AG-221, a First-in-Class Therapy Targeting Acute Myeloid Leukemia Harboring Oncogenic IDH2 Mutations

Rationale design of novel substituted 1,3,5-triazine candidates as dual IDH1(R132H)/ IDH2(R140Q) inhibitors with high selectivity against acute myeloid leukemia: In vitro and in vivo preclinical investigations

In this study, novel substituted 1,3,5-triazine candidates (4a-d, 5a-j, and 6a-d) were designed as second-generation small molecules to act as dual IDH1 and IDH2 inhibitors according to the pharmacophoric features of both vorasidenib and enasidenib. Compounds 6a and 6b for leukemia cell lines showed from low to sub-micromolar GI50. Moreover, compounds 4c, 5f, and 6b described the frontier antitumor activity against THP1 and Kasumi Leukemia cancer cells with IC50 values of (10 and 12), (10.5 and 7), and (6.2 and 5.9) µg/mL, which were superior to those of cisplatin (25 and 28) µg/mL, respectively. Interestingly, compounds 4c, 6b, and 6d represented the best dual IDH1(R132H)/IDH2(R140Q) inhibitory potentials with IC50 values of (0.72 and 1.22), (0.12 and 0.93), and (0.50 and 1.28) µg/mL, respectively, compared to vorasidenib (0.02 and 0.08) µg/mL and enasidenib (0.33 and 1.80) µg/mL. Furthermore, the most active candidate (6b) has very promising inhibitory potentials towards HIF-1α, VEGF, and SDH, besides, a marked increase of ROS was observed as well. Besides, compound 6b induced the upregulation of P53, BAX, Caspases 3, 6, 8, and 9 proteins by 3.70, 1.99, 2.06, 1.73, 1.75, and 1.85-fold changes, respectively, and the downregulation for the BCL-2 protein by 0.55-fold change compared to the control. Besides, the in vivo behavior of compound 6b as an antitumor agent was evaluated in female mice bearing solid Ehrlich carcinoma tumors. Notably, compound 6b administration resulted in a prominent decrease in the weight and volume of the tumors, accompanied by improvements in biochemical, hematological, and histological parameters.

Trans vs. cis: a computational study of enasidenib resistance due to IDH2 mutations

Isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) is a homodimeric enzyme that plays an important role in energy production. A mutation R140Q in one monomer makes the enzyme tumourigenic. Enasidenib is an effective inhibitor of IDH2/R140Q. A secondary mutation Q316E leads to enasidenib resistance. This mutation was hitherto only found in trans, i.e. where one monomer has the R140Q mutation and the other carries the Q316E mutation. It is not clear if the mutation only leads to resistance when in trans or if it has been discovered in trans only by chance, since it was only reported in two patients. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations we show that the binding of enasidenib to IDH2 is indeed much weaker when the Q316E mutation takes place in trans not in cis, which provides a molecular explanation for the clinical finding. This is corroborated by non-covalent interaction (NCI) analysis and DFT calculations. Whereas the MD simulations show a loss of one hydrogen bond upon the resistance mutation, NCI and energy decomposition analysis (EDA) reveal that a multitude of interactions are weakened.

Multivariate analysis of metabolic state vulnerabilities across diverse cancer contexts reveals synthetically lethal associations

Targeting the distinct metabolic needs of tumor cells has recently emerged as a promising strategy for cancer therapy. The heterogeneous, context-dependent nature of cancer cell metabolism, however, poses challenges in identifying effective therapeutic interventions. Here, we utilize various unsupervised and supervised multivariate modeling approaches to systematically pinpoint recurrent metabolic states within hundreds of cancer cell lines, elucidate their association with tumor lineage and growth environments, and uncover vulnerabilities linked to their metabolic states across diverse genetic and tissue contexts. We validate key findings via analysis of data from patient-derived tumors and pharmacological screens, and by performing new genetic and pharmacological experiments. Our analysis uncovers new synthetically lethal associations between the tumor metabolic state (e.g., oxidative phosphorylation), driver mutations (e.g., loss of tumor suppressor PTEN), and actionable biological targets (e.g., mitochondrial electron transport chain). Investigating the mechanisms underlying these relationships can inform the development of more precise and context-specific, metabolism-targeted cancer therapies.

Molecular Targeting of the Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Pathway and the Implications for Cancer Therapy

The advent of comprehensive genomic profiling using next-generation sequencing (NGS) has unveiled an abundance of potentially actionable genetic aberrations that have shaped our understanding of the cancer biology landscape. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) is an enzyme present in the cytosol (IDH1) and mitochondria (IDH2 and IDH3). In the mitochondrion, it catalyzes the irreversible oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate, yielding the production of α-ketoglutarate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) as well as carbon dioxide (CO2). In the cytosol, IDH catalyzes the decarboxylation of isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate as well as the reverse reductive carboxylation of α-ketoglutarate to isocitrate. These rate-limiting steps in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, as well as the cytoplasmic response to oxidative stress, play key roles in gene regulation, cell differentiation, and tissue homeostasis. Mutations in the genes encoding IDH1 and IDH2 and, less commonly, IDH3 have been found in a variety of cancers, most commonly glioma, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chondrosarcoma, and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. In this paper, we intend to elucidate the theorized pathophysiology behind IDH isomer mutation, its implication in cancer manifestation, and discuss some of the available clinical data regarding the use of novel IDH inhibitors and their role in therapy.

Epigenetic-based differentiation therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Despite the development of novel therapies for acute myeloid leukemia, outcomes remain poor for most patients, and therapeutic improvements are an urgent unmet need. Although treatment regimens promoting differentiation have succeeded in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia, their role in other acute myeloid leukemia subtypes needs to be explored. Here we identify and characterize two lysine deacetylase inhibitors, CM-444 and CM-1758, exhibiting the capacity to promote myeloid differentiation in all acute myeloid leukemia subtypes at low non-cytotoxic doses, unlike other commercial histone deacetylase inhibitors. Analyzing the acetylome after CM-444 and CM-1758 treatment reveals modulation of non-histone proteins involved in the enhancer-promoter chromatin regulatory complex, including bromodomain proteins. This acetylation is essential for enhancing the expression of key transcription factors directly involved in the differentiation therapy induced by CM-444/CM-1758 in acute myeloid leukemia. In summary, these compounds may represent effective differentiation-based therapeutic agents across acute myeloid leukemia subtypes with a potential mechanism for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.

Decoding mitochondria's role in immunity and cancer therapy

The functions of mitochondria, including energy production and biomolecule synthesis, have been known for a long time. Given the rising incidence of cancer, the role of mitochondria in cancer has become increasingly popular. Activated by components released by mitochondria, various pathways interact with each other to induce immune responses to protect organisms from attack. However, mitochondria play dual roles in the progression of cancer. Abnormalities in proteins, which are the elementary structures of mitochondria, are closely linked with oncogenesis. Both the aberrant accumulation of intermediates and mutations in enzymes result in the generation and progression of cancer. Therefore, targeting mitochondria to treat cancer may be a new strategy. Several drugs aimed at inhibiting mutated enzymes and accumulated intermediates have been tested clinically. Here, we discuss the current understanding of mitochondria in cancer and the interactions between mitochondrial functions, immune responses, and oncogenesis. Furthermore, we discuss mitochondria as hopeful targets for cancer therapy, providing insights into the progression of future therapeutic strategies.

