Atypical activation of signaling downstream of inactivated Bcr-Abl mediates chemoresistance in chronic myeloid leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) epitomises successful targeted therapy, where inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity of oncoprotein Bcr-Abl1 by imatinib, induces remission in 86% patients in initial chronic phase (CP). However, in acute phase of blast crisis, 80% patients show resistance, 40% among them despite inhibition of Bcr-Abl1 activity. This implies activation of either Bcr-Abl1- independent signalling pathways or restoration of signalling downstream of inactive Bcr-Abl1. In the present study, mass spectrometry and subsequent in silico pathway analysis of differentiators in resistant CML-CP cells identified key differentiators, 14–3-3ε and p38 MAPK, which belong to Bcr-Abl1 pathway. Their levels and activity respectively, indicated active Bcr-Abl1 pathway in CML-BC resistant cells, though Bcr-Abl1 is inhibited by imatinib. Further, contribution of these components to resistance was demonstrated by inhibition of Bcr-Abl1 down-stream signalling by knocking-out of 14–3-3ε and inhibition of p38 MAPK activity. The observations merit clinical validation to explore their translational potential.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12079-021-00647-x.     

Synthesis and identification of GZD856 as an orally bioavailable Bcr-AblT315I inhibitor overcoming acquired imatinib resistance

Bcr-Abl^T315I induced drug resistance remains a major challenge to chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) treatment. Herein, we reported GZD856 as a novel orally bioavailable Bcr-Abl^T315I inhibitor, which strongly suppressed the kinase activities of both native Bcr-Abl and the T315I mutant with IC₅₀ values of 19.9 and 15.4?nM, and potently inhibited proliferation of corresponding K562, Ba/F3^WT and Ba/F3^T315I cells with IC₅₀ values of 2.2, 0.64 and 10.8?nM. Furthermore, GZD856 potently suppressed tumor growth in mouse bearing xenograft K562 and Ba/F3 cells expressing Bcr-Abl^T315I. Thus, GZD856 may serve as a promising lead for the development of Bcr-Abl inhibitors overcoming acquired imatinib resistance.     

Assaying Bcr-Abl kinase activity and inhibition in whole cell extracts by phosphorylation of substrates immobilized on agarose beads

There is a current and increasing demand for simple, robust, nonradioactive assays of protein tyrosine kinase activity with applications for clinical diagnosis and high-throughput screening of potential molecularly targeted therapeutic agents. One significant challenge is to detect and measure the activity of specific kinases with key roles in cell signaling as an approach to distinguish normal cells from cancer cells and as a means of evaluating targeted drug efficacy and resistance in cancer cells. Here, we describe a method in which kinase substrates fused to glutathione-S-transferase and immobilized on glutathione agarose beads are phosphorylated, eluted, and then assayed to detect kinase activity. The activity of recombinant, purified c-Abl kinase or Bcr-Abl kinase in whole cell extracts can be detected with equivalent specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility. Similarly, inhibition of recombinant c-Abl or Bcr-Abl in cells or cell extracts by imatinib mesylate and other Bcr-Abl targeted kinase inhibitors is readily assayed. This simple kinase assay is sufficiently straightforward and robust for use in clinical laboratories and is potentially adaptable to high-throughput assay formats.     

Denbinobin-mediated anticancer effect in human K562 leukemia cells: role in tubulin polymerization and Bcr-Abl activity

Denbinobin (5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy-1,4-phenanthraquinone) has been reported to exhibit anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory activity. Nevertheless, the anti-tumor mechanism of denbinobin remains unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the anticancer activity of denbinobin in human myelogenous K562 leukemia cells. In accordance with the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, we demonstrated that denbinobin inhibited cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC₅₀ value of 1.84M. Cell cycle analysis illustrated that exposure of denbinobin caused a G2/M phase accumulation in a time-dependent manner. Tubulin polymerization in cells was apparently enhanced by denbinobin, implying that denbinobin might have a regulatory role in tubulin/microtubule. Furthermore, denbinobin significantly suppressed the expression of Bcr-Abl and phosphorylation of CrkL, a crucial tyrosine kinase and an adaptor protein in chronic myeloid leukemia, respectively. Denbinobin also markedly enhanced CD11b expression after a long-term treatment, suggesting that denbinobin might play a role in facilitating differentiation in K562 cells. In summary, we have demonstrated that denbinobin displays anticancer effects in K562 cells through the increase of levels of tubulin polymerization and deregulation of Bcr-Abl signaling. Our data demonstrate that denbinobin could be a potential anticancer lead compound for further development.     

针对T315I 突变的Bcr-Abl 酪氨酸激酶抑制剂研究进展

BCR-ABL 是一种由bcr 基因和c-abl 原癌基因融合产生的致癌基因。该基因表达的Bcr–Abl 癌蛋白是慢性粒细胞白血病的病理学基础。因此研发选择性的Bcr–Abl 酪氨酸激酶抑制剂成为治疗慢性粒细胞白血病的一种有效策略。目前已有数个Bcr–Abl 酪氨酸激酶抑制剂获准上市。然而,Abl 激酶结构域的突变或其他原因导致肿瘤耐药性的出现,其中T315I 突变是最重要的突变之一,引发的耐药性更是难以克服。重点介绍了针对T315I 突变的Bcr–Abl 酪氨酸激酶抑制剂的研究进展。     

The ErbB/HER receptor protein-tyrosine kinases and cancer

The ErbB/HER protein-tyrosine kinases, which include the epidermal growth factor receptor, consist of a growth-factor-binding ectodomain, a single transmembrane segment, an intracellular protein-tyrosine kinase catalytic domain, and a tyrosine-containing cytoplasmic tail. The genes for the four members of this family, ErbB1-ErbB4, are found on different human chromosomes. Null mutations of any of the ErbB family members result in embryonic lethality. ErbB1 and ErbB2 are overexpressed in a wide variety of tumors including breast, colorectal, ovarian, and non-small cell lung cancers. The structures of the ectodomains of the ErbB receptors in their active and inactive conformation have shed light on the mechanism of receptor activation. The extracellular component of the ErbB proteins consists of domains I-IV. The activating growth factor, which binds to domains I and III, selects and stabilizes a conformation that allows a dimerization arm to extend from domain II to interact with an ErbB dimer partner. As a result of dimerization, protein kinase activation, trans-autophosphorylation, and initiation of signaling occur. The conversion of the inactive to active receptor involves a major rotation of the ectodomain. The ErbB receptors are targets for anticancer drugs. Two strategies for blocking the action of these proteins include antibodies directed against the ectodomain and drugs that inhibit protein-tyrosine kinase activity. A reversible ATP competitive inhibitor of ErbB1 (ZD1839, or Iressa) and an ErbB1 ectodomain directed antibody (IMC-C225, or Erbitux) have been approved for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer, respectively. An ErbB2/HER2 ectodomain directed antibody (trastuzumab, or Herceptin) has also been approved for the treatment of breast cancer. Current research promises to produce additional agents based upon these approaches.