveu a ativação destas como avaliado pela análise das moléculas de superfície das células leucêmicas ao longo dos períodos de cultivo, além da sobrevivência e/ou proliferação em mais de 60% dos casos in vitro. A comunicação entre os dois tipos celulares também mostrou a influência do estroma na modulação da expressão transcricional de 17 genes relacionados com a resistência e sensibilidade a quimioterápicos em células de LLA-B. A modulação teve como conseqüência o aumento nos níveis de expressão da maioria dos genes de resistência e a queda de expressão da maioria dos genes de sensibilidade. Sendo assim, a LLA, pela interação com as células estromais, apresentaram uma alteração que as levou a um fenótipo característico de células resistentes. Essa alteração de expressão mediada pelo contato com o estroma foi confirmada por estudos funcionais de dois genes relacionados com a resistência. O gene KCNN4 em linhagens celulares, que quando submetidas à ação do clotrimazol apresentaram maior viabilidade na presença do que na ausência do estroma; e a adição da proteína recombinante IGFBP-7 no sistema de co-cultura promoveu a resistência e até mesmo proliferação na presença da L-asparaginase. Esta proteína também se mostrou atuante na proliferação das células estromais. Estes resultados mostram dois genes de LLA, que quando modulados pelo contato com o estroma podem contribuir com a maior resistência ao regime quimioterápico, podendo vir a ser usados como alvo para posteriores terapiasAbstract: The intrinsic or acquired chemotherapy resistance composites one of the most important causes of failures in the treatment of pediatric ALL. The ALL and bone marrow microenvironment nteraction contributes for the proliferation and resistance to the chemotherapy regimen of leukemic cells probably through a great variety of cellular mechanisms, including increase of the expression of cellular transporters, increase in the process of DNA repair, downregulation of drugs targets, changes in the regulation of cellular cycle and alteration in the apoptotic ways. In the present study it was observed that the interaction established between stromal cells and pre-B ALL, evaluated through analysis of surface molecules in leukemic cells throughout the periods of culture, were important for the survival and/or proliferation in more than 50% of the cases in vitro. This interaction also showed the influence of stroma in the transcriptional profile of 17 genes related with the resistance and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents in pre-B ALL cells. The modulation had as consequence the increase in the levels of expression of the majority of the resistance genes and the decrease of expression of the majority of the sensitivity genes. Being thus, these cellular types, for the interaction with the stromal cells, had presented an alteration that took them to one phenotype characteristic of resistant cells. This stroma-mediated alteration was confirmed by functional studies of two genes related with the resistance. Gene KCNN4 three leukemic cell lines, that when submitted to the action of clotrimazole they had presented greater viability in the presence than in the absence of stroma; and the addition of recombinant protein IGFBP-7 in the co-culture system promoted the resistance and proliferation of primary ALL cells in the presence of the L-asparaginase. This protein also induced proliferation of stromal cells. These results show two genes of ALL, that when modulated for the contact with stroma, can contribute with a resistance to the chemotherapic regimen, becoming possible targets for posterior therapiesMestradoGenetica Animal e EvoluçãoMestre em Genética e Biologia Molecula

IGFBP7 participates in the reciprocal interaction between leukemia and BM stroma and in leukemia resistance to chemotherapy