Leukemic Stem Cells and Hematological Malignancies

The association between leukemic stem cells (LSCs) and leukemia development has been widely established in the context of genetic alterations, epigenetic pathways, and signaling pathway regulation. Hematopoietic stem cells are at the top of the bone marrow hierarchy and can self-renew and progressively generate blood and immune cells. The microenvironment, niche cells, and complex signaling pathways that regulate them acquire genetic mutations and epigenetic alterations due to aging, a chronic inflammatory environment, stress, and cancer, resulting in hematopoietic stem cell dysregulation and the production of abnormal blood and immune cells, leading to hematological malignancies and blood cancer. Cells that acquire these mutations grow at a faster rate than other cells and induce clone expansion. Excessive growth leads to the development of blood cancers. Standard therapy targets blast cells, which proliferate rapidly; however, LSCs that can induce disease recurrence remain after treatment, leading to recurrence and poor prognosis. To overcome these limitations, researchers have focused on the characteristics and signaling systems of LSCs and therapies that target them to block LSCs. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the types of hematopoietic malignancies, the characteristics of leukemic stem cells that cause them, the mechanisms by which these cells acquire chemotherapy resistance, and the therapies targeting these mechanisms.

Application of omics in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most frequent leukemia in adults with a high mortality rate. Current diagnostic criteria and selections of therapeutic strategies are generally based on gene mutations and cytogenetic abnormalities. Chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are the major therapeutic strategies for AML. Two dilemmas in the clinical management of AML are related to its poor prognosis. One is the inaccurate risk stratification at diagnosis, leading to incorrect treatment selections. The other is the frequent resistance to chemotherapy and/or targeted therapies. Genomic features have been the focus of AML studies. However, the DNA-level aberrations do not always predict the expression levels of genes and proteins and the latter is more closely linked to disease phenotypes. With the development of high-throughput sequencing and mass spectrometry technologies, studying downstream effectors including RNA, proteins, and metabolites becomes possible. Transcriptomics can reveal gene expression and regulatory networks, proteomics can discover protein expression and signaling pathways intimately associated with the disease, and metabolomics can reflect precise changes in metabolites during disease progression. Moreover, omics profiling at the single-cell level enables studying cellular components and hierarchies of the AML microenvironment. The abundance of data from different omics layers enables the better risk stratification of AML by identifying prognosis-related biomarkers, and has the prospective application in identifying drug targets, therefore potentially discovering solutions to the two dilemmas. In this review, we summarize the existing AML studies using omics methods, both separately and combined, covering research fields of disease diagnosis, risk stratification, prognosis prediction, chemotherapy, as well as targeted therapy. Finally, we discuss the directions and challenges in the application of multi-omics in precision medicine of AML. Our review may inspire both omics researchers and clinical physicians to study AML from a different angle.

Macrocyclization strategy for improving candidate profiles in medicinal chemistry

Macrocycles are defined as cyclic compounds with 12 or more members. In medicinal chemistry, they are categorized based on their core chemistry into cyclic peptides and macrocycles. Macrocycles are advantageous because of their structural diversity and ability to achieve high affinity and selectivity towards challenging targets that are often not addressable by conventional small molecules. The potential of macrocyclization to optimize drug-like properties while maintaining adequate bioavailability and permeability has been emphasized as a key innovation in medicinal chemistry. This review provides a detailed case study of the application of macrocyclization over the past 5 years, starting from the initial analysis of acyclic active compounds to optimization of the resulting macrocycles for improved efficacy and drug-like properties. Additionally, it illustrates the strategic value of macrocyclization in contemporary drug discovery efforts.

Traditional Chinese medicine for acute myelocytic leukemia therapy: exploiting epigenetic targets

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematological malignancy with historically high mortality rates. The treatment strategies for AML is still internationally based on anthracyclines and cytarabine, which remained unchanged for decades. With the rapid advance on sequencing technology, molecular targets of leukemogenesis and disease progression related to epigenetics are constantly being discovered, which are important for the prognosis and treatment of AML. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is characterized by novel pharmacological mechanisms, low toxicity and limited side effects. Several biologically active ingredients of TCM are effective against AML. This review focuses on bioactive compounds in TCM targeting epigenetic mechanisms to address the complexities and heterogeneity of AML.

Emerging DNA Methylome Targets in FLT3-ITD-Positive Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Combination Therapy with Clinically Approved FLT3 Inhibitors

OPINION STATEMENT

The internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation of the FMS-like receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3-ITD) is the most common mutation observed in approximately 30% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. It represents poor prognosis due to continuous activation of downstream growth-promoting signaling pathways such as STAT5 and PI3K/AKT. Hence, FLT3 is considered an attractive druggable target; selective small FLT3 inhibitors (FLT3Is), such as midostaurin and quizartinib, have been clinically approved. However, patients possess generally poor remission rates and acquired resistance when FLT3I used alone. Various factors in patients could cause these adverse effects including altered epigenetic regulation, causing mainly abnormal gene expression patterns. Epigenetic modifications are required for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal and differentiation; however, critical driver mutations have been identified in genes controlling DNA methylation (such as DNMT3A, TET2, IDH1/2). These regulators cause leukemia pathogenesis and affect disease diagnosis and prognosis when they co-occur with FLT3-ITD mutation. Therefore, understanding the role of different epigenetic alterations in FLT3-ITD AML pathogenesis and how they modulate FLT3I's activity is important to rationalize combinational treatment approaches including FLT3Is and modulators of methylation regulators or pathways. Data from ongoing pre-clinical and clinical studies will further precisely define the potential use of epigenetic therapy together with FLT3Is especially after characterized patients' mutational status in terms of FLT3 and DNA methlome regulators.

Converting "cold" to "hot": epigenetics strategies to improve immune therapy effect by regulating tumor-associated immune suppressive cells

Significant developments in cancer treatment have been made since the advent of immune therapies. However, there are still some patients with malignant tumors who do not benefit from immunotherapy. Tumors without immunogenicity are called "cold" tumors which are unresponsive to immunotherapy, and the opposite are "hot" tumors. Immune suppressive cells (ISCs) refer to cells which can inhibit the immune response such as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), regulatory T (Treg) cells and so on. The more ISCs infiltrated, the weaker the immunogenicity of the tumor, showing the characteristics of "cold" tumor. The dysfunction of ISCs in the tumor microenvironment (TME) may play essential roles in insensitive therapeutic reaction. Previous studies have found that epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in the regulation of ISCs. Regulating ISCs may be a new approach to transforming "cold" tumors into "hot" tumors. Here, we focused on the function of ISCs in the TME and discussed how epigenetics is involved in regulating ISCs. In addition, we summarized the mechanisms by which the epigenetic drugs convert immunotherapy-insensitive tumors into immunotherapy-sensitive tumors which would be an innovative tendency for future immunotherapy in "cold" tumor.

Differentiation syndrome associated with treatment with IDH2 inhibitor enasidenib: pooled analysis from clinical trials

ABSTRACT

Treatment with enasidenib, a selective mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase isoform 2 (IDH2) inhibitor, has been associated with the development of differentiation syndrome (DS) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Studies on the incidence and clinical features of DS are limited in this setting, and diagnosis is challenging because of nonspecific symptoms. This study assessed the incidence, diagnostic criteria, risk factors, and correlation with clinical response of DS based on the pooled analysis of 4 clinical trials in patients with IDH2-mutated AML treated with enasidenib as monotherapy, or in combination with azacitidine or with chemotherapy. Across the total AML population, 67 of 643 (10.4%) had ≥1 any-grade DS event, with highest incidence in patients who received enasidenib plus azacitidine and lowest incidence in patients who received enasidenib plus chemotherapy (13/74 [17.6%] and 2/93 [2.2%]). The most common symptoms of DS were dyspnea/hypoxia (80.6%) and pulmonary infiltrate (73.1%). Median time to onset of first DS event across all studies was 32 days (range, 4-129). Most patients (88.1%) received systemic steroids for treatment of DS. Evaluation of baseline risk factors for DS identified higher levels of bone marrow blasts and lactate dehydrogenase as independent factors associated with increased grade 3 to 5 DS risk. Overall, these results suggest that DS associated with IDH inhibition is manageable, given the benefits of enasidenib treatment in IDH2-mutated AML. We further characterized enasidenib-related DS in these patients and identified risk factors, which could be used for DS management in clinical practice. These trials were registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as # NCT01915498, NCT02577406, NCT02677922, and NCT02632708.

