There is a clear unmet need to develop novel, targeted and safer therapies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Approximately 30% of AML carry a heterozygous mutation in the nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1), which results in the cytoplasmic dislocation of the mutant NPM1 (mtNPM1). Wild-type NPM1 (wtNPM1) is a nucleolar phosphoprotein, which functions as a molecular chaperone for proteins and nucleic acids (4). The N-terminal conserved oligomerization domain of NPM1 is critical for its multiple functions. In AML, presence of the cytoplasmic, dislocated mtNPM1 attenuates the levels of the nucleolar wtNPM1. As a founder mutation in AML, mtNPM1 is a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor of myeloid malignancies and appears to also confer a gain of function for the AML phenotype. Although its presence is associated with a relatively better prognosis in AML, mtNPM1 is often co-expressed with mutant FLT-3-ITD (internal tandem duplication), which represents an aggressive and relatively treatment-refractory sub-type of AML. Recently, we reported that knockdown of the levels and/or function of NPM1 induces growth arrest, differentiation and apoptosis of AML cells with mtNPM1, as well as sensitizes the AML cells to differentiation induced by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Therefore, there is a strong rationale and need for fully evaluating the anti-AML efficacy and its mechanism following the targeted knockdown of the level and/or function of NPM1 along with a differentiation inducing agent or a FLT3-TKI. Based on this, the objectives of this proposal are to fill the gap in our knowledge about the mechanism by which knockdown of NPM1 induces differentiation and apoptosis and increases sensitivity of AML cells with mtNPM1 to differentiation-inducing therapy and FLT3-TKI. Proposed in vitro and in vivo studies in mouse models will create the supportive pre-clinical data for further clinical development of the novel combinations of NPM1 antagonist-based therapy of AML. These studies will test the unifying hypothesis that knockdown of NPM1 levels/function overcomes differentiation arrest and sensitizes AML cells that express mtNPM1 to differentiation-inducing agents, as well as sensitizes AML cells that co-express FLT3-ITD and mtNPM1 to FLT3-TKI.
The specific aims of the proposal are:
AIM 1 : To determine the in vitro and in vivo effects of the knockdown of NPM1 (mtNPM1 versus wtNPM1 plus mtNPM1) levels or function on cell growth, differentiation and survival of cultured and patient-derived primary AML cells expressing mtNPM1.
AIM 2 : To determine the sensitizing effect of knockdown of NPM1 levels or function on the in vitro and in vivo activity of differentiation- inducing agents, e.g., all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) or a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, against cultured and primary AML cells.
AIM 3 : To determine the in vitro and in vivo anti-AML activity of combined targeting of NPM1 and FLT3-ITD in cultured and primary AML cells that co-express mtNPM1 and FLT3-ITD. Overall, these aims will establish NPM1 as a 'druggable' target and pave the way for performing high throughput screening and development of novel compounds that target NPM1 for the therapy of AML expressing mtNPM1.
Heterozygous mutation of the NPM1 gene, a common pathogenic founder mutation in human AML, has never been targeted for therapy of AML. Based on our preliminary findings that knockdown of NPM1 induces differentiation of AML cells, we propose to pre-clinically determine the anti-AML activity of abrogating NPM1 in sensitizing AML cells to differentiation-inducing agents, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and histone deacetylase inhibitor entinostat. Additionally, because FLT3 tyrosine kinase internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation is commonly co-expressed with mutant NPM1 and confers poor prognosis in AML, proposed in vitro and in vivo studies will also pre-clinically determine the activity of the combination of NPM1 antagonist and FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitor against AML that co-express mutant NPM1 and FLT-ITD.
| Saenz, Dyana T; Fiskus, Warren; Manshouri, Taghi et al. (2017) BET protein bromodomain inhibitor-based combinations are highly active against post-myeloproliferative neoplasm secondary AML cells. Leukemia 31:678-687 |
| Devaraj, S G T; Fiskus, W; Shah, B et al. (2016) HEXIM1 induction is mechanistically involved in mediating anti-AML activity of BET protein bromodomain antagonist. Leukemia 30:504-8 |
| Fiskus, Warren; Sharma, Sunil; Qi, Jun et al. (2014) BET protein antagonist JQ1 is synergistically lethal with FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and overcomes resistance to FLT3-TKI in AML cells expressing FLT-ITD. Mol Cancer Ther 13:2315-27 |
| Fiskus, W; Sharma, S; Shah, B et al. (2014) Highly effective combination of LSD1 (KDM1A) antagonist and pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor against human AML cells. Leukemia 28:2155-64 |
