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Molecular Targets for Therapy

AS602868, a dual inhibitor of IKK2 and FLT3 to target AML cells

Leukemia volume 21, pages 877–885 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells carry molecular defects that promote their leukemic proliferation, resistance to apoptosis and defect in differentiation. Pharmacological targeting of the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) pathway has been shown to promote apoptosis of primary AML cells and to sensitize blasts to neoplastic drugs (Frelin, Blood 2005, 105, 804). The Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3), which sustains proliferation of normal hematopoietic progenitors is frequently overexpressed or mutated in AML patients. Using Ba/F3 murine pre-B cells transfected with various mutants of FLT3 (ITD, D835V, D835Y) and the MV4-11 human AML line, we show that normal or oncogenic stimulation of FLT3 led to activation of NF-κB. Pharmacological inhibition of either FLT3 with AG1296 or NF-κB with the small molecule inhibitor of IkappaB kinase-2 AS602868 reduced viability and triggered cell death. Moreover, AS602868 was also found to interfere directly with FLT3 kinase activation. AS602868 thus appears to target two different kinases that play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AML, making it particularly attractive as a new therapeutical approach for AML.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Mrs Pascale Gaillard (Merck Serono) and Laura Liu (EMB-Serono) for their help with FLT3 experiments. This work was supported by institutional funding from INSERM, by grants from ARC, La Fondation de France comité leucémies and Merck Serono International SA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM, U526, Nice, France

    E Griessinger, V Imbert, P Lagadec, N Gonthier & J-F Peyron

  2. Faculté de Médecine Pasteur (IFR50), Université Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Nice, France

    E Griessinger, V Imbert, P Lagadec, N Gonthier & J-F Peyron

  3. INSERM, U599, Marseille, France

    P Dubreuil

  4. Aix Marseille Université, IFR137, Marseille, France

    P Dubreuil

  5. Institut Paoli-Calmette, Marseille, France

    P Dubreuil

  6. EMB-Serono Inc, Rockland, MA, USA

    A Romanelli

  7. Merck Serono International SA, Geneva, Switzerland

    M Dreano

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  1. E Griessinger
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  2. V Imbert
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  8. J-F Peyron
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Correspondence to J-F Peyron.

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Griessinger, E., Imbert, V., Lagadec, P. et al. AS602868, a dual inhibitor of IKK2 and FLT3 to target AML cells. Leukemia 21, 877–885 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2404614

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2404614

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