Deregulated hedgehog pathway signaling is inhibited by the smoothened antagonist LDE225 (Sonidegib) in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukaemia

Sci Rep. 2016 May 9:6:25476. doi: 10.1038/srep25476.

Abstract

Targeting the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway represents a potential leukaemia stem cell (LSC)-directed therapy which may compliment tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) to eradicate LSC in chronic phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). We set out to elucidate the role of Hh signaling in CP-CML and determine if inhibition of Hh signaling, through inhibition of smoothened (SMO), was an effective strategy to target CP-CML LSC. Assessment of Hh pathway gene and protein expression demonstrated that the Hh pathway is activated in CD34(+) CP-CML stem/progenitor cells. LDE225 (Sonidegib), a small molecule, clinically investigated SMO inhibitor, used alone and in combination with nilotinib, inhibited the Hh pathway in CD34(+) CP-CML cells, reducing the number and self-renewal capacity of CML LSC in vitro. The combination had no effect on normal haemopoietic stem cells. When combined, LDE225 + nilotinib reduced CD34(+) CP-CML cell engraftment in NSG mice and, upon administration to EGFP(+) /SCLtTA/TRE-BCR-ABL mice, the combination enhanced survival with reduced leukaemia development in secondary transplant recipients. In conclusion, the Hh pathway is deregulated in CML stem and progenitor cells. We identify Hh pathway inhibition, in combination with nilotinib, as a potentially effective therapeutic strategy to improve responses in CP-CML by targeting both stem and progenitor cells.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD34 / metabolism
  • Biphenyl Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Biphenyl Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hedgehog Proteins / metabolism*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lentivirus / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / metabolism*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Pyridines / administration & dosage
  • Pyridines / pharmacology*
  • Pyrimidines / administration & dosage
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology
  • Spleen / pathology

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • Pyridines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • sonidegib
  • nilotinib