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Vandewalle N, Satilmis H, Verheye E, Fan R, Wang Y, De Groof TW, Bridoux J, Kerre T, De Beule N, De Becker A, De Bruyne E, Menu E, Vanderkerken K, Breckpot K, Devoogdt N, De Veirman K. AXL-specific single domain antibodies show diagnostic potential and anti-tumor activity in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Theranostics 2024; 14:2656-2674. [PMID: 38773967 PMCID: PMC11103505 DOI: 10.7150/thno.91456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Rationale: AXL expression has been identified as a prognostic factor in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is detectable in approximately 50% of AML patients. In this study, we developed AXL-specific single domain antibodies (sdAbs), cross-reactive for both mouse and human AXL protein, to non-invasively image and treat AXL-expressing cancer cells. Methods: AXL-specific sdAbs were induced by immunizing an alpaca with mouse and human AXL proteins. SdAbs were characterized using ELISA, flow cytometry, surface plasmon resonance and the AlphaFold2 software. A lead compound was selected and labeled with 99mTc for evaluation as a diagnostic tool in mouse models of human (THP-1 cells) or mouse (C1498 cells) AML using SPECT/CT imaging. For therapeutic purposes, the lead compound was fused to a mouse IgG2a-Fc tail and in vitro functionality tests were performed including viability, apoptosis and proliferation assays in human AML cell lines and primary patient samples. Using these in vitro models, its anti-tumor effect was evaluated as a single agent, and in combination with standard of care agents venetoclax or cytarabine. Results: Based on its cell binding potential, cross-reactivity, nanomolar affinity and GAS6/AXL blocking capacity, we selected sdAb20 for further evaluation. Using SPECT/CT imaging, we observed tumor uptake of 99mTc-sdAb20 in mice with AXL-positive THP-1 or C1498 tumors. In THP-1 xenografts, an optimized protocol using pre-injection of cold sdAb20-Fc was required to maximize the tumor-to-background signal. Besides its diagnostic value, we observed a significant reduction in tumor cell proliferation and viability using sdAb20-Fc in vitro. Moreover, combining sdAb20-Fc and cytarabine synergistically induced apoptosis in human AML cell lines, while these effects were less clear when combined with venetoclax. Conclusions: Because of their diagnostic potential, sdAbs could be used to screen patients eligible for AXL-targeted therapy and to follow-up AXL expression during treatment and disease progression. When fused to an Fc-domain, sdAbs acquire additional therapeutic properties that can lead to a multidrug approach for the treatment of AXL-positive cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Vandewalle
- Translational Oncology Research Center (TORC), team Hematology and Immunology (HEIM), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hatice Satilmis
- Translational Oncology Research Center (TORC), team Hematology and Immunology (HEIM), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Emma Verheye
- Translational Oncology Research Center (TORC), team Hematology and Immunology (HEIM), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Laboratory of Dendritic Cell Biology and Cancer Immunotherapy, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Brussels, Belgium
- Brussels Center of Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rong Fan
- Translational Oncology Research Center (TORC), team Hematology and Immunology (HEIM), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yanmeng Wang
- Translational Oncology Research Center (TORC), team Hematology and Immunology (HEIM), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Timo W.M. De Groof
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (MITH), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jessica Bridoux
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (MITH), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tessa Kerre
- Department of Hematology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nathan De Beule
- Translational Oncology Research Center (TORC), team Hematology and Immunology (HEIM), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ann De Becker
- Translational Oncology Research Center (TORC), team Hematology and Immunology (HEIM), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Elke De Bruyne
- Translational Oncology Research Center (TORC), team Hematology and Immunology (HEIM), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eline Menu
- Translational Oncology Research Center (TORC), team Hematology and Immunology (HEIM), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Karin Vanderkerken
- Translational Oncology Research Center (TORC), team Hematology and Immunology (HEIM), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Karine Breckpot
- Translational Oncology Research Center (TORC), Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Therapy (LMCT), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nick Devoogdt
- Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (MITH), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kim De Veirman
- Translational Oncology Research Center (TORC), team Hematology and Immunology (HEIM), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Translational Oncology Research Center (TORC), team Hematology and Immunology (HEIM), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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DeRyckere D, Huelse JM, Earp HS, Graham DK. TAM family kinases as therapeutic targets at the interface of cancer and immunity. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2023; 20:755-779. [PMID: 37667010 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00813-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Novel treatment approaches are needed to overcome innate and acquired mechanisms of resistance to current anticancer therapies in cancer cells and the tumour immune microenvironment. The TAM (TYRO3, AXL and MERTK) family receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are potential therapeutic targets in a wide range of cancers. In cancer cells, TAM RTKs activate signalling pathways that promote cell survival, metastasis and resistance to a variety of chemotherapeutic agents and targeted therapies. TAM RTKs also function in innate immune cells, contributing to various mechanisms that suppress antitumour immunity and promote resistance to immune-checkpoint inhibitors. Therefore, TAM antagonists provide an unprecedented opportunity for both direct and immune-mediated therapeutic activity provided by inhibition of a single target, and are likely to be particularly effective when used in combination with other cancer therapies. To exploit this potential, a variety of agents have been designed to selectively target TAM RTKs, many of which have now entered clinical testing. This Review provides an essential guide to the TAM RTKs for clinicians, including an overview of the rationale for therapeutic targeting of TAM RTKs in cancer cells and the tumour immune microenvironment, a description of the current preclinical and clinical experience with TAM inhibitors, and a perspective on strategies for continued development of TAM-targeted agents for oncology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah DeRyckere