Tumor biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and targeted therapy

Tumor biomarkers, the substances which are produced by tumors or the body's responses to tumors during tumorigenesis and progression, have been demonstrated to possess critical and encouraging value in screening and early diagnosis, prognosis prediction, recurrence detection, and therapeutic efficacy monitoring of cancers. Over the past decades, continuous progress has been made in exploring and discovering novel, sensitive, specific, and accurate tumor biomarkers, which has significantly promoted personalized medicine and improved the outcomes of cancer patients, especially advances in molecular biology technologies developed for the detection of tumor biomarkers. Herein, we summarize the discovery and development of tumor biomarkers, including the history of tumor biomarkers, the conventional and innovative technologies used for biomarker discovery and detection, the classification of tumor biomarkers based on tissue origins, and the application of tumor biomarkers in clinical cancer management. In particular, we highlight the recent advancements in biomarker-based anticancer-targeted therapies which are emerging as breakthroughs and promising cancer therapeutic strategies. We also discuss limitations and challenges that need to be addressed and provide insights and perspectives to turn challenges into opportunities in this field. Collectively, the discovery and application of multiple tumor biomarkers emphasized in this review may provide guidance on improved precision medicine, broaden horizons in future research directions, and expedite the clinical classification of cancer patients according to their molecular biomarkers rather than organs of origin.

Epigenetic dysregulation in cancers by isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2)

Recent advances in genome-wide studies have revealed numerous epigenetic regulations brought about by genes involved in cellular metabolism. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), an essential enzyme, that converts isocitrate into -ketoglutarate (KG) predominantly in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, has gained particular importance due to its cardinal role in the metabolic pathway in cells. IDH1, IDH2, and IDH3 are the three isomeric IDH enzymes that have been shown to regulate cellular metabolism. Of particular importance, IDH2 genes are associated with several cancers, including gliomas, oligodendroglioma, and astrocytomas. These mutations lead to the production of oncometabolite D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D-2-HG), which accumulates in cells promoting tumor growth. The enhanced levels of D-2-HG competitively inhibit α-KG dependent enzymes, inhibiting cell TCA cycle, upregulating the cell growth and survival relevant HIF-1α pathway, promoting DNA hypermethylation related epigenetic activity, all of which synergistically contribute to carcinogenesis. The present review discusses epigenetic mechanisms inIDH2 regulation in cells and further its clinical implications.

Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Mutations in Cancer: Mechanisms of Transformation and Metabolic Liability

Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1 and IDH2) are metabolic enzymes that interconvert isocitrate and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG). Gain-of-function mutations in IDH1 and IDH2 occur in a number of cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia, glioma, cholangiocarcinoma, and chondrosarcoma. These mutations cripple the wild-type activity of IDH and cause the enzymes to catalyze a partial reverse reaction in which 2OG is reduced but not carboxylated, resulting in production of the (R)-enantiomer of 2-hydroxyglutarate ((R)-2HG). (R)-2HG accumulation in IDH-mutant tumors results in profound dysregulation of cellular metabolism. The most well-characterized oncogenic effects of (R)-2HG involve the dysregulation of 2OG-dependent epigenetic tumor-suppressor enzymes. However, (R)-2HG has many other effects in IDH-mutant cells, some that promote transformation and others that induce metabolic dependencies. Herein, we review how cancer-associated IDH mutations impact epigenetic regulation and cellular metabolism and discuss how these effects can potentially be leveraged to therapeutically target IDH-mutant tumors.

Management of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 mutated acute myeloid leukemia

The emergence of next generation sequencing and widespread use of mutational profiling in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has broadened our understanding of the heterogeneous molecular basis of the disease. Since genetic sequencing has become a standard practice, several driver mutations have been identified. Accordingly, novel targeted therapeutic agents have been developed and are now approved for the treatment of subsets of patients that carry mutations in FLT3, IDH1, and IDH2 [1, 2]. The emergence of these novel agents in AML offers patients a new modality of therapy, and shifts treatment paradigms toward individualized medicine. In this review, we outline the role of IDH mutations in malignant transformation, focus in on a novel group of targeted therapeutic agents directed toward IDH1- and IDH2-mutant AML, and explore their impact on prognosis in patients with AML.

Narazaciclib, a novel multi-kinase inhibitor with potent activity against CSF1R, FLT3 and CDK6, shows strong anti-AML activity in defined preclinical models

CSF1R is a receptor tyrosine kinase responsible for the growth/survival/polarization of macrophages and overexpressed in some AML patients. We hypothesized that a novel multi-kinase inhibitor (TKi), narazaciclib (HX301/ON123300), with high potency against CSF1R (IC50 ~ 0.285 nM), would have anti-AML effects. We tested this by confirming HX301's high potency against CSF1R (IC50 ~ 0.285 nM), as well as other kinases, e.g. FLT3 (IC50 of ~ 19.77 nM) and CDK6 (0.53 nM). An in vitro proliferation assay showed that narazaciclib has a high growth inhibitory effect in cell cultures where CSF1R or mutant FLT3-ITD variants that may be proliferation drivers, including primary macrophages (IC50 of 72.5 nM) and a subset of AML lines (IC50 < 1.5 μM). In vivo pharmacology modeling of narazaciclib using five AML xenografts resulted in: inhibition of MV4-11 (FLT3-ITD) subcutaneous tumor growth and complete suppression of AM7577-PDX (FLT3-ITD/CSF1Rmed) systemic growth, likely due to the suppression of FLT3-ITD activity; complete suppression of AM8096-PDX (CSF1Rhi/wild-type FLT3) growth, likely due to the inhibition of CSF1R ("a putative driver"); and nonresponse of both AM5512-PDX and AM7407-PDX (wild-type FLT3/CSF1Rlo). Significant leukemia load reductions in bone marrow, where disease originated, were also achieved in both responders (AM7577/AM8096), implicating that HX301 might be a potentially more effective therapy than those only affecting peripheral leukemic cells. Altogether, narazaciclib can potentially be a candidate treatment for a subset of AML with CSF1Rhi and/or mutant FLT3-ITD variants, particularly second generation FLT3 inhibitor resistant variants.

A personalized medicine approach identifies enasidenib as an efficient treatment for IDH2 mutant chondrosarcoma

BACKGROUND

Sarcomas represent an extensive group of malignant diseases affecting mesodermal tissues. Among sarcomas, the clinical management of chondrosarcomas remains a complex challenge, as high-grade tumours do not respond to current therapies. Mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 and 2 genes are among the most common mutations detected in chondrosarcomas and may represent a therapeutic opportunity. The presence of mutated IDH (mIDH) enzymes results in the accumulation of the oncometabolite 2-HG leading to molecular alterations that contribute to drive tumour growth.

METHODS

We developed a personalized medicine strategy based on the targeted NGS/Sanger sequencing of sarcoma samples (n = 6) and the use of matched patient-derived cell lines as a drug-testing platform. The anti-tumour potential of IDH mutations found in two chondrosarcoma cases was analysed in vitro, in vivo and molecularly (transcriptomic and DNA methylation analyses).

