bims-tremyl Biomed News
on Therapy resistance biology in myeloid leukemia
Issue of 2022–01–02
twelve papers selected by
Paolo Gallipoli, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London
  1. Critical Role of Lama4 for Hematopoiesis Regeneration and Acute Myeloid Leukemia Progression.
  2. Epigenetic Modulation of Self-Renewal Capacity of Leukemic Stem Cells and Implications for Chemotherapy.
  3. A Randomized Phase 2 Trial of Azacitidine ± Durvalumab as First-line Therapy for Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes.
  4. Venetoclax combination therapy in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.
  5. Technical Aspects of Flow Cytometry-based Measurable Residual Disease Quantification in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Experience of the European LeukemiaNet MRD Working Party.
  6. Degrading FLT3-ITD protein by proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC).
  7. Atypical CML with mutated SRSF2, ASXL1, CSF3R, and MPL.
  8. SIRT2 regulates mitochondrial dynamics and reprogramming via MEK1-ERK-DRP1 and AKT1-DRP1 axes.
  9. Efficacy and safety of adding gemtuzumab ozogamicin to conventional chemotherapy for adult acute myeloid leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
  10. Engineering CAR-T cells to activate small-molecule drugs in situ.
  11. A novel algorithmic approach to generate consensus treatment guidelines in adult acute myeloid leukaemia.
  12. EMSY inhibits homologous recombination repair and the interferon response, promoting lung cancer immune evasion.
  1. Blood. 2021 Dec 27. pii: blood.2021011510. [Epub ahead of print]
    Critical Role of Lama4 for Hematopoiesis Regeneration and Acute Myeloid Leukemia Progression.
    Huan Cai, Makoto Kondo, Lakshmi Sandhow, Pingnan Xiao, Anne-Sofie Johansson, Takako Sasaki, Joanna Zawacka-Pankau, Karl Tryggvason, Johanna S Ungerstedt, Julian Walfridsson, Marja Ekblom, Hong Qian.
      Impairement of normal hmatopoiesis and leukemia progression are two well-linked processes during leukemia development and controlled by the bone marrow (BM) niche. Extracellular matrix proteins including laminin are important BM niche components. However, their role in hematopoiesis regeneration and leukemia is unknown. Laminin α4 (Lama4), a major receptor-binding chain of several laminins, is altered in BM niches in mice with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). So far, the impact of Lama4 on leukemia progression remains unknown. We here report that Lama4 deletion in mice resulted in impaired hematopoiesis regeneration following irradiation-induced stress, which is accompanied with altered BM niche composition and inflammation. Importantly, in a transplantation-induced MLL-AF9 AML mouse model, we demonstrate accelerated AML progression and relapse in Lama4-/-mice. Upon AML exposure, Lama4-/- mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibited dramatic molecular alterations including upregulation of inflammatory cytokines that favor AML growth. Lama4-/- MSCs displayed increased anti-oxidant activities and promoted AML stem cell proliferation and chemoresistance to cytarabine, which was accompanied by increased mitochondrial transfer from the MSCs to AML cells and reduced reactive oxygen species in AML cells in vitro. Similarly, we detected lower levels of reactive oxygen species in AML cells from Lama4-/- mice post-cytarabine treatment. Notably, LAMA4 inhibition or knockdown in human MSCs promoted human AML cell proliferation and chemoprotection. Together, our study for the first time demonstrates a critical role of Lama4 in impeding AML progression and chemoresistance. Targeting Lama4 signaling pathways may offer potential new therapeutic options for AML.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2021011510
  2. Epigenomes. 2020 Mar 01. pii: 3. [Epub ahead of print]4(1):
    Epigenetic Modulation of Self-Renewal Capacity of Leukemic Stem Cells and Implications for Chemotherapy.
    Richard L Momparler, Sylvie Côté, Louise F Momparler.