Orientador: José Andrés YunesTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: A Leucemia Linfóide Aguda (LLA) é o tipo de câncer mais comum que acomete crianças. Sabe-se que a interação do tumor com o contexto celular do hospedeiro (microambiente tumoral) é recíproca, ou seja, na medida em que o tumor estimula o seu microambiente, este potencializa a sobrevivência, proliferação e invasividade tumoral. A interação da LLA com as células estromais da medula óssea tem um impacto positivo na resistência das células leucêmicas à quimioterapia. No presente estudo foi investigado a modulação de uma série genes de sensibilidade e resistência à asparaginase em células de LLA-B precursoras após co-cultura com as células estromais. Mostramos o aumento da expressão e secreção da IGFBP7 pelas células leucêmicas após co-cultivo com células do estroma da medula óssea. Em ensaios com o silenciamento do IGFBP7 em células leucêmicas e células estromais, mostramos que a IGFBP7 atua regulando positivamente o crescimento celular e aumenta a resistência a asparaginase. A IGFBP7 'leucêmica' junto com IGF/insulina atua sobre as células estromais, induzindo nestas células o aumento da produção de asparagina, e diminuindo a ação da asparaginase. Além deste mecanismo de resistência dependente das células estromais, mostramos que a IGFBP7 em conjunto com IGF/insulina promove a resistência das células leucêmicas à ação de outros compostos quimioterápicos (dexametasona e metotrexato) de forma independente da interação leucemia-estroma. Ainda pode ser observado que o plasma de crianças com LLA ao diagnóstico, apresenta maiores níveis de IGFBP7 do que em amostras controles. É importante ressaltar que níveis mais altos de mRNA IGFBP7 foram associados com menor sobrevida livre de leucemia (Modelo de regressão de Cox, P = 0,003), em células de LLAB Ph(-) presursorasAbstract: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of cancer that affects children. It is known that the interaction between tumor and the cellular context of the host (tumor microenvironment) is reciprocal, ie, to the extent that the tumor stimulates their microenvironment, this enhances the survival, proliferation and tumor invasiveness. The interaction of ALL with bone marrow stromal cells has a positive impact on leukemia resistance to chemotherapy. In the present study, we investigated the modulation of a series of putative asparaginase-resistance/sensitivity genes in B-precursor ALL upon co-culture with stromal cells. We showed an increase expression and secretion of IGFBP7 in leukemic cells after co-culture with BMSCs. Assays with IGFBP7 knockdown in leukemic cells and stromal cells, showed that IGFBP7 acts as a positive regulator of cell growth and increases resistance to asparaginase. 'Leukemic' IGFBP7 together with IGF/insulin acts on stromal cells, increasing asparagine production, thus reducing the asparaginase effect. Besides this mechanism of resistance dependent of stromal cells, we showed that IGFBP7 in conjunction with IGF/insulin promotes the resistance of leukemia cells to the action of other chemotherapeutic compounds (dexamethasone and methotrexate) independently of the interaction leukemia-stroma. We still observed that diagnostic BM plasma from children with ALL at diagnosis, have higher levels of IGFBP7 than control samples. Importantly, higher levels of IGFBP7 mRNA were associated with lower leukemia-free survival (Cox regression model, P = 0.003) in precursor B-ALL Ph (-) patientsDoutoradoGenetica Animal e EvoluçãoDoutor em Genetica e Biologia Molecula

Plasma Hsp90 Level as a Marker of Early Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Engraftment and Progression in Mice

<div><p>Current monitoring of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in living mice is based on FACS analysis of blood hCD45+ cells. In this work, we evaluated the use of human IGFBP2, B2M or Hsp90 as soluble markers of leukemia. ELISA for B2M and IGFBP2 resulted in high background levels in healthy animals, precluding its use. Conversely, plasma levels of Hsp90 showed low background and linear correlation to FACS results. In another experiment, we compared Hsp90 levels with percentage of hCD45+ cells in blood, bone marrow, liver and spleen of animals weekly sacrificed. Hsp90 levels proved to be a superior method for the earlier detection of ALL engraftment and correlated linearly to ALL burden and progression in all compartments, even at minimal residual disease levels. Importantly, the Hsp90/hCD45+ ratio was not altered when animals were treated with dexamethasone or a PI3K inhibitor, indicating that chemotherapy does not directly interfere with leukemia production of Hsp90. In conclusion, plasma Hsp90 was validated as a soluble biomarker of ALL, useful for earlier detection of leukemia engraftment, monitoring leukemia kinetics at residual disease levels, and pre-clinical or mouse avatar evaluations of anti-leukemic drugs.</p></div

Chemotherapy effects on biomarkers levels.

<p>Plasma biomarkers levels (ELISA) and matched percentage of ALL cells (hCD45+) in peripheral blood (PB) from animals under chemotherapy treatment. Samples were collected for analysis at the beginning (C1 = day 5), middle (C2 = day 19) and end (C3 = day 33) of treatment. Colored bars represent mean ± SD of biomarker levels (left Y axis) for individual mice samples analyzed in duplicate. Different colors represent different treatments. The PI3K inhibitor used was AS605240. Black bars represent percentages of ALL cells in peripheral blood (right Y axis). The dotted line in the Hsp90 graphic represents the ELISA cut-off value. Red arrows highlight lower than expected ELISA values, when compared to levels found in untreated animals with similar percentage of ALL cells.</p