FINDINGS

We treated several chondrosarcoma models with specific mIDH1/2 inhibitors. Among these treatments, only the mIDH2 inhibitor enasidenib was able to decrease 2-HG levels and efficiently reduce the viability of mIDH2 chondrosarcoma cells. Importantly, oral administration of enasidenib in xenografted mice resulted in a complete abrogation of tumour growth. Enasidenib induced a profound remodelling of the transcriptomic landscape not associated to changes in the 5 mC methylation levels and its anti-tumour effects were associated with the repression of proliferative pathways such as those controlled by E2F factors.

INTERPRETATION

Overall, this work provides preclinical evidence for the use of enasidenib to treat mIDH2 chondrosarcomas.

FUNDING

Supported by the Spanish Research Agency/FEDER (grants PID2022-142020OB-I00; PID2019-106666RB-I00), the ISC III/FEDER (PI20CIII/00020; DTS18CIII/00005; CB16/12/00390; CB06/07/1009; CB19/07/00057); the GEIS group (GEIS-62); and the PCTI (Asturias)/FEDER (IDI/2021/000027).

Prediction of metabolites associated with somatic mutations in cancers by using genome-scale metabolic models and mutation data

BACKGROUND

Oncometabolites, often generated as a result of a gene mutation, show pro-oncogenic function when abnormally accumulated in cancer cells. Identification of such mutation-associated metabolites will facilitate developing treatment strategies for cancers, but is challenging due to the large number of metabolites in a cell and the presence of multiple genes associated with cancer development.

RESULTS

Here we report the development of a computational workflow that predicts metabolite-gene-pathway sets. Metabolite-gene-pathway sets present metabolites and metabolic pathways significantly associated with specific somatic mutations in cancers. The computational workflow uses both cancer patient-specific genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) and mutation data to generate metabolite-gene-pathway sets. A GEM is a computational model that predicts reaction fluxes at a genome scale and can be constructed in a cell-specific manner by using omics data. The computational workflow is first validated by comparing the resulting metabolite-gene pairs with multi-omics data (i.e., mutation data, RNA-seq data, and metabolome data) from acute myeloid leukemia and renal cell carcinoma samples collected in this study. The computational workflow is further validated by evaluating the metabolite-gene-pathway sets predicted for 18 cancer types, by using RNA-seq data publicly available, in comparison with the reported studies. Therapeutic potential of the resulting metabolite-gene-pathway sets is also discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

Validation of the metabolite-gene-pathway set-predicting computational workflow indicates that a decent number of metabolites and metabolic pathways appear to be significantly associated with specific somatic mutations. The computational workflow and the resulting metabolite-gene-pathway sets will help identify novel oncometabolites and also suggest cancer treatment strategies.

IDH2/R140Q mutation confers cytokine-independent proliferation of TF-1 cells by activating constitutive STAT3/5 phosphorylation

BACKGROUND

R140Q mutation in isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) promotes leukemogenesis. Targeting IDH2/R140Q yields encouraging therapeutic effects in the clinical setting. However, therapeutic resistance occurs in 12% of IDH2/R140Q inhibitor treated patients. The IDH2/R140Q mutant converted TF-1 cells to proliferate in a cytokine-independent manner. This study investigated the signaling pathways involved in TF-1(R140Q) cell proliferation conversion as alternative therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) harboring IDH2/R140Q.

METHODS

The effects of IDH2/R140Q mutation on TF-1 cell survival induced by GM-CSF withdrawal were evaluated using flow cytometry assay. The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins, total or phosphorylated STAT3/5, ERK, and AKT in wild-type TF-1(WT) or TF-1(R140Q) cells under different conditions were evaluated using western blot analysis. Cell viability was tested using MTT assay. The mRNA expression levels of GM-CSF, IL-3, IL-6, G-CSF, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), oncostatin M (OSM), and IL-11 in TF-1(WT) and TF-1(R140Q) cells were quantified via RT-PCR. The secretion levels of GM-CSF, OSM, and LIF were determined using ELISA.

RESULTS

Our results showed that STAT3 and STAT5 exhibited aberrant constitutive phosphorylation in TF-1(R140Q) cells compared with TF-1(WT) cells. Inhibition of STAT3/5 phosphorylation suppressed the cytokine-independent proliferation of TF-1(R140Q) cells. Moreover, the autocrine GM-CSF, LIF and OSM levels increased, which is consistent with constitutive STAT5/3 activation in TF-1(R140Q) cells, as compared with TF-1(WT) cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The autocrine cytokines, including GM-CSF, LIF, and OSM, contribute to constitutive STAT3/5 activation in TF-1(R140Q) cells, thereby modulating IDH2/R140Q-mediated malignant proliferation in TF-1 cells. Targeting STAT3/5 phosphorylation may be a novel strategy for the treatment of AML in patients harboring the IDH2/R140Q mutation. Video Abstract.

Metabolic signatures of thymomas: potential biomarkers and treatment targets

OBJECTIVES

A study of tumour metabolic reprogramming has revealed disease biomarkers and avenues for therapeutic intervention. Metabolic reprogramming in thymoma is currently understudied and largely unknown. This study utilized metabolomics and isotope tracing with 13C-glucose to metabolically investigate thymomas, adjacent thymic tissue and benign thymic lesions.

METHODS

From 2017 to 2021, 20 patients with a suspected thymoma were recruited to this prospective Institutional Review Board approved clinical trial. At the time of surgery, 11 patients were infused with 13C-glucose, a stable, non-radioactive tracer which reports the flow of carbon through metabolic pathways. Samples were analysed by mass spectrometry to measure the abundance of >200 metabolites.13C enrichment was measured in patients who received 13C-glucose infusions.

RESULTS

Histological analysis showed that 9 patients had thymomas of diverse subtypes and 11 patients had benign cysts. In our metabolomic analysis, thymomas could be distinguished from both adjacent thymus tissue and benign lesions by metabolite abundances. Metabolites in pyrimidine biosynthesis and glycerophospholipid metabolism were differentially expressed across these tissues.13C-glucose infusions revealed differential labelling patterns in thymoma compared to benign cysts and normal thymus tissue. The lactate/3PG labelling ratio, a metabolic marker in aggressive lung tumours correlated with lactate uptake, was increased in thymomas (1.579) compared to normal thymus (0.945) and benign masses (0.807) (thymic tissue versus tumour P = 0.021, tumour versus benign P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

We report metabolic biomarkers, including differential 13C labelling of metabolites from central metabolism, that distinguish thymomas from benign tissues. Altered glucose and lactate metabolism warrant further investigation and may provide novel therapeutic targets for thymoma.

Biomimetic Synthesis and Chemical Proteomics Reveal the Mechanism of Action and Functional Targets of Phloroglucinol Meroterpenoids

Natural products perennially serve as prolific sources of drug leads and chemical probes, fueling the development of numerous therapeutics. Despite their scarcity, natural products that modulate protein function through covalent interactions with lysine residues hold immense potential to unlock new therapeutic interventions and advance our understanding of the biological processes governed by these modifications. Phloroglucinol meroterpenoids constitute one of the most expansive classes of natural products, displaying a plethora of biological activities. However, their mechanism of action and cellular targets have, until now, remained elusive. In this study, we detail the concise biomimetic synthesis, computational mechanistic insights, physicochemical attributes, kinetic parameters, molecular mechanism of action, and functional cellular targets of several phloroglucinol meroterpenoids. We harness synthetic clickable analogues of natural products to probe their disparate proteome-wide reactivity and subcellular localization through in-gel fluorescence scanning and cell imaging. By implementing sample multiplexing and a redesigned lysine-targeting probe, we streamline a quantitative activity-based protein profiling, enabling the direct mapping of global reactivity and ligandability of proteinaceous lysines in human cells. Leveraging this framework, we identify numerous lysine-meroterpenoid interactions in breast cancer cells at tractable protein sites across diverse structural and functional classes, including those historically deemed undruggable. We validate that phloroglucinol meroterpenoids perturb biochemical functions through stereoselective and site-specific modification of lysines in proteins vital for breast cancer metabolism, including lipid signaling, mitochondrial respiration, and glycolysis. These findings underscore the broad potential of phloroglucinol meroterpenoids for targeting functional lysines in the human proteome.

