Direct targeted therapy for MLL-fusion-driven high-risk acute leukaemias.
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Authors
Cantilena, Sandra
Gasparoli, Luca
Pal, Deepali
Heidenreich, Olaf
Klusmann, Jan-Henning
Martens, Joost HA
Faille, Alexandre
Karsa, Mawar
Pandher, Ruby
Somers, Klaartje
Williams, Owen
Publication Date
2022-06Journal Title
Clin Transl Med
ISSN
2001-1326
Publisher
Springer
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Cantilena, S., Gasparoli, L., Pal, D., Heidenreich, O., Klusmann, J., Martens, J. H., Faille, A., et al. (2022). Direct targeted therapy for MLL-fusion-driven high-risk acute leukaemias.. Clin Transl Med https://doi.org/10.1002/ctm2.933
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Improving the poor prognosis of infant leukaemias remains an unmet clinical need. This disease is a prototypical fusion oncoprotein-driven paediatric cancer, with MLL (KMT2A)-fusions present in most cases. Direct targeting of these driving oncoproteins represents a unique therapeutic opportunity. This rationale led us to initiate a drug screening with the aim of discovering drugs that can block MLL-fusion oncoproteins. METHODS: A screen for inhibition of MLL-fusion proteins was developed that overcomes the traditional limitations of targeting transcription factors. This luciferase reporter-based screen, together with a secondary western blot screen, was used to prioritize compounds. We characterized the lead compound, disulfiram (DSF), based on its efficient ablation of MLL-fusion proteins. The consequences of drug-induced MLL-fusion inhibition were confirmed by cell proliferation, colony formation, apoptosis assays, RT-qPCR, in vivo assays, RNA-seq and ChIP-qPCR and ChIP-seq analysis. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: Drug-induced inhibition of MLL-fusion proteins by DSF resulted in a specific block of colony formation in MLL-rearranged cells in vitro, induced differentiation and impeded leukaemia progression in vivo. Mechanistically, DSF abrogates MLL-fusion protein binding to DNA, resulting in epigenetic changes and down-regulation of leukaemic programmes setup by the MLL-fusion protein. CONCLUSION: DSF can directly inhibit MLL-fusion proteins and demonstrate antitumour activity both in vitro and in vivo, providing, to our knowledge, the first evidence for a therapy that directly targets the initiating oncogenic MLL-fusion protein.
Sponsorship
MRC (MR/T012412/1)
Blood Cancer UK (21002)
Wellcome Trust (100140/Z/12/Z)
Embargo Lift Date
2025-06-10
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ctm2.933
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/337999
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