      Most patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have a poor prognosis. Curative therapy of AML requires the complete eradication of the leukemic stem cells (LSCs). One aspect of LSCs that is poorly understood is their low frequency in the total population of leukemic cells in AML patients. After each cell division of LSCs, most of the daughter cells lose their capacity for self-renewal. Investigations into the role of Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations in AML provide some insight on the regulation of the proliferation of LSCs. The primary role of IDH is to convert isocitrate to alpha-keto-glutarate (α-KG). When IDH is mutated, it converts α-KG to 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG), an inhibitor of the TET pathway and Jumonji-C histone demethylases (JHDMs). The demethylating action of these enzymes removes the epigenetic gene-silencing markers, DNA methylation, H3K27me3 and H3K9me2 and can lead to the differentiation of LSCs. This enzymatic action is blocked by 2-HG in mutated IDH (mut-IDH) AML patients, who can be induced into remission with antagonists of 2-HG. These observations suggest that there exists in cells a natural enzymatic mechanism that uses demethylation to reverse epigenetic gene-silencing, leading to a loss of the self-renewal capacity of LSCs. This mechanism limits the proliferative potential of LSCs. Epigenetic agents that inhibit DNA and histone methylation exhibit a synergistic antineoplastic action on AML cells. It is possible that the therapeutic potential of this epigenetic therapy may be enhanced by demethylation enzymes, resulting in a very effective treatment for AML.
    Keywords:  3-deazaplanocin-A; 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine; DNA methylation; epigenetics; histone methylation; leukemic stem cells; self-renewal
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/epigenomes4010003
  3. Blood Adv. 2021 Dec 31. pii: bloodadvances.2021005487. [Epub ahead of print]
    A Randomized Phase 2 Trial of Azacitidine ± Durvalumab as First-line Therapy for Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes.
    Amer M Zeidan, Isaac Wayne Boss, C L Beach, Wilbert B Copeland, Ethan Greene Thompson, Brian A Fox, Vanessa E Hasle, Ken Ogasawara, Jamie Cavenagh, Lewis R Silverman, Maria Teresa Voso, Andrzej Hellmann, Mar Tormo, Tim O'Connor, Aessandro Previtali, Shelonitda Rose, Guillermo Garcia-Manero.
      Azacitidine-mediated hypomethylation promotes tumor cell immune recognition but may increase inhibitory immune checkpoint (ICP) molecule expression. We conducted the first randomized phase 2 study of azacitidine plus the ICP inhibitor durvalumab versus azacitidine monotherapy as first-line treatment of higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR-MDS). Patients (N=84) received azacitidine 75 mg/m2 subcutaneously (days 1-7) with (Arm A) or without (Arm B) durvalumab 1500 mg intravenously on day 1 every 4 weeks. After a median follow-up of 15.25 months, 8 patients in Arm A and 6 in Arm B remained on treatment. Patients in Arms A and B received a median of 7.9 and 7.0 treatment cycles, respectively, with 73.7% and 65.9% completing ≥4 cycles. The overall response rate (primary endpoint) was 61.9% in Arm A (26/42) and 47.6% in Arm B (20/42; P=0.18), and median overall survival was 11.6 months (95% CI: 9.5, nonevaluable) versus 16.7 months (95% CI: 9.8, 23.5) (P=0.74). Durvalumab-related adverse events (AEs) were reported by 71.1% of patients; azacitidine-related AEs were reported by 82% (A) and 81% (B). Grade 3 or 4 hematologic AEs were reported in (Arm A vs B) 89.5% vs 68.3% of patients. Patients with TP53 mutations tended to have a worse response than patients without these mutations. Azacitidine increased PD-L1 (CD274) surface expression on bone marrow granulocytes and monocytes, but not blasts, in both arms. In summary, combining durvalumab and azacitidine in patients with HR-MDS was feasible, but with more toxicities and without significant improvement in clinical outcomes over azacitidine alone. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02775903.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2021005487
  4. Curr Opin Hematol. 2021 Dec 28.
    Venetoclax combination therapy in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.
    Shai Shimony, Richard M Stone, Maximilian Stahl.
       PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Venetoclax is a BCL-2 inhibitor that was approved in combination therapy with hypomethylating agents or low dose cytarabine for newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The purpose of this review is to outline the most recent venetoclax-based combination therapies in newly diagnosed or relapsed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and AML patients.
    RECENT FINDING: Venetoclax has been incorporated in various therapeutic regimens - either with chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapies. These combinations achieve high remission rates with deep molecular responses, as suggested by measurable residual disease measurements. There are concerns regarding the incomplete count recovery, prolonged cytopenia and infection rates, especially when combined with chemotherapy. There is also limited data concerning durability of these remissions, and the effectiveness in high-risk population (i.e. p53-mutated AML patients).
    SUMMARY: Venetoclax-based combination therapies encompass novel therapeutic possibilities in MDS and AML with encouraging initial results. However, the exact role of each combination therapy and the long-term effects on patients' outcome are yet to be defined.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1097/MOH.0000000000000698
  5. Hemasphere. 2022 Jan;6(1): e676
    Technical Aspects of Flow Cytometry-based Measurable Residual Disease Quantification in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Experience of the European LeukemiaNet MRD Working Party.
    Jesse M Tettero, Sylvie Freeman, Veit Buecklein, Adriano Venditti, Luca Maurillo, Wolfgang Kern, Roland B Walter, Brent L Wood, Christophe Roumier, Jan Philippé, Barbara Denys, Jeffrey L Jorgensen, Marie C Bene, Francis Lacombe, Adriana Plesa, Monica L Guzman, Agnieszka Wierzbowska, Anna Czyz, Lok Lam Ngai, Adrian Schwarzer, Costa Bachas, Jacqueline Cloos, Marion Subklewe, Michaela Fuering-Buske, Francesco Buccisano.
      Measurable residual disease (MRD) quantified by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) is a strong and independent prognostic factor in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, several technical factors may affect the final read-out of the assay. Experts from the MRD Working Party of the European LeukemiaNet evaluated which aspects are crucial for accurate MFC-MRD measurement. Here, we report on the agreement, obtained via a combination of a cross-sectional questionnaire, live discussions, and a Delphi poll. The recommendations consist of several key issues from bone marrow sampling to final laboratory reporting to ensure quality and reproducibility of results. Furthermore, the experiences were tested by comparing two 8-color MRD panels in multiple laboratories. The results presented here underscore the feasibility and the utility of a harmonized theoretical and practical MFC-MRD assessment and are a next step toward further harmonization.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1097/HS9.0000000000000676
  6. Bioorg Chem. 2021 Nov 29. pii: S0045-2068(21)00886-5. [Epub ahead of print]119 105508
    Degrading FLT3-ITD protein by proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC).
    Yong Chen, Xue Yuan, Minghai Tang, Mingsong Shi, Tao Yang, Kongjun Liu, Dexin Deng, Lijuan Chen.
      Clinical FLT3 mutations caused poor therapeutic benefits toward the present FLT3 inhibitors, and degradation of the FLT3 mutant protein may be a promising alternative approach to protect against acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Herein, we report the discovery of small molecule FLT3 degraders based on the proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC). FLT3 degraders were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for FLT3 degradation. Promising PF15 significantly inhibited the proliferation of FLT3-ITD-positive cells, induced FLT3 degradation and downregulated the phosphorylation of FLT3 and STAT5. An in vivo xenograft model and survival period evaluation verified the efficacy of PROTAC. These findings laid a robust foundation for FLT3-PROTAC molecules as an effective strategy for treating AML.
    Keywords:  AML; Click chemistry; Degradation; FLT3; PROTAC
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105508
  7. Blood. 2021 Dec 30. 138(26): 2890
    Atypical CML with mutated SRSF2, ASXL1, CSF3R, and MPL.
    Ann Tran, Michelle Wong.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2021013480
  8. Cell Rep. 2021 Dec 28. pii: S2211-1247(21)01651-X. [Epub ahead of print]37(13): 110155
    SIRT2 regulates mitochondrial dynamics and reprogramming via MEK1-ERK-DRP1 and AKT1-DRP1 axes.
    Young Cha, Taewoo Kim, Jeha Jeon, Yongwoo Jang, Patrick B Kim, Claudia Lopes, Pierre Leblanc, Bruce M Cohen, Kwang-Soo Kim.
      During somatic reprogramming, cellular energy metabolism fundamentally switches from predominantly mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation toward glycolysis. This metabolic reprogramming, also called the Warburg effect, is critical for the induction of pluripotency, but its molecular mechanisms remain poorly defined. Notably, SIRT2 is consistently downregulated during the reprogramming process and regulates glycolytic switch. Here, we report that downregulation of SIRT2 increases acetylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase-1 (MEK1) at Lys175, resulting in activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and subsequent activation of the pro-fission factor dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1). In parallel, downregulation of SIRT2 hyperacetylates the serine/threonine protein kinase AKT1 at Lys20 in a non-canonical way, activating DRP1 and metabolic reprogramming. Together, our study identified two axes, SIRT2-MEK1-ERK-DRP1 and SIRT2-AKT1-DRP1, that critically link mitochondrial dynamics and oxidative phosphorylation to the somatic reprogramming process. These upstream signals, together with SIRT2's role in glycolytic switching, may underlie the Warburg effect observed in human somatic cell reprogramming.
    Keywords:  AKT1; DRP1; MEK1-ERK axis; OXPHOS; SIRT2; Warburg-like effect; human somatic cell reprogramming; induced pluripotent stem cells; metabolic reprogramming; mitochondrial remodeling
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110155
  9. Hematology. 2022 Dec;27(1): 53-64
    Efficacy and safety of adding gemtuzumab ozogamicin to conventional chemotherapy for adult acute myeloid leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
    Yuancheng Guo, Lijuan Deng, Yanhong Qiao, Bei Liu.
      Introduction: Compared with the 3 + 7 regimen, the addition of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) has improved survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the overall efficacy and safety of GO in combination with conventional chemotherapy regimens in patients with AML.Methods: We searched several databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library). Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS); odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were calculated for the other outcomes.Results: Ten records involving 11 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met the inclusion criteria. GO plus induction chemotherapy significantly increased RFS (HR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.73-0.98), decreased the incidence of relapse (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.68-0.91) and resistant disease (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.61-0.84), and had no significant effect on the rate of complete remission (CR) with or without incomplete platelet recovery (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 0.94-1.55), 30-day mortality (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 0.99-1.57). Subgroup analysis showed significant OS benefits for patients with favorable cytogenetic (HR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.28-0.89) or given GO at induction stage (HR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.84-1.00). Compared with other dosing schedule groups, 3 mg/m2 fractionated schedule had a greater RFS benefit (HR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.36-0.76) and lower relapse risk (OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.28-0.84).Conclusions: Adding low-dose GO to induction or both induction and post-remission chemotherapy has considerable efficacy and unequivocal safety for newly diagnosed adult AML.
    Keywords:  Acute myeloid leukemia; antibody-drug conjugate‌; gemtuzumab ozogamicin; induction chemotherapy; meta-analysis; systematic review
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/16078454.2021.2013410
  10. Nat Chem Biol. 2021 Dec 30.
    Engineering CAR-T cells to activate small-molecule drugs in situ.
    Thomas J Gardner, J Peter Lee, Christopher M Bourne, Dinali Wijewarnasuriya, Nihar Kinarivala, Keifer G Kurtz, Broderick C Corless, Megan M Dacek, Aaron Y Chang, George Mo, Kha M Nguyen, Renier J Brentjens, Derek S Tan, David A Scheinberg.
      Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells represent a major breakthrough in cancer therapy, wherein a patient's own T cells are engineered to recognize a tumor antigen, resulting in activation of a local cytotoxic immune response. However, CAR-T cell therapies are currently limited to the treatment of B cell cancers and their effectiveness is hindered by resistance from antigen-negative tumor cells, immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment, eventual exhaustion of T cell immunologic functions and frequent severe toxicities. To overcome these problems, we have developed a novel class of CAR-T cells engineered to express an enzyme that activates a systemically administered small-molecule prodrug in situ at a tumor site. We show that these synthetic enzyme-armed killer (SEAKER) cells exhibit enhanced anticancer activity with small-molecule prodrugs, both in vitro and in vivo in mouse tumor models. This modular platform enables combined targeting of cellular and small-molecule therapies to treat cancers and potentially a variety of other diseases.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-021-00932-1
  11. Br J Haematol. 2021 Dec 26.
    A novel algorithmic approach to generate consensus treatment guidelines in adult acute myeloid leukaemia.
    Thomas Coats, Daniel Bean, Aymeric Basset, Tamir Sirkis, Jonathan Brammeld, Sean Johnson, Ian Thomas, Amanda Gilkes, Kavita Raj, Mike Dennis, Steve Knapper, Priyanka Mehta, Asim Khwaja, Hannah Hunter, Sudhir Tauro, David Bowen, Gail Jones, Richard Dobson, Nigel Russell, Richard Dillon.
      Induction therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) has changed with the approval of a number of new agents. Clinical guidelines can struggle to keep pace with an evolving treatment and evidence landscape and therefore identifying the most appropriate front-line treatment is challenging for clinicians. Here, we combined drug eligibility criteria and genetic risk stratification into a digital format, allowing the full range of possible treatment eligibility scenarios to be defined. Using exemplar cases representing each of the 22 identified scenarios, we sought to generate consensus on treatment choice from a panel of nine aUK AML experts. We then analysed >2500 real-world cases using the same algorithm, confirming the existence of 21/22 of these scenarios and demonstrating that our novel approach could generate a consensus AML induction treatment in 98% of cases. Our approach, driven by the use of decision trees, is an efficient way to develop consensus guidance rapidly and could be applied to other disease areas. It has the potential to be updated frequently to capture changes in eligibility criteria, novel therapies and emerging trial data. An interactive digital version of the consensus guideline is available.
    Keywords:  classifications; clinical haematology; diagnostic haematology; myeloid leukaemia
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.18013
  12. Cell. 2021 Dec 18. pii: S0092-8674(21)01427-6. [Epub ahead of print]
    EMSY inhibits homologous recombination repair and the interferon response, promoting lung cancer immune evasion.
    Antonio Marzio, Emma Kurz, Jennifer M Sahni, Giuseppe Di Feo, Joseph Puccini, Shaowen Jiang, Carolina Alcantara Hirsch, Arnaldo A Arbini, Warren L Wu, Harvey I Pass, Dafna Bar-Sagi, Thales Papagiannakopoulos, Michele Pagano.
      Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) harboring KEAP1 mutations are often resistant to immunotherapy. Here, we show that KEAP1 targets EMSY for ubiquitin-mediated degradation to regulate homologous recombination repair (HRR) and anti-tumor immunity. Loss of KEAP1 in NSCLC induces stabilization of EMSY, producing a BRCAness phenotype, i.e., HRR defects and sensitivity to PARP inhibitors. Defective HRR contributes to a high tumor mutational burden that, in turn, is expected to prompt an innate immune response. Notably, EMSY accumulation suppresses the type I interferon response and impairs innate immune signaling, fostering cancer immune evasion. Activation of the type I interferon response in the tumor microenvironment using a STING agonist results in the engagement of innate and adaptive immune signaling and impairs the growth of KEAP1-mutant tumors. Our results suggest that targeting PARP and STING pathways, individually or in combination, represents a therapeutic strategy in NSCLC patients harboring alterations in KEAP1.
    Keywords:  BRCAness; EMSY; KEAP1; NSCLC; PARP inhibitors; STING agonsts; immune evasion; interferon; lung cancer; ubiquitination
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2021.12.005
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