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Paediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Justus M Huelse
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Paediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - H Shelton Earp
- Department of Medicine, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Douglas K Graham
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Paediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Nasimian A, Al Ashiri L, Ahmed M, Duan H, Zhang X, Rönnstrand L, Kazi JU. A Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Sensitivity Prediction Model Identifies AXL Dependency in Leukemia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043830. [PMID: 36835239 PMCID: PMC9959897 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite incredible progress in cancer treatment, therapy resistance remains the leading limiting factor for long-term survival. During drug treatment, several genes are transcriptionally upregulated to mediate drug tolerance. Using highly variable genes and pharmacogenomic data for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we developed a drug sensitivity prediction model for the receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib and achieved more than 80% prediction accuracy. Furthermore, by using Shapley additive explanations for determining leading features, we identified AXL as an important feature for drug resistance. Drug-resistant patient samples displayed enrichment of protein kinase C (PKC) signaling, which was also identified in sorafenib-treated FLT3-ITD-dependent AML cell lines by a peptide-based kinase profiling assay. Finally, we show that pharmacological inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity enhances AXL expression, phosphorylation of the PKC-substrate cyclic AMP response element binding (CREB) protein, and displays synergy with AXL and PKC inhibitors. Collectively, our data suggest an involvement of AXL in tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance and link PKC activation as a possible signaling mediator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Nasimian
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Lina Al Ashiri
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Mehreen Ahmed
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Hongzhi Duan
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Xiaoyue Zhang
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Lars Rönnstrand
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, 22185 Lund, Sweden
| | - Julhash U. Kazi
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22381 Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +46-462226407
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Ohoka N, Suzuki M, Uchida T, Tsuji G, Tsukumo Y, Yoshida M, Inoue T, Demizu Y, Ohki H, Naito M. Development of Gilteritinib-Based Chimeric Small Molecules that Potently Induce Degradation of FLT3-ITD Protein. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:1885-1891. [DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nobumichi Ohoka
- Division of Molecular Target and Gene Therapy Products, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan
| | - Masanori Suzuki
- Modality Research Laboratories, Biologics Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Takuya Uchida
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratories, R&D Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Genichiro Tsuji
- Division of Organic Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501 Japan
| | - Yoshinori Tsukumo
- Division of Molecular Target and Gene Therapy Products, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan
| | - Masayuki Yoshida
- Modality Research Laboratories, Biologics Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Takao Inoue
- Division of Molecular Target and Gene Therapy Products, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan
| | - Yosuke Demizu
- Division of Organic Chemistry, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501 Japan
| | - Hitoshi Ohki
- Modality Research Laboratories, Biologics Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo 140-8710, Japan
| | - Mikihiko Naito
- Division of Molecular Target and Gene Therapy Products, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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Overcoming Resistance: FLT3 Inhibitors Past, Present, Future and the Challenge of Cure. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14174315. [PMID: 36077850 PMCID: PMC9454516 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14174315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
FLT3 ITD and TKD mutations occur in 20% and 10% of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), respectively, and they represent the target of the first approved anti-leukemic therapies in the 2000s. Type I and type II FLT3 inhibitors (FLT3i) are active against FLT3 TKD/ITD and FLT3 ITD mutations alone respectively, but they still fail remissions in 30-40% of patients due to primary and secondary mechanisms of resistance, with variable relapse rate of 30-50%, influenced by NPM status and FLT3 allelic ratio. Mechanisms of resistance to FLT3i have recently been analyzed through NGS and single cell assays that have identified and elucidated the polyclonal nature of relapse in clinical and preclinical studies, summarized here. Knowledge of tumor escape pathways has helped in the identification of new targeted drugs to overcome resistance. Immunotherapy and combination or sequential use of BCL2 inhibitors and experimental drugs including aurora kinases, menin and JAK2 inhibitors will be the goal of present and future clinical trials, especially in patients with FLT3-mutated (FLT3mut) AML who are not eligible for allogeneic transplantation.
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