Abstract 4933: Duvelisib eliminates CLL B Cells, impairs CLL-supporting cells, and overcomes ibrutinib resistance in a patient-derived xenograft model
Authors: Chen Shih-Shih , Barrientos Jacqueline C. , Ferrer Gerardo , Ravichandran Priyadarshini , Ibrahim Michael , Kieso Yasmine , Kutok Jeffery L. , Peluso Marisa , Sharma Sujata , Weaver David T. , Pachter Jonathan A. , Rai Kanti R. , Chiorazzi Nicholas 
Published: April 2023

Duvelisib (IPI-145), a first-in-class, oral, dual PI3K-δ,γ inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic and follicular lymphoma. Duvelisib potently inhibits PI3K-δ and PI3K-γ, thereby offering a novel therapeutic approach. Here we aimed to understand how duvelisib targets CLL cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) and hence how it affects CLL, even with BTK-resistant disease.

We first assessed the distinct contributions of PI3K-δ and PI3K-γ on CLL cell survival, proliferation, and migration in vitro by using PI3K-δ (PI3K-δi) or PI3K-γ (PI3K-γi) specific inhibitors in addition to duvelisib. We found a significant reduction in viable CLL cells after exposure to PI3K-δi and duvelisib. By measuring Ki67 and p-AKT levels, we found duvelisib and PI3K-δi more potently block CLL cell proliferation than PI3K-γi. PI3K-δi and duvelisib also significantly reduced the migration of CLL B cells into the spleen relative to control. In contrast, PI3K-γi inhibited T cell not B cell homing in vitro and in vivo.

We then investigated the impact of single versus dual inhibitory agents on myeloid cells. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) of the “M2 phenotype” contribute to a pro-tumor TME by preventing the induction of T cell mediated anti-tumor immunity. We expanded murine bone marrow derived monocytes and then polarized them to M2 macrophages, in the absence or presence of PI3Ki. At 100nM, PI3K-γi, but not PI3K-δi, significantly inhibited M2 polarization. Duvelisib significantly reduced Arg1 expression at doses equal to or above 10nM. While co-culturing leukemic B cells with M2-polarized murine macrophages increased CLL-cell survival, addition of duvelisib to such co-cultures significantly reduced CLL cell survival. Altogether, duvelisib sensitizes primary CLL cells to apoptosis and abrogates M2 cell-mediated CLL-cell survival.

Finally, in a patient-derived xenograft mouse model (PDX), we demonstrated the essential roles of PI3K-δ and PI3K-γ in the CLL TME. Specifically, we found a more efficacious inhibition in CLL cell burden by dual inhibition of PI3K-δ,γ. Also, samples from patients whose disease progressed on ibrutinib were responsive to duvelisib therapy in PDX, irrespective of BTK mutations. In support of this, we identified an ibrutinib resistant CLL patient, with a clone exhibiting BTK and PLCγ2 mutations who responded immediately to single agent duvelisib with redistribution lymphocytosis followed by a partial clinical remission associated with subsequent modulation of T and myeloid cells.

In conclusion, our data define the mechanism of action whereby dual inhibition of PI3K-δ,γ affects CLL B cell numbers and T and myeloid cell pro-leukemia functions, supporting the use of duvelisib as a potentially valuable therapeutic intervention, including for patients refractory to BTKi.

Citation Format: Shih-Shih Chen, Jacqueline C. Barrientos, Gerardo Ferrer, Priyadarshini Ravichandran, Michael Ibrahim, Yasmine Kieso, Jeffery L. Kutok, Marisa Peluso, Sujata Sharma, David T. Weaver, Jonathan A. Pachter, Kanti R. Rai, Nicholas Chiorazzi. Duvelisib eliminates CLL B Cells, impairs CLL-supporting cells, and overcomes ibrutinib resistance in a patient-derived xenograft model. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 4933.