Combination of bortezomib and mitotic inhibitors down-modulate Bcr-Abl and efficiently eliminates tyrosine-kinase inhibitor sensitive and resistant Bcr-Abl-positive leukemic cells

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 14;8(10):e77390. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077390. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Emergence of resistance to Tyrosine-Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs), such as imatinib, dasatinib and nilotinib, in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) demands new therapeutic strategies. We and others have previously established bortezomib, a selective proteasome inhibitor, as an important potential treatment in CML. Here we show that the combined regimens of bortezomib with mitotic inhibitors, such as the microtubule-stabilizing agent Paclitaxel and the PLK1 inhibitor BI2536, efficiently kill TKIs-resistant and -sensitive Bcr-Abl-positive leukemic cells. Combined treatment activates caspases 8, 9 and 3, which correlate with caspase-induced PARP cleavage. These effects are associated with a marked increase in activation of the stress-related MAP kinases p38MAPK and JNK. Interestingly, combined treatment induces a marked decrease in the total and phosphorylated Bcr-Abl protein levels, and inhibits signaling pathways downstream of Bcr-Abl: downregulation of STAT3 and STAT5 phosphorylation and/or total levels and a decrease in phosphorylation of the Bcr-Abl-associated proteins CrkL and Lyn. Moreover, we found that other mitotic inhibitors (Vincristine and Docetaxel), in combination with bortezomib, also suppress the Bcr-Abl-induced pro-survival signals and result in caspase 3 activation. These results open novel possibilities for the treatment of Bcr-Abl-positive leukemias, especially in the imatinib, dasatinib and nilotinib-resistant CML cases.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Benzamides / pharmacology
  • Boronic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Bortezomib
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dasatinib
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Drug Synergism
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / metabolism*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Leukemia / enzymology
  • Leukemia / pathology*
  • Mitosis / drug effects*
  • Models, Biological
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Pteridines
  • Pyrazines / pharmacology*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • BI 2536
  • Benzamides
  • Boronic Acids
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring
  • Piperazines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pteridines
  • Pyrazines
  • Pyrimidines
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Thiazoles
  • Bortezomib
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Caspases
  • nilotinib
  • Paclitaxel
  • Dasatinib