Targeting c-KIT (CD117) by dasatinib and radotinib promotes acute myeloid leukemia cell death

Sci Rep. 2017 Nov 10;7(1):15278. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-15492-5.

Abstract

Dasatinib and radotinib are oral BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors that were developed as drugs for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. We report here that the c-KIT (CD117) targeting with dasatinib and radotinib promotes acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell death, and c-KIT endocytosis is essential for triggering c-KIT-positive AML cell death by dasatinib and radotinib during the early stages. In addition, dasatinib and radotinib reduce heat shock protein 90β (HSP90β) expression and release Apaf-1 in c-KIT-positive AML cells. Finally, this activates a caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway in c-KIT-positive AML cells. Moreover, the inhibition of c-KIT endocytosis by dynamin inhibitor (DY) reversed cell viability and c-KIT expression by dasatinib and radotinib. HSP90β expression was recovered by DY in c-KIT-positive AML cells as well. Furthermore, the effect of radotinib on c-KIT and HSP90β showed the same pattern in a xenograft animal model using HEL92.1.7 cells. Therefore, dasatinib and radotinib promote AML cell death by targeting c-KIT. Taken together, these results indicate that dasatinib and radotinib treatment have a potential role in anti-leukemic therapy on c-KIT-positive AML cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1 / genetics
  • Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1 / metabolism
  • Benzamides / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dasatinib / pharmacology*
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic / drug effects*
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / biosynthesis
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / analysis*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / metabolism
  • Pyrazines / pharmacology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • 4-methyl-N-(3-(4-methylimidazol-1-yl)-5-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-(4-pyrazin-2-ylpyrimidin-2-ylamino)benzamide
  • APAF1 protein, human
  • Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1
  • Benzamides
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • HSP90AB1 protein, human
  • Pyrazines
  • KIT protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
  • Dasatinib