A study to assess the efficacy of enasidenib and risk-adapted addition of azacitidine in newly diagnosed IDH2-mutant AML

ABSTRACT

Enasidenib (ENA) is an inhibitor of isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) approved for the treatment of patients with IDH2-mutant relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this phase 2/1b Beat AML substudy, we applied a risk-adapted approach to assess the efficacy of ENA monotherapy for patients aged ≥60 years with newly diagnosed IDH2-mutant AML in whom genomic profiling demonstrated that mutant IDH2 was in the dominant leukemic clone. Patients for whom ENA monotherapy did not induce a complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi) enrolled in a phase 1b cohort with the addition of azacitidine. The phase 2 portion assessing the overall response to ENA alone demonstrated efficacy, with a composite complete response (cCR) rate (CR/CRi) of 46% in 60 evaluable patients. Seventeen patients subsequently transitioned to phase 1b combination therapy, with a cCR rate of 41% and 1 dose-limiting toxicity. Correlative studies highlight mechanisms of clonal elimination with differentiation therapy as well as therapeutic resistance. This study demonstrates both efficacy of ENA monotherapy in the upfront setting and feasibility and applicability of a risk-adapted approach to the upfront treatment of IDH2-mutant AML. This trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03013998.

Mitochondrial isocitrate dehydrogenase impedes CAR T cell function by restraining antioxidant metabolism and histone acetylation

The efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is hampered by relapse in hematologic malignancies and by hyporesponsiveness in solid tumors. Long-lived memory CAR T cells are critical for improving tumor clearance and long-term protection. However, during rapid ex vivo expansion or in vivo tumor eradication, metabolic shifts and inhibitory signals lead to terminal differentiation and exhaustion of CAR T cells. Through a mitochondria-related compound screening, we find that the FDA-approved isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) inhibitor enasidenib enhances memory CAR T cell formation and sustains anti-leukemic cytotoxicity in vivo. Mechanistically, IDH2 impedes metabolic fitness of CAR T cells by restraining glucose utilization via the pentose phosphate pathway, which alleviates oxidative stress, particularly in nutrient-restricted conditions. In addition, IDH2 limits cytosolic acetyl-CoA levels to prevent histone acetylation that promotes memory cell formation. In combination with pharmacological IDH2 inhibition, CAR T cell therapy is demonstrated to have superior efficacy in a pre-clinical model.

Phospholipid metabolic adaptation promotes survival of IDH2 mutant acute myeloid leukemia cells

Genetic mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) gene that result in a pathological enzymatic activity to produce oncometabolite have been detected in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. While specific inhibitors that target mutant IDH enzymes and normalize intracellular oncometabolite level have been developed, refractoriness and resistance has been reported. Since acquisition of pathological enzymatic activity is accompanied by the abrogation of the crucial WT IDH enzymatic activity in IDH mutant cells, aberrant metabolism in IDH mutant cells can potentially persist even after the normalization of intracellular oncometabolite level. Comparisons of isogenic AML cell lines with and without IDH2 gene mutations revealed two mutually exclusive signalings for growth advantage of IDH2 mutant cells, STAT phosphorylation associated with intracellular oncometabolite level and phospholipid metabolic adaptation. The latter came to light after the oncometabolite normalization and increased the resistance of IDH2 mutant cells to arachidonic acid-mediated apoptosis. The release of this metabolic adaptation by FDA-approved anti-inflammatory drugs targeting the metabolism of arachidonic acid could sensitize IDH2 mutant cells to apoptosis, resulting in their eradication in vitro and in vivo. Our findings will contribute to the development of alternative therapeutic options for IDH2 mutant AML patients who do not tolerate currently available therapies.

Advances in the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is an aggressive subtype of peripheral T-cell lymphomas with its cell origin determined to be follicular helper T-cells. AITL is characterized by a prominent tumor microenvironment involving dysregulation of immune cells, signaling pathways, and extracellular matrix. Significant progress has been made in the molecular pathophysiology of AITL, including genetic mutations, immune metabolism, hematopoietic-derived microenvironment, and non-hematopoietic microenvironment cells. Early diagnosis, detection of severe complications, and timely effective treatment are crucial for managing AITL. Treatment typically involves various combination chemotherapies, but the prognosis is often poor, and relapsed and refractory AITL remains challenging, necessitating improved treatment strategies. Therefore, this article provides an overview of the pathogenesis and latest advances in the treatment of AITL, with a focus on potential therapeutic targets, novel treatment strategies, and emerging immunotherapeutic approaches.

Single-center, observational study of AML/MDS-EB with IDH1/2 mutations: genetic profile, immunophenotypes, mutational kinetics and outcomes

OBJECTIVE

IDH1/2 mutations, intervening in epigenetic procedures, are frequently encountered in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Knowledge of the genetics, immunophenotypes, and mutational kinetics of IDH1/2-mutated AML can contribute to the understanding of AML clonal architecture and inform therapeutics and monitoring.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 50 IDH1/2-mutated AML/MDS-EB cases of our institution, to identify recurrent co-mutations, immunophenotypes, patterns of co-variance of IDH1/2 allele burdens with those of recurrent co-mutations, frequency of persistent IDH1/2 mutation as clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) in remission and response to hypomethylating agents.

RESULTS

Most frequently co-mutated genes were DNMT3A, SRSF2 and NPM1. Most cases with co-existent IDH1/2 and NPM1 mutations (11/13) showed an 'APL-like' immunophenotype (CD34-HLADR-). Allele burdens of mutated IDH1/2 were identical to mutated SRSF2 allele burdens at diagnosis and remission, but not always to mutated NPM1 allele burden in remission. We show persistence of significant mutIDH1/2 allele burden in approximately one-fourth of patients with deep remissions. IDH1/2 mutations were significantly more frequent among responders to first-line HMA-based regimens than among non-responders, in patients treated for myeloid neoplasms with excess blasts.

CONCLUSIONS

IDH1/2 mutations are most frequently accompanied by DNMT3A, SRSF2 and NPM1 mutations. NPM1-IDH1/2 mutated AML has a mature phenotype possibly amenable to differentiation therapies. IDH1/2 and SRSF2 mutations probably arise at the same developmental stage of the disease, as their allele burdens covariate. IDH1/2 mutation represents CHIP in a substantial proportion of cases and is therefore no reliable residual disease marker. The preferential presence of IDH1/2 mutations among HMA-responders could inform therapeutic decisions if confirmed in larger series.

Discovery of novel enasidenib analogues targeting inhibition of mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 as antileukaemic agents

Mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 2 "IDH2m" acquires a neo-enzymatic activity reducing α-ketoglutarate to an oncometabolite, D-2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG). Three s-triazine series were designed and synthesised using enasidenib as a lead compound. In vitro anticancer screening via National Cancer Institute "NCI" revealed that analogues 6a, 6c, 6d, 7g, and 7l were most potent, with mean growth inhibition percentage "GI%" = 66.07, 66.00, 53.70, 35.10, and 81.15, respectively, followed by five-dose screening. Compounds 6c, 6e, and 7c were established as the best IDH2^R140Q inhibitors compared to enasidenib, reporting IC₅₀ = 101.70, 67.01, 88.93, and 75.51 nM, respectively. More importantly, 6c, 6e, and 7c displayed poor activity against the wild-type IDH2, IC₅₀ = 2928, 2295, and 3128 nM, respectively, which implementing high selectivity and accordingly safety. Furthermore, 6c was screened for cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, and western blot analysis. Finally, computational tools were applied to predict physicochemical properties and binding poses in IDH2^R140Q allosteric site.

