ENL: structure, function, and roles in hematopoiesis and acute myeloid leukemia

ENL/MLLT1 is a distinctive member of the KMT2 family based on its structural homology. ENL is a histone acetylation reader and a critical component of the super elongation complex. ENL plays pivotal roles in the regulation of chromatin remodelling and gene expression of many important proto-oncogenes, such as Myc, Hox genes, via histone acetylation. Novel insights of the key role of the YEATS domain of ENL in the transcriptional control of leukemogenic gene expression has emerged from whole genome Crisp-cas9 studies in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this review, we have summarized what is currently known about the structure and function of the ENL molecule. We described the ENL's role in normal hematopoiesis, and leukemogenesis. We have also outlined the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of target gene expression by ENL, as well as its major interacting partners and complexes involved. Finally, we discuss the emerging knowledge of different approaches for the validation of ENL as a therapeutic target and the development of small-molecule inhibitors disrupting the YEATS reader pocket of ENL protein, which holds great promise for the treatment of AML. This review will not only provide a fundamental understanding of the structure and function of ENL and update on the roles of ENL in AML, but also the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Novel mechanism of drug resistance to proteasome inhibitors in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer caused by uncontrolled proliferation of antibody-secreting plasma cells in bone marrow, which represents the second most common hematological malignancy. MM is a highly heterogeneous disease and can be classified into a spectrum of subgroups based on their molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities. In the past decade, novel therapies, especially, the first-in-class proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, have been revolutionary for the treatment of MM patients. Despite these remarkable achievements, myeloma remains incurable with a high frequency of patients suffering from a relapse, due to drug resistance. Mutation in the proteasome β5-subunit (PSMB5) was found in a bortezomib-resistant cell line generated via long-term coculture with increasing concentrations of bortezomib in 2008, but their actual implication in drug resistance in the clinic has not been reported until recently. A recent study discovered four resistance-inducing PSMB5 mutations from a relapsed MM patient receiving prolonged bortezomib treatment. Analysis of the dynamic clonal evolution revealed that two subclones existed at the onset of disease, while the other two subclones were induced. Protein structural modeling and functional assays demonstrated that all four mutations impaired the binding of bortezomib to the 20S proteasome, conferring different degrees of resistance. The authors further demonstrated two potential approaches to overcome drug resistance by using combination therapy for targeting proteolysis machinery independent of the 20S proteasome.

Biological Hallmarks and Emerging Strategies to Target STAT3 Signaling in Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematological malignancy, characterized by an abnormal accumulation of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a cytoplasmic transcription factor that modulates the transcription of multiple genes to regulate various principal biological functions, for example, cell proliferation and survival, stemness, inflammation and immune responses. Aberrant STAT3 activation has been identified as a key driver of tumorigenesis in many types of cancers, including MM. Herein, we summarize the current evidence for the role of STAT3 in affecting cancer hallmark traits by: (1) sustaining MM cell survival and proliferation, (2) regulating tumor microenvironment, (3) inducing immunosuppression. We also provide an update of different strategies for targeting STAT3 in MM with special emphasis on JAK inhibitors that are currently undergoing clinical trials. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future direction of understanding STAT3 signaling in MM biology and the clinical development of STAT3 inhibitors.

Unveiling novel insights in acute myeloid leukemia through single-cell RNA sequencing

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a complex and heterogeneous group of aggressive hematopoietic stem cell disease. The presence of diverse and functionally distinct populations of leukemia cells within the same patient's bone marrow or blood poses a significant challenge in diagnosing and treating AML. A substantial proportion of AML patients demonstrate resistance to induction chemotherapy and a grim prognosis upon relapse. The rapid advance in next generation sequencing technologies, such as single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), has revolutionized our understanding of AML pathogenesis by enabling high-resolution interrogation of the cellular heterogeneity in the AML ecosystem, and their transcriptional signatures at a single-cell level. New studies have successfully characterized the inextricably intertwined interactions among AML cells, immune cells and bone marrow microenvironment and their contributions to the AML development, therapeutic resistance and relapse. These findings have deepened and broadened our understanding the complexity and heterogeneity of AML, which are difficult to detect with bulk RNA-seq. This review encapsulates the burgeoning body of knowledge generated through scRNA-seq, providing the novel insights and discoveries it has unveiled in AML biology. Furthermore, we discuss the potential implications of scRNA-seq in therapeutic opportunities, focusing on immunotherapy. Finally, we highlight the current limitations and future direction of scRNA-seq in the field.