ERBB1/EGFR and JAK3 Tyrosine Kinases as Potential Therapeutic Targets in High-Risk Multiple Myeloma

Quinazoline-chalcone hybrids as HDAC/EGFR dual inhibitors: Design, synthesis, mechanistic, and in-silico studies of potential anticancer activity against multiple myeloma

Two new series of quinazoline-chalcone hybrids were designed, synthesized as histone deacetylase (HDAC)/epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) dual inhibitors, and screened in vitro against the NCI 60 human cancer cell line panel. The most potent derivative, compound 5e bearing a 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl chalcone moiety, showed the most effective growth inhibition value against the panel of NCI 60 human cancer cell lines. Thus, it was selected for further investigation for NCI 5 log doses. Interestingly, this trimethoxy-substituted analog inhibited the proliferation of Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI)-8226 cells by 96%, at 10 µM with IC50 = 9.09 ± 0.34 µM and selectivity index = 7.19 against normal blood cells. To confirm the selectivity of this compound, it was evaluated against a panel of tyrosine kinase enzymes. Mechanistically, it successfully and selectively inhibited HDAC6, HDAC8, and EGFR with IC50 = 0.41 ± 0.015, 0.61 ± 0.027, and 0.09 ± 0.004 µM, respectively. Furthermore, the selected derivative induced apoptosis via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway by raising the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and activating caspases 3, 7, and 9. Also, the flow cytometry analysis of RPMI-8226 cells showed that the trimethoxy-substituted analog produced cell cycle arrest in the G1 and S phases at 55.82%. Finally, an in silico study was performed to explore the binding interaction of the most active compound within the zinc-containing binding site of HDAC6 and HDAC8.

A Novel Necroptosis-Related Signature Can Predict Prognosis and Chemotherapy Sensitivity in Multiple Myeloma

BACKGROUND

Necroptosis is an inflammatory cell death mode, and its association with multiple myeloma (MM) remains unclear.

METHODS

This prospective study first analyzed the association between necroptosis-related signature as well as prognosis and chemotherapy sensitivity in MM using the necroptosis score. Consensus clustering was used to identify necroptosis-related molecular clusters. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed to establish the prognostic model of necroptosis-related genes (NRGs).

RESULTS

A high necroptosis score was associated with poor prognosis and abundant immune infiltration. Two molecular clusters (clusters A and B) significantly differed in terms of prognosis and tumor microenvironment. Cluster B had a worse prognosis and higher tumor marker pathway activity than cluster A. The risk score model based on four NRGs can accurately predict the prognosis of patients with MM, which was validated in two validation cohorts. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curves of the risk score in predicting the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 0.710, 0.758, and 0.834, respectively. Further, the activity of pathways related to proliferation and genetic regulation in the high-risk group significantly increased. The drug prediction results showed that the low-risk score group was more sensitive to bortezomib, cytarabine, and doxorubicin than the high-risk score group. Meanwhile, the high-risk score group was more sensitive to lenalidomide and vinblastine than the low-risk score group. Finally, the upregulation of model genes CHMP1A, FAS, JAK3, and HSP90AA1 in clinical samples collected from patients with MM was validated via real-time polymerase chain reaction.

CONCLUSION

A systematic analysis of NRGs can help identify potential necroptosis-related mechanisms and provide novel biomarkers for MM prognosis prediction, tumor microenvironment evaluation, and personalized treatment planning.

Upregulated Expression of ERBB2/HER2 in Multiple Myeloma as a Predictor of Poor Survival Outcomes

The main goal of the present study was to examine if the RNA-sequencing (RNAseq)-based ERBB2/HER2 expression level in malignant plasma cells from multiple myeloma (MM) patients has clinical significance for treatment outcomes and survival. We examined the relationship between the RNAseq-based ERBB2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels in malignant plasma cells and survival outcomes in 787 MM patients treated on contemporary standard regimens. ERBB2 was expressed at significantly higher levels than ERBB1 as well as ERBB3 across all three stages of the disease. Upregulated expression of ERBB2 mRNA in MM cells was correlated with amplified expression of mRNAs for transcription factors (TF) that recognize the ERBB2 gene promoter sites. Patients with higher levels of ERBB2 mRNA in their malignant plasma cells experienced significantly increased cancer mortality, shorter progression-free survival, and worse overall survival than other patients. The adverse impact of high ERBB2 expression on patient survival outcomes remained significant in multivariate Cox proportional hazards models that accounted for the effects of other prognostic factors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an adverse prognostic impact of high-level ERBB2 expression in MM patients. Our results encourage further evaluation of the prognostic significance of high-level ERBB2 mRNA expression and the clinical potential of ERBB2-targeting therapeutics as personalized medicines to overcome cancer drug resistance in high-risk as well as relapsed/refractory MM.

Upregulated Expression of ErbB1 in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma as a Predictor of Poor Overall Survival Outcome

We examined the transcript-level expression of ErbB family protein tyrosine kinases, including ERBB1, in primary malignant lymphoma cells from 498 adult patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). ERBB1 expression in DLBCL cells was significantly higher than in normal B-lineage lymphoid cells. An upregulated expression of ERBB1 mRNA in DLBCL cells was correlated with an amplified expression of mRNAs for transcription factors that recognized ERBB1 gene promoter sites. Notably, amplified ERBB1 expression in DLBCL and its subtypes were associated with significantly worse overall survival (OS). Our results encourage the further evaluation of the prognostic significance of high-level ERBB1 mRNA expression and the clinical potential of ERBB1-targeting therapeutics as personalized medicines in high-risk DLBCL.