Genetic alterations that deregulate RB and PDGFRA signaling pathways drive tumor progression in IDH2-mutant astrocytoma

In IDH-mutant astrocytoma, IDH2 mutation is quite rare and biological mechanisms underlying tumor progression in IDH2-mutant astrocytoma remain elusive. Here, we report a unique case of IDH2 mutant astrocytoma, CNS WHO grade 3 that developed tumor progression. We performed a comprehensive genomic and epigenomic analysis for primary and recurrent tumors and found that both tumors harbored recurrent IDH2R172K and TP53R248W mutation with CDKN2A/B hemizygous deletion. We also found amplifications of CDK4 and MDM2 with PDGFRA gain in the recurrent tumor and upregulated protein expressions of these genes. We further developed, for the first time, a xenograft mouse model of IDH2R172K and TP53R248W mutant astrocytoma from the recurrent tumor, but not from the primary tumor. Consistent with parent recurrent tumor cells, amplifications of CDK4 and MDM2 and PDGFRA gain were found, while CDKN2A/B was identified as homozygous deletion in the xenografts, qualifying for integrated diagnosis of astrocytoma, IDH2-mutant, CNS WHO grade 4. Cell viability assay found that CDK4/6 inhibitor and PDGFR inhibitor potently decreased cell viability in recurrent tumor cells, as compared to primary tumor cells. These findings suggest that gene alterations that activate retinoblastoma (RB) signaling pathways and PDGFR may drive tumor progression and xenograft formation in IDH2-mutant astrocytoma, which is equivalent to progressive IDH1-mutant astrocytoma. Also, our findings suggest that these genomic alterations may represent therapeutic targets in IDH2-mutant astrocytoma.

Electrochemical Nanoreactor Provides a Comprehensive View of Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Cancer-drug Kinetics

The ability to control enzyme cascades entrapped in a nanoporous electrode material (the "Electrochemical Leaf", e-Leaf) has been exploited to gain detailed kinetic insight into the mechanism of an anti-cancer drug. Ivosidenib, used to treat acute myeloid leukemia, acts on a common cancer-linked variant of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1 R132H) inhibiting its "gain-of-function" activity-the undesired reduction of 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) to the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG). The e-Leaf quantifies the kinetics of IDH1 R132H inhibition across a wide and continuous range of conditions, efficiently revealing factors underlying the inhibitor residence time. Selective inhibition of IDH1 R132H by Ivosidenib and another inhibitor, Novartis 224, is readily resolved as a two-stage process whereby initial rapid non-inhibitory binding is followed by a slower step to give the inhibitory complex. These kinetic features are likely present in other allosteric inhibitors of IDH1/2. Such details, essential for understanding inhibition mechanisms, are not readily resolved in conventional steady-state kinetics or by techniques that rely only on measuring binding. Extending the new method and analytical framework presented here to other enzyme systems will be straightforward and should rapidly reveal insight that is difficult or often impossible to obtain using other methods.

Electrochemical Nanoreactor Provides a Comprehensive View of Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Cancer-drug Kinetics

The ability to control enzyme cascades entrapped in a nanoporous electrode material (the "Electrochemical Leaf", e-Leaf) has been exploited to gain detailed kinetic insight into the mechanism of an anti-cancer drug. Ivosidenib, used to treat acute myeloid leukemia, acts on a common cancer-linked variant of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1 R132H) inhibiting its "gain-of-function" activity-the undesired reduction of 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) to the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG). The e-Leaf quantifies the kinetics of IDH1 R132H inhibition across a wide and continuous range of conditions, efficiently revealing factors underlying the inhibitor residence time. Selective inhibition of IDH1 R132H by Ivosidenib and another inhibitor, Novartis 224, is readily resolved as a two-stage process whereby initial rapid non-inhibitory binding is followed by a slower step to give the inhibitory complex. These kinetic features are likely present in other allosteric inhibitors of IDH1/2. Such details, essential for understanding inhibition mechanisms, are not readily resolved in conventional steady-state kinetics or by techniques that rely only on measuring binding. Extending the new method and analytical framework presented here to other enzyme systems will be straightforward and should rapidly reveal insight that is difficult or often impossible to obtain using other methods.

RNA binding motif protein 45-mediated phosphorylation enhances protein stability of ASCT2 to promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Targeting metabolic remodeling represents a potentially promising strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. In-depth understanding on the regulation of the glutamine transporter alanine-serine-cysteine transporter 2 (ASCT2) contributes to the development of novel promising therapeutics. As a developmentally regulated RNA binding protein, RBM45 is capable to shuttle between nucleus and cytoplasm, and directly interacts with proteins. By bioinformatics analysis, we screened out that RBM45 was elevated in the HCC patient specimens and positively correlated with poor prognosis. RBM45 promoted cell proliferation, boosted xenograft tumorigenicity and accelerated HCC progression. Using untargeted metabolomics, it was found that RBM45 interfered with glutamine metabolism. Further results demonstrated that RBM45 positively associated with ASCT2 in human and mouse specimens. Moreover, RBM45 enhanced ASCT2 protein stability by counteracting autophagy-independent lysosomal degradation. Significantly, wild-type ASCT2, instead of phospho-defective mutants, rescued siRBM45-suppressed HCC cell proliferation. Using molecular docking approaches, we found AG-221, a mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (mIDH2) inhibitor for acute myeloid leukemia therapy, pharmacologically perturbed RBM45-ASCT2 interaction, decreased ASCT2 stability and suppressed HCC progression. These findings provide evidence that RBM45 plays a crucial role in HCC progression via interacting with and counteracting the degradation of ASCT2. Our findings suggest a novel alternative structural sites for the design of ASCT2 inhibitors and the agents interfering with RBM45-ASCT2 interaction may be a potential direction for HCC drug development.

Structure-Based Drug Design of Novel Triaminotriazine Derivatives as Orally Bioavailable IDH2R140Q Inhibitors with High Selectivity and Reduced hERG Inhibitory Activity for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Neomorphic IDH2R140Q mutation is commonly found in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and inhibiting its activity has been validated as an effective treatment for AML. Herein, we report a series of highly potent and selective IDH2R140Q inhibitors. Among them, compound 36 was identified as the most promising inhibitor, with an IC50 value of 29 nM and more than 490-fold selectivity over wild-type IDH2. The compound significantly suppressed D2HG production (IC50 = 10 nM) and induced differentiation in TF-1/IDH2R140Q cells. Furthermore, it showed reasonable pharmacokinetic properties with high bioavailability (F = 90.3%) and an appropriate half-life (T1/2 = 6.4 h). In vivo, oral administration of compound 36 at a dose of 25 mg/kg effectively reduced D2HG levels in the tumor of TF-1/IDH2R140Q xenograft mouse model. Besides, compound 36 displayed little effect on the hERG current. These results suggest that compound 36 has the potential to be an efficacious treatment for AML.

Mechanisms of Resistance to Small Molecules in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

In recent years, great progress has been made in the therapy of AML by targeting cellular processes associated with specific molecular features of the disease. Various small molecules inhibiting FLT3, IDH1/IDH2, and BCL2 have already gained approval from the respective authorities and are essential parts of personalized therapeutic regimens in modern therapy of AML. Unfortunately, primary and secondary resistance to these inhibitors is a frequent problem. Here, we comprehensively review the current state of knowledge regarding molecular processes involved in primary and secondary resistance to these agents, covering both genetic and nongenetic mechanisms. In addition, we introduce concepts and strategies for how these resistance mechanisms might be overcome.

