Activation of a novel Bcr/Abl destruction pathway by WP1130 induces apoptosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells

Blood. 2007 Apr 15;109(8):3470-8. doi: 10.1182/blood-2006-02-005579. Epub 2007 Jan 3.

Abstract

Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) is effective therapy against Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemia, but resistance develops in all phases of the disease. Bcr/Abl point mutations and other alterations reduce the kinase inhibitory activity of imatinib mesylate; thus, agents that target Bcr/Abl through unique mechanisms may be needed. Here we describe the activity of WP1130, a small molecule that specifically and rapidly down-regulates both wild-type and mutant Bcr/Abl protein without affecting bcr/abl gene expression in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells. Loss of Bcr/Abl protein correlated with the onset of apoptosis and reduced phosphorylation of Bcr/Abl substrates. WP1130 did not affect Hsp90/Hsp70 ratios within the cells and did not require the participation of the proteasomal pathway for loss of Bcr/Abl protein. WP1130 was more effective in reducing leukemic versus normal hematopoietic colony formation and strongly inhibited colony formation of cells derived from patients with T315I mutant Bcr/Abl-expressing CML in blast crisis. WP1130 suppressed the growth of K562 heterotransplanted tumors as well as both wild-type Bcr/Abl and T315I mutant Bcr/Abl-expressing BaF/3 cells transplanted into nude mice. Collectively, our results demonstrate that WP1130 reduces wild-type and T315I mutant Bcr/Abl protein levels in CML cells through a unique mechanism and may be useful in treating CML.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Benzamides
  • Blast Crisis / drug therapy*
  • Blast Crisis / enzymology
  • Blast Crisis / genetics
  • Blast Crisis / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cyanoacrylates
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / biosynthesis
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic / drug effects
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / enzymology
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / enzymology
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / genetics
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Nitriles / pharmacology*
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Point Mutation
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Pyridines / pharmacology*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Tumor Stem Cell Assay

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Cyanoacrylates
  • Nitriles
  • Piperazines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyridines
  • Pyrimidines
  • degrasyn
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl