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Multiple Myeloma, Gammopathies

Dexamethasone treatment promotes Bcl-2 dependence in multiple myeloma resulting in sensitivity to venetoclax

Leukemia volume 30, pages 1086–1093 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Venetoclax (ABT-199), a specific inhibitor of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, is currently in phase I clinical trials for multiple myeloma. The results suggest that venetoclax is only active in a small cohort of patients therefore we wanted to determine its efficacy when used in combination. Combining venetoclax with melphalan or carfilzomib produced additive or better cell death in four of the five cell lines tested. The most striking results were seen with dexamethasone (Dex). Co-treatment of human myeloma cell lines and primary patient samples, with Dex and venetoclax, significantly increased cell death over venetoclax alone in four of the five cell lines, and in all patient samples tested. The mechanism by which this occurs is an increase in the expression of both Bcl-2 and Bim upon addition of Dex. This results in alterations in Bim binding to anti-apoptotic proteins. Dex shifts Bim binding towards Bcl-2 resulting in increased sensitivity to venetoclax. These data suggest that knowledge of drug-induced alterations of Bim-binding patterns may help inform better combination drug regimens. Furthermore, the data indicate combining this novel therapeutic with Dex could be an effective therapy for a broader range of patients than would be predicted by single-agent activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    S M Matulis, V A Gupta, A K Nooka, H V Hollen, J L Kaufman, S Lonial & L H Boise

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  1. S M Matulis
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  2. V A Gupta
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  3. A K Nooka
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  4. H V Hollen
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  5. J L Kaufman
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  6. S Lonial
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  7. L H Boise
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Correspondence to L H Boise.

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Competing interests

LHB, SL and JLK have all served as consultants to Onyx Pharmaceuticals, the makers of carfilzomib. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Supplementary Information accompanies this paper on the Leukemia website

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Matulis, S., Gupta, V., Nooka, A. et al. Dexamethasone treatment promotes Bcl-2 dependence in multiple myeloma resulting in sensitivity to venetoclax. Leukemia 30, 1086–1093 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2015.350

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