Crosstalk between DNA methylation and hypoxia in acute myeloid leukaemia

BACKGROUND

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a deadly disease characterised by the uncontrolled proliferation of immature myeloid cells within the bone marrow. Altered regulation of DNA methylation is an important epigenetic driver of AML, where the hypoxic bone marrow microenvironment can help facilitate leukaemogenesis. Thus, interactions between epigenetic regulation and hypoxia signalling will have important implications for AML development and treatment.

MAIN BODY

This review summarises the importance of DNA methylation and the hypoxic bone marrow microenvironment in the development, progression, and treatment of AML. Here, we focus on the role hypoxia plays on signalling and the subsequent regulation of DNA methylation. Hypoxia is likely to influence DNA methylation through altered metabolic pathways, transcriptional control of epigenetic regulators, and direct effects on the enzymatic activity of epigenetic modifiers. DNA methylation may also prevent activation of hypoxia-responsive genes, demonstrating bidirectional crosstalk between epigenetic regulation and the hypoxic microenvironment. Finally, we consider the clinical implications of these interactions, suggesting that reduced cell cycling within the hypoxic bone marrow may decrease the efficacy of hypomethylating agents.

CONCLUSION

Hypoxia is likely to influence AML progression through complex interactions with DNA methylation, where the therapeutic efficacy of hypomethylating agents may be limited within the hypoxic bone marrow. To achieve optimal outcomes for AML patients, future studies should therefore consider co-treatments that can promote cycling of AML cells within the bone marrow or encourage their dissociation from the bone marrow.

Advances in acute myeloid leukemia differentiation therapy: A critical review

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by impaired differentiation and indefinite proliferation of abnormal myeloid progenitors. Although differentiating agents were deemed to revolutionize AML therapy, most treated non-APL AML patients are refractory or relapse. According to cancer stem cell model, leukemia-initiating cells are the root cause of relapse given their unidirectional potential to generate differentiated AML blasts. Nonetheless, accumulating evidences emphasize the de-differentiation plasticity and leukemogenic potential of mature AML blasts and the frailty of targeting leukemic stem cells per se. This review critically discusses the potential and challenges of (lessons learnt from) conventional and novel differentiating agents in AML therapy. Although differentiating agents might hold promise, they should be exploited within the context of a rationale combination regimen eradicating all maturation/differentiation states of AML cells. The results of the routinely used immunophenotypic markers and/or morphological analyses of differentiation should be carefully interpreted given their propensity to underestimate AML burden.

Reductive carboxylation epigenetically instructs T cell differentiation

Protective immunity against pathogens or cancer is mediated by the activation and clonal expansion of antigen-specific naive T cells into effector T cells. To sustain their rapid proliferation and effector functions, naive T cells switch their quiescent metabolism to an anabolic metabolism through increased levels of aerobic glycolysis, but also through mitochondrial metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation, generating energy and signalling molecules1-3. However, how that metabolic rewiring drives and defines the differentiation of T cells remains unclear. Here we show that proliferating effector CD8+ T cells reductively carboxylate glutamine through the mitochondrial enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2). Notably, deletion of the gene encoding IDH2 does not impair the proliferation of T cells nor their effector function, but promotes the differentiation of memory CD8+ T cells. Accordingly, inhibiting IDH2 during ex vivo manufacturing of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells induces features of memory T cells and enhances antitumour activity in melanoma, leukaemia and multiple myeloma. Mechanistically, inhibition of IDH2 activates compensating metabolic pathways that cause a disequilibrium in metabolites regulating histone-modifying enzymes, and this maintains chromatin accessibility at genes that are required for the differentiation of memory T cells. These findings show that reductive carboxylation in CD8+ T cells is dispensable for their effector response and proliferation, but that it mainly produces a pattern of metabolites that epigenetically locks CD8+ T cells into a terminal effector differentiation program. Blocking this metabolic route allows the increased formation of memory T cells, which could be exploited to optimize the therapeutic efficacy of CAR T cells.

Perturbed epigenetic transcriptional regulation in AML with IDH mutations causes increased susceptibility to NK cells

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations are found in 20% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. However, only 30-40% of the patients respond to IDH inhibitors (IDHi). We aimed to identify a molecular vulnerability to tailor novel therapies for AML patients with IDH mutations. We characterized the transcriptional and epigenetic landscape with the IDH2i AG-221, using an IDH2 mutated AML cell line model and AML patient cohorts, and discovered a perturbed transcriptional regulatory network involving myeloid transcription factors that were partly restored after AG-221 treatment. In addition, hypermethylation of the HLA cluster caused a down-regulation of HLA class I genes, triggering an enhanced natural killer (NK) cell activation and an increased susceptibility to NK cell-mediated responses. Finally, analyses of DNA methylation data from IDHi-treated patients showed that non-responders still harbored hypermethylation in HLA class I genes. In conclusion, this study provides new insights suggesting that IDH mutated AML is particularly sensitive to NK cell-based personalized immunotherapy.

The curious case of IDH mutant acute myeloid leukaemia: biochemistry and therapeutic approaches

Of the many genetic alterations that occur in cancer, relatively few have proven to be suitable for the development of targeted therapies. Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 and -2 increase the capacity of cancer cells to produce a normally scarce metabolite, D-2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG), by several orders of magnitude. The discovery of the unusual biochemistry of IDH mutations spurred a flurry of activity that revealed 2-HG as an 'oncometabolite' with pleiotropic effects in malignant cells and consequences for anti-tumour immunity. Over the next decade, we learned that 2-HG dysregulates a wide array of molecular pathways, among them a large family of dioxygenases that utilise the closely related metabolite α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) as an essential co-substrate. 2-HG not only contributes to malignant transformation, but some cancer cells become addicted to it and sensitive to inhibitors that block its synthesis. Moreover, high 2-HG levels and loss of wild-type IDH1 or IDH2 activity gives rise to synthetic lethal vulnerabilities. Herein, we review the biology of IDH mutations with a particular focus on acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), an aggressive disease where selective targeting of IDH-mutant cells is showing significant promise.

An integrative computational approach for the identification of dual inhibitors of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 from phytocompounds of Phyllantus amarus

Genetic alterations of the genes encoding the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) enzymes have been identified in about 20% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases as well as many other forms of cancers. Notable among these alterations are the neomorphic IDH1_R132H and IDH2_R140Q mutations which lead to the production of an oncometabolite. Hence, their inhibition is widely considered a therapeutic strategy in the treatment of many cancers. While many inhibitors of the mutant enzymes have been developed, an inhibitor that is capable of co-inhibiting both enzymes are currently lacking while drug resistance has also limited the clinical usage of previously identified mono inhibitors. Consequently, this study employed molecular modeling approaches, such as molecular docking, molecular mechanics generalized Born Surface area (MM/GBSA), molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and density functional theory (DFT) analysis to identify potential dual inhibitors of the previously mentioned mutant IDH1/2 from the phytocompounds of Phyllantus amarus. Of the 31 phytocompounds identified, 20 showed good binding affinities for both IDH1 _R132H and IDH2 _R140Q (ranging from -5.2 Kca/mol to -9.6 Kcal/mol) and had desirable pharmacokinetic properties. However, ellagic acid and pinoresinol possessed better pharmacokinetic properties, rendering suitable hits. Investigation of the behavior of the IDH1_R132H and IDH2_R140Q complexes with ellagic acid and pinoresinol via the RMSD, RMSF, and contact map analyses showed that all the complexes-maintained stability throughout the simulation time. Ultimately, ellagic acid and pinoresinol were identified as promising hits for the development of IDH1_R132H and IDH2_R140Q dual inhibitors. However, further experimental studies are needed to confirm their potential as therapies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Metabolomics in drug research and development: The recent advances in technologies and applications

Emerging evidence has demonstrated the vital role of metabolism in various diseases or disorders. Metabolomics provides a comprehensive understanding of metabolism in biological systems. With advanced analytical techniques, metabolomics exhibits unprecedented significant value in basic drug research, including understanding disease mechanisms, identifying drug targets, and elucidating the mode of action of drugs. More importantly, metabolomics greatly accelerates the drug development process by predicting pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and drug response. In addition, metabolomics facilitates the exploration of drug repurposing and drug-drug interactions, as well as the development of personalized treatment strategies. Here, we briefly review the recent advances in technologies in metabolomics and update our knowledge of the applications of metabolomics in drug research and development.

