Cell cycle-dependent activity of the novel dual PI3K-MTORC1/2 inhibitor NVP-BGT226 in acute leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of the PI3Kinase/AKT pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of many human malignancies. In acute leukemia, the AKT pathway is frequently activated, however mutations in the PI3K/AKT pathway are uncommon. In some cases, constitutive AKT activation can be linked to gain-of-function tyrosine kinase (TK) mutations upstream of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT pathway are attractive candidates for cancer drug development, but so far clinical efficacy of PI3K inhibitors against various neoplasms has been moderate. Furthermore, specific MTORC1 inhibitors, acting downstream of AKT, have the disadvantage of activating AKT via feed-back mechanisms. We now evaluated the antitumor efficacy of NVP-BGT226, a novel dual pan-PI3K and MTORC1/2 inhibitor, in acute leukemia. METHODS: Native leukemia blasts were stained to analyze for AKT phosphorylation levels on a flow cytometer. Efficacy of NVP-BGT226 in comparison to a second dual inhibitor, NVP-BEZ235, was determined with regard to cellular proliferation, autophagy, cell cycle regulation and induction of apoptosis in in vitro and ex vivo cellular assays as well as on the protein level. An isogenic AKT-autoactivated Ba/F3 model, different human leukemia cell lines as well as native leukemia patient blasts were studied. Isobologram analyses were set up to calculate for (super) additive or antagonistic effects of two agents. RESULTS: We show, that phosphorylation of AKT is frequently augmented in acute leukemia. NVP-BGT226 as well as NVP-BEZ235 profoundly and globally suppress AKT signaling pathways, which translates into potent antiproliferative effects. Furthermore, NVP-BGT226 has potent proapoptotic effects in vitro as well as in ex vivo native blasts. Surprisingly and in contrast, NVP-BEZ235 leads to a profound G1/G0 arrest preventing significant induction of apoptosis. Combination with TK inhibitors, which are currently been tested in the treatment of acute leukemia subtypes, overcomes cell cycle arrest and results in (super)additive proapoptotic effects for NVP-BGT226--but also for NVP-BEZ235. Importantly, mononuclear donor cells show lower phospho-AKT expression levels and consequently, relative insensitivity towards dual PI3K-MTORC1/2 inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest a favorable antileukemic profile for NVP-BGT226 compared to NVP-BEZ235--which provides a strong rationale for clinical evaluation of the dual PI3K-MTORC1/2 inhibitor NVP-BGT226 in acute leukemia.

Quizartinib (AC220) is a potent second generation class III tyrosine kinase inhibitor that displays a distinct inhibition profile against mutant-FLT3, -PDGFRA and -KIT isoforms.

BACKGROUND: Activating mutations of class III receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) FLT3, PDGFR and KIT are associated with multiple human neoplasms including hematologic malignancies, for example: systemic mast cell disorders (KIT), non-CML myeloproliferative neoplasms (PDGFR) and subsets of acute leukemias (FLT3 and KIT). First generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are rapidly being integrated into routine cancer care. However, the expanding spectrum of TK-mutations, bioavailability issues and the emerging problem of primary or secondary TKI-therapy resistance have lead to the search for novel second generation TKIs to improve target potency and to overcome resistant clones.Quizartinib was recently demonstrated to be a selective FLT3 inhibitor with excellent pharmacokinetics and promising in vivo activity in a phase II study for FLT3 ITD + AML patients. In vitro kinase assays have suggested that in addition to FLT3, quizartinib also targets related class III RTK isoforms. METHODS: Various FLT3 or KIT leukemia cell lines and native blasts were used to determine the antiproliferative and proapoptotic efficacy of quizartinib. To better compare differences between the mutant kinase isoforms, we generated an isogenic BaF3 cell line expressing different FLT3, KIT or BCR/ABL isoforms. Using immunoblotting, we examined the effects of quizartinib on activation of mutant KIT or FLT3 isoforms. RESULTS: Kinase inhibition of (mutant) KIT, PDGFR and FLT3 isoforms by quizartinib leads to potent inhibition of cellular proliferation and induction of apoptosis in in vitro leukemia models as well as in native leukemia blasts treated ex vivo. However, the sensitivity patterns vary widely depending on the underlying (mutant)-kinase isoform, with some isoforms being relatively insensitive to this agent (e.g. FLT3 D835V and KIT codon D816 mutations). Evaluation of sensitivities in an isogenic cellular background confirms a direct association with the underlying mutant-TK isoform--which is further validated by immunoblotting experiments demonstrating kinase inhibition consistent with the cellular sensitivity/resistance to quizartinib. CONCLUSION: Quizartinib is a potent second-generation class III receptor TK-inhibitor--but specific, mutation restricted spectrum of activity may require mutation screening prior to therapy.

High incidence of BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations and absence of mutations of the PDGFR and KIT activation loops in CML patients with secondary resistance to imatinib.

Imatinib, a specific inhibitor of the Abl, Kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) tyrosine kinases, is effective in all phases of chronic myelogenous leukemia. While responses in chronic phase are usually durable, resistance frequently develops in patients with advanced disease after an initial response. Several mechanisms of resistance have been demonstrated in vivo, including mutations in the BCR-ABL kinase domain and amplification of the BCR-ABL gene. We analyzed cytogenetics and screened for mutations of the BCR-ABL kinase domain as well as the activation loops of KIT and PDGFRA and B in 49 patients with CML or Ph-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia with resistance to imatinib. Mutations in the kinase domain of BCR-ABL were detected in 51.6% of patients with secondary resistance but not in patients with primary resistance. Three of these mutations have not been described before (T315D, F359D and D276G). By contrast, KIT and PDGFRA and B were consistently wildtype. Clonal evolution prior to imatinib was present in 68.8% of patients with primary resistance and in 45.5% with secondary resistance. Additional cytogenetic aberrations developed in 18.2% of patients at the time of relapse. Our results confirm the high frequency of BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations in patients with secondary resistance to imatinib and exclude mutations of the activation loops of KIT, PDGFRA and PDGFRB as possible causes of resistance in patients without ABL mutations.