BCL-2 family proteins as 5-Azacytidine-sensitizing targets and determinants of response in myeloid malignancies

Leukemia. 2014 Aug;28(8):1657-65. doi: 10.1038/leu.2014.44. Epub 2014 Jan 23.

Abstract

Synergistic molecular vulnerabilities enhancing hypomethylating agents in myeloid malignancies have remained elusive. RNA-interference drug modifier screens identified antiapoptotic BCL-2 family members as potent 5-Azacytidine-sensitizing targets. In further dissecting BCL-XL, BCL-2 and MCL-1 contribution to 5-Azacytidine activity, siRNA silencing of BCL-XL and MCL-1, but not BCL-2, exhibited variable synergy with 5-Azacytidine in vitro. The BCL-XL, BCL-2 and BCL-w inhibitor ABT-737 sensitized most cell lines more potently compared with the selective BCL-2 inhibitor ABT-199, which synergized with 5-Azacytidine mostly at higher doses. Ex vivo, ABT-737 enhanced 5-Azacytidine activity across primary AML, MDS and MPN specimens. Protein levels of BCL-XL, BCL-2 and MCL-1 in 577 AML patient samples showed overlapping expression across AML FAB subtypes and heterogeneous expression within subtypes, further supporting a concept of dual/multiple BCL-2 family member targeting consistent with RNAi and pharmacologic results. Consequently, silencing of MCL-1 and BCL-XL increased the activity of ABT-199. Functional interrogation of BCL-2 family proteins by BH3 profiling performed on patient samples significantly discriminated clinical response versus resistance to 5-Azacytidine-based therapies. On the basis of these results, we propose a clinical trial of navitoclax (clinical-grade ABT-737) combined with 5-Azacytidine in myeloid malignancies, as well as to prospectively validate BH3 profiling in predicting 5-Azacytidine response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / pharmacology*
  • Azacitidine / pharmacology*
  • Biphenyl Compounds / pharmacology
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy*
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / drug therapy*
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein / physiology
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / drug therapy
  • Nitrophenols / pharmacology
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / physiology*
  • RNA Interference
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology
  • bcl-X Protein / antagonists & inhibitors
  • bcl-X Protein / physiology

Substances

  • ABT-737
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • BCL2L1 protein, human
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic
  • MCL1 protein, human
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein
  • Nitrophenols
  • Piperazines
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Sulfonamides
  • bcl-X Protein
  • Azacitidine
  • venetoclax