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Gaur T, Poddutoori R, Khare L, Bagal B, Rashmi S, Patkar N, Tembhare P, Pg S, Shetty D, Dutt A, Zhang Q, Konopleva M, Platzbeckar U, Gupta S, Samajdar S, Ramchandra M, Khattry N, Hasan SK. Novel covalent CDK7 inhibitor potently induces apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia and synergizes with Venetoclax. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:186. [PMID: 37507802 PMCID: PMC10386772 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02750-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The emergence of resistance to the highly successful BCL2-directed therapy is a major unmet need in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive malignancy with poor survival rates. Towards identifying therapeutic options for AML patients who progress on BCL2-directed therapy, we studied a clinical-stage CDK7 inhibitor XL102, which is being evaluated in solid tumors (NCT04726332). MATERIALS AND METHODS To determine the anti-proliferative effects of XL102, we performed experiments including time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer, target occupancy, cell cycle and apoptosis-based assays. We also included genetically characterized primary myeloid blasts from de novo and relapsed/refractory AML patients. For mechanistic studies, CRISPR/Cas9 mediated knockout of CDK7 and c-Myc and immunoblotting were performed. NOD/SCID orthotropic and subcutaneous AML xenografts were used to determine anti-leukemic effects. To assess the synergistic effects of XL102 with Venetoclax, we performed RNA sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis using Venetoclax sensitive and resistant model systems. RESULTS XL102, a highly specific, orally bioavailable covalent inhibitor of CDK7. Inhibitory effect on CDK7 by XL102 in primary myeloid blasts (n = 54) was in nanomolar range (mean = 300 nM; range = 4.0-952 nM). XL102 treated AML cells showed a reduction in phosphorylation levels of Serine 2/5/7 at carboxy-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II. T-loop phosphorylation of CDK1(Thr161) and CDK2(Thr160) was inhibited by XL102 in dose-dependent manner leading to cell-cycle arrest. c-Myc downregulation and enhanced levels of p53 and p21 in XL102 treated cells were observed. Increased levels of p21 and activation of p53 by XL102 were mimicked by genetic ablation of CDK7, which supports that the observed effects of XL102 are due to CDK7 inhibition. XL102 treated AML xenografts showed remarkable reduction in hCD45 + marrow cells (mean = 0.60%; range = 0.04%-3.53%) compared to vehicle control (mean = 38.2%; range = 10.1%-78%), with corresponding increase in p53, p21 and decrease in c-Myc levels. The data suggests XL102 induces apoptosis in AML cells via CDK7/c-Myc/p53 axis. RNA-sequencing from paired Venetoclax-sensitive and Venetoclax-resistant cells treated with XL102 showed downregulation of genes involved in proliferation and apoptosis. CONCLUSION Taken together, XL102 with Venetoclax led to synergistic effects in overcoming resistance and provided a strong rationale for clinical evaluation of XL102 as a single agent and in combination with Venetoclax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarang Gaur
- Hasan Lab, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Navi, Mumbai, 410210, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Ramulu Poddutoori
- Aurigene Oncology Limited, Electronic City Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560100, India
| | - Leena Khare
- Aurigene Oncology Limited, Electronic City Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560100, India
| | - Bhausaheb Bagal
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, 400014, India
| | - Sonal Rashmi
- Dutt Lab, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Navi, Mumbai, 410210, India
- Present Address: CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nikhil Patkar
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
- Hematopathology Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Navi, Mumbai, 410210, India
| | - Prashant Tembhare
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
- Hematopathology Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Navi, Mumbai, 410210, India
| | - Subramanian Pg
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
- Hematopathology Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Navi, Mumbai, 410210, India
| | - Dhanlaxmi Shetty
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
- Department of Cytogenetics, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Navi, Mumbai, 410210, India
| | - Amit Dutt
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
- Dutt Lab, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Navi, Mumbai, 410210, India
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | | | - Uwe Platzbeckar
- Medical Clinic and Policlinic I, Hematology and Cellular Therapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Johannisallee 32, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sudeep Gupta
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, 400014, India
| | - Susanta Samajdar
- Aurigene Oncology Limited, Electronic City Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560100, India
| | - Murali Ramchandra
- Aurigene Oncology Limited, Electronic City Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560100, India
| | - Navin Khattry
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India.
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, 400014, India.
| | - Syed K Hasan
- Hasan Lab, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Navi, Mumbai, 410210, India.
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India.
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