The Therapeutic Potential of a Strategy to Prevent Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cell Reprogramming in Older Patients

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common and incurable leukemia subtype. Despite extensive research into the disease's intricate molecular mechanisms, effective treatments or expanded diagnostic or prognostic markers for AML have not yet been identified. The morphological, immunophenotypic, cytogenetic, biomolecular, and clinical characteristics of AML patients are extensive and complex. Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) consist of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and cancer cells transformed by a complex, finely-tuned interaction that causes the complexity of AML. Microenvironmental regulation of LSCs dormancy and the diagnostic and therapeutic implications for identifying and targeting LSCs due to their significance in the pathogenesis of AML are discussed in this review. It is essential to perceive the relationship between the niche for LSCs and HSCs, which together cause the progression of AML. Notably, methylation is a well-known epigenetic change that is significant in AML, and our data also reveal that microRNAs are a unique factor for LSCs. Multiple-targeted approaches to reduce the risk of epigenetic factors, such as the administration of natural compounds for the elimination of local LSCs, may prevent potentially fatal relapses. Furthermore, the survival analysis of overlapping genes revealed that specific targets had significant effects on the survival and prognosis of patients. We predict that the multiple-targeted effects of herbal products on epigenetic modification are governed by different mechanisms in AML and could prevent potentially fatal relapses. Thus, these strategies can facilitate the incorporation of herbal medicine and natural compounds into the advanced drug discovery and development processes achievable with Network Pharmacology research.

Succinate mediates inflammation-induced adrenocortical dysfunction

The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is activated in response to inflammation leading to increased production of anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids by the adrenal cortex, thereby representing an endogenous feedback loop. However, severe inflammation reduces the responsiveness of the adrenal gland to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we show by transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses that LPS-induced systemic inflammation triggers profound metabolic changes in steroidogenic adrenocortical cells, including downregulation of the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, in mice. Inflammation disrupts the TCA cycle at the level of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), leading to succinate accumulation and disturbed steroidogenesis. Mechanistically, IL-1β reduces SDHB expression through upregulation of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and methylation of the SDHB promoter. Consequently, increased succinate levels impair oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis and enhance ROS production, leading to reduced steroidogenesis. Together, we demonstrate that the IL-1β-DNMT1-SDHB-succinate axis disrupts steroidogenesis. Our findings not only provide a mechanistic explanation for adrenal dysfunction in severe inflammation, but also offer a potential target for therapeutic intervention.

A comparative safety review of targeted therapies for acute myeloid leukemia

INTRODUCTION

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment has primarily focused on 7 + 3 chemotherapy, but in the last decade there has been a significant increase in new therapies, mostly targeted agents, approved for the treatment of AML. We performed a comparative analysis of the unique safety profile of each of these new agents.

AREAS COVERED

We conducted a review of the current literature on public databases (PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration) regarding new AML drugs that were approved from 2017 to 2023.

EXPERT OPINION

The diagnosis of AML typically carries a poor prognosis but with an increase in the number of drugs that are now available, patients' outcomes are improving. With novel mechanisms of action, the use of these agents introduces different safety profiles, occasionally with adverse events not previously seen with standard chemotherapy or at different frequencies. An understanding of the drugs available and the safety concerns associated with each one is crucial to selecting the best available option for each patient, and early recognition and appropriate management of drug-related adverse effects.

The Interplay between Dysregulated Metabolism and Epigenetics in Cancer

Cellular metabolism (or energetics) and epigenetics are tightly coupled cellular processes. It is arguable that of all the described cancer hallmarks, dysregulated cellular energetics and epigenetics are the most tightly coregulated. Cellular metabolic states regulate and drive epigenetic changes while also being capable of influencing, if not driving, epigenetic reprogramming. Conversely, epigenetic changes can drive altered and compensatory metabolic states. Cancer cells meticulously modify and control each of these two linked cellular processes in order to maintain their tumorigenic potential and capacity. This review aims to explore the interplay between these two processes and discuss how each affects the other, driving and enhancing tumorigenic states in certain contexts.

Plant Extracts as a Source of Natural Products with Potential Antimalarial Effects: An Update from 2018 to 2022

Malaria kills more than 500,000 people yearly, mainly affecting Africa and Southeast Asia. The disease is caused by the protozoan parasite from the genus Plasmodium, with Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum being the main species that cause the disease in humans. Although substantial progress has been observed in malaria research in the last years, the threat of the spread of Plasmodium parasites persists. Artemisinin-resistant strains of this parasite have been reported mainly in Southeast Asia, highlighting the urgent need to develop more effective and safe antimalarial drugs. In this context, natural sources, mainly from flora, remain underexplored antimalarial spaces. The present mini-review explores this space focusing on plant extracts and some of their isolated natural products with at least in vitro antiplasmodial effects reported in the literature comprising the last five years (2018-2022).

Enasidenib treatment in two individuals with D-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria carrying a germline IDH2 mutation

D-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria type II (D2HGA2) is a severe inborn disorder of metabolism caused by heterozygous R140 mutations in the IDH2 (isocitrate dehydrogenase 2) gene. Here we report the results of treatment of two children with D2HGA2, one of whom exhibited severe dilated cardiomyopathy, with the selective mutant IDH2 enzyme inhibitor enasidenib. In both children, enasidenib treatment led to normalization of D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D-2-HG) concentrations in body fluids. At doses of 50 mg and 60 mg per day, no side effects were observed, except for asymptomatic hyperbilirubinemia. For the child with cardiomyopathy, chronic D-2-HG inhibition was associated with improved cardiac function, and for both children, therapy was associated with improved daily functioning, global motility and social interactions. Treatment of the child with cardiomyopathy led to therapy-coordinated changes in serum phospholipid levels, which were partly recapitulated in cultured fibroblasts, associated with complex effects on lipid and redox-related gene pathways. These findings indicate that targeted inhibition of a mutant enzyme can partly reverse the pathology of a chronic neurometabolic genetic disorder.

Mutant IDH in Gliomas: Role in Cancer and Treatment Options

Altered metabolism is a common feature of many cancers and, in some cases, is a consequence of mutation in metabolic genes, such as the ones involved in the TCA cycle. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) is mutated in many gliomas and other cancers. Physiologically, IDH converts isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate (α-KG), but when mutated, IDH reduces α-KG to D2-hydroxyglutarate (D2-HG). D2-HG accumulates at elevated levels in IDH mutant tumours, and in the last decade, a massive effort has been made to develop small inhibitors targeting mutant IDH. In this review, we summarise the current knowledge about the cellular and molecular consequences of IDH mutations and the therapeutic approaches developed to target IDH mutant tumours, focusing on gliomas.