Abstract

This study was performed to determine whether the investigational proteasome inhibitor ixazomib demonstrated selective anti-neoplastic activity against acute myelogenous leukemia cells expressing a mutated nucleophosmin-1 gene and to gain a better understanding of its mechanisms of action.The cytotoxic effects of ixazomib treatment were analyzed in human AML cell lines and primary AML samples expressing wild type or mutated NPM1 (NPMc+). The potential roles of oxidative stress in mediating cytotoxic activity were determined using flow cytometry, enzyme-based assays, and western blots.Apoptosis induced by ixazomib was abrogated by knock down of NPM1/NPMc+ expression using an inducible shRNA construct and enhanced by NPMc+ overexpression. Cytotoxicity was associated with superoxide generation and was reduced by the addition of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. AML cells expressing NPMc+ had significantly reduced levels of intracellular glutathione and NADPH associated with reduced antioxidant responses to drug treatment. Treatment of three patients with relapsed NPMc+ AML resulted in an anti-leukemic effect in one patient as demonstrated by a marked reduction of leukemic blasts in the peripheral blood. Efficacy was associated with superoxide generation, reduced glutathione levels, and reduced mRNA and protein expression of antioxidant effectors in responding cells.In this study a direct association was observed between NPMc+ expression in AML, reduced antioxidant responses, and enhanced sensitivity to an oral proteasome inhibitor that induces oxidative stress. These data suggest that intracellular determinants of antioxidant responses may be good predictors of therapeutic response to ixazomib.

View details for DOI 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-15-1440

View details for PubMedID 26634271